This is page numbers 5875 - 5942 of the Hansard for the 19th Assembly, 2nd Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was indigenous.

Topics

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Please turn to page 11. Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 1, 2023-2024, Department of Lands capital investment expenditures, operations, not previously authorized, negative $225,000. Does committee agree?

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 1, 2023-2024, Department of Lands, capital investment expenditures, total department, not previously authorized, negative $225,000. Does committee agree?

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, committee. Do you agree that you have concluded consideration of Tabled Document 883-19(2), Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 1, 2023-2024?

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Member for Frame Lake.

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Merci, Madam la Presidente. I move that consideration of Tabled Document 883-19(2), Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 1, 2023-2024, be now concluded and that Tabled Document 883-19(2) be reported and recommended as ready for further consideration in formal session through the form of an appropriation bill. Mahsi, Madam Chair.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Some Hon. Members

Question.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Abstentions? The motion is carried. Tabled Document 883-19(2) will be reported as ready for consideration in a formal session through the form of an appropriation bill.

---Carried

Thank you, Minister, and thank you to the witnesses for appearing before us. Sergeant-at-arms, please escort the witnesses from the Chamber.

---SHORT RECESS

The Chair

The Chair Ronald Bonnetrouge

Committee, we have agreed to consider Committee Report 44-19(2), Special Committee on Reconciliation and Indigenous Affairs Final Report: A Northwest Territories Approach to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and Negotiating Agreements.

I will go to the chair of the Special Committee on Reconciliation and Indigenous Affairs for any opening comments. Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.

Lesa Semmler

Lesa Semmler Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, the special committee's final report was read into the record in the Legislative Assembly on February 28th, 2023. This Assembly has tasked the Special Committee on Reconciliation and Indigenous Affairs to seek and encourage discussion and recommendations on opportunities and specific challenges in meeting two specific assembly priorities:

  • Advance resolution of Aboriginal rights negotiations; and,
  • Implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

In this final report, the committee makes recommendations informed by discussions with Indigenous governments and organizations, legal experts, Canadian scholars, the Government of Canada, and the Government of the Northwest Territories.

The committee's recommendations address informed governance, enabling a Northwest Territories constitutional framework, monitoring UNDRIP implementation, ensuring policies are consistent with UNDRIP, and concluding land agreements.

I thank all committee members for the commitment, time, and work given to the special committee. Every so often it truly felt like moving through time, discussing and hearing about the rights, issues, that seem to have not moved forward in decades. It felt like being stuck in the past, at the same time hearing visions of an empowered future and about the will to put the work into this vision was a true privilege.

The committee hopes that the collaborative efforts observed since we began our work will continue and achieve the reconciliation that is needed in the Northwest Territories. Individual Members may have additional comments. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair

The Chair Ronald Bonnetrouge

Mahsi. I will now open the floor to general comments on Committee Report 44-19(2). Do any Members have any general comments? Seeing no comments at all, Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.

Lesa Semmler

Lesa Semmler Inuvik Twin Lakes

Mr. Chair, I move that this committee recommends that

  1. The office of the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly includes in all transitional and orientation material for all MLAs post-election, and
  2. The office of the Secretary to Cabinet of the Government of the Northwest Territories includes, in post-election materials specific to Cabinet, an introduction to the history and role of each of the following:
  3. NWT Council of Leaders;.
  4. Modern treaty and self-government partners forum;
  5. Intergovernmental council and intergovernmental council secretariat;
  6. The jurisdictions of public government exclusive and inclusive Indigenous governments; and,
  7. NWT Council of Leaders UNDRIP Memorandum of Understanding.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair

The Chair Ronald Bonnetrouge

Mahsi. The motion is in order. To the motion. Mr. O'Reilly.

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Yeah, thanks, Mr. Chair. I want to, first of all, thanks the committee for the work that they did on this. And I know that this was tabled in the House on February the 28th. So, you know, since the report was even tabled, there's been other progress made as well and, you know, I point to the process convention on bills drafted pursuant to the Intergovernmental Council legislative development protocols. So I assume that that would probably be part of the orientation that Regular MLAs and Members of Cabinet would receive as some background on that legislative development protocol and then the process convention that we developed springing from that. So I just thought it would be worthwhile to add that because I know our staff are probably listening, and somebody might pay attention and actually make sure that gets included in the orientation program. Thanks, Mr. Chair.

The Chair

The Chair Ronald Bonnetrouge

Mahsi. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Some Hon. Members

Question.

The Chair

The Chair Ronald Bonnetrouge

Question has been called. All those in favour? Abstentions? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.

Lesa Semmler

Lesa Semmler Inuvik Twin Lakes

Mr. Chair, I move that this committee recommends that the 20th Legislative Assembly establish a special committee on UNDRIP implementation. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair

The Chair Ronald Bonnetrouge

Mahsi. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Some Hon. Members

Question.

The Chair

The Chair Ronald Bonnetrouge

Question has been called. All those in favour? Abstentions? Motion is carried.

---Carried

Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.