Louis Sebert

Thebacha

Statements in Debates

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 78)

Yes, Mr. Speaker. I can advise that the Department of Lands and Justice are well aware of this problem and are attempting to resolve it through the courts. I cannot comment on the case that is currently before the courts and, as the Member opposite alluded to in his question, there are perhaps some unusually complex issues concerning Aboriginal claim. However, I understand that we are also looking at alternative legal steps to have the structure removed, and it is anticipated, and I hope this comes to pass, that the structure and other debris will be removed prior to freeze-up.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 78)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am here to present Bill 28, Interpretation Act.

I would like to thank the Standing Committee on Social Development for their review of this bill and for the constructive feedback they provided. A motion was made in Committee, and I am pleased that the bill was improved as a result.

The current Interpretation Act finds its origins in the Revised Ordinances of the Northwest Territories of 1888, and although minor changes have been made to the act over time, it has not been significantly modernized from its original iteration. Bill 28 will repeal and replace the current act...

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 78)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I would like to have that opportunity, thank you.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 78)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. To my left is Emily Ingarfield, the manager of policy, and to my right, Laura Jeffrey, legislative counsel. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 78)

Yes. I am here to present Bill 24, An Act to Amend the Coroners Act.

I would like to thank the Standing Committee on Social Development for their review of this bill, and for the constructive feedback they have provided. A number of motions were made in committee, and I am pleased the bill has improved as a result. Bill 24 includes a number of proposed amendments to the Coroners Act to create greater efficiencies in the process to form a coroner’s inquest jury and the procedures for conducting a coroner’s inquest. To this end, the amendments would be:

Allow for the assembly of a jury panel...

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 78)

The Public Utilities Board has an exhaustive process which I understand costs the Power Corporation approximately $2 million each time there is a GRA application. I do not think there is any point, frankly, in duplicating that sort of detail of information before a standing committee. As I said, we are prepared to appear before committee and, in a general sense, go through the details of our plans for the future, but to go through the sort of detail that the Member opposite seems to be alluding to, well, I suggest that is properly before the PUB.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 78)

As indicated in my answer yesterday, Mr. Speaker, we are always prepared to appear before standing committee. However, the Power Corporation is a little different than the rest of the government in that we appear in front of the Public Utilities Board for discussions about our budgeting and ongoing requests for rates, so I think it would be duplicitous and probably a waste of time to go through that sort of exhaustive exercise also before committee.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 78)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Laura Jeffrey, legislative counsel, to my left. Thank you.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 78)

I suppose it depends on the immediacy of the event that requires the police to go to the community. Obviously, if there was a helicopter available, they could get there very quickly. I understand sometimes, during freeze-up, members can access the community over a secondary ice road over the Arctic Red River. Clearly, it depends on the nature of the information that requires the RCMP to attend at the community. I am certain that they are able to get there in an expeditious way, if necessary, by helicopter.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 77)

Mr. Speaker, as mentioned previously, there have been a series of public meetings and in addition to that as I mentioned yesterday approximately 1,100 online responses. We will soon be coming up with a "what we heard" document, so we will have some idea of what the public's opinion is with respect to this important issue. I look forward to working with all Members of this House with respect to moving forward with this change in our law and how we are going to be dealing with the retail and distribution end for this product. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.