Thank you, Madam Chair. I move that this committee recommends that the government provide a comprehensive response to this report within 120 days. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Nadli. Motion is on the floor. The motion is in order. To the motion.
Question.
Question has been called. Motion is carried.
---Carried
Thank you, committee. Does committee agree that we have concluded consideration of Committee Report 4-17(3)?
Agreed.
Thank you, committee. We will move on to Committee Report 5-17(3). Mr. Bromley.
Thank you, Madam Chair. The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures submitted its report 5-17(3) on the introduction of electronic petitions in the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories. The report, which includes two recommendations, was read into the House earlier today, and with the kind consent of the Assembly, a motion was passed that moved the report into Committee of the Whole.
Madam Chair, this report responds to the Assembly’s request for an evaluation of the Electronic Petition Pilot Project conducted October 1, 2010, to June 30, 2010, and recommends that this Legislative Assembly improve the implementation of an ongoing electronic petitions service to be operational for the fall 2012 sitting of the Legislative Assembly. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Are there any further opening remarks to Committee Report 5-17(3)? Okay, is committee agreed we move to detail?
Agreed.
Mr. Bromley.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I move that this committee recommends that this Legislative Assembly approve the implementation of an ongoing electronic petitions service to operate in conjunction with traditional petitions, and that the electronic site be operational for the fall 2012 sitting of the Legislative Assembly. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The motion is being distributed. I’ll just wait a few minutes.
Committee, the motion is distributed. To the motion.
Question.
Question has been called. The motion is carried.
---Carried
Mr. Bromley.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I move that this committee recommends that any necessary amendments to the rules of the Legislative Assembly to permit the use of electronic petitions be drafted and presented for the approval of the Legislative Assembly during the fall 2012 session. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The motion is on the floor. The motion is in order. To the motion.
Question.
Question has been called. Motion is carried.
---Carried
Does committee agree that we have concluded consideration of Committee Report 5-17(3)?
Agreed.
Thank you, committee, we are concluded Committee Report 5-17(3). We will move on to Tabled Document 2-17(3), Commissioner’s Opening Address. I will open the floor for comments. Mr. Hawkins.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I’ll certainly be brief. As I understand it, this will be a future discussion on the upcoming Caucus agenda, where Members will discuss at length. So what I will say and leave, certainly in brevity, that is I’m very concerned about the lack of collaboration with Regular Members on the development of this. I view this as a blueprint on the mission of where government is going from a vision context.
So in absence of sort of a collaborative approach, which we often hear about how we work together, the assurance of the 20-minute speech turned into 45 minutes and I’m sure it had nothing to do with the person who actually read it, more in the context of it was a lot larger than I was led to believe. That said, I’m willing to stand down any fine mechanical critiquing until Caucus has a thorough discussion on this particular issue, whether they want to continue it.
The last one I just want to mention is that the Commissioner’s opening address in this context is truly a hallmark of the vision of the government and I would say that it was most notable, in my point of view, that Members weren’t involved in the development of it, and that’s sort of the crux of my issue. But that said, in my view at this present time the issue is concluded and we will consider further detail and discussion when Caucus reviews it as an item. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Any further comments to Tabled Document 2? Seeing none, does committee agree we have concluded consideration of Tabled Document 2-17(3)?
Agreed.
Thank you, committee. Mr. Menicoche, what is the wish of committee?
Thank you, Madam Chair. I move that we report progress.
---Carried
Can I have the report of Committee of the Whole, please? Ms. Bisaro.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Your committee has been considering Committee Report 3-17(3), Government Operations Report on the Review of the Office of the Northwest Territories Languages Commissioner Annual Report 2010-2011; Committee Report 4-17(3), Government Operations Report on the Review of the Status Report of the Auditor General of Canada to the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly; Committee Report 5-17(3), Rules and Procedures Report on the Introduction of Electronic Petitions in the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories; and Tabled Document 2-17(3), Commissioner’s Opening Address: Creating the Conditions for Success, and would like to report progress with 15 motions being adopted, and that Committee Reports 3-17(3), 4-17(3) and 5-17(3), and Tabled Document 2-17(3) are all concluded. I move that the report of Committee of the Whole be concurred with. Thank you.
Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. Do you have a seconder? Thank you, Mr. Blake.
---Carried
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Yellowknife South, that Bill 1, An Act to Amend the Student Financial Assistance Act, be read for the third time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Bill 1 has had third reading.
---Carried
Mr. Blake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Kam Lake, that Bill 3, An Act to Amend the Human Rights Act, be read for the third time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Bill 3 has had third reading.
Mr. Miltenberger.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, that Bill 9, Supplementary Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures), No. 1, 2012-2013, be read for the third time.
Bill 9 has had third reading.
Mr. Miltenberger.
I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Great Slave, that Bill 10, Supplementary Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), No, 7, 2010-2011, be read for the third time. Thank you.
Bill 10 has had third reading.
Mr. Miltenberger.
I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Monfwi, that Bill 11, Supplementary Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures), No. 4, 2010-2011, be read for the third time. Thank you.
Bill 11 has had third reading.
Mr. Clerk, would you ascertain if the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, the Honourable George Tuccaro, is prepared to enter the Chamber to assent to bills.
Mr. Speaker, Members of the Legislative Assembly, good afternoon.
At this time I would like to commend Members of this House for your work on the annual budget for 2012-2013, which you have passed. This budget will fund the Government of the Northwest Territories programs and services that will help this Assembly achieve its vision of strong individuals, families and communities sharing the benefits and responsibilities of a unified, environmentally sustainable and prosperous Northwest Territories.
And now that you have considered the matters before you in this session with utmost care, you have reached your decisions for the people of the Northwest Territories in mind.
I would also like to thank Members for their nominations for deserving Northerners who may receive the Diamond Jubilee Medals to honour Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. These Northerners will join other Canadians who will receive this honour.
Colleagues, before we adjourn today, I would like to make a few comments.
Firstly, I appreciate the work that you have undertaken during this session. You have debated and adopted the 2012-2013 budget, four supplementary appropriation bills, two pieces of legislation and considered five committee reports.
During this sitting we have also noted the Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Many of you joined the Premier and me earlier today for the planting of the Jubilee shrubs to commemorate this event. I wish to remind Members that ceremonies will continue to take place in many communities throughout the North to present the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medals. I encourage you to attend as many of these ceremonies as you can and to celebrate with our northern medal recipients.
The House also noted and marked May 26th as the National Day of Healing and Reconciliation, a unique and heartfelt northern response to the impacts of residential schools in the North. This House also passed a motion during this sitting which recognized and honoured the work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and we were honoured to have Commissioner Marie Wilson with us on Monday. I urge all Members and all NWT residents to continue to celebrate the strength of our communities and of our people and to take an active part in Aboriginal Day festivities on June 21st. This is another uniquely northern day of celebration.
As Northerners, we will, of course, join all Canadians to celebrate Canada Day on July 1st. True North strong and free.
I know, colleagues, that many of you offered congratulations to graduates in your regions during this sitting. Today I’d like to congratulate all my graduates of Nunakput, especially Bessie Lennie Ruben, Dakota Reidford, Isaac Elanik, Tessa Selene Lucas, Kyle Wolki, Joel Ross-Gruben, Kayla Kaodloak, Reheane Kanayok, Tracey Kanayok, Natasha Nasogaluak and Amanda Wolki. I’d like to say a special thank you to your parents, grandparents, your guardians and your friends for encouraging and supporting you each and every day to get you where you’re at. Thank you.
This is another happy summer ritual and it is worth repeating. I wish to extend the congratulations of the House to all the NWT graduates and wish them the very best as they begin a new and exciting stage in their lives. You are our future and we are all very proud of each and every one of you across the North.
Members, many of you will be returning to your homes and families tomorrow, which is a really good day. Summer in the Northwest Territories is a time to travel and visit with family and friends, to attend summer assemblies and listen to and learn from our constituents.
I wish you all safe travels as we leave today and look forward to seeing you as our paths cross this summer and when we again meet in this House in the fall.
