Statements in Debates
Thanks, Madam Chair. Yes, I too agree with this motion. I think we do need to change the names of at least one riding in Yellowknife, and I'm not even going to use the word because I earlier today called it colonial and racist, and I'm trying to consciously not use that word anymore, so. But I see that, you know, this piece of legislation, and if I can get the name right here, Territorial Emblems and Honours Act, and I think there's an advisory committee established underneath this act if I get this right, or if sorry, Northwest Territories Honours Advisory Council or I think we have another...
Merci, Madam la Presidente. The committee wishes to consider Tabled Document 52819(2), 2021 Review of Member's Compensation and Benefits Northwest Territories; and, Tabled Document 65419(2), Electoral Boundaries Commission Final Report. Mahsi, madam.
Yeah, thanks, Madam Chair. I too will support this. I just don't think we do a very good job explaining what we do here and anything we can do to improve our way and means of telling people what we do here, I am in support of. And I think there's some reasonable ideas and suggestions here, and I know that some of this work is already underway by our public affairs folks. So I have no difficulty supporting this motion and the work that our staff are already doing. Thanks, Madam Chair.
Merci, Monsieur le President. I want to thank the Minister for that. It's a very interesting position. It's okay to plan and build roads into the range of the Bathurst caribou herd while the herd is in a precarious state but it's not okay to pause this work while we look at the future of the entire region. You know, I'm worried, Mr. Speaker, that this government is going to go ahead and file this project for regulatory approvals, land use permit, water licence, no matter what. We're heading straight for another Mackenzie Valley Highway Environmental Assessment that is now over nine years long...
Merci, Madme la Presidente. I move that Committee Motion 28319(2) be amended to read as follows: That this Assembly recommends that the Yellowknife Members of the Legislative Assembly be permitted to apply to the Board of Management to establish an office in Yellowknife outside the Legislative Assembly building as is the case with all nonYellowknife Members. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Merci, Monsieur le President. I want to thank the Minister for that. But surely to goodness we have some sort of sense of whether this is a good thing or not before we have to go and consult with everybody. But I know that the time decision's up to the Minister of Northern Affairs. You know, geographic scope and name for this initiative are probably still up for grabs but hopefully we can avoid the colonial and racist term "slave."
Can the Minister tell us whether GNWT's taken a position on the name and geographic scope of a regional study? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Thanks, Madam Chair. This is something I already do as a Member, and I'm just trying to weigh whether this is something we want to put into the rules or not, in one way or another. But that's what I do already. Well, I guess given that I generally try to come down on the side of workers, I am going to support this. Thanks, Madam Chair.
Merci, Monsieur le President. In June 2021, the Tlicho government wrote to the federal Minister of Northern Affairs requesting a regional study for the area known as the Slave Geological Province pursuant to part 5.2 of the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act. It took some prodding in May, June, but the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources supported the idea of a proposed regional study including participant funding. The review board held a workshop on a regional study in June 2022, and there is further correspondence on its website on this matter, including an interesting letter...
Yeah, thanks, Madam Chair. Towards the end of last Assembly, I did participate in a oneday seminar with a financial planner along with at least one other MLA and our partners. I found it to be very useful. And I understand with COVID, it's not as easy to access these services as it was before but I expect that that will improve. So this already happens, and it actually happens across the GNWT, I know, for other employees as well, that they are offered similar opportunities for training and advice. So I agree and support this recommendation and knowing that it already happens. Thanks, Madam...
Thanks, Madam Chair. I actually support this recommendation. I think it you know, that's without a lot of knowledge or understanding exactly what the reciprocal arrangement could or should look like, but I think this is another way of trying to encourage people to run for office. And if they knew that their pensions could be brought forward to include the service that they do in this House, then I think it could encourage more people to run for public office. And that's why I would support this. Thanks, Madam Chair.