Debates of November 3, 2010 (day 29)

Date
November
3
2010
Session
16th Assembly, 5th Session
Day
29
Speaker
Members Present
Mr. Abernethy, Mr. Beaulieu, Ms. Bisaro, Mr. Bromley, Hon. Paul Delorey, Mrs. Groenewegen, Mr. Hawkins, Mr. Jacobson, Mr. Krutko, Hon. Jackson Lafferty, Hon. Sandy Lee, Hon. Bob McLeod, Hon. Michael McLeod, Hon. Robert McLeod, Mr. Menicoche, Hon. Michael Miltenberger, Mr. Ramsay, Hon. Floyd Roland, Mr. Yakeleya
Topics
Statements

Question has been called.

---Carried

COMMITTEE MOTION 34-16(5): REPORTING PERFORMANCE INDICATORS BY CATEGORIES, CARRIED

I move that this committee recommends that the Department of Education, Culture and Employment reports on performance indicators supporting the major categories such as education council, ethnicity and gender, with a recognition that it may sometimes be necessary to aggregate data to protect the privacy of individual students.

The motion is in order. To the motion.

Question.

Question is being called.

---Carried

COMMITTEE MOTION 35-16(5): ASSESSING, MEASURING AND REPORTING ON NEW PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES, CARRIED

Mr. Chair, I move that this committee recommends that when the Department of Education, Culture and Employment plans and designs a new program or initiative, that it identify the means to be used to assess, measure and report the program or initiative. Thank you.

The motion is in order. To the motion.

Question.

Question is being called.

---Carried

COMMITTEE MOTION 36-16(5): PROGRESS UPDATES ON IMPLEMENTATION OF AUDITOR GENERAL’S RECOMMENDATIONS TO STANDING COMMITTEE ON SOCIAL PROGRAMS, CARRIED

Mr. Chair, I move that this committee recommends that the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment provide periodic updates on the progress of the implementation of the Auditor General’s recommendations on education in the Northwest Territories through status reports to the Standing Committee on Social Programs. Thank you.

The motion is in order. To the motion.

Question.

Question is being called.

---Carried

COMMITTEE MOTION 37-16(5): COMPREHENSIVE RESPONSE WITHIN 120 DAYS, CARRIED

Mr. Chair, I move that the committee recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories provide a comprehensive response to this report within 120 days. Thank you.

The motion is in order. To the motion.

Question.

Question is being called.

---Carried

Does the committee agree that we have concluded Committee Report 6-16(5)?

Agreed.

We have concluded Committee Report 6-16(5).

We agreed, prior to this, that we would go to Tabled Document 30-16(5). Mr. Bromley.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I want to take a few moments today to discuss the process that will be followed to consider and debate the report of the Independent Commission to Review Members’ Compensation and Benefits. I would be remiss if I didn’t begin by thanking the commission members themselves for their detailed and thoughtful work.

The commission provided every Member of the House with opportunity to provide their thoughts and perspectives for the commission’s consideration. Ample opportunity was also made for public participation. The commission members were Ed Gullberg, Leon Lafferty and Marion Burles. The commission was initially chaired by Mr. Garth Malakoe, prior to his appointment to the Territorial Court. It is obvious from the report that each of these individuals dedicated a great deal of time and effort to this work.

Mr. Chair, our Legislative Assembly has adopted a process for reviewing MLA compensation and benefits similar to that which exists in most Canadian and Commonwealth jurisdictions. Although the ultimate authority to enact legislation setting MLA compensation must rest with legislators themselves, those decisions are guided by review by an independent body at the beginning of every new Assembly. Our Assembly has also adopted a custom whereby sitting MLAs never vote to change their own compensation. Changes to Members’ compensation normally take effect at the commencement of the following Assembly. These two steps help lessen the necessary but unfortunate necessity of having MLAs determine their own compensation.

Mr. Chair, the report of the independent commission was tabled in this House on May 11, 2010. It was referred to Committee of the Whole on May 13, 2010, and has remained there since.

Mr. Chair, I think it’s important that the public understand what the status of this report is. Following adjournment of the House this week, we will reconvene on February 8, 2011. At that time… Excuse me, Mr. Chair, we may convene on February 1, 2011. At that time, the report of the independent commission will remain on the orders of the day. In the intervening period, staff will complete their analysis of the commission’s report and prepare draft legislation that can be considered in conjunction with the report. It makes sense to debate the report and any draft legislation falling out from the report at the same time, Mr. Chair.

Mr. Chair, I look forward to a full and thorough debate on the report of the independent commission when this House reconvenes in February. With that, Mr. Chair, I move that we report progress.

---Carried

Report of Committee of the Whole

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Could I have the report of Committee of the Whole please, Mr. Krutko?

Mr. Speaker, committee has been considering Committee Report 3-16(5), Report on the Review of the Child and Family Services Act; Committee Report 4-16(5), Report on the Review of the 2008-2009 Annual Report of the Languages Commissioner of the Northwest Territories; Committee Report 5-16(5), Report on the Review of the 2008-2009 Annual Report of the Information Privacy Commissioner of the Northwest Territories; Committee Report 6-16(5), Review of the Auditor General of Education in the Northwest Territories; and Tabled Document 30-16(5), 2010 Review of Members’ Compensation and Benefits, and would like to report progress with 20 motions being adopted and that committee reports 3, 4, 5 and 6 are concluded. Mr. Speaker, I move that the report of Committee of the Whole be concurred with.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Motion is on the floor. Do you have a seconder? The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Beaulieu.

---Carried

Third Reading of Bills

BILL 21: SUPPLEMENTARY APPROPRIATION ACT (OPERATIONS EXPENDITURES), NO. 4, 2009-2010

I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Range Lake, that Bill 21, Supplementary Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures), No. 4, 2009-2010, be read for the third time. Thank you.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Motion is on the floor. The motion is in order. Bill 21 has had third reading.

---Carried

The honourable Minister of Finance, Mr. Miltenberger.

BILL 22: SUPPLEMENTARY APPROPRIATION ACT (INFRASTRUCTURE EXPENDITURES), NO. 5, 2009-2010

I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Monfwi, that Bill 22, Supplementary Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 5, 2009-2010, be read for the third time. Thank you.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Motion is on the floor. The motion is in order. To the motion. Bill 22 has had third reading.

---Carried

The honourable Minister of Finance, Mr. Miltenberger.

BILL 23: SUPPLEMENTARY APPROPRIATION ACT (OPERATIONS EXPENDITURES), NO. 2, 2010-2011

I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, that Bill 23, Supplementary Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures), No. 2, 2010-2011, be read for the third time. Thank you.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Motion is on the floor. The motion is in order. Bill 23 has had third reading.

---Carried

The honourable Minister of Finance, Mr. Miltenberger.

BILL 24: SUPPLEMENTARY APPROPRIATION ACT (INFRASTRUCTURE EXPENDITURES), NO. 4, 2010-2011

I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Deh Cho, that Bill 24, Supplementary Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 4, 2010-2011, be read for the third time. Thank you.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Motion is on the floor. The motion is in order. Bill 24 has had third reading.

---Carried

Orders of the Day

Speaker: Mr. Schauerte

Mr. Speaker, orders of the day for Thursday, November 4, 2010, at 1:30 p.m.:

Prayer

Ministers’ Statements

Members’ Statements

Reports of Standing and Special Committees

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 Committees on the Review of Bills

Tabling of Documents

Notices of Motion

Notices of Motion for First Reading of Bills

Motions

Motion 25-16(5), Expanding Student Financial Assistance Program

Motion 26-16(5), Extended Adjournment of the House to February 2, 2010

Motion 27-16(5), Northern Management Regime for Land and Resources

First Reading of Bills

Second Reading of Bills

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Tabled Document 4-16(5), Executive Summary of the Report of the Joint Review Panel for the Mackenzie Gas Project

Tabled Document 30-16(5), 2010 Review of Members’ Compensation and Benefits

Tabled Document 38-16(5), Supplementary Health Benefits - What We Heard

Tabled Document 62-16(5), Northern Voices, Northern Waters: NWT Water Stewardship Strategy

Tabled Document 75-16(5), Response to the Joint Review Panel for the Mackenzie Gas Project on the Federal and Territorial Governments’ Interim Response to “Foundation for a Sustainable Northern Future”

Tabled Document 103-16(5), GNWT Contracts over $5,000 Report, Year Ending March 31, 2010

Bill 4, An Act to Amend the Social Assistance Act

Minister’s Statement 65-16(5), Devolution Agreement-in-Principle, Impact on Land Claims and Protection of Aboriginal Rights

Report of Committee of the Whole

Third Reading of Bills

Orders of the Day

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Accordingly, this House stands adjourned until Thursday, November 4, 2010, at 1:30 p.m.

---ADJOURNMENT

The House adjourned at 5:10 p.m.