Mackenzie Delta

Statements in Debates

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 8)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to request a recorded vote. Thank you.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 8)

Thank you, and thank you to the department to make that change there and we look forward to the first three months. Thanks.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 8)

Nice try.

---Laughter

Thank you, Mr. Chair. In the Minister's opening comments, he highlighted some concerns about the Community Access Program under the department. I don't see any funds allocated. I know the department feels, or the Minister feels, that there's no projects going ahead in the first three months, but there are actually projects that communities want to do. A number of the communities don't have the funds available to take care of these costs. To take on a project for $60,000 or $80,000 and bear the cost over the first three months, it's challenging for communities. The majority...

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 8)

That sounds great. It would be great if we could do that over the next couple of years here. That opens up a lot of our territory to development. But the biggest challenge is to ensure that we do this. I would like to ask the Premier: Will we be changing our negotiating mandate to ensure that we have a common interest to settle both land claims and self-government agreements?

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 8)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I want to talk a bit about the negotiations we are currently in. As you know, we have a couple outstanding land claims negotiations that have been underway for a number of years, but also self-government. We have a couple self-government organizations that are very close to an agreement. We have the Inuvialuit. Also, the Gwich'in are working towards an agreement-in-principle. There are number of challenges that our governments are facing under negotiations and some of them range from taking over programs at current levels. It's very difficult for our...

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 8)

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River South, that Bill 1, An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, be read for third time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 8)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. That sounds great. It brings me to my next question. Is that extra? Three months down the road when we do our budget, are we still going to get the other million as well? Thank you.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 7)

Thank You, Mr. Chair. With me today is usually my right-hand man, but today he's my left-hand man. Here is Mr. Tim Mercer, Clerk of the Legislative Assembly, and Mr. Ken Chutskoff, legislative counsel.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 7)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am pleased to provide opening comments on Bill 1, An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act. This act currently provides for an automatic cost-of-living increase to MLAs' salaries on April 1 of each year. This increase is based on the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index for Canada over the preceding two years.

If Bill 1 is not enacted, MLA salaries will increase by 1.1 per cent on April 1, 2016. This amounts to $30,000, including salaries paid to MLAs who hold additional responsibilities, such as Speaker, Premier, Ministers, and...

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 7)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River South, that Bill 1, An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, be read for the second time. This bill amends the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act to establish a two-year freeze on any upward adjustment of the indemnities payable to Members under Parts 1 and 2 of Schedule C. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.