Debates of Oct. 20th, 2025

This is page numbers of the Hansard for the 20th Assembly, 1st 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 Or Reflection
2025 Wildfire Season
Update on Emergency Management Activities
Model of Care in Small community Health Centres
Support for Wildfire Evacuees
Expansion of the Yellowknife International Airport
Arctic Security Economic Corridor
Access to Primary Healthcare
2025 Wildfire Evacuation of Fort Providence
Northwest Territories Healthcare Excellence Canada's Cultural Safety Design Collaborative Team Report: “Honouring the Voices of Indigenous Peoples - Actions for Change in the Northwest Territories Health Care System”
Income Support Programs
Early Dyslexia Screening
Celebration of Life of Reginald Bellefontaine
Arctic Winter Games Funding
Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Yellowknife Primary Care Clinic Lab Testing Capacity
Strategic Infrastructure Investment at Yellowknife Airport
Improving Access to Primary Care
Northwest Territories Healthcare Excellence Canada's Cultural Safety Design Collaborative Team Report: “Honouring the Voices of Indigenous Peoples - Actions for Change in the Northwest Territories Health Care System”
Impacts of Wildfire on Tlicho Communities
Wildfire Response Assessments
Sport Funding in the Northwest Territories
Early Literacy Screening
Healthcare Sample Analysis Local Capacity
Regulation of Paramedics
Wildlife Management Strategy
Supports for Community Health Nurse
Wildfire Preparedness and Emergency Management
Wildfire Management Strategy
Arctic Economic Security Corridor
Bill 26: An Act to Amend the Public Service Act, Motion to Extend 120 Day Review Period
Report on the Review to Date of Bill 26: An Act to Amend the Public Service Act, Received and Adopted by the Assembly and Response from Government Requested
Tabled Document 392-20(1): 2025 Northwest Territories Environmental Audit Final Report Tabled Document 393-20(1): Conference of Management Authorities Species at Risk Annual Report 2024-2025 Tabled Document 394-20(1): Northwest Territories Species at Risk Committee Annual Report 2024-2025
Tabled Document 395-20(1): Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission Northwest Territories and Nunavut Annual Report 2024
Bill 32: An Act to Amend the Public Service Act, No. 2., Deemed Read
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Deferral Motion - Tabled Document 386-20(1): Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures and Borrowing Authorization), No. 3, 2024-2025 - Deferral of Estimates
Deferral Motion - Tabled Document 387-20(1): Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 2, 2024-2025 - Deferral of Estimates
Report Of Committee Of The Whole
Orders Of The Day

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

The Chair

The Chair Sheryl Yakeleya

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

Minister, please introduce your witnesses.

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

Vince McKay

Vince McKay Hay River South

Thank you, Madam Chair. With me today, Rick Hunt, the WSCC president and CEO to my left. And to my right, Patrick Bruce, legal counsel with the Department of Justice.

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

The Chair

The Chair Sheryl Yakeleya

I will now turn to the chair of the Standing Committee on Government Operations, the committee that reviewed the bill, for any opening comments on Bill 21.

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

Julian Morse

Julian Morse Frame Lake

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, Bill 21, An Act to Amend the Workers' Compensation Act, received second reading in the Legislative Assembly on February 28, 2025, and was referred to the Standing Committee on Government Operations for review.

The committee received four written submissions and held one briefing in the course of its review. The committee also exchanged information with the Standing Committee on Legislation of Nunavut's Legislative Assembly which was studying parallel legislation at the same time.

The standing committee completed its clause-by-clause review of the bill with the Minister responsible for the Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission on September 4th, 2025.

I thank the committee for their efforts in reviewing the legislation. Individual Members may have additional comments. Thank you, Madam Chair.

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

The Chair

The Chair Sheryl Yakeleya

I will now open the floor to general comments on Bill 21.

Is committee agreed that there are no further general comments? Can we proceed to a clause-by-clause review of the billa?

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

The Chair Sheryl Yakeleya

There are 27 clauses in the bill. Where possible, I will call clauses in groups of five. Does the committee agree?

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

The Chair Sheryl Yakeleya

Committee, we will defer the bill number and title until further consideration of the clauses. Please turn to page 1 of the bill.

Clauses 1 to 5, does the committee agree?

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

The Chair Sheryl Yakeleya

Please turn to page 2 of the bill. Clauses 6 to 10, does the committee agree?

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

The Chair Sheryl Yakeleya

Please turn to page 4 of the bill. Clauses 11 to 15, does the committee agree?

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

The Chair Sheryl Yakeleya

Please turn to page 11 of the bill. Clause 16 to 20, does the committee agree?

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

The Chair Sheryl Yakeleya

Please turn to page 13 of the bill. Clauses 21 to 25, does the committee agree?

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

The Chair Sheryl Yakeleya

Please turn to page 15 of the bill. Clauses 26 and 27, does the committee agree?

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

The Chair Sheryl Yakeleya

Returning to the bill's number and title, Bill 21, An Act to Amend the Workers' Compensation Act, does the committee agree?

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

The Chair Sheryl Yakeleya

To the bill as a whole, does the committee agree?

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

The Chair Sheryl Yakeleya

Does the committee agree that Bill 21, An Act to Amend the Workers' Compensation Act, is now ready for a third reading?