Debates of October 12, 2005 (day 8)

Task Force On Year-End Expenditures

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have two written questions. The first written question is to the chairman of the Financial Management Board.

Would the chairman consider creating a task force to look at how end-of-year expenditures by department can be better controlled to ensure public money is not being spent for unnecessary items or to avoid lapsing funds?

Mr. Speaker, I am in receipt of Return to Written Question 1-15(4) asked by Mr. Braden to the Honourable Floyd Roland, Minister of Finance, regarding federal contributions to the NWT.

Federal initiatives have added almost $76.7 million in potential new federal monies since the 2005-2006 Main Estimates were tabled on February 10, 2005. Of this $76.7 million, $13.3 million is already in trust, or the money is committed and will flow once agreements are in place.

The remaining $63.4 million was transferred into trust accounts with the passage of the federal 2005-06 budget bill, Bill C-43. The federal budget bill included the $40 million Northern Strategy Trust, a special payment of $22.5 million relating to a technical adjustment to the territorial formula financing grant, and payment into trust of $941,000 as the NWT share of the funding related to the as-of-yet unsigned Early Learning and Childcare Agreement.

Members, under this, I would like to give a Speaker’s ruling. Members, when this House sat last on Thursday, June 2, 2005, the honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche, presented a document under item 11, petitions, which I must rule out of order.

The document in question is not in the form of a petition under our rules, specifically Rule 42 governing the presentation of petitions, and cannot be accepted as such. In this case, in examining the document referred to as an “infrastructure poll,” I do not find a material allegation or a grievance to be redressed by the Legislature or the government. Such allegations form the underlying basis and substance of a petition and seek a response.

Therefore, I must rule Petition 1-15(4) out of order and hereby order it withdrawn. I would further encourage all Members to consult with my office or the Clerk’s office if they have any questions regarding the form or content of documents acceptable to this House. Thank you, Members.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Your Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight is pleased to provide Notice of Presentation of the Pre-Budget Consultation Report and commends it to the House.

---Applause

The Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight would like to report that we have now completed our pre-budget consultation process.

The committee received several written submissions and heard from over 100 individuals at our public hearings in Fort Good Hope, Fort Simpson, Hay River, Inuvik, Lutselk’e, Paulatuk, Trout Lake, Whatì and Yellowknife. We would like to thank all the members of the public and organizations who provided their comments to us or who attended our meetings.

The committee wishes to advise this House that we will present our detailed report on the results of our pre-budget consultations on Monday, October 17, 2005.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. There is a motion on the floor. The motion is in order. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Mr. Speaker, I wish to report that the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight has reviewed Bill 6, Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2005, and Bill 10, An act to Amend the Income Tax Act, and wishes to report that Bill 6 and Bill 10 are ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to waive Rule 70(5) and have Bill 6 and Bill 10 ordered into Committee of the Whole for tomorrow. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to report that the Standing Committee on Governance and Economic Development has reviewed Bill 8, An Act to Amend the Revolving Funds Act, and Bill 9, Municipal Statutes Amendment Act, and wishes to report that Bill 8 and Bill 9 are ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to report that the Standing Committee on Social Programs has reviewed Bill 3, An Act to Amend the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, Bill 4, An Act to Amend the Education Act, and Bill 5, An Act to Amend the Judicature Act, and wishes to report that Bill 3, Bill 4 and Bill 5 are ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Friday, October 14, 2005, I will move the following motion: Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Range Lake, that Mr. Jackson Lafferty, Member for Monfwi, be appointed to the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight, to the Standing Committee on Social Programs and to the Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures. Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time, I will seek unanimous consent to deal with this motion today.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Friday, October 14, 2005, I will move that Bill 11, Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 2, 2005-2006, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Item 15, notices of motion for first reading of bills. Item 16, motions. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Villeneuve.

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to deal with the motion I gave notice of earlier today.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

WHEREAS Rule 85 requires that Members be appointed to standing committees of the Legislative Assembly;

AND WHEREAS vacancies exist on a number of standing committees;

AND WHEREAS Jackson Lafferty has been elected to the Legislative Assembly on July 18, 2005, as the Member for Monfwi;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Sahtu, that Mr. Jackson Lafferty, Member for Monfwi, be appointed to the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight, to the Standing Committee on Social Programs and to the Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. There is a motion on the floor. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Question.

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

---Applause

I would like to call Committee of the Whole to order. The only matter we have on our agenda today is Minister’s Statement 24-15(4), Sessional Statement. What is the wish of the committee? Mr. Menicoche.

I move that we report progress.

Thank you. The motion is in order; it's not debatable. All those in favour of the motion? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

I will now rise and report progress.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, your committee would like to report progress. Mr. Speaker, I move that the report of Committee of the Whole be concurred with. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Is there a seconder to the motion? The honourable Member for Thebacha, Mr. Miltenberger. Before we go on to the next item on the Order Paper, I would like to recognize in the gallery Kevin Wellington, who is visiting us from Hay River. He is the director for the youth centre in Hay River.

---Applause

Orders of the day for Thursday, October 13, 2005, 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

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

First Reading of Bills

Second Reading of Bills

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

- Bill 6, Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act,

2005

- Bill 10, An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act

- Minister's Statement 24-15(4), Sessional Statement

Report of Committee of the Whole

Third Reading of Bills

Orders of the Day

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Accordingly, this House stands adjourned until Thursday, October 13, 2005, at 1:30 p.m.

---ADJOURNMENT

The House adjourned at 15:53.