Debates of March 7th, 2023
This Hansard is the unedited transcript and will be replaced by the final copy soon (generally within 5 business days). In the meantime, direct quotes should not be used, when the final is published it will seamlessly replace this unedited copy and any existing links should still work.
This is from 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 know.
Topics
- Oral Questions
- Members Present
- Prayer
- Minister's Statement 329-19(2): Celebrating Engineers and Geoscientists in the Northwest Territories
- Minister's Statement 330-19(2): Homelessness Programs Offered by Housing NWT
- Minister's Statement 331-19(2): Celebrating National Social Work Month
- Minister's Statement 332-19(2): Minister Absent from the House
- Member's Statement 1436-19(2): Child and Youth Care Counsellors
- Member's Statement 1437-19(2): Future of Local Housing Organizations
- Member's Statement 1438-19(2): Fort Simpson Diesel Plant Upgrade
- Member's Statement 1439-19(2): Renovation Delays Effects on School
- Member's Statement 1440-19(2): Crack Cocaine Addictions in Tlicho Communities
- Member's Statement 1441-19(2): Surety Bond Review
- Member's Statement 1442-19(2): Homelessness
- Member's Statement 1443-19(2): Open for Business - Hay River South Office
- Member's Statement 1444-19(2): Streamline Services and Share Resources: health Authority
- Member's Statement 1445-19(2): Eulogy for Jessie May Snider
- Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
- Committee Report 47-19(2): Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Homelessness Prevention: Supporting Pathways to Housing NWT Residents
- Question 1439-19(2): Four Portables Brought into the Community
- Question 1440-19(2): Evaluation of Programs at Child and Youth Care Counsellors
- Question 1441-19(2): Fort Simpson Diesel Plant
- Question 1442-19(2): Surety Bond Review
- Question 1443-19(2): Health and Social Services Deficit
- Question 1444-19(2): Homelessness
- Question 1445-19(2): Local Housing Organization Funding
- Question 1446-19(2): Child and Youth Care Counsellors Staff Integration
- Question 1447-19(2): Back-Up Generators during an Outage
- Question 1448-19(2): Child and Youth Care Counsellor Equivalencies
- Return to Written Question 58-19(2): Frank Channel Bridge Replacement
- Tabled Document 876-19(2): Government of the Northwest Territories Bridge Inspection Form - Frank Channel Bridge, July 2021 Tabled Document 877-19(2): Stantec Consulting Ltd. 2021 Frank Channel Bridge Inspection Report dated February 12, 2022
- Tabled Document 878-19(2): Plain Language Summary for Bill 72: Opioid Damages and Health Care Costs Recovery Act
- Tabled Document 879-19(2): What We Heard: A Forest Act for the NWT, February 2023
- Tabled Document 880-19(2): Letter dated December 26, 2022 from Alternatives North regarding Comments on Forest Act Summary of Policy Intentions
- Motion 75-19(2): Maximum Allowable Rent Increase for Private Rental Units
- Motion 76-19(2): Extended Adjournment of the House to march 27, 2023
- Bill 76: An Act to Amend the Electoral Boundaries Commission Act
- Bill 72: Opioid Damages and Health Care Costs Recovery Act, Carried
- Bill 73: An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, No. 4, Carried
- Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
- Committee Motion 371-19(2): Tabled Document 813-19(2): 2023-2024 Main Estimates - Legislative Assembly - Deferral of Department (Page 5), Carried
- Committee Motion 372-19(2): Tabled Document 813-19(2): 2023-2024 Main Estimates - Environment and Climate Change - Deferral of Department (Page 73), Carried
- Report Of Committee Of The Whole
- Orders Of The Day
Bill 73: An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, No. 4, Carried
Second Reading Of Bills
Jane Weyallon Armstrong Monfwi
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this is not about us. This is about the people that we serve in our region. And MLAs, the way that I look at them is that we are public servants. So we are here serving the people in the Northwest Territories just like under the people that are working for the GNWT under -- that are under the UNW collective agreement. For whatever UNW gets, I think -- I strongly believe that MLAs should be getting the same. Mr. Speaker, if this is good enough for the UNW who are representing the staff in the region, it should be good enough for us. So the way that this is presented at 6 percent increase, I do not support but maybe I will support with the amendments made. Like, zero percent and with some amendments made that's reflective of the UNW collective agreement. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Bill 73: An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, No. 4, Carried
Second Reading Of Bills
The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.
Thank you, Member for Monfwi. To the principle of the bill. Member for Thebacha.
Bill 73: An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, No. 4, Carried
Second Reading Of Bills
Frieda Martselos Thebacha
Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to waive Rule 8.27 and have Bill 73 referred to Committee of the Whole for consideration later today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Bill 73: An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, No. 4, Carried
Second Reading Of Bills
Bill 73: An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, No. 4, Carried
Second Reading Of Bills
Some Hon. Members
Question.
Bill 73: An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, No. 4, Carried
Second Reading Of Bills
The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.
Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Any abstentions? The motion is carried. Bill 73 has had second reading.
---Carried
Second reading of bills. Member for Thebacha.
Bill 73: An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, No. 4, Carried
Second Reading Of Bills
Frieda Martselos Thebacha
Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to waive Rule 8.2(7) and have Bill 73 referred to Committee of the Whole for consideration later today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Bill 73: An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, No. 4, Carried
Second Reading Of Bills
The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.
Thank you, Member for Thebacha. The Member is seeking unanimous consent to move Bill 73 into Committee of the Whole later today. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Member for Thebacha. Oh sorry, the motion is in order. To the motion?
Okay, we already got unanimous consent. Okay, Bill 73 will be moved into Committee of the Whole for further consideration later today. Thank you.
---Carried
Second reading of bills. Consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters, Bill 23, 29, 60, 61, 63, 66, 67, and 68, Committee Report 40, 43, 44, 45-19(2), Minister's Statement 264-19(2), Tabled Document 681-19(2), Tabled Document 694-19(2), Tabled Document 813-19(2).
By the authority given to me as Speaker, I hereby authorize the House to sit beyond the reasonable hours of adjournment, with Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes in the chair.
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
March 7th, 2023
The Chair Lesa Semmler
I now call Committee of the Whole to order. What is the wish of committee? Member for Frame Lake.
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake
Merci, Monsieur le President. Committee wishes to deal with Tabled Document 813-19(2), 2023-2024 Main Estimates, with Legislative Assembly and Department of Environment and Climate Change. Mahsi, Madam Chair.
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
The Chair Lesa Semmler
Thank you, committee. We will take a short recess and resume with the first activity.
---SHORT RECESS
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
The Chair Lesa Semmler
I will now call Committee of the Whole back to order. Committee, we've agreed to consider Tabled Document 813-19(2), 2023-2024 Main Estimates. We will now consider the Legislative Assembly. Does Mr. Speaker have any opening remarks?
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.
Yes, I do, Madam Chair. I am pleased to present the 2023-2024 Main Estimates for the Legislative Assembly. Overall, the Legislative Assembly's estimate proposes an increase of $2,165,000, or 8.5 percent, over the 2023-2024 Main Estimates.
Madam Chair, this year's estimates will focus on three overarching priorities, the majority of which will sunset at the end of 2023-2024:
- Adoption of the independent commission and compensation benefits recommendations, which is estimated at $135,000.
- The 2023 general election is anticipated to cost $1,323,000.
- Transition out from the 19th Assembly into the 20th Assembly is estimated to cost $777,000.
I look forward to answering any questions Members may have.
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