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

Written Question 16-20(1): Environmental Liabilities
Written Questions

Julian Morse

Julian Morse Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister of Finance. Environmental legal obligations are governed by relevant federal and Northwest Territories Acts along with their associated regulations and guidelines. These legislative requirements form the foundation for the recognition of environmental liabilities by the government in line with public sector accounting board standards and the Financial Administration Act. The financial management board requires that all departments maintain an inventory of existing environmental liabilities and potential sites in the public accounts.

Mr. Speaker, can the Minister of Finance please provide this inventory, including a detailed summary of recorded environmental liabilities for every budget since devolution provided in the form of project name and title, year, dollar expense; and,

2. For that same list of projects, indicate whether a land use permit or water license was issued, the project -- whether the project involved a GNWT lease and for each, indicate if a security was held and collected to cover the liability and the amount of that security.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Written Question 16-20(1): Environmental Liabilities
Written Questions

The Speaker

The Speaker Shane Thompson

Thank you, Member from Frame Lake. Written questions.

Colleagues, in regards to the point of order raised by the Member of Hay River North against the Member of Yellowknife Centre, I've had the opportunity to review an unedited transcript.

The Member from Yellowknife Centre referred to Cabinet as working as a party. While it is not common for Cabinet Members to vote against a motion, it is their prerogative to vote how they want.

Further, Cabinet's solidarity is a key principle on both Westminster democracy and consensus government. Implying that Cabinet is acting as a party was out of order.

I've asked -- I will ask the Member from Yellowknife Centre to withdraw his comments. Member from Yellowknife Centre.

Written Question 16-20(1): Environmental Liabilities
Written Questions

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

I'll withdraw.

Written Question 16-20(1): Environmental Liabilities
Written Questions

The Speaker

The Speaker Shane Thompson

Thank you, Member from Yellowknife Centre.

Returns to written questions. Replies to the Commissioner's Address. Petitions. Reports of Committees on the Review of Bills. Reports of Standing and Special Committees. Tabling of documents. Minister of Justice.

Tabled Document 311-20(1): Plain Language Summary for Bill 23: An Act to Amend the Children's Law Act Tabled Document 312-20(1): Statement of Consistency for Bill 23: An Act to Amend the Children's Law Act Tabled Document 313-20(1): Plain Language Summary for Bill 24: An Act to Amend the Family Law Act Tabled Document 314-20(1): Statement of Consistency for Bill 24: An Act to Amend the Family Law Act
Tabling Of Documents

R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following four documents: Plain Language Summary for Bill 23, An Act to Amend the Children's Law Act; Statement of Consistency for Bill 23, An Act to Amend the Children's Law Act; Plain Language Summary for Bill 24, An Act to Amend the Family Law Act; and, Statement of Consistency for Bill 24, An Act to Amend the Family Law Act. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Tabled Document 311-20(1): Plain Language Summary for Bill 23: An Act to Amend the Children's Law Act Tabled Document 312-20(1): Statement of Consistency for Bill 23: An Act to Amend the Children's Law Act Tabled Document 313-20(1): Plain Language Summary for Bill 24: An Act to Amend the Family Law Act Tabled Document 314-20(1): Statement of Consistency for Bill 24: An Act to Amend the Family Law Act
Tabling Of Documents

The Speaker

The Speaker Shane Thompson

Thank you, Minister of Justice. Tabling of documents. Minister of Environment and Climate Change.

Tabled Document 315-20(1): Waste Reduction and Recovery Program 2023-2024 Annual Report
Tabling Of Documents

Jay MacDonald

Jay MacDonald Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document: Waste Reduction and Recovery Program 2023-2024 Annual Report. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Tabled Document 315-20(1): Waste Reduction and Recovery Program 2023-2024 Annual Report
Tabling Of Documents

The Speaker

The Speaker Shane Thompson

Thank you, Minister of Environment and Climate Change. Tabling of documents. Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs.

Tabled Document 316-20(1): Physical Activity, Sport, and Recreation Fund Annual Report 2023-2024
Tabling Of Documents

Vince McKay

Vince McKay Hay River South

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document: Physical Activity, Sports, and Recreation Fund Annual Report 2023-2024. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Tabled Document 316-20(1): Physical Activity, Sport, and Recreation Fund Annual Report 2023-2024
Tabling Of Documents

The Speaker

The Speaker Shane Thompson

Thank you, Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. Tabling of documents. Minister responsible for NTPC.

Tabled Document 317-20(1): 2025-26 Corporate Plan Northwest Territories Hydro Corporation and Northwest Territories Power Corporation
Tabling Of Documents

Caroline Wawzonek

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document: 2025-2026 Corporate Plan for the Northwest Territories Hydro Corporation and Northwest Territories Power Corporation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Tabled Document 317-20(1): 2025-26 Corporate Plan Northwest Territories Hydro Corporation and Northwest Territories Power Corporation
Tabling Of Documents

The Speaker

The Speaker Shane Thompson

Thank you, Minister responsible for NTPC. Tabling of documents. Member from Yellowknife North.

Tabled Document 318-20(1): A Draft for Discussion: Private Member's Bill: An Act to Amend the Public Service Act Tabled Document 319-20(1): United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Statement of Consistency for An Act to Amend the Public Service Act Tabled Document 320-20(1): Explanation of the Proposal for a Private Member's Bill: An Act to Amend the Public Service Act Tabled Document 321-20(1): Frequently Asked Questions on a Private Member's Bill Proposal to Address Concerns Raised by Nurses Regarding the Public Service Act - By Shauna Morgan, Yellowknife North
Tabling Of Documents

Shauna Morgan

Shauna Morgan Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following documents for the purposes of public discussion: First, A Draft for Discussion: Private Member's Bill: An Act to Amend the Public Service Act. Second, United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Statement of Consistency for An Act to Amend the Public Service Act. Third, Explanation of the Proposal for a Private Member's Bill: An Act to Amend the Public Service Act. And, finally, Frequently Asked Questions on a Private Member's Bill Proposal to Address Concerns Raised by Nurses Regarding the Public Service Act - by MLA Shauna Morgan, Yellowknife North. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Tabled Document 318-20(1): A Draft for Discussion: Private Member's Bill: An Act to Amend the Public Service Act Tabled Document 319-20(1): United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Statement of Consistency for An Act to Amend the Public Service Act Tabled Document 320-20(1): Explanation of the Proposal for a Private Member's Bill: An Act to Amend the Public Service Act Tabled Document 321-20(1): Frequently Asked Questions on a Private Member's Bill Proposal to Address Concerns Raised by Nurses Regarding the Public Service Act - By Shauna Morgan, Yellowknife North
Tabling Of Documents

The Speaker

The Speaker Shane Thompson

Thank you, Member from Yellowknife North. Tabling of documents.

Tabled Document 322-20(1): Summary of Members' Absences for the Period May 23, 2024 to February 4, 2025
Tabling Of Documents

March 13th, 2025

The Speaker

The Speaker Shane Thompson

Colleagues, pursuant to Section 5 of the Indemnities Allowance and Expenditures Regulations of the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, I wish to table the Summary of Members' Absences for the Period of time of May 23rd, 2024, to February 4th, 2025.

Tabling of documents. Notices of motion. Notices of motion for first reading of bills. First reading of bills. Minister of Finance.

Bill 25: Appropriation Act, (Operations Expenditures) 2025 2026
First Reading Of Bills

Caroline Wawzonek

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

Mr. Speaker, I wish to present to the House Bill 25, Appropriation Act, (Operations Expenditures) 2025-2026, to be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Bill 25: Appropriation Act, (Operations Expenditures) 2025 2026
First Reading Of Bills

The Speaker

The Speaker Shane Thompson

Thank you, Minister of Finance. Pursuant to Rule 8.2(3), Bill 25 is deemed to have had its first reading and is ready for second reading. First reading of bills. Second reading of bills. Minister of Justice.

Bill 23: An Act to Amend the Children's Law Act, Carried
Second Reading Of Bills

R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Kam Lake, that Bill 23, An Act to Amend the Children's Law Act, be read for the second time.

This bill will bring the Northwest Territories Children's Law Act in line with changes to the federal Divorce Act that came into force in 2021. The bill will also allow for the collection, use, and disclosure of information for the purposes of the child support recalculation service and will make an amendment to provide greater flexibility for the judiciary to create broadly applicable rules of court. Thank you.

Bill 23: An Act to Amend the Children's Law Act, Carried
Second Reading Of Bills

The Speaker

The Speaker Shane Thompson

Thank you, Minister of Justice. The motion is in order. To the principle of the bill.

Bill 23: An Act to Amend the Children's Law Act, Carried
Second Reading Of Bills

Some Hon. Members

Question.

Bill 23: An Act to Amend the Children's Law Act, Carried
Second Reading Of Bills

March 13th

The Speaker

The Speaker Shane Thompson

Question has been called. All those in favour? Opposed? Abstentions? The motion is carried. Bill 23 has been read a second time and is referred to the standing committee of the Assembly for further consideration.

---Carried

Second reading of bills. Minister of Justice.

Bill 24: An Act to Amend the Family Law Act, Carried
Second Reading Of Bills

March 13th

R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Kam Lake, that Bill 24, An Act to Amend the Family Law Act, be read for the second time.

The bill will bring the Northwest Territories Family Law Act in line with changes to the federal Divorce Act that came into force in 2021. The bill will also make an amendment to provide greater flexibility for the judiciary to create broadly applicable rules of court. Thank you.

Bill 24: An Act to Amend the Family Law Act, Carried
Second Reading Of Bills

March 13th

The Speaker

The Speaker Shane Thompson

Thank you, Minister of Justice. The motion is in order. To the principle of the bill.

Bill 24: An Act to Amend the Family Law Act, Carried
Second Reading Of Bills

March 13th

Some Hon. Members

Question.

Bill 24: An Act to Amend the Family Law Act, Carried
Second Reading Of Bills

March 13th

The Speaker

The Speaker Shane Thompson

Question has been called. All those in favour? Opposed? Abstentions? The motion is carried. Bill 24 has been read a second time and is referred to standing committee of the Assembly for further consideration.

---Carried

Second reading of bills. Minister of Finance.