Debates of October 29, 2004 (day 31)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Monday, November 1, 2004, I will move the following motion:

I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Great Slave, that notwithstanding Rule 4, that when this House adjourns on Friday, October 29, 2004, it shall be adjourned until Wednesday, February 9, 2005;

And further, that any time prior to February 9, 2005, if the Speaker is satisfied, after consultation with the Executive Council and Members of the Legislative Assembly, that the public interest requires that the House should meet at an earlier time during the adjournment, the Speaker may give notice and thereupon the House shall meet at the time stated in such notice and shall transact its business as it has been duly adjourned to that time.

Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time, I will seek unanimous consent to deal with this motion today.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Item 14, notices of motion. Item 15, notices of motion for first reading of bills.

At this time, Members, the Chair shall call a short break before we go onto the next item on the order paper.

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I will call the House back to order. Orders of the day, item 16, motions. The honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Great Slave, that notwithstanding Rule 4, that when this House adjourns on Friday, October 29, 2004, it shall be adjourned until Wednesday, February 9, 2005;

AND FURTHER, that any time prior to February 9, 2005, if the Speaker is satisfied, after consultation with the Executive Council and the Members of the Legislative Assembly, that the public interest requires that the House should meet at an earlier time during the adjournment, the Speaker may give notice and thereupon the House shall meet at the time stated in such notice and shall transact its business as it has been duly adjourned to that time.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. A motion is on the floor. The motion is in order. To the motion. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise to speak against the motion that will have us adjourn until February. This session was scheduled to go until November 4th and I speak in favour of that because I would like to see all MLAs continue the opportunity to hold the government’s feet to the fire on asking questions. I find, in my opinion, as an MLA it’s very difficult to get the government to move with those stone legs, those lead feet I was talking about earlier today, without pressing them hard with questions in the public and we’re missing that public opportunity. So I’ll be voting against this motion to adjourn until February. I think we are missing four valuable days to hold their feet and demand answers and demand quality responses for our people of the Northwest Territories. So I won’t be voting in favour as I did the last time. I did not vote against unanimous consent in respect for all my Members who do feel it’s time to adjourn, but that’s how I feel. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. To the motion.

Question.

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

---Carried

---Applause