Debates of March 5th, 2026

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
Repairs to Social Housing Units
Northwest Territories Power Corporation's New Hybrid Board and Future Opportunities
College Nordique
Celebrating Hailey Rodgers' 33rd Birthday
Colville Lake Modular School Building
Indigenous-Led Mining Economy
Healthcare Workforce Plan
Legislation Development
Northwest Territories Alcohol Strategy
No fault Insurance
Northwest Territories Association of Communities Annual General Meeting Awards
Celebration of Life for Kevin Nitsiza Jr.
Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Protection of Transboundary Waters and Rights of Northerners
Recorded Vote
Referral of Tabled Document 483-20(1): 2025-26 Electoral Boundaries Commission Final Report
Referral of Tabled Document 445-20(1): 2025 Review of Members of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly Compensation and Benefits Report Carried
Waiving of Rent for Elders in Public Housing
Recorded Vote
Strengthening the Government of the Northwest Territories' Medical Travel Policy
Recorded Vote
Transfer of Housing Northwest Territories Market Rental Units to Tenants
Recorded Vote
No Fault Insurance
No Fault Insurance
New Colville Lake School
Northwest Territories Alcohol Strategy
Capacity to Move Legislation
Extended Health Benefits Program
Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority Spending
Dental Review Officer
Inclusive Education Review
Dental Review Officer Contract
Inclusive Education Review
Promoting Population Growth
Land Tenure Applications
Naming of the 50th Street 50-Plex
Tabled Document 488-20(1): Plain Language Summary for Bill 45: Civil Forfeiture Act Tabled Document 489-20(1): Statement of Consistency for Bill 45: Civil Forfeiture Act Tabled Document 490-20(1): Trespass Legislation What We Heard Report
Tabled Document 491-20(1): Annual Report for the Education Bodies of the Northwest Territories for the 2024-2025 School Year
Tabled Document 492-20(1): Inter-activity Transfers Exceeding $250,000 (April 1 to December 31, 2025)
Tabled Document 493-20(1): CBC News Article Titled “Yellowknife Family Calls for Changes to Medical Travel Policy After Troubling Experience”
Bill 46: Prevention of Proceedings that Hamper Expressions of Matters of Public Interest Act, Deemed Read
Bill 47: Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures) 2026-2027, Deemed Read
Bill 45: Civil Forfeiture Act
Bill 47: Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures) 2026- 2027
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Committee Report 37-20(1): Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Bill 34: Trespass to Property Act - Application of Trespass to Property Act in Schools
Committee Report 37-20(1): Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Bill 34: Trespass to Property Act - Ticketable Offences for Trespassing
Committee Report 37-20(1): Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Bill 34: Trespass to Property Act - Statistics on Prosecution for Trespassing Carried
Committee Report 37-20(1): Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Bill 34: Trespass to Property Act - Legislation to Regulate Private Security Companies
Committee Report 37-20(1): Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Bill 34: Trespass to Property Act - Policy Guidance on Use of Trespass to Property Act
Committee Report 37-20(1): Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Bill 34: Trespass to Property Act - Government Response
Report Of Committee Of The Whole
Bill 47: Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures) 2026-2027
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

March 5th

The Chair

The Chair Sheryl Yakeleya

Okay. Thank you. Is the committee agreed that there are no further general comments? I'll go back to the Member for Frame Lake.

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

March 5th

Julian Morse

Julian Morse Frame Lake

Thank you, Madam Chair. Sorry, just all this procedural stuff, I just want to make sure I get a question on the record and get the Minister's response to it. So during review of the bill, there were concerns raised by the RCMP -- I was present at that meeting -- about the lack of ability to create ticketable offences under the act. I'm just curious to hear the Minister's response to that and why that was left out of the bill and whether they will be considering doing that under regulations as (audio).

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

March 5th

The Chair

The Chair Sheryl Yakeleya

Thank you. I'll go to the Minister of Justice.

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

March 5th

Jay MacDonald

Jay MacDonald Thebacha

Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes, we are looking at what the path forward is to doing that under the summary conviction regulations. 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

March 5th

The Chair

The Chair Sheryl Yakeleya

Thank you. I'll go back to the Member for Frame Lake.

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

March 5th

Julian Morse

Julian Morse Frame Lake

Okay. Thank you. I felt that that was a pretty significant point that was made by the RCMP and a pretty significant lacking in the bill, so, you know, obviously I'd be curious to see that proceed through regulations, but I don't know if the Minister is going to be able to commit to it on the floor. But I think that it's just a key thing. Like, we don't want to be putting people in jail as a first step or sending them to court as a first step. So I just want to make sure that we -- the Minister is committed to ensuring that the ticketable offences aspect of this is included when it's brought into force -- before it's brought into force. Thank you.

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

March 5th

The Chair

The Chair Sheryl Yakeleya

Thank you. I'll go to the Minister of Justice.

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

March 5th

Jay MacDonald

Jay MacDonald Thebacha

Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes, I recall the conversation around this approach. And I agree. I think that, you know, having a staged approach to this, and, you know, the ability to have a ticketed offence I think is a direction that I will say I broadly support, and I'm happy to, I believe, respond to the recommendation in that regard at the appropriate time. 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

March 5th

The Chair

The Chair Sheryl Yakeleya

Thank you. Member for Frame Lake, anything further?

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

March 5th

Julian Morse

Julian Morse Frame Lake

Thank you, Madam Chair. I really appreciate that reassurance from the Minister. I have no further questions.

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

March 5th

The Chair

The Chair Sheryl Yakeleya

Thank you. Is the committee agreed that there are no further general comments? Agreed?

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

March 5th

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

March 5th

The Chair

The Chair Sheryl Yakeleya

Can we proceed to a clause-by-clause review of the bill?

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

March 5th

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

March 5th

The Chair

The Chair Sheryl Yakeleya

Committee, we will defer the bill number and title until after consideration of the clauses. Please turn to page 3 of the bill.

Clause 1, 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

March 5th

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

March 5th

The Chair

The Chair Sheryl Yakeleya

Clause 2, 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

March 5th

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

March 5th

The Chair

The Chair Sheryl Yakeleya

Clause 3, 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

March 5th

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

March 5th

The Chair

The Chair Sheryl Yakeleya

Clause 4, 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

March 5th

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

March 5th

The Chair

The Chair Sheryl Yakeleya

Clause 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

March 5th

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

March 5th

The Chair

The Chair Sheryl Yakeleya

Clause 6, does the committee agree?