Charles Dent

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Speaker, I would like to announce an exciting new pilot program to provide leadership opportunities for young people in the Northwest Territories: the Northwest Territories Youth Abroad Program.

The Honourable Michael McLeod, Minister responsible for Youth and I, as Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, have agreed to jointly contribute start up funding for a pilot project that will operate over the next two years. This NWT pilot project will be operated under the direction of the Nunavut Youth Abroad Society and coordinated by Northwest Territories...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Weledeh, that Bill 17, Modernization of Benefits and Obligations Act, be read for the second time.

Mr. Speaker, this bill amends several acts to ensure that references to "spouse" appropriately capture persons who live in spousal relationships outside marriage, so that the rights or obligations provided for or imposed under those acts are equitably applied to persons in different forms of spousal relationships.

This particular bill:

amends the Conflict of Interest Act to ensure that the term "spouse" includes...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I want to make it clear that this isn’t a government program. It’s basically volunteers who are running the program. This government is providing contribution assistance for two years to assist it to get off the ground. It’s very similar to what happened with the initial program that was set up in Nunavut. That’s one of the reasons I can’t answer the age questions because I don’t have all of the criteria. We welcome all the Members here for the 2:00 p.m. launch this afternoon of the program in the Great Hall. At that time, I am sure we will be able to...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This program targets young people who would be or should be in high school.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am afraid I don’t have the background on why the decision was made to require…It’s not a full year on the program, as I understand it. A recipient must have been receiving income support for six of the previous 12 months in order to qualify for the benefit. I suspect that it is because the amount they have divided up on a monthly basis would not be enough to purchase anything in the way of clothing. So in order to make it a reasonable amount, rather than giving out $20 a month or $40 a month, it’s seen as an offering in the program that allows a...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Minister responsible for the public service has advised me that the review of human resource practices is underway, and that, in the not-too-distant future, a report will be available that will be provided to Members on their findings. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, employees are certainly not targeted for speaking to the investigators from corporate human resources about human resource practices within Justice. In fact, nobody in the Department of Justice has access to those interviews, so there is nobody out there who has any idea of what may have been said. So, no, there would be no targeting of employees for that.

I am pleased to announce today the latest appointment and reappointments to the Status of Women Council of the NWT.

Patricia Lamouelle of Rae-Edzo has been appointed for a term of three years and Lynn Brooks of Yellowknife, Lorayne Menicoche-Moses of Fort Simpson, and Geraldine Sharpe-Staples of Inuvik have been reappointed for terms of three years.

These women will join Betty Tsetso of Deline and Therese Dolly Lafferty of Fort Resolution. I would also like to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of departing board member Natasha McCagg.

I want to take this time to thank all of these...

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Yellowknife South, that Bill 18, An Act to Amend the Territorial Court Act, be read for the second time.

Mr. Speaker, this bill repeals the requirement that territorial court judges and deputy territorial judges cease to hold office at age 65, subject to reappointment. The ultimate requirement that such judges cease to hold office at age 75 is retained.

This bill also repeals provisions that relate to fixed term appointments for deputy territorial judges. Transitional provisions specify that deputy territorial judges whose terms have...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, CTS courses are offered in schools across the Northwest Territories.