Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The Hon. Premier, Mr. Roland.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There are a number of initiatives and times that I’ve communicated to Members of the Assembly and to the public regarding the actions we are undertaking as a new government and the direction we are trying to set and some of the changes.
For example, Mr. Speaker, in the Budget Address I gave information on the fact that we would be dealing with the strategic initiative committees. In the letters that I sent to the Ministers on their mandates, I copied those letters to the Chair of P and P and outlined all the initiatives there. Building Our Future, Refocusing Government, Managing This Land, Maximizing Opportunities, Reducing the Cost of Living, approaches to regionalization of government, reductions, oversight and federal engagement: all were some of the areas that different Ministers had. That was copied to Members. As well, we’ve had a number of times when we’ve sat down and offered briefings and had briefings around these strategic initiative committees.
The Premier is absolutely right: we have had an exchange and a dialogue on these strategic initiative committees. The one that has come to light most recently, which I’m a little bit curious about and do not recall having seen it referred to before, is the one on the regionalization of government. Could the Premier perhaps outline what the mandate of that particular committee would be?
Again, that was when I wrote to Ministers on their strategic initiatives. In highlighting all of those areas — that was back in January — this one, approaches to regionalization of government, was looked at. In one of my statements in this House I referenced the fact that this regionalization of government would look at the GNWT and how it can increase flexibility and responsiveness at regional and community levels. I pointed to the possibility that the honourable Member for Sahtu may oversee that. We’re again re-evaluating who would be leading that initiative. We haven’t structured it. There have been no terms of reference put forward at this time. Instead, we contacted committee in the past on the rural and remote communities’ work that would plug into this as well.
So the particular strategic initiative committee on the regionalization of government was not one of the original five? Or was it a subcommittee of one of the original five? Because the ones that the Premier formerly noted — Refocusing Government, Maximizing Opportunities, Building Our Future, Managing This Land — were definitely part of the original five. We were aware of who the ministerial lead would be on those and who else would comprise the rest of those particular initiative committees. So what’s the status of the one on the regionalization of government at this time?
This was one of the ones that was communicated to Ministers, and those letters were forwarded to Members of the Assembly. The approaches to regionalization of government was one of those. We haven’t put the energy into that file, because most of the energy has gone into the Refocusing Government initiative.
In my Budget Address back in May I also referenced that this was work we would be looking at. There hasn’t been a lot of energy put into that, as we were, again, putting the energy into Refocusing Government and a number of the other initiatives. We still have to come up with the terms of reference. That is one of the ones we’d like to get to work on, and we’ll have to discuss that approach within Cabinet and with Members.
Thank you, Mr. Roland. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to return to item 5 on the order paper.
Unanimous consent granted.
We will return to item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize a dedicated Yellowknife volunteer, although I can’t see her. She’s up behind me somewhere. Ms. Ruby Trudel is here today.
Mr. Speaker, I’d like to recognize Ms. Ruby Trudel, a Yellowknife South constituent. Nice to see you here.
I wish to table the following document entitled Northwest Territories Capital Estimates 2009–2010. I also wish to table the following document entitled the Yellowknife Gasoline Prices. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Document 93-16(2), Northwest Territories Capital Estimates 2009–2010, tabled.
Document 94-16(2), Yellowknife Gasoline Prices, tabled.
I wish to table the following document entitled Energy Priorities Framework, Ministerial Energy Coordinating Committee.
Document 95-16(2), Energy Priorities Framework, Ministerial Energy Coordinating Committee, tabled.
I wish to table the following document, a letter to the Premier regarding the Tu Beta Ts’ena “Water is Life” documentary that was premiered last evening.
Document 96-16(2), Letter to Premier on documentary film production “Water is Life,” tabled.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Thursday, October 9, 2008, I will move the following motion.
I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Thebacha, that notwithstanding Rule 4, when this House adjourns on October 9, 2008, it shall be adjourned until Wednesday, October 15, 2008.
And further, that any time prior to October 15, 2008, 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, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Weledeh, that Bill 19, Donation of Food Act, be read for the second time.
Bill 19 provides that a person who donates food or distributes donated food is not liable for disease, injury, death or other harm resulting from the consumption of that food unless the person intended to harm the recipient or acted recklessly in donating or distributing the food. Similar provisions apply to the directors, agents, employees and volunteers of corporations involved in the donation or distribution of food. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. The motion is on the floor. To the principle of the bill. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I appreciate that my colleagues would like to hear “question,” but I have a few comments that I’d like to make first. I’d like to just say at the outset that I am totally in support of this bill. I think it would be a little strange if anybody realized that I was not.
Many of us have known for quite some time that perfectly good food often goes to waste. Usually it goes to the community dump, generally due to policies and standards established by food businesses and restaurants. We also see an awful lot of food that goes to waste because we have too much food and too few attendees at any number of social functions.
Some people seeing this need have started to rescue that food, ensure that it is fit for consumption and then pass it on to needy organizations. In Yellowknife the Salvation Army and the Centre for Northern Families are a couple of recipients, as examples.
This bill will enable this good work to continue, and it will allow a fledgling program in Yellowknife to expand well beyond its current size. That will be to the benefit of all residents of the NWT at some point in time. They will provide liability protection to persons or organizations who donate or distribute rescued food.
Lastly, I am in support of the bill, and I would ask for the support of all Members of this House.
Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. To the principle of the bill. The honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to thank my colleague Ms. Bisaro for bringing this bill forward. I also support it. We live in a day and age when few have much, and there is a segment of our population, in fact of our world, that has very little. This is an opportunity, I believe, to share in a meaningful way.
I was raised in a family business, which was a grocery store and meat market. We had a big family to take stuff home to when it was past its best before date. Many times there’s really nothing wrong with these things, yet merchants and food outlets cannot sell things beyond a certain date — really perfectly good food that just is overripe. It’s a shame. It’s an absolute shame in our society to see such things go to waste. So to bring forward a progressive piece of legislation like this that would allow people to have their needs met with something which otherwise would be thrown out is very encouraging to me. I wholeheartedly support this legislation.
Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. To the principle of the bill. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also rise to support my colleague Ms. Bisaro, and I was very pleased to second this bill. I think this is really all about respect. It’s all about doing business in a different way. We spend a lot of energy to get food up into our country here from afar, and to be throwing away two-thirds of the food is really disrespectful. It’s a waste of energy, and it doesn’t provide a good example to our people.
I also would like to recognize that this is a good example of the public responding to a situation, bringing it to our attention and working hard. I am always very happy to respond to their initiatives. I hope this government is too.
Just my kudos for bringing this bill to this stage. I’m looking forward to supporting it.
Thank you, Mr. Bromley. To the principle of the bill. The honourable Member for Kam Lake, Mr. Ramsay.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, am going to support the bill. I want to thank Ms. Bisaro for bringing it forward and Ms. Trudel, who through her hard work and determination has pushed this thing forward.
It’s legislation that is commonplace in other jurisdictions across this country. It’s something that I think the Northwest Territories, in passing legislation like this, will be getting with the times.
I feel that far too much food is wasted. As my colleague Mr. Bromley alluded to, it costs a tremendous amount of money to ship food to the Northwest Territories in the first place, and what food we do get here should get into the hands of those who need it most. This legislation is designed to protect those people who are going to donate the food. I think it’s certainly a step in the right direction.
Again, I want to thank both the mover and the seconder and also Ms. Trudel for her hard work in this initiative. Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. To the principle of the bill. The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Abernethy.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, rise to support this bill and to thank Ms. Trudel as well for bringing this to our attention and being the champion for this in the public.
Waste is an unfortunate by-product of how business is conducted, and I feel that this bill will offer businesses a level of comfort so they feel comfortable and safe in providing this food. I think this is a good idea. I think this is going to offer an awful lot of support to those people in the community who need it. I think it’s a good bill.
Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. To the principle of the bill. The honourable Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As Minister of Health and Social Services and on behalf of the government I would just like to put it on record that the government supports this bill. We have indicated that support to the Member in other venues, and we make the commitment that we’ll work with the Member to make sure that the details are worked out and supported by the Department of Health as we move forward.
I believe I’ll be making a formal presentation at the consultation process in committee, but I just wanted to put that on the record.
Thank you, Ms. Lee. To the principle of the bill. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In brief, I just want to say I’ll be supporting the bill. This represents protection for those who have community spirit. Again, this creates some type of generosity and certainly provides them the protection to do that. In that regard, I see it as a decent step forward for community minded individuals who want to help out in the ways they can.
Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Bill 19 has had second reading.
Motion carried; Bill 19, Donation of Food Act, read a second time and referred to a standing committee.
Item 20, consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters, Northwest Territories Capital Estimates 2009–2010, Tabled Document 93-16(2), and Minister’s Statement 80-16(2), sessional statement; with Mr. Krutko in the chair.
I’d like to call Committee of the Whole to order. I have two items for consideration of Committee of the Whole: Minister’s Statement 80-16(2), Sessional Statement, and Tabled Document 93-16(2), Capital Estimates. What is the wish of the committee? Mrs. Groenewegen.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that we report progress.
Can I have the report of the Committee of the Whole, please, Mr, Krutko.
Mr. Speaker, your committee would like to report progress.
I move that the report of the Committee of the Whole be concurred with.
Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Motion is on the floor. Motion is in order. Do we have a seconder? The honourable Member for Kam Lake, Mr. Ramsay.
Motion carried.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, that Bill 10, An Act to Amend the Pharmacy Act, be read for the third time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
