Mr. Speaker, as I said before, we are not the contractor, however we can encourage all the groups that are involved to try and resolve any outstanding issues, because we want this to be a project that's had a lot of positive effect and will have a lot of positive effect. So we'll encourage them to try and resolve their issues and then again, as I said before, I will keep committee apprised as to the proceedings.
Oral questions. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.
Marci cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to ask the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment questions on the minimum wage. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to just as a refresher ask the Minister what the minimum wage is today in the NWT? Thank you.
Masi. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Currently, our minimum wage in the Northwest Territories is $12.50 an hour. Back in the 17th Assembly, 2014, the Minimum Wage Committee was setup of government officials, the business sector, non-governmental organizations, as well as some representatives from our most northern communities that sat down also with the NWT Chamber of Commerce and NWT Federation of Labour. They had their discussions and recommendation made to the government was that we increase our minimum wage from $10.00 an hour to $12.50 an hour, and I believe on June 1, 2015 it took effect. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I'd like to ask the Minister if there's any plan or schedule for the minimum wage to change in the near future? Thank you.
During those recommendations it was also brought forward that a review of the minimum wage would happen every two years. So seeing how we're coming up into the second year, June 1, 2017, we will do another review of the minimum wage, we will look at recommendations that were brought from the last report, and once again go out and engage and consult with all the stakeholders that were on the Minimum Wage Committee previous.
Mr. Speaker, I was wondering if the Minister can commit to providing committee, this side of the House, with any results that he may have during discussions with small business on the impacts of minimum wage?
Yes, we can get those preliminary results, we can also look at maybe developing a survey to our small businesses. I know it was a big concern when we're going through the review and also having those discussions in this House in the previous government about the minimum wage and the impact it would have on small business. But we can try to get that information and contact some of our stakeholders who gave that input and share it with committee.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to ask the Minister if he can commit to providing the impacts on minimum wage increases, if increases were recommended, on the minimum wage earners and how that impacts our government in the area of social programs that we often extend to individuals that are at a minimum wage? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
It's been about 16 months since we implemented the new minimum wage throughout the Northwest Territories. I'm sure we have some information, some data. As well, you know, we do continue to promote our income assistance program and also any support that we can give to low income families that might need some assistance. But we can look at trying to get some of that preliminary information and share it with Members. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nahendeh.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to follow up with the Minister of Transportation. I know he said that the community has met with his staff to meet there, but this is an Aboriginal community, it's First Nations in government and it's part of the mandate, so will the Minister commit to actually meet the leadership to have this discussion about transportation in their riding? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Minister of Transportation.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I stated in the House earlier that our staff has gone and met with the community and the band and discussed the contract that was put out to tender. I stand by that. If the community and chief and council want to have a conversation with me I'm willing to open up to have a phone conversation and have preliminary discussions with them in that manner. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Again, I thank the Minister for sort of kind of answering. I understand that he's had his staff go in and talk to the community. I understand he sent a letter, now he's offering a phone call. Actually, the community would like to have a face-to-face meeting with the Minister. So will the Minister make the commitment to actually meet them face-to-face, not by a phone, not by a letter, so they can actually deal with some of the issues of transportation?
As I've stated, I'm willing to have a phone call conversation with the leadership of Wrigley and have a discussion around this and see where it goes from there.
I understand the phone lines really work good between Yellowknife and Wrigley but, unfortunately, they would actually like to see the Minister come to the community and address the issue. Three other Ministers came there and they heard their concerns: transportation was the issue; the biggest issue there. They had concerns. They're trying to meet with the Minister face-to-face so they can address their concerns. So will the Minister make a commitment to go in and face-to-face meet with these people? Please.
Face-to-face! Take pride in Wrigley.
As I've stated, this is early conversation; the tender has already been awarded; the proponents are starting on the project. If there's other transportation issues the community wants to discuss with the Minister of Transportation I will gladly have a phone conversation and see where this goes from there.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nahendeh.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Maybe we can educate the Minister on actually face-to-face that gives them that opportunity. Again, it's not about having a conversation over the phone; it's actually going in and meeting with the people. We're not talking about this one contract; we're talking about transportation issues in that community. So will the Minister please go into the community and meet with them? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Please. Yes.
As I've stated previously, I'm open to having a phone conversation around transportation issues with the community. Until we get that ironed out I'm not prepared to go in there until we get the basis of what the conversation is going to be, and I will gladly have a conversation with the community and council.
Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document entitled "Annual Report of the Northwest Territories Legal Aid Commission 2015-2016." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Tabling of documents. Minister of the Environment and Natural Resources.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following two documents entitled "Northwest Territories Species at Risk Committee Annual Report 2015-2016" and "Conference of Management Authorities Species at Risk Annual Report 2015-2016." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Tabling of documents. Member for Yellowknife Centre.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to table the "Social Assistance Act Income Assistance Regulations" and "Exemplars, Income Assistance Changes, July 2016." Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Thursday, October 20, 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 October 20, 2016, it shall be adjourned until Tuesday, October 25, 2016. And further, that any time prior to October 25, 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 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, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Notices of motion. Member for Frame Lake.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Thursday, October the 20, 2016, I will move the following motion: I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh, that the following terms of reference for a Mid-Term Review be adopted:
Cabinet and the Standing Committee on Priorities and Planning shall each evaluate progress on implementing the mandate and make their reports and table them in the House at the earliest opportunity;
The mandate be reviewed, 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 first sitting of the third Session;
A Mid-term Review Committee is hereby established consisting of all 19 Members;
The Mid-term Review Committee will conduct its sessions publicly in the Chamber and be chaired by one or more Members;
Meetings of the Mid-term Review Committee shall be conducted as follows:
The Premier shall speak for up to ten minutes on his leadership and performance, and the collective performance of Cabinet. Each Member will be permitted up to two questions no longer than two minutes each. Responses will be no longer than two minutes each;
each Minister in alphabetical order will speak for up to five minutes on his or her performance and leadership. Each Member will be permitted up to two questions of no longer than two minutes each. Responses will be no longer than two minutes each;
Members shall conduct themselves in a dignified and respectful manner and will follow the procedures of the Territorial Leadership Committee where applicable;
on completion of the processes described above, Members will be called upon to cast secret ballots in an open forum:
indicating their confidence or non-confidence in the performance and leadership of Cabinet as a whole; and
indicating their confidence or non-confidence in the performance and leadership of each Minister.
ballots will be counted by the Clerk; vote totals are not announced. The Chair will announce the aggregate result on Cabinet as a whole and then the result for each individual Minister in alphabetical order by surname; and
in the event of an equality of votes being cast, the Clerk shall report an expression of confidence in the Cabinet/Minister;
And further that the Standing Committee on Priorities and Planning meet annually with each Minister to conduct an oral performance appraisal similar to those in many work places and for Ministers to raise any performance issues they may have with committees. The meetings shall be informal and in camera to promote frank discussion. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
WHEREAS Section 23(1) of the Human Rights Act provides that the Commissioner, on the recommendation of the Legislative Assembly, shall appoint a director of Human Rights to carry out the responsibilities set out in the act;
AND WHEREAS the Board of Management is tasked with recommending an individual to the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Assembly is prepared to make the recommendation to the Commissioner;
NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, that the Legislative Assembly recommends the appointment of Ms. Deborah McLeod of Yellowknife as director of Human Rights during good behaviour for a term of four years as recommended by the Board of Management;
AND FURTHER that the Speaker be authorized to communicate the effective date of appointment to the Commissioner.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Motion is on the floor. The motion is in order. To the motion.
Question
Question has been called. All those in favour. All those opposed. Motion carried. Masi.
---Carried
