Debates of October 21, 2004 (day 25)

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, that Bill 15, Tlicho Community Services Agency Act, be read for the second time.

Mr. Speaker, this bill established the Tlicho Community Services Agency, to perform functions related to education, health and social services in Tlicho communities and on Tlicho lands. The agency is required by the Tlicho Intergovernmental Services Agreement made under the Tlicho Land Claims and Self-Government Agreement.

The agency will be an agent of the Government of the Northwest Territories and will be a public agency listed in schedule A of the Financial Administration Act. Since most of its employees will be public servants, the agency will be listed in schedule A of the Public Service Act.

The agency will be composed of five members. Each community government will appoint one member and the fifth member will be a chairperson appointed by the Minister.

In accordance with the Tlicho Intergovernmental Services Agreement, the agency will continue to perform the functions of the Dogrib Divisional Education Council under the Education Act, including delivering the kindergarten to Grade 12 education program in accordance with standards established by the Government of the Northwest Territories.

The agency will also continue to perform the functions of the Dogrib Community Services Board, including the functions of a board of management under the Hospital Insurance and Health and Social Services Administration Act and other acts in accordance with applicable laws and with standards established by the Government of the Northwest Territories.

The agency may, with the consent of the Government of the Northwest Territories, perform additional roles assigned or delegated to it by the Tlicho government or by the Government of Canada.

The existing Dogrib Divisional Education Council and the Dogrib Community Services Board will be dissolved. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. The motion is in order. To the principle of the bill. The honourable Member for North Slave, Mr. Zoe.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To the principle of the bill. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak in support of this bill. I can’t tell you how happy I am to see this day. It’s been a long time coming.

---Applause

The only day I’ll be happier is when this bill and the bill that is now working its way through Parliament have both been made into law and our Tlicho agreement can finally be put into effect.

Mr. Speaker, this is the last of the three bills the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories needs to pass to do our part to bring the Tlicho agreement into force. It’s very encouraging to see this bill and the federal bill introduced this week. The Tlicho people have been waiting a long time for this. It took many years of long, difficult, expensive negotiations to get here.

The Tlicho agreement is groundbreaking and sets a new standard across Canada. This is a new relationship we’re building and there’s no doubt in my mind that this is good for the Tlicho, for the Northwest Territories, and for Canada as a whole. The collaboration between the Tlicho team and the Government of the Northwest Territories team to draft this legislation is an example of this new relationship, and they should be commended for that. Their hard work on this bill is very much appreciated.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the Minister for bringing this bill to the House during this session and I look forward to seeing it enacted in the near future. Mahsi cho.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Zoe. To the principle of the bill.

Question.

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

---Carried