Kevin O'Reilly

Frame Lake

Statements in Debates

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 50)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that this committee recommends that, when a Member files a written question with the Office of the Clerk, the Member should note if, in the event the Member loses their connection, the written question can be announced by the Clerk and be printed in its entirety in Hansard. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 50)

Merci, Madame la Presidente. WHEREAS Mrs. Frieda Martselos was appointed to the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment by Motion 11-19(1) on December 10, 2019;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River North, that the appointment of Mrs. Frieda Martselos to the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment be revoked; and further,

WHEREAS Rule 89(2) requires that Members be appointed to the Standing Committee on Government Operations;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River North, that Mr. Steve Norn be...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 50)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that this committee recommends that, during oral questions, if a Member attending remotely is disconnected while asking a question, if the Member is successful in reconnecting before the allotted time expires, the Speaker will allow the Member to continue their questions; and further, if the Member is not able to reconnect before the allotted time expires, the Member may choose to submit the full question and up to three supplemental questions in writing, and that the Minister would have two sitting days in which to respond. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 50)

I want to thank the Minister for that. I have looked for data and reports on the output of the agricultural sector here in the Northwest Territories, and it's really hard to find anything. The ITI website has an agricultural sector profile page, but there is not much quantification there. The Bureau of Statistics doesn't seem to have much data on its web page, either. Of course, if you can't count it, how can we measure progress on building food security? Can the Minister tell us what steps she is taking to ensure that we can actually measure food security improvements with real targets and...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 50)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that this committee recommends that, when a Member attending remotely loses their connection just prior to or during a vote, the Member immediately contacts the table officer to register their vote, and that the Clerk will announce to the House how that Member voted at the end of the roll call; and further, that three minutes will be counted from the end of the roll call to when the Speaker announces the results if a Member has lost connection prior to voting to allow the Member time to contact the table officer. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 50)

Merci, Madame la Presidente. My questions are for the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment. My statement referred first to this government's mandate commandment to increase food security through food industry, increasing country food harvesting, and improving Nutrition North. Of course, there are several tasks there. Can the Minister give us a brief update on the current status of this mandate commandment on increasing food security? Mahsi, Madam Speaker.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 50)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that this committee recommends that any member attending remotely by videoconference be required to have a neutral background on screen; and further, if the Speaker determines a background is distracting to the House, the Speaker be empowered to order the Member to rectify the issue and, if the Member refuses, to turn off the Member's video and allow the Member to participate via audio only. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 50)

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I move that this committee recommends that Rule 12(10), which states, "When in the Assembly, every Member shall be attired in traditional Indigenous attire or in a manner that does not offend the dignity of the Assembly," apply when a Member is appearing remotely. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 50)

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I move this committee recommends that the rules of the Legislative Assembly authorize the Speaker to allow a Member to attend all or a part of a session remotely when that Member is unable to travel due to a state of emergency being declared in the Member's home community, the Member is under an order of the Chief Public Health Officer prohibiting travel, or the Speaker believes travel would put the Member's health or safety at risk. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 50)

Merci, Madame la Presidente. I recognize that I'm one of the few things that is standing in the way of a much-needed break for us all, so I'm going to try to keep my remarks pretty short here. There was a very significant announcement by the Minister of Finance in the House yesterday. It's largely gone unnoticed by the public and media. That was some changes that the Minister agreed to make moving forward as a result of our discussions around the 2021-2022 capital budget. There was $15 million added to the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation budget over three years to help leverage the...