Thank you, Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes. Do we have a seconder? Member for Sahtu. All those in favour? All those opposed? Any abstentions? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Third reading of bills. Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment.

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Range Lake, that Bill 68, An Act to Amend the Child Day Care Act, be read for the third time. And, Mr. Speaker, I request a recorded vote.

Thank you, Minister. The motion is in order. To the motion. Minister responsible for ECE.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we just considered this bill yesterday in Committee of the Whole. Some people may recall that there were motions moved at that point. It was a dead heat, and there was no changes to the bill as we had a couple of ties.

Since that time, I've spoken to the department, I've spoken to the chair of the Standing Committee on Social Development, and I considered how could we incorporate some of those changes that the Members would like to see, some of the concerns that the Members have been expressing, into the bill so we can find a clause that we can all agree on.

So the clause in question related to the disclosure of the identity of a complainant, someone who makes a complaint against a child care operator. And the reason that is included in the bill is because we want to create a robust system where parents feel empowered to bring forward their concerns about the services that their children are receiving from their child care operators. What we don't want to do, though, is create a situation where we're criminalizing people when we obviously don't need to. And so what was proposed originally in the bill probably too far in one direction. Committee came back with a proposal to adjust that language. I came back with a counterproposal. And neither of those were, I guess, acceptable to a large enough portion of this Assembly and so I think we've landed on some language that hopefully we can get some more support for.

So with that, Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the Member for Range Lake, that clause 13 of Bill 68 to be amended by deleting proposed subclause 19.2(2) and substituting the following:

2. An operator shall not

1. retaliate against a complainant under section 19.1 or,
2. disclose the identity of a complainant under section 19.1.

3. Notwithstanding paragraph 2(b), an operator may disclose the identity of a complainant

1. to a lawyer retained by the operator to provide legal services in respect of a complaint
2. to a trusted advisor, or,
3. as authorized by the director.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister. To the amendment.

Question has been called. Minister.

And so I just wanted to explain this a little bit. So what you're seeing here is in addition to the amendment that I moved yesterday, and that is that an operator may disclose the identity of a complainant, you know, to a lawyer, or as authorized by the director or to a trusted advisor. We understand that there are child care operators who may be new in the business. And they might want to seek advice from someone who has some more experience, or there's a million other scenarios. And we want to ensure that the operators feel like they are supported, and they can reach out and get that support. At the same time, we want to protect parents; we want to protect their identities if it might be detrimental.

And I will say that what this clause does, or what it attempts to do, is address a very, very small percentage of issues that ever arise. Most complaints, the vast majority, are dealt with through conversations with child care operators and they don't proceed to a point where there would be any sort of repercussions, any suspensions or anything like that. So this is not an indictment on the whole sector. This is to address some very small issue but an important issue to those who it affects. And so I hope that Members think that this addresses their concerns, and I hope that I can get their support in this motion. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister. The motion is order. To the amendment.

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

---Carried

To the motion as amended.

Question has been called. All those in favour? To the bill, sorry. To the bill as amended. And a recorded vote was requested by the Minister. All those in favour, please rise.

All those opposed, please rise. All those abstaining, please rise.

The results of the recorded vote: 14 in favour, zero opposed, one abstention. The motion is carried. Bill 68 has had third reading.

---Carried

Third Reading of Bills.

Mr. Clerk, will you ascertain if the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, the Honourable Margaret M. Thom, is prepared to enter the Chamber to assent to bills.

---SHORT RECESS

Colleagues, please be seated. Colleagues, on behalf of the House, I thank the Commissioner, the Honourable Margaret M. Thom for being here today. It is an honour to have her join us in the Chamber. It has been a long sitting and I know we are eager to adjourn. But before we do, I would like to say a few words and I thank you for your time and attention.

First and foremost, I want to thank each of you. I know this sitting has been difficult at times but it has also been very productive. You have concluded consideration of the operations budget, three supplementary estimates, seven pieces of legislation, some of which I know were challenging, and 14 committee reports. This is in addition to numerous statements, questions and motions.

Colleagues, that's a lot of important work and you should be proud of yourselves. Mahsi.

Throughout this sitting, I have enjoyed your lively and thoughtful debates and discussions. We don't always see eye-to-eye and we don't always agree. Some discussions in this House are very intense or uncomfortable. That's the nature of our job as the representatives of our people. Even when we don't agree, we can always find ways to work together and be respectful of each other and this institution. Colleagues, that is consensus government in action.

Consensus government does not mean that we must always agree. Consensus government does not mean that we will always get our way. Consensus government means that we will have the opportunity to share our views, influence policy and legislation, and represent the people who have elected us. I thank each of you for contributing to a successful sitting.

Colleagues, I also want to thank the interpreters who have joined us throughout this sitting. We honour our languages when we use them. The interpreters make it possible for us to use our languages on a daily basis, and I thank them for their service and commitment to honouring our official languages, our people, and our cultures. I know it has been challenging at times, the speed of some of our speeches, but I thank you and I really respect the work that you do.

Colleagues, finally, I want to take a moment to thank our clerk, Mr. Tim Mercer, and congratulate him on his retirement. Mr. Mercer has served as clerk of this institution for twenty years. That's 870 sitting days. He has served six Assembly's, that's 63 Members and six Speakers, I am very proud to be one of those Members and also one of those speakers.

Tim, I want to thank you for your valuable advice you have given to me and to all Members for many years. It was always appreciated. And sometimes we even followed it.

Tim, as Clerk of the Legislative Assembly, your corporate and procedural knowledge is second to none. I know we are in good hands with Mr. Rutland taking the helm. You will be deeply missed. Tim, I know you love sailing and I hope you have the opportunities to spend many beautiful summer days on Great Slave Lake aboard the Picante. Mr. Clerk, hold fast and stay true.

Colleagues, please join me in thanking Mr. Mercer for his dedication and service.
Thank you, colleagues.

---Applause

Mr. Clerk, one last time, orders of the day.

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. This House stands adjourned until Thursday, May 25th, 2023 at 1:30 p.m.

---ADJOURNMENT

The House adjourned at 8:40 p.m.