I will now call Committee of the Whole to order. Mr. O'Reilly.
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In the Legislative Assembly on March 31st, 2022. See this topic in context.
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Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake
Merci, Monsieur le President. Committee wishes to consider Committee Report 26-19(2). Mahsi, Mr. Chair.
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Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
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The Chair Rocky Simpson
We'll have a short recess.
---SHORT RECESS.
I'll call committee back to order. Committee, we have agreed to consider Committee Report 29-19(2) Standing Committee on Social Development report on Child and Family Services Act - Lifting NWT Children, Youth and Families: An All of Territory Approach to Keeping Families Together.
We left at motion number 1 or -- yeah, motion number 1 I guess it is. I would just ask -- it was read out yesterday but I'll just ask Ms. Cleveland to re-read it. Thank you.
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The Chair Rocky Simpson
Mr. Johnson. First of all, I'll call the meeting back to order. And now you can continue.
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Rylund Johnson Yellowknife North
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I hope that the government does declare the situation of overrepresentation of Indigenous children a crisis. And I support the motion. Thank you.
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Frieda Martselos Thebacha
Mr. Chair, you know, I've had -- I've been in leadership for 14 years, and I -- when I voted against the budget, I know this is -- it has to do with this too, I voted because I felt I had to do the right thing for my community. I think today we have to have cooler heads and move forward and put these kind of -- the way things have been going on today is unacceptable.
You know, I've sat for 14 years with a First Nation as chief. I've dealt with all these issues with regards to children in care and have gone to court many times across Canada with members from Salt River. And every time I went, I always had the support of either the territorial government, the Alberta government, the BC government, the Ontario government, and was able to make sure the child was put with family members. And that to me is strong leadership.
Never -- there's many times, even in my own life -- and I'm going to explain because I think a lot of people are just getting too carried away with some of the comments here. We have to represent all the people of the Northwest Territories no matter who they are - the good ones, the bad ones, the whatever. And in my life, I've also been married to a white European person. I saw both sides of the spectrum of racism. And I try not to make my decisions only on that issue. And I've carried the Indigenous file all through my life right from my -- from when my father was in leadership. But I also want to make sure that even in the Dene Nation meetings, okay, sometimes I stood alone but you know what, all the leaders came over and would give you a hug or shake your hand even though you stood alone. And we've got to be able to still stand up, rise, and do the best for the people of the Northwest Territories. That is extremely important.
So I just ask both sides of the House to have cooler heads, vote with your heart, and try to move on, you know. And, you know, I have friends on both sides of the House. That doesn't mean that because I voted against a budget that I don't agree with them on all other issues. And with that, Mr. Chair, I think it's time that we vote on the first motion. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
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Some Hon. Members
Question.
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The Chair Rocky Simpson
Question's been called. The motion is in order. To the motion -- oh, sorry. Question's been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? All those abstaining? Motion carried.
---Carried
Ms. Cleveland.
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Caitlin Cleveland Kam Lake
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair, and I hear the words of MLA Martselos, and I think that we knew that going in to this work that it would be very passionate work that committee would get to do together. And I think that it is work that has brought us closer together as a committee. And hopefully from today, there will be stronger conversations between both sides to bring both sides together as well. And I think that there were some hurt feelings here today for sure as far as the conversations that happened and through yourself, Mr. Chair, I respectfully ask that the Premier apologize to Members on this side of the House for the Point of Order rather than hearing out Members in full on what they had to say about the motion. Thank you.
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Caroline Cochrane Range Lake
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I have no problem -- that's okay, Minister Green. I have no problem apologizing to the other side of the House. I believe that sometimes that if we do things wrong, we need to stand up and be strong. And if the Members are offended because I was offended because I thought that they were attacking my Cabinet, then I shall apologize to the Members if that's not what they meant. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
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