Debates of Sept. 29th, 2023

This is page numbers 6565 - 6646 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 know.

Topics

Oral Questions
Members Present
Prayer
Indigneous Government Partnerships and Capacity Building
Government of the Northwest Territories Seniors' Strategic Framework
2023 Territorial Wildfire Emergency Response
Reconciliation
Reconciliation
Reconciliation
Amalgamation of Hay River Health and Social Services Authority and NWTHSSA
Government of the Northwest Territories Compliance with Archives Act
Truth and Reconciliation
Lutselk'e Dene First Nation Caribou Enforcement
Housing
Business Incentive Policy
Truth and Reconciliation
Climate Action
Reconciliation
Eulogy for Alice Jane Pellissey
Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Amalgamating Hay River Health and Social Services Authority into Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority
Northwest Territories Archives and Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre
Housing
Lutselk'e Dene First Nation Caribou Enforcement
Climate Action
Housing
Business Incentive Policy
Independent Review of the 2023 Fire Season
Dredging in Hay River
Housing
Bill 75: Council for Women and Gender Diversity Act
Tabled Document 1006-19(2): Northwest Territories 911 2022-2023 Annual Report Tabled Document 1007-19(2): Municipal and Community Affairs Wildfire 2023 - High Level Chronology
Tabled Document 1008-19(2): Mineral Resources Act - Regulation Development Status Report Tabled Document 1009-19(2): 2022-2023 Annual Report NWT Business Development and Investment Corporation Tabled Document 1010-19(2): Public Accounts of the Government of the Northwest Territories for the Year Ended March 31, 2023 - Section II - Interim Non-Consolidated Financial Statements
Tabled Document 1011-19(2): Government of the Northwest Territories Seniors' Strategic Framework Tabled Document 1012-19(2): 2023-24 Health and Social Services Authority Budgets
Tabled Document 1013-19(2): Request for Proposals for Environment and Climate Change - NWT 2023 Wildfire Response Review
Taxation of Vaping Products under Coordinated Vaping Taxation Products Agreement
Extended Adjournment of the House to October 3, 2023
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Tabled Document 973-19(2): 2024-2025 Capital Estimates - Deferral of Estimates
Tabled Document 974-19(2): Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 3, 2023-2024 - Deferral of Estimates
Committee Report 61-19(2): Standing Committee on Social Development Report on the Review of Bill 81: An Act to Amend the Education Act, No. 2 - Engagement Process
Committee Report 61-19(2): Standing Committee on Social Development Report on the Review of Bill 81: An Act to Amend the Education Act, No. 2 - Absenteeism
Committee Report 61-19(2): Standing Committee on Social Development Report on the Review of Bill 81: An Act to Amend the Education Act, No. 2 - Absenteeism
Committee Report 61-19(2): Standing Committee on Social Development Report on the Review of Bill 81: An Act to Amend the Education Act, No. 2 - Wrap-Around services
Committee Report 61-19(2): Standing Committee on Social Development Report on the Review of Bill 81: An Act to Amend the Education Act, No. 2 - Support for Students with Disabilities
Committee Report 61-19(2): Standing Committee on Social Development Report on the Review of Bill 81: An Act to Amend the Education Act, No. 2 -Territorial-based Support Team
Bill 81: An Act to Amend the Education Act, No. 2
Bill 94: Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act, 2023
Bill 93: Practice of Engineering, Geoscience and Applied Science Technology Act
Report Of Committee Of The Whole
Bill 77: Nursing Profession Act
Recorded Vote
Orders Of The Day

Motion 85-19(2): Extended Adjournment of the House to October 3, 2023, Carried
Motions

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The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

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

---Carried

Motions. Notices of motion for the first reading of bills. First reading of bills. Second reading of bills. Consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters, Bill 23, 65, 74, 75, 78, 80, 81, 84, 85, 93, and 94, Committee Report 52-19(2), Committee report 53-19(2), Committee report 55-19(2), Committee report 61-19(2), Committee report 62-19(2), Minister's Statement 264-19(2), Tabled Document 681, 973, and 974-19(2).

By the authority given to me as Speaker under Rule 2.2(4), I hereby authorize the House to sit beyond the daily hour of adjournment to consider the business before the House, 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

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

I now call Committee of the Whole to order. What is the wish of committee? Member for Frame Lake.

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Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Merci, Madam la Presidente. Committee wishes to consider Tabled Document 973-19(2) Capital Estimates 2024-2025, Tabled Document 974-19(2) Supplementary Estimates, Committee report 61-19(2), Bills 81, 93, and 94. Mahsi, Madam Chair.

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Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, committee. Does committee agree?

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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

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Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. We will take a short recess and resume with the first item.

---SHORT RECESS

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

I now call Committee of the Whole back to order. Committee, we have agreed to consider Tabled Document 973-19(2), 2024-2025 Capital estimates. Minister, do you have witnesses you wish to bring into the Chamber?

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Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Caroline Wawzonek

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

Yes, I do, Madam Chair.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Sergeant-at-arms, please escort the witnesses into the Chamber.

Minister, would you please introduce your witnesses for the record.

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Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Caroline Wawzonek

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

Thank you, Madam Chair. On my left, Madam Chair, is the deputy Minister of Finance, Bill MacKay. And on my right is Perry Heath, the director of infrastructure planning at the Department of Health and Social Services.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Welcome. Committee, yesterday, we ended just before -- we're going to start -- turn to page 45, long-term care and continuing care services with information items on page 46. Are there any -- Member for Hay River South.

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Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Rocky Simpson

Rocky Simpson Hay River South

Thank you, Madam Chair. I just want to talk about the long-term care facility for Hay River. It's something that's needed, and I'm glad to see it's in -- still in the capital budget. I guess my first question is has there been a need to update the cost and scope of work for that project? Thank you.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Sorry, is there problems with the earpiece? Okay, I'll just have somebody fix that, and then I'll stop your time and you can just re-ask the question. Can you hear? Can you hear me? Okay. I'm just going to get the Member to re-ask the question, and then I'll start the clock again. Go ahead, Member for Hay River South.

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Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Rocky Simpson

Rocky Simpson Hay River South

Thank you, Madam Chair. Yeah, I just want to know if there's been a requirement to update the cost and scope of work for the project? Thank you.

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Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Minister.

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Caroline Wawzonek

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

Thank you, Madam Chair. There was a requirement to do that, and the budget that's in the capital plan before you does reflect that. Thank you.

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Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Member for Hay River South.

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Rocky Simpson

Rocky Simpson Hay River South

Thank you, Madam Chair. Can we -- I guess I'd like to know there what work, I guess, has been completed to date on the project and is the -- as well as the estimated completion date, is that still a good date that -- is it still relevant? Thank you.

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Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Minister.

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Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Caroline Wawzonek

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

I'll turn that to Mr. Heath, please.

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Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Mr. Heath.

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Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Perry Heath

Thank you, Madam Chair. As people are likely aware, we ended up changing locations of that due to the implications of the flood. I'm happy to report that we have an MOU with the town of Hay River, and the new site has been secured. We are currently in evaluations for the design services related to the facility and the new locations. We we expect to have the design contract awarded shortly with design to begin immediately. Thank you, Madam Chair.

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Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Member for Hay River South.

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Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Rocky Simpson

Rocky Simpson Hay River South

Thank you, Madam Chair. I guess that was my next question. Has the site been secured for it, and you have answered that. Is that site -- will it be adjacent to the current health centre, or will it be accessible, I guess, as -- will there be some type of connection between the health centre and this facility? Thank you.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member. Minister.