Yes, Mr. Speaker, there are many different programs that we are working on which we work with other departments on. I also know that there are many programs within the corrections service, and hopefully what we hope to have is an overlap between programs that are afforded to inmates in the corrections when they return to the public so that it will help their reintegration. We are working with other departments.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Mackenzie Delta.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have a few questions for the Minister of Transportation. As I mentioned during our last session I had some questions on signage along the Dempster Highway, specifically up by the NWT-Yukon border. Mr. Speaker, during the winter months it’s very difficult at times to see exactly where the road is. There’s a huge need for delineators along the highway. As I mentioned last time, I’d like to know if there’s plans this coming summer to ensure we have those in place. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Minister of Transportation.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the Member stated he’s asked us in the last session, and at that particular time I believe I answered him that during the reconstruction phase of certain sections of the highway that some of the signage was down from the previous construction season and we’d be reinstalling it. I would have to follow up with the department and see where that section of highway is at on that. As far as the rest of the section of highway, we have routine maintenance and inspections of the highway and if the Member has any particular areas of concern I would gladly look into it for him. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, the main area that has the highest winds is from kilometer zero to about kilometer 30. From the border to the gorge is, you know, the area that we get the high winds from the Yukon and territories. Some days it’s calm on one side and blowing on the other, and those are the areas that really need the attention for delineators along the highway, similar to the Yukon. They have them about six feet up in the air, because sometimes in high winds you can barely see. They’re spaced about maybe 30 meters apart; at times it’s difficult to see one from the other. I think similar to what they have in the Yukon would work great along that area.
The Member has invited us for a constituency tour and I believe that’s an opportunity when we’re up there in August that we should maybe take a chance to drive the Dempster and have a look at some of the concerns the Member has on the Dempster.
I invite the Minister to join me on a road trip of the Dempster and I look forward to that.
Masi. I’ll take that as a comment to the Minister. Oral questions. Member for Hay River North.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment further to my colleagues questions about the review of the ministerial directive. I’m sure the Minister is tired of hearing from me that the situation in Hay River is different from the situation in Yellowknife. I was just wondering, in this ministerial directive is any new implementation of it going to take into account that there are differences between the two communities or is it going to be a one size fits all solution? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Because it’s a ministerial directive and we do have the two schools here in Yellowknife and in Hay River that are affected, it will be reflective of both situations throughout the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Just one last question on this issue. The Minister stated that he’s working with the education boards, the school boards in Hay River, to come up with a space-sharing plan. I know in the past some of the issues have arisen because the department was a little heavy-handed. Are the school boards going to be the ones deciding how to share the space is my question? Has the department sort of stepped back and let the schools decide together, because that seems how the solutions… Those have been the best solutions. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Ideally we’d like the school boards to come up with a solution to adjust the issue. Our department is working with both school boards to see how we can adjust some of the space sharing agreements. We’re looking at trying to make some decisions here. Our department is going to be working with the education authorities to see how we can adjust some of that space sharing concerns in Hay River and with the gymnasiums as well.
Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document entitled “2015 Northwest Territories Environmental Audit.” Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Wednesday, June 29, 2016, I will move the following motion: I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Great Slave, that notwithstanding Rule 4, when this House adjourns on June 29, 2016, it shall be adjourned until Thursday, October 13, 2016; And further that at any time prior to October 13, 2016, 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 during 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 has been duly adjourned to that time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River South, that Bill 9, Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures), 2016-2017, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. The motion is in order. The motion is non-debatable. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.
---Carried
Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Yellowknife South, that Bill 5, An Act to Amend the Vital Statistics Act, be read for the second time. This bill amends the Vital Statistics Act to remove the requirement that a name registered for the birth of a child be written in entirely Roman alphabet, permit a single name determined in accordance with the child’s traditional culture to be registered on a child’s birth, and permit a person to amend the designation of sex on a birth registration statement without undergoing gender reassignment surgery. The bill also includes consequential amendments to the Aboriginal Custom Adoption Recognition Act, the Adoption Act, and the Change of Name Act. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. To the principle of the bill.
Question.
Question has been called. The motion is carried.
---Carried
Bill 5 has had second reading. The bill is referred to a standing committee. Second reading of bills. Minister of Justice.
Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River South that Bill 6, Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act, 2016, be read for the second time. This bill corrects inconsistencies and errors in the Statutes of the Northwest Territories. This bill also deals with other matters of a minor non-controversial and uncomplicated nature in the statutes. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. The motion is in order. To the principle of the bill.
Question.
Question has been called. The motion is carried.
---Carried
Bill 6 has had second reading. The bill is referred to a standing committee. Second reading of bills. Minister of Transportation.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, second by the honourable Member from Thebacha, that Bill 7, An Act to Amend the Revolving Funds Act, be read for the second time. This bill amends the Revolving Funds Act to establish a revolving fund for the purpose of meeting the capital, operating and maintenance requirements for the Yellowknife Airport. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. The motion is in order. To the principle of the bill.
Question.
Question has been called. The motion is carried.
---Carried
Bill 7 has had second reading. The bill is referred to a standing committee. Second reading of bills. Minister of Justice.
Mr. Speaker, I move seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River South that Bill 8, An Act to Amend the Children’s Law Act, be read for the second time. This bill amends the Children’s Law Act to establish the recalculation service. Child support orders and child welfare agreements registered with the service will be recalculated annually based on updated income information. This bill also includes a number of non-substantive amendments. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. The motion is in order. To the principle of the bill.
Question.
Question has been called. The motion is carried.
---Carried
Bill 8 has had second reading. Second reading of bills. Minister of Finance.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, that Bill 9, Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures) 2016-2017, be read for the second time. Mr. Speaker, this bill authorizes the Government of the Northwest Territories to make appropriations for operations expenditures for the 2016-2017 fiscal year. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. The motion is in order. To the principle of the bill.
