Kevin O'Reilly

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Crucial Fact

His favourite word was thanks.

Historical Information Kevin O'Reilly is no longer a member of the Legislative Assembly.

Last in the Legislative Assembly October 2023, as MLA for Frame Lake

Won his last election, in 2019, with 51% of the vote.

Statements in the House

Future Of The Northwest Territories February 18th, 2016

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to make some general comments today on the future of the Northwest Territories. The proposed mandate tabled yesterday in this House and the Commissioner's Opening Address provided Cabinet's assessment of our fiscal situation, which is not shared by all in this Assembly. We have inherited new authority and jurisdiction under devolution. We must use our resources very wisely to ensure that we do not take away opportunities for future generations, but also maximize the retention of benefits for our residents today. The federal government did not review revenues from these resources for many, many years. As part of the devolve-and-evolve approach, we need to thoroughly examine whether the Northwest Territories is getting a fair return for the use and extraction of these public resources. We also need to ensure that there is some benefit to future generations from this non-renewable natural capital through a defined revenue stream into our Heritage Fund. I look forward to a comprehensive and public review of our resource revenues during the term of this Assembly. Yesterday, we heard from Cabinet about traditional values of thrift and self-reliance. There was another traditional value that was not discussed: sharing. We look after each other here. Those that have, share with those that do not have. Income disparity has steadily grown in the Northwest Territories over the 30 years I have lived here. Despite the high cost of living, there is room for us to better share our wealth within the Northwest Territories, and I will be looking for ways to increase our revenues. There are sectors of our economy that are enjoying growth, including tourism, arts and crafts, manufacturing, and agriculture. Those are exactly the areas we should be supporting to diversify our economy and to build long-term sustainability and resiliency. Now is the time for public strategic investment in these sectors of our economy. Building large surpluses in the operations and maintenance side of our budget to spend on infrastructure will require cuts to programs, services, and staffing that support our quality of life. Building roads to resources will perpetuate our dependency on non-renewable resources and the boom and bust cycles of commodities that we cannot control. If we are to invest in infrastructure, let's invest in our people and a knowledge economy through a university in the Northwest Territories. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. There is tremendous global interest in our natural environment, cultural, traditional knowledge, co-management systems, and cold-weather technology. Canada is the only circumpolar country without a university in its north. This is something that I believe the new federal government would support. This is the kind of vision I had expected to see as part of the proposed mandate. I look forward to the debate in the coming weeks on the future of the Northwest Territories and our fiscal situation. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Motion 3-18(2): Rules Amendments For The Standing Committees Of The House, Carried February 17th, 2016

I seek unanimous consent to have my rather lengthy motion deemed read and printed in the Hansard in its entirety, and thanks to the Clerks for that.

Motion 8-18(2): Appointment To The Standing Committee On Social Development, Carried February 17th, 2016

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to the deal with the motion I gave notice of earlier today on rules amendments for the standing committees of this House.

Motion 8-18(2): Appointment To The Standing Committee On Social Development, Carried February 17th, 2016

WHEREAS, Rule 89(2) requires that Members be appointed to the Standing Committee on Social Development;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Yellowknife North, that the following Members be appointed to the Standing Committee on Social Development:

Mr. Michael M. Nadli, the Member for Deh Cho;

Mr. Frederick Blake Jr., the Member for Mackenzie Delta;

Mr. Shane Thompson, the Member for Nahendeh

Mr. Tom Beaulieu, the Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh; and

Ms. Julie Green, the Member for Yellowknife Centre;

AND FURTHER, that the following Members be appointed to the Standing Committee on Social Development as alternate members:

Mr. R.J. Simpson, the Member for Hay River North;

Mr. Herbert Nakimayak, the Member for Nunakput; and

Mr. Daniel McNeely, the Member for Sahtu.

Motion 7-18(2): Appointments To The Standing Committee On Rules And Procedures, Carried February 17th, 2016

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to deal with the motion I gave notice of earlier today on appointments to the Standing Committee on Social Development.

Motion 8-18(2): Appointments To The Standing Committee On Social Development February 17th, 2016

I give notice that on Monday, February 22, 2016, I will move the following motion: Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Yellowknife North, that the following Members are appointed to the Standing Committee on Social Development:

Mr. Michael M. Nadli, the Member for Deh Cho;

Mr. Frederick Blake Jr., the Member for Mackenzie Delta;

Mr. Shane Thompson, the Member for Nahendeh;

Mr. Tom Beaulieu, the Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh; and

Ms. Julie Green, the Member for Yellowknife Centre;

And further, that the following Members be appointed to the Standing Committee on Social Development as alternate members:

Mr. R.J. Simpson, the Member for Hay River North;

Mr. Herbert Nakimayak, the Member for Nunakput; and

Mr. Daniel McNeely, the Member for Sahtu.

At the appropriate time, I will be seeking unanimous consent to deal with this motion today

Motion 3-18(2): Rules Amendments For The Standing Committees Of The House February 17th, 2016

I give notice that on Monday, February 22, 2016, I will move the following motion: Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Thebacha, that the Rules of the Legislative Assembly be amended by making the following changes to Rule 89(2) by deleting the word “Infrastructure” and replacing it with the word “Environment” and by deleting the word “Programs” and replacing it with the word “Development”; and further, that Appendix 3, forming part of the Rules of the Legislative Assembly, be repealed and the following be substituted:

APPENDIX 3

COMMITTEE TERMS OF REFERENCE

1. The Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment shall consider the following matters with respect to the Departments of Environment and Natural Resources; Industry, Tourism and Investment; Lands; Public Works and Services; and Transportation:

2. review multi-year business plans and budgets, bills, boards and agencies, including the Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut; the Northwest Territories Power Corporation; the Northwest Territories Business Development and Investment Corporation, and the Public Utilities Board;

3. review departmental performance, including that of boards and agencies;

4. consider matters related to infrastructure;

5. consider matters related to climate change; and

6. consider any other matter referred by the House.

7. The Standing Committee on Government Operations shall consider the following matters with respect to the Departments of Aboriginal Affairs and Intergovernmental Relations; Executive; Finance; Human Resources; and Municipal and Community Affairs:

8. review multi-year business plans and budgets, bills, boards and agencies;

9. review departmental performance and official language issues, including that of boards and agencies;

10. review, as necessary or appropriate, the annual and other reports of the Statutory Officers of the Legislative Assembly, including the Languages Commissioner, the Information and Privacy Commissioner, the Equal Pay Commissioner and the Human Rights Commission;

11. examine the reports on the annual financial statements and public accounts of the Government of the Northwest Territories and the Report of the Auditor General;

12. In the event that the Assembly is not in Session, the Speaker may provide the Auditor General’s Report and the Minister of Finance may provide the Public Accounts to the Committee for review, which may include public hearings, in advance of tabling; and

13. consider any other matter referred by the House.

14. The Standing Committee on Priorities and Planning shall:

15. review issues which have government-wide implications including all related to devolution, implementation, and the overview of the budget and fiscal framework;

16. review Government of the Northwest Territories reports on financial and performance results and program and policy evaluations to ensure anticipated outcomes are being achieved and accountability is maximized;

17. coordinate Sessional business scheduling and planning in cooperation with appropriate Ministerial representatives;

18. coordinate Committee public consultation efforts with respect to budget and fiscal matters;

19. coordinate Committee strategic planning efforts;

20. monitor and evaluate Ministerial performance issues;

21. consider issues related to land claims and self-government negotiations;

22. consider issues related to public engagement and transparency efforts by standing and special committees;

23. consider issues related to federal and international relations; and

24. consider the budgets and financial management of any boards and agencies that are outside the responsibility of any Standing Committee; and

25. consider any other matter referred by the House.

26. The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures shall:

27. review the reports of the Chief Electoral Officer on the conduct of elections, plebiscites, or votes conducted in the Northwest Territories in accordance with statute;

28. review, as necessary or appropriate, the annual and other reports of the Conflict of Interest Commissioner;

29. review and make recommendations on the implications and impacts that the implementation of self-government agreements will have on the powers, structures and procedures of the Legislative Assembly; and

30. Inquire into such matters as may be referred to it by the Legislative Assembly, the Speaker, or the Board of Management.

31. The Standing Committee on Social Development shall consider the following matters with respect to the Departments of Education, Culture and Employment; Health and Social Services; Justice; and the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation:

32. review multi-year business plans and budgets, bills, boards and agencies, including the Status of Women Council and programs for seniors, youth and persons with disabilities;

33. review departmental performance, including that of boards and agencies;

34. consider issues related to homelessness; and

35. consider any other matter referred by the House.

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

Tabled Document 6-18(2): Correspondence From Department Of Industry, Tourism And Investment To National Energy Board Regarding Mackenzie Gas Project Extension Of Sunset Clause February 17th, 2016

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to table two documents. The first one is from the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment, Bob McLeod, to the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment. It's dated February 15, 2016, and I understand it was received by the Clerk's office at 5:18 p.m. It's about providing an update on the extension of the sunset clause for the Mackenzie Gas Project. The second document I'd like to table is from the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment to the National Energy Board and the Office of the Oil and Gas Regulator, and it's dated February 15, 2016, and this was sent at 6:05 p.m.

Question 8-18(2): Consultation On The Extension Of Mackenzie Valley Gas Project Certificate February 17th, 2016

That’s a piece of good news. I find out about it in the House, but thank you. Will the Minister commit to a public review of the structure and reporting relationships of the Office of the Regulator of Oil and Gas Operations so as to avoid a conflict of interest between GNWT roles as intervener and regulator?