WHEREAS pursuant to Section 61.(1) of the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, the Legislative Assembly recommends to the Commissioner the appointment of Members of the Executive Council;
AND WHEREAS pursuant to Section 61.(2) of the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, the persons appointed hold office during the pleasure of the Legislative Assembly;
AND WHEREAS the Assembly, pursuant to these powers, has chosen the Honourable Sandy Lee to sit as a Member of the Executive Council;
AND WHEREAS the Honourable Sandy Lee has formally resigned as a Member of the Legislative Assembly;
NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Thebacha, that this Assembly formally revokes the appointment of the Honourable Sandy Lee as a Member of the Executive Council.
Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. There is a motion on the floor. The motion is in order. To the motion.
Question.
Question has been called.
---Carried
Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, that Bill 11, An Act to Amend the Public Service Act, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Bill 11, An Act to Amend the Public Service Act, has had first reading.
---Carried
I’d like to call Committee of the Whole to order. In front of us today are Bill 5, Bill 6 and Bill 8. What is the wish of committee? Mrs. Groenewegen.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The wish of the committee today is to deal with Bill 8, An Act to Amend the Local Authorities Elections Act.
Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Is committee agreed?
Agreed.
With that, we’ll take a short break.
---SHORT RECESS
I’d like to call Committee of the Whole to order. Committee has agreed to deal with Bill 8, An Act to Amend the Local Authorities Elections Act. I’d like to ask Minister Robert McLeod if he has opening remarks.
Yes, I do, Mr. Chairman.
Thank you. Go ahead.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I am here to present Bill 8, An Act to Amend the Local Authorities Elections Act.
The amendments included in Bill 8 are intended to update and modernize the legislation to keep pace with the needs of local authorities in the Northwest Territories, and reflect the input of our partners, the NWT Association of Communities and the Local Government Administrators of the NWT. I would like to extend my thanks to these organizations for their advice and assistance, and to the participants on the peer review group who contributed a significant amount of time and energy over several years to the project to amend this legislation.
The most significant amendments authorize municipalities to have options in the election rules for additional voting opportunities, for electronic voting counting, for campaign contribution disclosure, and for deciding tie votes. Other amendments are designed to make elections more manageable, such as a shortened campaign period, automatic recounts, and increased authority of the chief municipal electoral officer to respond to extraordinary situations that may occur during an election.
I look forward to hearing comments from the Members and answering any questions. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. I’d like to ask the chairman of the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Infrastructure if he has comments. Mr. Ramsay.
Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. The Standing Committee on Economic Development and Infrastructure held public hearings on Bill 8, An Act to Amend the Local Authorities Elections Act, in Yellowknife, Fort Smith, Ulukhaktok, Inuvik, and Aklavik, during the month of April 2011. A public clause-by-clause review was held on May 10, 2011. Seven minor amendments of a technical nature were made to the bill during the clause-by-clause review. Following the clause-by-clause review a motion was carried to report Bill 8 to the Assembly as ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole as amended and reprinted.
This concludes the committee’s general comments on Bill 8. Individual Members may have additional questions or comments as we proceed.
Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. I would like to ask the Minister now if he would like to bring in witnesses.
Yes, I would, Mr. Chairman.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. I would ask the Sergeant-at-Arms to please escort the witnesses into the Chamber.
I’d like to ask the Minister to please introduce his witnesses.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have with me today Mr. Mike Aumond to my left, deputy minister of Municipal and Community Affairs; Mr. David Kravitz is manager of community governance; Mr. Mark Aitken is director of legislation for Department of Justice.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. We have before us, committee, Bill 8, An Act to Amend the Local Authorities Elections Act. Open for general comments. Any general comments? Detail? Is committee agreed?
Agreed.
We’ll proceed with the clause by clause. To do that we will turn to page 1. Does committee agree to clause 1 through 5?
---Clauses 1 through 57 inclusive approved
Does committee agree to the bill as a whole?
Agreed.
Does committee agree that Bill 8 is ready for third reading?
---Bill 8 as a whole approved for third reading
Thank you, committee, and thank you, Minister. I will ask the Sergeant-at-Arms to please escort the witnesses from the House. Mrs. Groenewegen.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that we report progress.
---Carried
Can I have the report of the Committee of the Whole, please, Mr. Bromley.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Your committee has been considering Bill 8 and would like to report that Bill 8 is ready for third reading. I move that the report of Committee of the Whole be concurred with.
Thank you, Mr. Bromley. A motion is on the floor. Do we have a seconder? The honourable Member for Nunakput, Mr. Jacobson.
---Carried
Orders of the day for Friday, May 13, 2011, at 10:00 a.m.:
Prayer
Ministers’ Statements
Members’ Statements
Returns to Oral Questions
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Acknowledgements
Oral Questions
Written Questions
Returns to Written Questions
Replies to Opening Address
Petitions
Reports of Standing and Special Committees
Reports of Committees on the Review of Bills
Tabling of Documents
Notices of Motion
Notices of Motion for First Reading of Bills
Motions
Motion 5-16(6), Establishment of Mobile Alcohol and Drug Treatment Program
First Reading of Bills
Bill 12, Supplementary Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 6, 2010-2011
Bill 13, Supplementary Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 1, 2011-2012
Bill 14, Supplementary Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures), No. 1, 2011-2012
Bill 15, An Act to Amend the Deh Cho Bridge Act
Bill 16, An Act to Amend the Motor Vehicles Act
Bill 17, An Act to Amend the Territorial Parks Act
Bill 18, An Act to Amend the Public Utilities Act
Bill 19, Cost of Credit Disclosure Act
Bill 20, Vital Statistics Act
Second Reading of Bills
Bill 11, An Act to Amend the Public Service Act
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Bill 3, Electronic Transactions Act
Bill 4, Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act
Bill 5, Write-off of Debts Act, 2010-2011
Bill 6, Forgiveness of Debts Act, 2010-2011
CR 1-16(6), Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the Auditor General’s Report on the Deh Cho Bridge Project, 2011
CR 2-16(6), Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the Auditor General’s Report on NWT Health Programs and Services, 2011
CR 3-16(6), Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 2009-2010 Human Rights Commission Annual Report
CR 4-16(6), Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the NWT Languages Commissioner Annual Report 2009-2010
Report of Committee of the Whole
Third Reading of Bills
Bill 8, An Act to Amend the Local Authorities Elections Act
Orders of the Day
Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Accordingly, this House stands adjourned until Monday, May 16, 2011, at 1:30 p.m.
---ADJOURNMENT
The House adjourned at 12:46 p.m.
