Debates of June 6, 2006 (day 6)

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 70-15(5): Funding Support For Day Care

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the $940,000, I didn’t hear the Minister say there was any money going to try to open up additional day care spaces. What is the plan to try to get some additional day care spaces? I think we have an opportunity with the $940,000 to at least get a program off the ground or establish some type of program to get more spaces. People need day care spaces and I think it’s incumbent upon the government and Minister to come up with a plan to address that need. How are we going to get more day care spaces? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Time for question period has expired; however, I will allow the Minister to answer the supplementary. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 70-15(5): Funding Support For Day Care

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, first thing we have to do is make sure the existing day care operators are well supported. We know a lot of them are struggling, so we think the first thing we have to do with this money, since it’s one-time money, we can’t count on it being ongoing, in fact, we know for sure it won’t be ongoing money, we were looking for opportunities to help existing day care operators to better survive. If we create new day care spaces without having resolved the ongoing operations concerns, that isn’t helpful in the long run. The Member is right; we need to look for ways to improve how we can get more day cares in operation. One of the things we are hoping to do is, through the money that’s coming from the federal government, the $100 a month, we expect that that can be turned into fees. We are hoping to increase what we provide for user subsidies, that on top of what we provide now for operator subsidies, start-up grants. We think at that point we will have a program that will be sustainable and will lead to more spaces in all of our communities, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 70-15(5): Funding Support For Day Care

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I agree with the Minister that it’s important to shore up the day cares that we do have and I know the Minister has heard me stand up in the House in February and again today talking about inequities that exist between operators, some are in government-owned facilities and some aren’t. I would like to ask the Minister, of the $500,000 that he has suggested will go to grants to assist operators, is some of that money going to be earmarked for operators here in Yellowknife to level that playing field that I talked about earlier? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 70-15(5): Funding Support For Day Care

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The money is proposed to be allocated on a regional basis. So, yes, there will be some money available for operators in Yellowknife. We believe that this money will help the operators. If they are facing a financial challenge, for whatever reason, this money will be available to them to defray other expenses that they would otherwise have to take out of their operation. So, yes, we think that this money will help the operators in Yellowknife. Thanks.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation.

Please provide an independent analysis of the comparison between the cost (per unit and per square foot) of the average Novel housing as proposed by the government with brand new manufactured/mobile homes of similar size and quality, taking into consideration the possible volume discount advantages that could be had by ordering 830 mobile homes from any company in the industry.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have a letter here from Tlicho Grand Chief George Mackenzie on support of recognizing the value of elders’ knowledge. It is a motion that was passed. Mahsi.

Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Thursday, June 8, 2006, I will move the following motion: Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Yellowknife South, that the following individuals be appointed by the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories to the Human Rights Commission of the Northwest Territories effective July 1, 2006: Ms. Rita Mueller of the hamlet of Behchoko for a term of four years; and, Ms. Tammy Rogers of the town of Inuvik for a term of two years.

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Deh Cho, that Bill 6, Engineering and Geoscience Profession Act, be read for the second time.

Mr. Speaker, this bill replaces the Engineering, Geological and Geophysical Professions Act, and continues the existing Association of Professional Engineers, Geologists and Geophysicists of the Northwest Territories as the new Northwest Territories Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists. The association is responsible for the regulation of the professions of professional engineering and professional geoscience in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.

Some of the key provisions of the bill are concerned with the following matters:

setting out the powers of the association to manage its affairs, including the powers to hold property, borrow money, make bylaws and elect its governing council;

registering members, licensees, members-in-training and permit holders;

setting out rules respecting various aspects of the practice of the professions, including the use of the titles "engineer" and "geoscientist," the use of stamps and the payment of fees set by the association;

conducting discipline proceedings;

providing that the association may exercise powers and functions for the regulation of the profession in Nunavut;

providing for certain transitional issues, including preserving registrations effected and proceedings taken under the former act.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. There is a motion on the floor. The motion is in order. To the principle of the bill.

Question.

Question is being called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, that Bill 7, Pharmacy Act, be read for the second time.

Mr. Speaker, this bill provides for the regulation of the practice of pharmacy in the Northwest Territories. It sets out requirements for registration as a pharmacist and application procedures. The scope of the practice of pharmacy is outlined and penalties are imposed on persons who practice without a licence or temporary permit.

The bill adopts national drug schedules established by the National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities. Certain drugs may only be dispensed under the authority of a prescription and requirements for valid prescriptions are specified.

A process for the review of conduct of pharmacists is established, including a complaints mechanism, a description of unprofessional conduct, an option for alternative dispute resolution and a hearing process.

The existing Pharmacy Act is repealed and transitional matters are provided for. Consequential amendments are made to the Evidence Act, the Midwifery Profession Act and the Tobacco Control Act. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. There is a motion on the floor. The motion is in order. To the principle of the bill.

Question.

Question is being called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Deh Cho, that Bill 8, Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2006, be read for the second time.

Mr. Speaker, this bill corrects inconsistencies and errors in the statutes of the Northwest Territories. The bill deals with other matters of a minor, non-controversial and uncomplicated nature in the statutes, and also repealed provisions that have ceased to have effect. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. There is a motion on the floor. The motion is in order. To the principle of the bill.

Question.

Question is being called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Frame Lake, that Bill 10, Forgiveness of Debts Act, 2006-2007, be read for the second time.

Mr. Speaker, this bill authorizes the forgiveness of debts in accordance with the Financial Administration Act. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. There is a motion on the floor. The motion is in order. To the principle of the bill.

Question.

Question is being called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Deh Cho, that Bill 11, Tourism Act, be read for the second time.

Mr. Speaker, this bill enacts the Tourism Act which replaces the Travel and Tourism Act. The bill provides for the licensing of persons conducting or offering to conduct guided commercial tourism activities. Tourism special management areas may be designated so that limits or restrictions may be placed on tourism activities in areas that are archaeologically, culturally, historically or spiritually significant or that are ecologically sensitive. Provision is made for a Tourist Deposit Assurance Program so that a tourist may be reimbursed for a deposit that he or she paid to a tourism operator for a tourism activity that the tourism operator failed to provide. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. There is a motion on the floor. The motion is in order. To the principle of the bill.

Question.

Question is being called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Deh Cho, that Bill 12, Garnishment Remedies Statutes Amendment Act, be read for the second time.

Mr. Speaker, this bill amends the Creditors Relief Act to provide that the wages or salary or a debtor may be garnished for a period of one year. Other incidental amendments are made to the act in respect of this amendment. The Exemptions Act is amended to exempt 70 percent of a judgment debtor's wages or salary from garnishment, subject to a minimum amount that may be prescribed. The Territorial Court Act is amended to revise the provision relating to the Territorial Court's jurisdiction in garnishment proceedings to correspond to the amendments made to the Creditors Relief Act. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. There is a motion on the floor. The motion is in order. To the principle of the bill.

Question.

Question is being called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Bill 12 has had second reading and, accordingly, stands referred to a standing committee. Mr. Yakeleya.

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to return to item 14 on the orders of the day.

Thank you, colleagues. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Thursday, June 8, 2006, I will move the following motion: I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Frame Lake, that notwithstanding Rule 4, when this House adjourns on Thursday, June 8, 2006, it shall be adjourned until Tuesday, October 17, 2006; and further, anytime prior to October 17, 2006, if the Speaker is satisfied and after consultation with the Executive Council and Members of the Legislative Assembly, that the public interest require that this House should meet at an earlier time during the adjournment, the Speaker may give notice and thereupon the House shall meet at the time stated in such notice and shall transact its business as has been duly adjourned at that time.