Debates of Feb. 24th, 2026

Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Thursday, February 26th, 2026, I will move the following motion.

Now therefore I move, seconded by the Member for Monfwi, that this Legislative Assembly calls upon the Government of the Northwest Territories to take immediate steps to establish an independent Office of the Child and Youth Advocate as an Officer of the Legislative Assembly;

And further, that the Government of the Northwest Territories introduce enabling legislation defining the Advocate's mandate, powers, and responsibilities, including but not limited to the authority to investigate complaints, initiate systemic reviews, make recommendations, and report directly to the Legislative Assembly;

And furthermore, that the Government of the Northwest Territories make comprehensive amendments to the Child and Family Services Act to strengthen transparency and accountability and to require cooperation with, and responsiveness to, the oversight exercised by the child and youth advocate in relation to the administration of the Act.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker

Thank you, Member from Range Lake. Notices of motion. Motions. Notices of motion for the first reading of bills. First reading of bills. Second Reading of Bills. Mr. Premier.

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River South, that Bill 42, Tlego'hli Got'ine Final Self-Government Agreement Act, be read for the second time.

The proposed Tlego'hli Got'ine Final Self-Government Agreement Act will approve and give legal effect to the Final Self-Government Agreement for the Tlego'hli Got'ine. The Act is comprised of provisions addressing the approval of, giving effect to, and declaring valid of, the final self-government agreement, including the governance, legal structure, and authority of the Tlego'hli Got'ine government, authorizing the creation of regulations that may be needed to support the agreement; and, ultimately, serves as the legislative mechanism by which the Government of the Northwest Territories fulfills its ratification obligations under the final self-government agreement. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Premier. To the principle of the bill.

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

---Carried

Bill 42 has been read for a second time and is referred to the Standing Committee on the Assembly for -- sorry, Mr. Premier.

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to waive Rule 8.2(7) and have Bill 42 deemed ready for third reading. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Member is seeking unanimous consent to waive Rule 8.2(7). Seeing no nays, Bill 42 will be read for the second time and will -- third reading will be on Wednesday, February 24th, 2026.

Second Reading of Bills. Consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters, with the Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh in the chair.

I now call the Committee of the Whole to order. What is the wish of the committee? I will go to the Member from Inuvik Boot Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, committee wishes to consider Bill 33, Technical Safety Statutes Amendment Act; Bill 35, Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act 2026; and, Tabled Document 448-20(1), 2026-2027 Main Estimates, Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. Does committee agree?

Thank you. Committee, we have agreed to consider Bill 33, Technical Safety Statute Amendment Act. I will ask the Minister of Infrastructure to introduce the bill.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am here to present Bill 33, Technical Safety Statutes Amendment Act. Bill 33 updates and replaces the current Elevators and Lifts Act with the new framework called the Technical Safety Act, or TSA. The bill will cover elevators and lifts, boilers, and pressure vessels, electrical systems, and gas safety under one Act. These areas will be phased in through regulations over the next three years to four years. The bill will address the need for common rules across technical safety fields, allowing for future modernization of outdated legislation while strengthening public safety requirements. The bill will combine licensing, permitting, registration, inspection, and appeal systems into one unified framework. This will eliminate gaps and duplications while modernizing and aligning the NWT's electrical mechanical legislation along with other jurisdictions.

The Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment conducted a clause-by-clause review of Bill 33 on February 10th. We heard no concerns with the bill, and I would like to thank the committee for their time in review.

That concludes my opening remarks, and I am prepared to answer any questions that committee may have. Thank you.

Thank you. Would the Minister like to bring witnesses into the chamber?

I do.

Thank you. Does committee agree? Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the witness into the chamber. Thank you. Would the Minister introduce the witnesses.

Yeah, thank you, Mr. Chair. So to my right, I have got Jacques Roberge, senior legislative advisor. And to my left, Mitchell Roland, director, compliance and licensing.

Okay, thank you. I will now turn to the chair of the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment, the committee that reviewed the bill, for any opening comments on Bill 33.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Bill 33, Technical Safety Statutes Amendment Act, received second reading in the Legislative Assembly on October 30, 2025, and was referred to the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment for its thorough review.

Mr. Chairman, on February 10th, 2026, the standing committee held a public hearing with the Minister of Infrastructure and completed its clause-by-clause review of the bill. The committee received no submissions on the bill from the public or thereabouts.

Mr. Chairman, in closing, I want to thank the committee members for their robust and detailed efforts in reviewing this legislation. And individual Members may have their individual comments at this time but that summarizes committee's perspective. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Okay, thank you. I will now open the floor to general comments on Bill 33. Any Members? Is the committee agreed that there are no further general comments? Sorry, you're agreeing?