Debates of October 18, 2007 (day 1)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize my wife, Judy, and my sister-in-law Sharla. I would also like to recognize William Greenland and Sandra Ipana. Thank you very much.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Recognition of visitors in the gallery, the honourable Member for Nunakput, Mr. Jacobson.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize my wife, Jenny; my mother, Georgina; my son, Matthew; and my son, Mitchell. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Jacobson. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Abernethy.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize my parents, Dick and Loretta Abernethy, as well as a good family friend, Ian Gilchrist and an individual who helped me on my campaign, Kathryn Carriere. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Deh Cho, Mr. McLeod.

Mr. Speaker, my family couldn’t join us today, so I am especially pleased to see some members from my hometown: Mr. Wayne Vandell, Pascilina Therbert, Hilda Saborin, Theresa Bonnetrouge, Diane Gargan and a former constituent, Albert Canadien is with us today. Welcome to all of you.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize my loving wife and my little boy, Chase. Also, Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize a huge delegation from the Sahtu region: elder Morris Mendo, Grand Chief Frank Andrew, elder David Etchinelle, Ricky Andrew, chief from Deline, Raymond Tutcho, Mrs. Ayha, Mrs. Mackenzo, Mrs. Taniton, Mrs. Kenny and I would like to recognize other people also who are in this House today.

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Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The honourable Member for Monfwi, Mr. Lafferty.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I, too, would like to recognize two of my constituents: Mary Adele Flunkie and Josie Bishop are here for part of the language immersion workshop today. Mahsi.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize a couple of distinguished guests we have with us today: the president of the NWT Association of Communities and the executive director, Mr. Gord Van Tighem and Ms. Yvette Gonzalez. I would also like to recognize the president of the NWT Teachers' Association and executive director, Ms. Amanda Mallon and Dave Roebuck. I hope I remembered rightly. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Although he’s not my constituent, I would like to recognize Chief Superintendent Tom Middleton from “G” Division and thank him very much for his support to our community.

---Applause

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Yellowknife South, Mr. Bob McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize Mr. Ed Jeske, a long-time friend of mine; and Mayor Gord Van Tighem; Yvette Bungay, executive director…Yvette Gonzalez, sorry. A long-time friend of mine, Gerry Cheezie, Jessie Campbell, all of my people from Fort Providence that are here and from my previous life, all of my deputy minister colleagues that are sitting up there.

---Laughter

--Applause

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I realize there are lots of people there and it’s good to see them all. I just want to recognize a few people: Mr. Byrne Richards and Lydia Bardak who is very involved in the community issues and especially on homelessness and addiction issues in Yellowknife. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.

Mr. Speaker…(English not provided)…Mahsi cho.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, Mr. Roland.

I wanted to recognize Mr. Todd Parsons, president of the UNW.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Unfortunately, I can’t see a lot of the folks behind me, but I know there must be a lot of folks from Weledeh there.

---Laughter

There are also the other people that are attending today. I would like to express my appreciation and recognition of them participating in this process. Thank you very much.

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Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. I would also like to make special notice of General Chris Whitecross, Commander Joint Taskforce North, with us today. Welcome to the Legislative Assembly.

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Also, if we’ve missed anyone in the gallery today, welcome to the Legislative Assembly. It’s always nice to have an audience in here and hopefully we will have this crowd every day that we have session in here.

---Laughter

I give notice that on Monday, October 22, 2007, I will move the following motion: Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Sahtu, that the Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, the Honourable Floyd Roland, is hereby chosen to be Premier and a member of the Executive Council of the Northwest Territories. Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time, I will be seeking unanimous consent to deal with this motion today. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Monday, October 22, 2007, I will move the following motion: Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River South, that this Assembly recommends to the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories that the following Members be appointed to the Executive Council: Mr. Jackson Lafferty, the Member for Monfwi; Ms. Sandy Lee, the Member for Range Lake; Mr. Bob McLeod, the Member for Yellowknife South; Mr. Michael McLeod, the Member for Deh Cho; Mr. J. Michael Miltenberger, the Member for Thebacha; and Mr. Norman Yakeleya, the Member for Sahtu. Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time, I will be seeking unanimous consent to deal with this motion today. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Notices of motion. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.

Whereas Rule 85 requires that Members be appointed to the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight. Thank you very much, Mr. Clerk.

---Laughter

Mr. Speaker, I stand corrected.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Notices of motion. Notices of motion for first reading of bills. Motions. The honourable Member for Thebacha, Mr. Miltenberger.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It gives me great pleasure to make the following motion:

WHEREAS subsection 61(1) of the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act requires that there shall be an Executive Council of the Northwest Territories;

AND WHEREAS the Executive Council shall be comprised of a Premier chosen by the Legislative Assembly and persons appointed by the Commissioner on the recommendation of this Legislative Assembly;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Sahtu, that the Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, the Honourable Floyd Roland, is hereby chosen to be Premier and a member of the Executive Council of the Northwest Territories.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The motion is being circulated. There’s 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 unanimously.

---Carried

---Applause

Motions. The honourable Member for Kam Lake, Mr. Ramsay.

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

WHEREAS section 61(1) of the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act requires that there shall be an Executive Council of the Northwest Territories;

AND WHEREAS members of the Executive Council are appointed by the Commissioner on the recommendation of the Legislative Assembly;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River South, that this Assembly recommends to the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories that the following Members be appointed to the Executive Council: Mr. Jackson Lafferty, the Member for Monfwi; Ms. Sandy Lee, the Member for Range Lake; Mr. Bob McLeod, the Member for Yellowknife South; Mr. Michael McLeod, the Member for Deh Cho; Mr. J. Michael Miltenberger, the Member for Thebacha; and Mr. Norman Yakeleya, the Member for Sahtu.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The motion is being circulated. There’s 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 unanimously.

---Carried

---Applause

Motions. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.