Debates of March 27th, 2023

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

Oral Questions

Members Present

Prayer

Introducing the Department of Environment and Climate Change

Accelerated Digital Adoption Projects for Tomorrow Fund

Land Leasing Policies

Youth Leadership Gatherings

Alberta-Northwest Territories Transboundary Water Agreement

Housing Northwest Territories Mortgage Arrears

Review of Fiscal Responsibility Policy

Aurora College Board of Governors

Sport and Recreation Funding for Beaufort Delta Communities

Alberta-Northwest Territories Transboundary Waters Agreement and National Water Strategy

Improving Government of the Northwest Territories Procurement Policies

Eulogy for Jack Lee Mouse

Return to Oral Question 1404-19(2): Child Care Funding Supports for Teen Parents

Return to Oral Question 1411-19(2): Taltson Hydro Expansion Project

Sport and Recreation Funding

Aurora College Board of Governors

Tailing Ponds Spill

Alberta Tailing Ponds Spill

Review of Fiscal Responsibility Policy

Outstanding Mortgages

Procurement Review

Land Leasing

Audit Report and Unspent Funds on Internet Connectivity

Return to Written Question 60-19(2): Physician Recruitment and Retention

Return to Written Question 61-19(2): Government of the Northwest Territories Sole Source Contracting under Procurement Criteria 1.8.2 (a)

Return to Written Question 62-19(2): Sole Source Contracting for Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority under Procurement Criteria 1.8.2 (a)

Return to Written Question 63-19(2): Use of Indigenous Fonts on Official Documents

Committee Report 49-19(2): Standing Committee on Government Operations: Report on the 2021-22 Review of the Official Languages Act

Committee Report 50-19(2): Standing Committee on Social Development: Strengthening Community Supports, Lifting Youth Voices: Recommendations on Suicide Prevention

Tabled Document 892-19(2): Additional Information for Return to Written Question 61-19(2): Government of the Northwest Territories Sole Source Contracting under Procurement Criteria 1.8.2.(a) Tabled Document 893-19(2): Northwest Territories Business Development and Investment Corporation Corporate Plan 2023-2024 Tabled Document 894-19(2): Northwest Territories Innovation Action Plan

Tabled Document 895-19(2): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 1423-19(2): Nunakput Court Travel

Tabled Document 896-19(2): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 1367-19(2): Improving Healthcare in Small Communities Tabled Document 897-19(2): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 1435-19(2): Dental Hygienist Regulations

Bill 80: Dental Hygienists Profession Statutes Amendment Act

Bill 81: An Act to Amend the Education Act, No. 2

Bill 82: Legal Profession Act

Bill 83: Liquor Act

Bill 84: An Act to Amend the Northwest Territories Business Development and Investment Corporation Act

Bill 85: United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Implementation Act

Bill 76: An Act to Amend the Electoral Boundaries Act

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Committee Report 40-19(2): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on Bill 61: An Act to Amend the Ombud Act - Statutory Officer Jurisdiction

Committee Report 40-19(2): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on Bill 61: An Act to Amend the Ombud Act - Government Response to Recommendations

Committee Report 43-19(2): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on Bill 63: An Act to Amend the Official Languages Act - Indigenous Languages Legislative Changes

Concurrence Motion - Tabled Document 881-19(2): Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2022-2023

Concurrence Motion - Tabled Document 882-19(2): Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 3, 2022-2023

Concurrence Motion - Tabled Document 883-19(2): Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 1, 2023-2024

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 - Post-Election Transition and Orientation Materials

Report Of Committee Of The Whole

Orders Of The Day

Committee Motion 390-19(2): 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 - GNWT Work Plan Proposals, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

March 28th

Page 5906

Lesa Semmler Inuvik Twin Lakes

Mr. Chair, I move that this committee recommends that the work plan proposals to be suggested by the Government of the Northwest Territories under the NWT Council of Leaders UNDRIP Memorandum of Understanding should include:

Description of who or what entity will monitor progress;
Identification of who or what entity will be accountable for progress;
A dispute resolution mechanism other than the Government of the Northwest Territories for disputes between Indigenous governments over the implementation of UNDRIP, land access and land exclusivity and other inter-jurisdictional disputes; and,
An established process or determined place to ensure the implementation of existing self-government agreements or land claim agreements is consistent with the principles and objectives of UNDRIP.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

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The Chair Ronald Bonnetrouge

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

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Some Hon. Members

Question.

March 28th

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The Chair Ronald Bonnetrouge

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

---Carried

Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.

Committee Motion 391-19(2): 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 - Review of GNWT Policies, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

March 28th

Page 5907

Lesa Semmler Inuvik Twin Lakes

It's the separate motion. It's not the one that's in the package.

Mr. Chair, I move that this committee recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories systematically review the GNWT policies against the principles of UNDRIP and in consideration of purposes and objectives established by the NWT Council of Leaders UNDRIP Memorandum of Understanding,

Beginning with the review of policy 11.51 Aboriginal land claims;
Continuing with the review of policies listed under the authority of the Executive Council and ministerial policies; and,
While at the same time, establishing an understood process to ensure a check in with Indigenous governments and Members of the Legislative Assembly before final versions are concluded.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

March 28th

Page 5907

The Chair Ronald Bonnetrouge

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

March 28th

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Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Yeah, thanks, Mr. Chair. So I was trying to quickly refresh my memory on the report, and I confess I don't think I was here when it was read into the record. But I assume that this special committee is going to be a joint one between Regular MLAs and Cabinet? But I don't really see that kind of spelled out anywhere in here. Maybe somebody who's on the committee or the chair might be able to help me understand that. I assume, maybe I'm just reading too much into this, but are Regular MLAs going to be part of this or is this just like a Cabinet committee, or what's going on here? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Regular MLAs should be part of this. I don't think it should just be Cabinet in charge of this. Thanks, Mr. Chair.

March 28th

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The Chair Ronald Bonnetrouge

Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, do you want to comment on that?

March 28th

Page 5907

Lesa Semmler Inuvik Twin Lakes

I think when we -- when we had the discussions around the motions, I guess that's something -- because we were sitting around the table and we were a joint committee. So I think that was the intention, is this type of a committee to continue on. And so I think it was just an oversight of -- I think this committee worked well as being -- I mean, to do the work that we had to do, we had to have both sides of the special committee and I think to continue to do that work, it's going to have to continue to be both sides on the special committee to make sure that, you know, concerns from both sides are represented. So I'll leave it at that, and hopefully this gets into record so that when the next government does form and if they do choose to do this recommendation, then they understand that this should be recommended as a joint committee. Thank you.

March 28th

Page 5907

The Chair Ronald Bonnetrouge

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

March 28th

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Some Hon. Members

Question.

March 28th

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The Chair Ronald Bonnetrouge

Question has been called. All those -- Madam Premier.

March 28th

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Caroline Cochrane Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. It's important to note within this motion as well that if we're really following the United Nations Declaration for Indigenous Peoples, which will be hopefully put through second reading sometime this week, and maybe by the end of the government, the third reading, that the Indigenous governments also have a huge role within this motion. So just wanted to say that it's not only the GNWT Ministers and Regular Members; the Indigenous governments within the declaration have to have a say in this as well. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

March 28th

Page 5907

The Chair Ronald Bonnetrouge

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

March 28th

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Some Hon. Members

Question.

March 28th

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The Chair Ronald Bonnetrouge

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

---Carried

Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.

Committee Motion 392-19(2): 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 - Outstanding Land and Self-Government Agreements, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

March 28th

Page 5907

Lesa Semmler Inuvik Twin Lakes

Mr. Chair, I move that this committee recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories work towards establishing a shared framework with the Government of Canada, Indigenous governments, and organizations for the resolution of outstanding land and self-government agreements;

And further, that the Government of the Northwest Territories make the option of an independent facilitator available to all negotiation tables.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

March 28th

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The Chair Ronald Bonnetrouge

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

March 28th

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Some Hon. Members

Question.

March 28th

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The Chair Ronald Bonnetrouge

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

---Carried

Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.

Committee Motion 393-19(2): 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 - Government Response to Recommendations, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

March 28th, 2023

Page 5907

Lesa Semmler Inuvik Twin Lakes

Mr. Chair, I move that this committee recommends the Government of the Northwest Territories provide a response to this report in 120 days. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

March 28th

Page 5907

The Chair Ronald Bonnetrouge

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

March 28th

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Some Hon. Members

Question.

March 28th

Page 5907

The Chair Ronald Bonnetrouge

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

---Carried

Thank you, committee. Do you agree that you have concluded consideration of Committee Report 44-19(2)?

March 28th

Page 5907

Some Hon. Members

Agreed

Debates of March 27th, 2023

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