R.J. Simpson

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following two documents: Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Committee Report 10-20(1), Report on the Review of the 2023-2024 Annual Report of the Northwest Territories Information and Privacy Commissioner; and, Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Committee Report 12-20(1), Report on the Review of the 2023-2024 Annual Report of the Northwest Territories Human Rights Commission. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. No, no, no, I can't do that. We only have so much capacity in this government. You know, there was the bill the Member was referencing that moved through very quickly. Unfortunately, at the Department of Justice we have a limited number of policy staff who work on all of our initiatives, and then we have a limited number of drafters as well. And so to bring forward all of these items in such a short timeframe, it wouldn't be logistically possible if we want to it well. And we also have a public engagement piece we want to do with things, especially like the SCAN...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'll have to take that question on notice. Thanks.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It's been a while since I looked at that report, so I was just pulling it up. But from what I recall, there are good recommendations in there, they're solid recommendations. Some of the recommendations relate to a policy that we already have in place but just haven't been following, and if we followed that policy, I think there would be a lot of improvement in our relationships with the NGOs. So from what I can recall, yes, I look forward to following some of those recommendations. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The work will be starting in the spring. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Kam Lake, that Bill 18, An Act to Amend the Partnership and Business Names Act, will be read for the second time.

This bill will amend the act so that a name registration, which is under judicial review, is not stayed during the review period to avoid unreasonable and unpredictable delays in registering business names. In addition, the amendments seek to make the language more gender inclusive. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We're honoured to be joined by some folks from Hay River here today, both on the floor of the House and in the gallery. I want to recognize Sonya Campbell, who is joining us in the gallery as a chaperon. For our page from Hay River North this sitting, Molly Campbell. We're happy to have them and look forward to working with them. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following two documents: Plain Language Summary for Bill 18, An Act to Amend the Partnership and Business Names Act; and, a Statement of Consistency for Bill 18, An Act to Amend the Partnership and Business Names Act. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Later this month there is a short phone or video meeting with the Council of Leaders just to prepare for the meeting in June. It's mid-June, I believe. I will report back to the Member directly on the results of any conversations. I don't want to necessarily commit to putting people's names to those conversations unless those people want to have their names shared with the Member. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As a Member of the Council of Leaders, I would say that the resources of the GNWT are better spent elsewhere at this time given all of the challenges that we have. That being said, I'll start having some informal conversations with some of the other leaders at the table and go from there. Thank you.