Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Measuring the Government’s Progress Priorities of the 18th Assembly and the Mandate, 2016-2019
New tools recommended by the 17th Assembly and put into effect by the 18th Assembly make it much easier to fairly measure performance of the government and all Members – not just at mid-term, but also at election time. The 18th Assembly’s priorities were developed by Caucus before the selection of Cabinet, with all Members having equal opportunity at all levels of their creation. For the first time, a televised roundtable discussion of priorities took place in the House on December 14, 2015, after a similar private roundtable with leaders of Aboriginal and community governments. The resulting priorities are published and available on the Legislative Assembly’s website, as well as the transcript of the roundtable discussion. These priorities represent the first tool for Members and the public to use in measuring the performance of the government: its actions should advance the 18th Assembly’s priorities, and be consistent with them.
However, a statement of priorities is not a realistic mandate for a government, which must be tempered by consideration of what can be accomplished in a four-year term with the resources at hand. After Cabinet was selected, it was directed to draft a mandate based on the 18th Assembly’s priorities. This draft mandate was publicly discussed, amended, and unanimously approved in the House. It is a statement of goals akin to the platform of a political party. The revised Mandate of the Government of the Northwest Territories, 2016-2019, was then published, re-tabled in the House, and is available on the Assembly’s website. This document serves as the primary tool for measuring the government’s collective performance, and that of the Premier and Ministers tasked with carrying out work in specific areas.
A variety of other tools will be available to assess Cabinet’s performance. The government has committed to public annual reports on its progress in implementing the 18th Assembly’s mandate. The committee recommends that a report be completed by August 31, 2017, and include an assessment of the need for potential changes and additions to the mandate. It should also include Cabinet’s formal assessment of its own performance. Those results will be compared with an evaluation to be produced by the Standing Committee on Priorities and Planning, comprised of all Regular Members. The committee evaluation will include consideration of the government’s performance in implementing its mandate, reviews of annual business plans, the government’s responses, and the Cabinet’s collective effectiveness in carrying them out. These two reports should be public and tabled in the House. These are the principal tools for measuring the collective performance of the Executive Council, or “Cabinet,” or “the government,” as it is generally called.
The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures was directed to develop a review that “includes the performance of the Executive Council and Standing Committees both collectively and individually.”
There was much debate over the need to include individual Ministers and standing committees in a mid-term review. The committee considered recommending that individual reviews of Cabinet Ministers (including the Premier), and standing committees not be carried out. Proponents of this view argued that the purpose of the mid-term review is to adjust the mandate if needed, and provide updated public direction to the Premier and Cabinet for the final two years of the Assembly’s term.
It was also pointed out that if need be, a Minister’s appointment can be revoked at any time by passage of a motion to that effect in the House. Some considered this method the fairest and most transparent, as voting on this type of motion is public and not by secret ballot. It would not, however, likely be a “free” vote. Cabinet solidarity is sure to be invoked, if only to preserve necessary working relationships. Motions of revocation or non-confidence are rare, of course, but past experience suggests they deepen the normally healthy tension between Cabinet and Regular Members, and undermine future prospects for consensus.
The committee considered processes and the outcomes of a mid-term review without assessing the performance of individual Ministers and standing committees, but ultimately found them lacking when measured against the principles for the review and the instructions contained in the House referral motion.
Most Members noted that a decision not to review individual performance of Cabinet Ministers reduces accountability and diminishes the potential for constructive direction, expression of renewed confidence, as well as possible non-confidence. Moreover, declining to provide an option for evaluating individual performance is counter to the Assembly’s direction to this committee.
The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures recommends that a mid-term review be carried out in the fall of 2017, and that it include a public accountability review of the mandate, and assessment of the performance of the Executive Council, both collectively and individually
The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures recommends that Cabinet formally assess its own performance, that the Standing Committee on Priorities and Planning produce its own independent assessment of Cabinet’s collective performance, and that both reports be public and tabled in the House.
Public review and potential amendment of the government’s mandate is properly in the hands of Caucus, Cabinet, and the House, as set out in the Assembly’s process convention. But as noted above, the committee determined that regular House proceedings are not best-suited to a review of the individual performance of Cabinet Ministers.
In the two previous Assemblies that conducted a mid-term review, the forum was the Territorial Leadership Committee, or TLC, also the venue for speeches and selection of the Premier and Cabinet by secret-ballot vote. Members of the current Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures judged that the TLC is not an appropriate venue for the new mid-term review, given the consensus government principle that “Regular Members are not a Cabinet in waiting.” A new forum is needed in which all Members are substantially equal. The committee proposes a new Mid-Term Review Committee allowing full participation of all Members (including the Speaker), enabled by the selection of multiple rotating chairs, and secret-ballot voting so all Members may vote according to their beliefs and conscience.
The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures recommends that a new Mid-Term Review Committee be established, specific to that purpose, with designation of multiple chairs to enable all Members, including the Speaker, to participate fully.
The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures further recommends that the Mid-Term Review Committee conduct its review publicly, in the Chamber of the Legislative Assembly.
I'd now like to turn to my colleague Mr. Shane Thompson to continue this report.
Masi. Member for Nahendeh.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
In addition to the tools mentioned above, various others – all of them public documents – may assist a review of individual Minister’s performance, including:
Consensus Government in the Northwest Territories: Guiding Principles and Process Conventions;
Ministerial mandate letters issued by the Premier;
Speeches by the candidate for Premier before the Territorial Leadership Committee, December 9, 2015;
Questions and answers to and from candidates for Premier before the Territorial Leadership Committee, December 16, 2015;
Speeches by ministerial candidates before the Territorial Leadership Committee, December 16, 2015;
Hansard excerpts of responses to oral and written questions in the House, and before Committee of the Whole.
These documents, along with performance before standing committees, also enables assessment in areas such as:
effective leadership;
responsiveness to issues related to the portfolio mandates;
ethical conduct, honesty, integrity and impartiality;
commitment to transparency and accountability;
open, respectful, considerate communication with fellow MLAs;
ensure Regular Members are informed of and given opportunity to provide meaningful input in important decisions in a timely and respectful manner;
inclusiveness, earns the support the respect of NWT residents by engaging the public, municipal governments, businesses, non-governmental organizations in the volunteer sector seeking their input and advice;
work to build and maintain respectful and effective government-to-government relations with Aboriginal governments;
work to build and maintain respectful and effective relationships with federal government;
engagement, encourage others to give full consideration to different, sometimes opposing, points of view in order to promote informed decision making.
Such fundamental matters as these should not be reviewed solely in a mid-term review after two years in office. They are currently dealt with relatively informally by standing committees or even fireside chats between the Premier and Regular Members. While not part of the new mid-term review process, the members of the Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures commend Ministers expressed desire for more regular feedback to promote productive relationships. We therefore make the following recommendations, Mr. Speaker:
The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures recommends that the Standing Committee on Priorities and Planning meet annually with each Minister to conduct an oral performance appraisal similar to those in many workplaces, and for the Ministers to raise any performance issues that they may have with committees. The meetings should be informal, in-camera, with set time limits and strict adherence to openness and fairness.
A mid-term review of standing committee's operation and accountability was considered by Members of the 12th Assembly, but no criteria were developed and no review took place. This may be because of fair and productive review of the standing committee is a difficult and risky task.
Standing committees are appointed in the House by motion and are individually and collectively accountable to the whole Assembly, which also establishes the mandate and terms of reference for each committee. These are set out at Appendix 3 of the Rules of the Legislative Assembly. Notably, the Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures include two Ministers; one is a fulltime member, and another is an alternate. Given these factors, the proposed Mid-Term Review Committee would provide the most suitable forum for a public review of standing committees' performances if one is conducted.
Standing committees are generally tasked with reviewing proposed legislation, departmental business plans, budgets, strategies, action plans and how they are implemented in overall departmental performance. Policy initiatives in the implementation plans are reviewed, as described in consensus government in the NWT Guiding Principles and Procedures Conventions. Providing advice to Ministers is a common element of all the work and can be contentious. This is a natural aspect of the job, part of the healthy tension between Cabinet and Regular Members. Standing committee may also call public meetings, issue press releases, seek external advice, and even subpoena witnesses.
The work of standing committee is therefore a key accountability mechanism in consensus government. It's primarily through these committees that Regular Members exercise “their responsibility to review and monitor the leadership and the direction of Cabinet and to hold it to account” as set out in consensus government in the Northwest Territories Guiding Principles and Process Conventions. Committee effectiveness and the effectiveness of a consensus government requires a high level of independence for standing committee.
Standing committees select their own chairs and govern their own meetings and procedures. They are largely self-policing with members and chairs holding each other to account. There is a strong incentive to do so because standing committee performance is critical to Members' daily work. Resignations and removals of chairs are rare, but do occur as personal or performance matters arise. Members believe that this internal accountability is appropriate, practical and effective.
These considerations loom large in the Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures deliberations on how committees' performance might be assessed in a mid-term review. Moreover, Members were unable to envision a public process in the House that would be appropriate, productive and efficient. The committee therefore advises that informal feedback be sought annually from Ministers as outlined in Recommendation 5 as an additional tool for ongoing self-regulation by committee.
The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures recommended mid-term accountability review not include the performance of these standing committees, collectively or individually. Further, that the standing committee complete internal evaluation annually with informal input from Cabinet as set out in Recommendation 5.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. At this point in time, I'd like to pass over the vote to Mr. Beaulieu who will continue.
Masi. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.
Marci cho, Mr. Speaker. As noted above, the mandate of the Government of the Northwest Territories 2016-2019 was drafted by Cabinet, reviewed in Caucus, and adopted with amendments in the House. The same process should be applied for the mid-term adjustments to the mandate. This work should be completed in the October 2017 Session.
The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures recommends that the Mandate of the Government of the Northwest Territories 2016-2019 be revised, if necessary, by Cabinet with input from the Standing Committee on Priorities and Planning, reviewed in Caucus and tabled for potential debate, amendment and adoption in the October 2017 session of the House.
The committee is mindful that time in the Chamber is at a premium and that it is in the best public interest to be efficient. The tools recommended for the review were, in part, chosen to maximize information made available to the public and to lay the groundwork for the efficient public proceedings by the Mid-Term Review Committee. Two previous mid-term reviews in the Chamber were long and arduous. Members were each permitted 12 questions for each Minister in the first review and eight questions in the second. In addition, it is only fair that the government and the Ministers know where they stand at the conclusion of the review and that the outcome is clear to the public, and therefore recommend the following procedures and time limits for the proposed mid-term review.
The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures recommends that the Mid-Term Review Committee provide that:
each Minister starting with the Premier and subsequently in alphabetical order, speak for up to five minutes on his or her performance and leadership of his or her departments. Each Member will be permitted to ask up to two questions no longer than two minutes each. Responses will be no longer than two minutes each;
the Premier speaks for up to 10 minutes on his overall leadership and performance and the collective performance of Cabinet, each Member will be permitted to ask two questions no longer than two minutes each. Responses will be no longer than two minutes each;
rules for the proceedings prohibit signs of approval or disapproval such as table banging and comments such as shame or hear hear during speeches and questions;
a confidence vote will be conducted on the overall progress of Cabinet in meeting its mandate in an open forum by secret ballot;
confidence votes be conducted on the overall performance of each Minister in an open forum by secret ballot; and
overall results be announced by the chair on conclusion of the process.
In conclusion, the Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures is honoured to present its work on the establishment of a midterm review process. The committee believes that, by adopting the recommendations above, the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories will set new benchmarks for accountability and transparency, build greater public trust, and increase understanding of the government’s work on behalf of all residents. The committee thanks all Members for their input as we worked on this challenging task. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to turn the floor over to Minister Sebert.
Masi. Minister responsible for Public Engagement and Transparency.
Dissenting Opinion of the Honourable Louis Sebert, Minister for Public Engagement and Transparancy
Mr. Speaker, Addendum: Dissenting Opinion of the Honourable Louis Sebert, Minister responsible for Public Engagement and Transparency, MLA for Thebacha.
The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures was tasked by Motion 718(1), passed by unanimous consent of the House on December 18, 2015, to recommend a process, including terms-of-reference, for a midterm review and report back to the House during the Fall 2016 sitting. The standing committee has not been able to come to unanimous agreement on a report, with Minister Sebert being the sole dissenter. The Clerks have advised Minister Sebert that it is his right as a member of the committee to submit a minority report.
The report of the standing committee includes seven recommendations, the majority of which contradict the direction as set forth by the motion. This minority report will act as a rebuttal and as an argument for adhering to the directions of the House.
The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures recommends that a midterm review be carried out in the fall of 2017 and that it include an assessment of the Executive Council, both collectively and individually.
The motion clearly states "this Legislative Assembly conduct a public midterm accountability review of the adopted mandate of the 18th Legislative Assembly, including the performance of the Executive Council and Standing Committees, to take place in the Chamber of the Legislative Assembly prior to the fall 2017 sitting." Recommendation 1 fails to meet the direction of the House for the midterm review to be an assessment of the mandate, which includes the performance of the Executive Council and standing committees in achieving the goals of the mandate.
Recommend that a midterm review be carried out prior to the fall 2017 sitting, to assess the progress on the adopted mandate of the 18th Legislative Assembly, including the performance of the Executive Council and the standing committees, collectively and individually, as directed by Motion 718(1).
The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures recommends that Cabinet formally assess its own performance, that the Standing Committee on Priorities and Planning produce its own independent assessment of Cabinet's collective performance, and that both reports be public and tabled in the House.
Such a process was not included in the mandate and is not directed by the motion. Members of the Executive Council are held to account for their performance in achieving the goals of the mandate and in the management of their respective departments through several means, including appearances before standing committees in business plans, legislative reviews and, at request, on specific issues of concern; oral hearings and written questions; main estimates and review in Committee of the Whole. These are tangible, measurable results that do not require selfassessment. If the House is at any time dissatisfied with the performance of the Executive Council or one of its members, a motion of nonconfidence can be introduced. It is also a duplication of work to require a written assessment be created before then going into a midterm review in the House.
That recommendation 2 be deleted.
The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures recommends that a new MidTerm Review Committee be established specific to that purpose, with designation of multiple chairs to enable all Members, including the Speaker, to participate fully.
This recommendation creates a secondary duplicate committee as the Territorial Leadership Committee already fulfills this function when selecting the Executive Council, as does Caucus when discussing matters of interest to all Members. In the interest of public transparency, efficiency, and openness, the midterm review should be conducted in the House, with the Speaker presiding, given that the midterm review is meant to be reviewing process on the adopted mandate of the Legislative Assembly. This recommendation seems to be directed more at assessing only the performance of Executive Council.
That the midterm review be conducted at the opening of the fall 2017 sitting, with the Speaker presiding, and be open to the public as well as publically broadcast, as directed by Motion 718(1).
The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures further recommends that the MidTerm Review Committee conduct its review publicly, in the Chamber of the Legislative Assembly.
This recommendation is redundant, given the express direction of the motion that the midterm review take place in the Chamber of the Legislative Assembly. It is agreed that it should be public.
That Recommendation 4 be deleted.
The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures recommends that the Standing Committee on Priorities and Planning meet annually with each Minister to conduct an oral performance appraisal similar to those in many workplaces, and for Ministers to raise any performance issues they may have with committees. The meetings should be informal and in camera, with set time limits and strict adherence to openness and fairness.
Notwithstanding that incamera meetings are by default not open, this recommendation goes far beyond the scope of a midterm review and the directions in the motion. It is an unnecessary exercise given that Ministers meet with the Premier to review their progress on mandate commitments and overall performance, and the Premier meets at the request of the Standing Committee on Priorities and Planning in fireside chats to discuss openly any issues of concern.
Ministers regularly appear before committees in business plans, review of legislation, and, at request, on issues of pressing concern. A midterm review allows for the House to assess the performance of Ministers in achieving the goals of the mandate, and motions of nonconfidence in the House can be introduced at any time against a Minister who is deemed to be underperforming.
That Recommendation 5 be deleted as contradictory to the direction of Motion 718(1) and the established processes of consensus government.
The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures recommends that the midterm review not include the performance of standing committees, collectively or individually, and, further, that standing committees complete internal evaluations annually, with informal input from Cabinet, as set out in Recommendation 5.
The House specifically directed that the midterm review include a mechanism to evaluate the performance of standing committees, both collectively and individually. Seeking informal feedback from Ministers annually is not open nor transparent. Members felt that internal accountability is appropriate, practical, and fairly effective. Standing Committees, as noted in the "Consensus Government in the Northwest Territories: Guiding Principles and Process Conventions," have substantial powers, including the power to call public meetings, seek external advice, and subpoena witnesses. It would be reasonable to expect that the public would be interested in hearing how committees both hold themselves accountable and help advance the priorities of the Legislative Assembly as laid out in the mandate.
That the chairs of each standing committee table a report as part of the midterm review on actions taken by their committee on advancing mandate priorities.
The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures recommends that the Mandate of the Government of the Northwest Territories 20162019 be revised, if necessary, by Cabinet (with input from the Standing Committee on Priorities and Planning), reviewed in Caucus, and tabled for potential debate, amendment, and adoption in the October 2017 sitting of the House.
It is agreed that the Mandate of the Government of the Northwest Territories, 2016-2019 be revised, if necessary, by Cabinet (with input from the Standing Committee on Priorities and Planning), reviewed in Caucus, and tabled for potential debate, amendment, and adoption in the October 2017 session of the House.
The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures recommends that the Mid-Term Review Committee provide that:
Each Minister, starting with the Premier and subsequently in alphabetical order, speak for up to five minutes on his or her performance and leadership of his or her departments. Each Member will be permitted up to two questions or no longer than two minutes each. Responses will be no longer than two minutes each.
The Premier speak for up to ten minutes on his overall leadership and performance, and the collective performance of Cabinet. Each Member will be permitted up to two questions or no longer than two minutes each. Responses will be no longer than two minutes each.
Rules for the proceedings prohibit signs of approval or disapproval, such as table banging and comments such as shame or hear hear, during speeches and questions.
A confidence vote be conducted on the overall progress of Cabinet in meeting its mandate, in an open forum by secret ballot.
Confidence motions will be conducted on the overall performance of each Minister, in an open forum by secret ballot; and
Overall results will be announced by the Chair on conclusion of the process.
There is a duplication of process, as noted previously, in having a mid-term review committee conduct this work. It needs to be noted that motions of non-confidence are only binding when passed by the House, not a committee. Therefore, any vote by secret ballot conducted by the Mid-Term Review Committee will need to be repeated in the House, which are not secret votes.
Therefore, the recommendation proposed here can be interpreted as one meant to embarrass or shame a Minister into resigning without having the knowledge of which of their colleagues lack faith in their abilities -- an issue that does not occur when the vote is by motion of the House. Therefore, any motions of non-confidence, in the interest of timeliness, fairness, and transparency should be through the established process in the House, by recorded vote.
Specifically to each point:
It is agreed in principle that the Premier speak for a set amount of time on the overall progress of the government in fulfilling mandate priorities, and each Minister on their overall progress in meeting mandate priorities and fulfilling their mandate letter objectives; however, as noted previously, asking someone to evaluate their own leadership is unnecessary.
Members of the Executive Council should be evaluated on their performance, which includes leadership of their respective departments; however this does not require self-reflection. A record of actions taken, initiatives advanced, mandate priorities fulfilled is more than sufficient to evaluate performance. Any lingering questions should be able to be answered through Members asking for details as part of the questioning envisioned in this recommendation.
It is agreed that each Member shall be entitled to ask two questions of no more than two minutes in length; however, to limit Ministers in their reply to the same amount of time does not enable Ministers to provide Members and the public with a full and comprehensive response. It is agreed with the principle of efficient debate, and to that end, recommend that questions should not be open-ended, overly long, nor on more than one topic.
It is agreed in principle that the Premier speak for a set amount of time on the overall progress of the government on fulfilling mandate priorities. It is agreed that each Member shall be entitled to ask two questions of the Premier, of no more than two minutes in length, with answers being no more than two minutes in length. The same objections to evaluating Minister's own leadership listed above apply here.
It is agreed that rules for the proceeding prohibit signs of approval or disapproval, such as table-banging and comments such as shame or hear hear, during speeches and questions.
It is agreed in principle that a vote of confidence be conducted on the overall progress of Cabinet in meeting the priorities of the mandate. However, this should be done by motion in the House, by recorded vote, as directed by Motion 7-18(1).
The direction of the House, as laid out in Motion 7-18(1) is that the mid-term review is to evaluate the performance of Executive Council and standing committees in the context of the mandate. This direction is fulfilled by questioning the Premier and Ministers on their individual actions in advancing the priorities, and by conducting a motion in the House on whether the House retains confidence in the Executive Council to continue. As motions of non-confidence in Ministers can be introduced at any time, if the actions of a particular Minister or Ministers are deemed to be contrary to the will of the House, a motion can then be introduced to remove them from Executive Council.
As it is the minority opinion that any confidence vote be conducted by motion of the House, there is no need to have results announced at the conclusion, as the votes are public from the start.
It is recommended that the Mid-Term Review consist of the following parts:
The chairs of each standing committee table a report detailing their committee's actions in advancing the priorities of the Legislative Assembly as laid out in the mandate.
Each Minister, starting in alphabetical order, speak to up to five minutes on his or her progress in advancing the priorities of the Legislative Assembly as laid out in the mandate and mandate letters from the Premier. Each Member will be permitted up to two questions, with each question being no more than two minutes in length on one topic, and each reply being as complete and concise as possible.
The Premier speak for ten minutes on the overall progress of the Executive Council in advancing the priorities of the Legislative Assembly as laid out in the mandate. Each Member will be permitted up to two questions to the Premier, with each question being no more than two minutes in length on one topic, and each reply being as complete and concise as possible.
Rules for the proceedings prohibit signs of approval or disapproval, such as table-banging and comments such as shame or hear hear during speeches and questions.
A motion of confidence be conducted at the conclusion of the questions, waiving the 48-hour notice period by unanimous consent, on the overall progress of the Executive Council on meeting the priorities of the Legislative Assembly as laid out in the mandate. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi for the report. I now turn over to Member for Frame Lake.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh, that Committee Report 1-18(2) be received and adopted by the Assembly. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Motion is on the floor. Motion is in order. To the Motion. Member for Frame Lake.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker, and thank you colleagues for the hard work that has been done to present the mid-term review process in our report. The path is never an easy one when you're breaking trail. Every option the committee considered was looked at through the lenses of transparency, accountability and fairness. In more than a dozen official meetings and countless informal discussions, all Members were focused on living up to the directions set out in the referral motion passed by us all in this House. The committee was also very much aware of the promises that we, as Members of the 18th Assembly, have made to the public. We have done our best to live up to your high expectations.
On behalf of the Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures, I ask the 18th Assembly to receive and adopt our report. It is important that the public understand what is meant to receive and adopt the report. Once the report is adopted, it will be available for discussion in the House, and this is also an indication the committee has discharged its duties. It does not mean that every, or any, recommendation in the report by the committee or in the dissenting opinion is agreed to for further action by this Assembly. Later today I will give notice of a motion to implement a process for a Mid-Term Review and look forward to that debate later this week. Until then I thank all Members for their input, their work and their support in this very challenging task, and I ask that the Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures Report on the Review of the Establishment of a Mid-term Review Process be received and adopted. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Masi.
Sorry, Mr. Speaker, I request that we vote. Thank you.
Masi. To the motion.
Question.
Question has been called. I will call upon the Member for Frame Lake if there is any concluding remarks.
There has been a request for a recorded vote. All those in favour, please stand.
The Member for Frame Lake, the Member for Yellowknife Centre, the Member for Deh Cho, the Member for Nunakput, the Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, the Member for Range Lake, the Member for Yellowknife South, the Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, the Member for Hay River South, the Member for Thebacha, the Member for Hay River North, the Member for Mackenzie Delta, the Member for Sahtu, the Member for Yellowknife North, the Member for Kam Lake, the Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh, the Member for Nahendeh.
Masi. All those opposed, please stand. All those abstaining, please stand. All those in favour, 17; opposed, zero; abstentions, zero. The motion is carried.
---Carried
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have a return to oral question asked by Mr. Blake on Friday, October 14, 2016, regarding power connection to modular housing unit in Tsiigehtchic.
The Northwest Territories Housing Corporation has increased the number of market housing units in small communities to meet the housing needs of critical community workers essential to the governance and safety of our residents, such as the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and nurses. In the community of Tsiigehtchic, two new market housing units have been constructed and are ready for occupancy, which include having the necessary utility connections, such as power, needed to operate a home. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to welcome Mr. John Kidder to the gallery. I had the pleasure of dining with him last night. He lives in Ashcroft, British Columbia, and he spent the first four and a half years of his life in Yellowknife so he's visiting our community and getting refreshed. Thank you.
Masi. Welcome to the Chamber. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Item 7, acknowledgements. Since we have gone through a detailed report the chair will call for a short recess. Masi.
---SHORT RECESS
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today you heard about what is happening in Wrigley with their negotiated contract for the highways. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister please provide the House with the department's definition of capacity building as it pertains to contracts? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Minister of Transportation.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Capacity building focuses on developing the skills and knowledge and abilities required to increase community workforce and capacity and also project readiness.
I thank the Minister for his answer. Mr. Speaker, in the Deh Cho Drum, the Minister of Transportation commented: "Since 2005, the department helped build capacity through a range of negotiated contracts." Mr. Speaker, can the Minister please provide the House with some of the training the department offered to help build capacity in Wrigley since this time?
Yes, since 2005, we have done a number of initiatives with Wrigley. The contract staff has helped out with marine training for ferry operations in the region and, also, the department has offered airside vehicle operation permanent training as well as nineday summer maintenance and nineday winter maintenance training programs through the Department of MACA.
Mahsi cho to the Minister for his answer. Mr. Speaker, we are in a riding that understands the importance of verbal commitments. Can the Minister confirm that he will honour the verbal commitments made by the department or the senior public servants to this community?
I'm not aware of any verbal commitments made by the department.
Oral questions. Member for Nahendeh.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I thank the Minister for his answer. It's very disappointing that we heard very loud and clear at the meeting that there was a verbal commitment, but will the Minister commit to meet with the chief and council to discuss this and other important transportation issues with this community? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Minister of Transportation.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Our department staff have met with the local community on many occasions, and, moving forward, we are always willing to engage with communities that want to discuss opportunities with the department. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Kam Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, earlier this morning I spoke of an escape at the North Slave Correctional Centre. Mr. Speaker, what corrective actions have been taken to close the physical gap in security measures at the facility? Those questions are to the Minister of Justice. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Minister of Justice.
Mr. Speaker, I can advise this House that the department and myself took this matter very seriously. A critical incident report was prepared, and I also will be meeting with committee tomorrow evening, I believe. I can give a fuller answer at that time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I'm sure committee and members of the public are looking forward to that fuller answer. I assume this meeting will be in public so the answer will be available to the public, as they would be in this House?
Mr. Speaker, I don't believe the meeting will be public because we will be discussing certain confidential information that would not be appropriate to share with the public. There are, however, many of the issues around this incident that are already known. I can advise this House that the report, which was quite comprehensive, found that the escapee acted alone, he exploited a gap in the physical security of the building to access the roof of the building; the number of correctional officers on site at the point of escape was appropriate, and proper procedures were being followed at the time of the escape; the area used to access the roof was one the inmates had been using for the past 12 years, since the opening of the facility, without incident. Proper emergency procedures to address the escape were immediately implemented and no changes to those procedures are required.
Mr. Speaker, did this comprehensive review take into account any additional security concerns related to the neighbourhoods in my riding of Kam Lake close to the correctional facility? Was there an assessment done on potential security issues related to the close proximity of neighbourhoods with a correctional facility?
Mr. Speaker, I don't have the report, pardon me. I think the report mainly looked at the institute itself, the walls, the roofs, and so on. Obviously, we are aware that the facility is in the middle of an urban area, so that would be an ongoing concern. I'm not sure if it was addressed specifically in the report, but I can advise this House that we are very aware of the location of this facility, of the possible dangers to the neighbourhood.
