Thank you, Mr. Chair. I think my colleague has further explained needing to consider this whole initiative in ensuring certainty in terms of moving forward on this program and making it available to men, and also at the same time, addressing the whole issue of family violence. I think this is a step forward. Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Nadli. All those in favour? All those opposed? Motion is carried.
---Carried
---Applause
We will continue our discussion of the “Community Wellness and Safety” section. Comments. Mr. Thompson.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that Tabled Document 1-18(2), Proposed Mandate of the Government of the Northwest Territories, 2016-2019 be amended on page 27 by deleting the words “We will promote a national physical activity strategy for all residents to improve health and fitness” and insert the words “We will develop and implement a Northwest Territories physical activity strategy for all residents to improve health and fitness.”
Thank you, Mr. Thompson. A motion is on the floor. The motion is in order. To the motion, Mr. Thompson.
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. Regular physical activity relieves stress, builds muscle, strength, reduces disease and injury, improves vascular health, and helps maintain healthy body weight. Current studies show that only 15 per cent of Canadian adults and almost seven per cent of Canadians meet New Physical Activity Guidelines, which are minimum requirements to maintain or improve health. A 2007-2009 CANPLAY report Canadian physical activity levels among youth stresses only 13 per cent of Canadians and youth in Canada are accumulating 60 minutes of physical activity per day. ParticipACTION stated that the economic burden of physical inactivity is established at $5.3 billion and the burden to our healthcare system is established at $2.1 billion. To address this inactive crisis, several programs have been created by Canadian organizations, building the new Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines, the Active 2020 strategy, and Canadian Sport Policy, 2.0.
The inactivity conditions in the NWT are just as bleak. Less than half the population participate in enough physical activity to maintain or improve their health. The 2011 NWT Health Status Report stated that a proportion of the NWT residents 12 years and older who report moderate or high physical activity decreased from 54 to 41 per cent since 2003, and 63 per cent of NWT residents are overweight or obese compared to 51 per cent of other Canadians. Currently, several NWT groups and organizations in the sport and recreation sector are doing their best to keep people active. However, there are no overarching NWT specific guides. There's evidence that the NWT needs to take action to find a solution to the inactivity crisis by developing a physical activity strategy. This was in 2012. We haven't done anything and we still continue to see the crisis, and by following a national program or promoting it, it does meet our needs. Therefore, I ask to have this moved so we can have an NWT strategy, and implement it, so we can be proactive and improve the health of our residents of the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Thompson. To the motion.
Question.
Question has been called. I'll allow you to conclude debate on the motion, Mr. Thompson.
I’m good. Thank you.
All in favour? All those opposed? Motion is carried.
---Carried
Mr. Chair, I move that Tabled Document 1-18(2), the Proposed Mandate of the Government of the Northwest Territories, 2016-2019 be amended on page 32 by deleting the words “We will do a better job of making our residents aware of the mechanisms available to appeal government decisions” and inserting the words “We will develop and implement an effective communications plan to make residents aware of the mechanisms of available to appeal government decisions.” Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Testart. A motion is on the floor. The motion is in order. To the motion. Mr. Testart.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'll keep my comments brief. This is an improvement to the original text that gives more certainty to what the government intends to do with doing a better job. The committee felt that it was vague and wanted to improve in the language. By developing and implementing an effective communications plan that gives certainty to people reading this document about what we're going to do and it gives reasonable expectations to the committee and to the government moving forward of how we will make mechanisms of appeal better available to our residents and clearly explain what that process entails. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Testart. The motion is in order.
Question.
Question has been called. I will allow Mr. Testart to conclude debate on the motion.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I encourage all Members to support this motion. Thank you.
All in favour? All those opposed? Motion is carried.
---Carried
Continuing on. Comments or questions? Mr. Nadli.
Committee Motion 23-18(2):
Proposed Mandate of the Government of the Northwest Territories, 2016-2019, Addition of Text Regarding Establishment of an Office of the Ombudsman, Carried
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that Tabled Document 1-18(2), Proposed Mandate of the Government of the Northwest Territories, 2016-2019 be amended on page 32 by inserting the following words under the quote “Increasing Transparency and Accountability in Strength in the Consensus Government” section “We will develop legislation within two years to establish an independent parliamentary office of the ombudsman.” Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Nadli. A motion is on the floor. The motion is in order. To the motion, Mr. Nadli.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.This work in terms of the ombudsman has been something that the 17th Assembly had committed to work on, and I understand being part of the Government Operations committee at that time lots of work was committed in terms of ensuring the study of the concept of an ombudsman. A lot of research and background work was done. I'm quite pleased to ensure that this process continues to move forward. With the recent election that we've experienced, it was very clear that the public is demanding transparency in how we do the business of public government on behalf of the residents of the NWT. At the same time, ensuring that we have mechanisms and principles of ensuring you know we would hold ourselves accountable to the public as well. This motion essentially is going to look at developing legislation. I understand through that process there will be a public consultation and public input will be sought. It's a process that I think this motion seeks to undertake and I support that. Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Nadli. Mr. Blake.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just a few comments. You know, the motion speaks to establishing legislation within the next two years for the ombudsman and you know I hope we're not setting ourselves up for failure with a lot of the changes we're making to the mandate. A lot of the intention means well, but we have to realize a lot of this is going to cost money and in our current situation here, you know, it's going to be challenging for us to fulfill our mandate. A lot of it we won't be able to fulfill because of our current situation unless things turn around.
It's just something I've been thinking about over the last couple days here, a lot of good positive changes and I hope we can achieve some of our goals here. I just wanted to state that, because in previous information that we looked up on ombudsman, it would cost between $300,000 and close to $1 million to have this office set up. We've got to keep that in mind as we move forward. I know we all have the best intentions here, but some of this may not be possible through this Assembly and we just have to keep that in mind. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Blake. To the motion.
Question.
Question has been called. Premier McLeod.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Past experience suggests that the development of a legislation this size and complexity of an Ombudsman Act would require four more years in the drafting of the initial legislative proposal through to the passage of a bill. The full cost of the bill’s development is difficult to estimate but the ongoing costs of operating an ombudsman office have been estimated to be in excess of $500,000 annually. An ombudsman office will not by itself replace or eliminate any of the many dozens of statutory appeal processes or officers already established in legislation and programs. An ombudsman's primary role is not to hear initial subject-specific complaints from the public. Rather, the ombudsman is an overseer of administrative fairness who considers the impartial and objective nature in which duly filed appeals were heard and decided. Given the breadth of our current statutory appeals processes and the costs associated with an ombudsman office, the government does not see the establishment of the empowering legislation as a priority. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Premier McLeod. To the motion. Question has been called. I will allow Mr. Nadli to conclude debate on the motion.
A recorded vote has been requested. Thank you, Mr. Nadli. All those in favour please stand.
Mr. Nadli, Mr. Vanthuyne, Mr. Blake, Mr. McNeely, Mr. Testart, Mr. Nakimayak, Mr. Beaulieu, Mr. Thompson, Mr. O'Reilly, and Ms. Green.
All those opposed please stand.
Mr. Moses, Mr. Abernethy, Mr. McLeod – Yellowknife South, Mr. McLeod – Inuvik Twin Lakes, Mr. Schumann, Mr. Sebert.
All those abstaining please stand. The results of the recorded vote are 10 in favour; six opposed; zero abstentions. The motion is carried.
---Carried
We will continue. Comments or questions on the section? Ms. Green.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that Tabled Document 1-18(2), Proposed Mandate of the Government of Northwest Territories, 2016-2019 be amended on page 33 by deleting the words “We will support a communications campaign to promote women in politics” and inserting the words “We will support a communications campaign to increase the participation of women in politics.” Thank you, Mr. Chair.
A motion is on the floor. The motion is in order. To the motion. Ms. Green.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. The intent of this amendment is to make more specific the goal of this section, and the goal is participation -- not just that women are needed in politics, but that we're actually sitting here and that when one of us is away, the population doesn't drop by 50 per cent.
Thank you, Ms. Green. To the motion.
Question.
Question has been called. I will allow Ms. Green to conclude debate on the motion.
I look forward to your support. Thank you.
All those in favour? All those opposed? Motion is carried.
---Carried
We will continue discussion on this section. Ms. Green.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that Tabled Document 1-18(2), Proposed Mandate of the Government of Northwest Territories, 2016-2019 be amended on page 33 by deleting the words “We will enhance gender equity in the appointment of residents to territorial boards and agencies to further develop women's leadership experience and exposure to governance” and inserting the words “We will improve gender equity in appointments to territorial boards and agencies.”
A motion is on the floor. The motion is in order. To the motion. Ms. Green.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. It's 2016. Thank you.
