Rylund Johnson

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In October 2020, the City of Yellowknife voted to end fire services on the Ingraham Trail. The most frustrating part of that decision was that residents were only given six months to find an alternate solution. I implored the Minister during the multiple city council votes to send someone from MACA to ask for more time, knowing full well that the GNWT could not find a solution within six months, but GNWT bureaucracy doesn't move quickly and the idea of someone approaching city council to pitch a case without going up and down eight levels of bureaucracy first was an...

Mr. Speaker, I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River North, that, notwithstanding Rule 4, when this House adjourns on Wednesday, March 31, 2021, it shall be adjourned until Thursday, May 27, 2021;

AND FURTHER, that any time prior to May 27, 2021, if the Speaker is satisfied, after consultation with the Executive Council and Members of the Legislative Assembly, that the public interest requires that the House should meet at an earlier time during the adjournment, or at a time later than the scheduled resumption of the House, the Speaker may give notice and thereupon the House...

This is stemming from the larger long-standing issues where the GNWT and federal government gave a bunch of people fee simple, they started allowing more and more leases, and they created a cabin built-up area, as the Minister refers to it. However, it is not designated as anything, and people on the trail pay taxes every year and receive no services. They live off grid. They do not receive power, water, or sewer, so it has fallen into this area where, the Minister is completely right, it's confusing who exactly is responsible for what.

However, one of the concerns I have is that the department...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Presently, the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs is consulting with Ingraham Trail constituents and they are giving them the option of paying $1.7 million to start up providing fire services and, thereafter, $1.2 million annually. I'm a little confused, and in the resources provided, there is no real explanation of what these numbers are, where they came from, or what they're going to get. Can I just have some explanation of what that $1.7 million and, thereafter, $1.2 million would actually be paying for? Is it buying a fire truck? Is it hiring staff? What...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Despite my willingness that maybe bars and restaurants could serve alcohol on election day, I think it would be ridiculous to allow Members to expense alcohol and cannabis as part of the campaign. Thank you to committee for this explicit direction. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the Guiding Principles and Process Conventions for Consensus Government in the Northwest Territories dated August 2020.

I tend to agree with the Minister, but my concern here is that we seem to have no plans in this area to increase access to justice. Right now, I know that we have done some good work. We have one outreach lawyer. They run a Legal Aid clinic that does some of this work in poverty law, but I think there is definitely much more that can be done in that area. I think it starts by having it be a more public-facing law centre, one where people can find access to resources. Are there any plans to expand our current Legal Aid outreach clinic so that, perhaps, people looking for information can start...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My first answer, I am hoping for a yes. Presently, right now, if you want to access the law resource centre, it is behind a locked door. Is the Minister willing to unlock the door? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm in favour of the motion to amend. Right now, if you make a donation to any political candidate, your address becomes public information, and I'm not sure that's needed. I think it should be required that whoever donates to a political candidate, their name should be attached to it, but I'm not sure of the necessity of having residential addresses. As my colleague from Great Slave pointed out, there are some concerns there for people, so extending this to people who also make donations I am in favour of. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I would have preferred committee to support the recommendation of the Chief Electoral Officer. The days of having prohibition on election day are long gone. They arise from the time when politicians used to fill bars and buy votes. Nowadays, it's an annoyance and a loss to the hospitality industry. I know many people who would like to watch the election results come in and maybe enjoy a beer, and here we are saying that they can't do that nor can they go purchase cannabis. I am opposed to this motion. Thank you, Mr. Chair.