Mr. Speaker, I can follow up with NTHSSA. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister for Health and Social Services.

Colleagues, our time is up for oral questions. Oral questions. Written questions. Returns to written questions. Replies to the Commissioner's address. Petitions. Tabling of documents. Minister of Finance.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following four documents: Plain Language Summary for Bill 32, An Act to Amend the Public Service Act, No. 2; Statement of Consistency for Bill 32, An Act to Amend the Public Service Act, No. 2; 2024-2025 Northwest Territories Carbon Tax Report; and, the Northwest Territories Heritage Fund Annual Report 2025. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister of Finance. Tabling of documents. Minister of Justice.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following three documents: Annual Report on the Activities of the Rental Officer 2024-2025; Department of Justice Corrections Service Annual Report 2024-2025, and Territorial Police Service Agreement Annual Report (2024-2025). Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister of Justice. Tabling of documents.

Colleagues, I'll be tabling three documents. Pursuant to section 21 of the Legislative Assembly Retiring Allowances Act, I wish to table the Legislative Assembly Retiring Allowance Fund Financial Statements for the Year Ending March 31st, 2025.

In accordance with section 21(1) of the Retiring Allowances Act and section 11.1 of the Supplementary Retiring Allowances Act, I hereby table the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly's Pension Administration Report Retiring Allowances Act and Supplementary Retiring Allowances Act at March 31st, 2024.

Pursuant to section 4(4) of the Legislative Assembly Retiring Allowances Act and section 2.11 of the Supplementary Retiring Allowances Act, I wish to table the NWT Legislative Assembly's Pension Plan Annual Report of March 31st, 2025.

Tabling of documents. Notices of motion. Member from Yellowknife Centre.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Wednesday, October 23rd, 2025, I will move the following motion:

Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Kam Lake, that pursuant to section 61 of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, that Mr. Andrew Fox be reappointed for a term of five years as Information and Privacy Commissioner;

And further, that the appointment be effective November 23rd, 2025.

And, Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time I will be seeking unanimous consent to deal with this motion today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Yellowknife Centre. Notices of motion. Member from Range Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Wednesday, October 23rd, 2025, I will move the following motion:

Now therefore I move, seconded by the Member for Yellowknife Centre, that the Government of the Northwest Territories accepts the after-action review report recommendation to create one dedicated territorial emergency management agency for the NWT providing coordination support to local authorities leading the emergency response(s);

And further, that the Government of the Northwest Territories implement the recommendation to create one territorial emergency management agency for the Northwest Territories within the recommended timeframe of 0 to 12 months;

And further, that the Government of the Northwest Territories bring forward the necessary policy changes and resources to implement the recommendation by May 2026 as recommended by Transitional Solutions Incorporated;

And furthermore, that in accepting the recommendation, the Government of the Northwest Territories consider repositioning existing resources within the public service in addition to new investments, including establishing new mandates for existing, new, or amalgamated line departments;

And furthermore, that a dedicated emergency management agency so established will work to implement the remaining recommendations of the after-action review report, including ensuring that the care of children, elders, and persons with disabilities are better supported by public safety policies and programs;

And furthermore, that the Government of the Northwest Territories respond to this motion in 120 days.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Range Lake. Notices of motion. Motions. Member from Yellowknife Centre.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to deal with the motion I gave notice earlier today. Thank you.

The Member from Yellowknife Centre is seeking unanimous consent to deal with this motion he presented today. Seeing no nays, you may proceed.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you, colleagues.

WHEREAS section 61 of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act permits the appointment of the Information and Privacy Commissioner by the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories after the approval of the appointment by resolution of the Legislative Assembly;

AND WHEREAS the Legislative Assembly considers the appointment of an Information and Privacy Commissioner essential to exercise the powers and perform the duties under the Act;

AND WHEREAS the term of the Information and Privacy Commissioner is expiring;

AND WHEREAS the Legislative Assembly is of the opinion that the appointment of an Information and Privacy Commissioner should now be made to be effective on November 23, 2025;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Kam Lake, that pursuant to section 61 of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, that Mr. Andrew Fox be reappointed to a term of five years as Information and Privacy Commissioner;

AND FURTHERMORE, that the appointment be effective November 23, 2025.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Yellowknife Centre. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? All those abstaining? Motion has been carried.

---Carried

Motions. Notices of motion for the first reading of bills. First reading of bills.

Colleagues, being respectful of the time, the translators need a break and so we will have a brief break. Thank you.

---SHORT RECESS

Thank you, colleagues. Second reading of bills. Minister of Finance.

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Kam Lake, that Bill 32, An Act to Amend the Public Service Act, No. 2, be read for the second time. The bill includes comprehensive amendments to update the legislative framework for the operation of the public service of the Government of the Northwest Territories. The proposed amendments clarify roles and responsibilities under the Act, reflect modern public sector practices and aim to improve the Act's clarity and readability. The bill also includes provisions to formalize in legislation the process for safe disclosure of wrongdoing by public service employees. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister. The motion is in order. To the principle of the bill. Member from Range Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Although the contents of the bill or the intentions of the bill are not things I'd necessarily oppose, what these things will do to the Public Service Act don't address a fundamental flaw with the legislation, and it is a flaw that creates risk to ongoing Charter or potential Charter challenge related to how the Act is structured around collective bargaining. I won't get into detail on this, Mr. Speaker, because I don't want to drag into the House's time, but it's something that the public and the House is well aware of. Until this is addressed, it's like adding a new storey to your house when the foundation is cracked. And this is a fundamental aspect of the bill, and I cannot support legislation that does not meet the first test of is this actually Charter compliant and until -- as long as there is an open question on that, I will not support changes to the Public Service Act until that fundamental deficit is corrected. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Range Lake. To the principle of the bill. Principle of the bill. To the principle of the bill.

Question has been called. The question is shall Bill 32 be read for the second time. All those in favour, please raise your hands. All those opposed, please raise your hands. All those abstaining, please raise your hands. The motion is carried.

---Carried

Bill 32 has been read for a second time, is referred to the standing committee of the assembly for further considerations.

Second reading of bills. Consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters, Tabled Document 388-20(1), Tabled Document 385-20(1), with the Member from the Deh Cho in the chair.