Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following two documents entitled "Economic Opportunities Strategy: Connecting Businesses and Communities to Economic Opportunities – Performance and Measures Report, 2016-2017" and "Grants and Contributions Results Reports 2016-2017." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Monday, October 23, 2017, I will move the following motion: I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River South, that the Speaker be authorized to set such sitting days and hours as the Speaker, after consultation, deems fit to assist with the business before the House. Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time, I will be seeking unanimous consent to deal with this motion today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, WHEREAS section 91 of the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act provides that the Commissioner on the recommendation of the Legislative Assembly shall appoint a conflict of interest Commissioner to exercise the powers and perform the duties set out in the act;
WHEREAS the appointment of the current conflict of interest Commissioner, Mr. David Jones, expires November 30, 2017;
AND WHEREAS the Legislative Assembly considers the appointment of a conflict of interest Commissioner essential to exercise the powers and perform the duties under the act;
AND WHEREAS Legislative Assembly is of the opinion that the appointment of a conflict of interest Commissioner effective December 1, 2017 should now be made.
NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River South, that pursuant to Section 91 of the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, the Legislative Assembly recommends to the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories the appointment of Mr. David Phillip Jones as Conflict of Interest Commissioner effective December 1, 2017. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. The motion is in order. To the motion.
Question.
Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed?
---Carried
The motion is carried. Masi. Motions. Member for Yellowknife North.
Mr. Speaker, WHEREAS Section 40.2 (1) of the Public Service Act provides that the Commissioner on the recommendation of the Legislative Assembly shall appoint an Equal Pay Commissioner to exercise the powers and perform the duties set out in this act;
AND WHEREAS the position of Equal Pay Commissioner became vacant in June of this year;
AND WHEREAS the board of management was tasked with recruiting an Equal Pay Commissioner and has recommended an individual to the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Assembly is prepared to make a recommendation;
NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, that Ms. Elizabeth Joy Noonan be appointed as the Equal Pay Commissioner in accordance with the Public Service Act by the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories as recommended by the Legislative Assembly;
AND FURTHER that the Speaker be authorized to communicate the effective date of the appointment to the Commissioner. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. The motion is in order. To the motion.
Question.
Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed?
---Carried
The motion is carried. Masi. Motions. Member for Yellowknife Centre.
Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to deal with the motion I gave notice of just now. Thank you.
Masi. The Member is seeking unanimous consent to deal with a motion that was announced earlier. Are there any nays? There are no nays. You may proceed.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River South, that the Speaker be authorized to set such sitting days and hours as the Speaker, after consultation, deems fit to assist with the business before the House. Mahsi.
Masi. The motion is in order. To the motion.
Question.
Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed?
---Carried
The motion is carried. Masi. Motions. Member for Yellowknife Centre.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River South, that notwithstanding Rule 4 when this House adjourns on October 20, 2017, it shall be adjourned until February 7, 2018;
AND FURTHER, that at any time prior to February 7, 2018, 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. Mahsi.
Masi. The motion is in order. To the motion.
Question.
Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed?
---Carried
Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, that Bill 1, Western Canada Lottery Act, 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?
---Carried
Motion carried. Bill 1 has had its first reading. First reading of bills. Minister of Finance.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Yellowknife South, that Bill 2, Supplementary Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2017-2018, 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?
---Carried
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Yellowknife South, that Bill 2, Supplementary Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2017-2018, be read for the second time.
Mr. Speaker, this bill makes supplementary appropriations for infrastructure expenditures for the Government of the Northwest Territories for the 2017-2018 fiscal year. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. The motion is in order. To the principle of the bill.
Question.
Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed?
---Carried
I will now call Committee of the Whole to order. What is the wish of committee, Mr. Testart?
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Your committee would like to consider Tabled Document 2-18(3), Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 3, 2017-2018; Tabled Document 3-18(3), Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 1, 2018-2019; and Committee Report 1-18, Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures Report on the Review of the Chief Electoral Officer's Report on the Administration of the 2015 Territorial General Elections, Supplementary Recommendations, and the White Paper on the Independence and Accountability of Election Administration in the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Testart. Does committee agree?
Agreed.
Thank you, committee. We will consider the documents after a brief recess.
---SHORT RECESS
I will now call the Committee of the Whole back to order. Committee, we have agreed to begin our consideration with Tabled Document 2-18(3), Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 3, 2017-2018. I will go to the Minister of Finance for any opening comments. Minister McLeod.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I am here to present Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures) No. 3, 2017-2018. This document provides for an increase of $5.9 million to the operations budget.
Major items in these supplementary estimates include:
$3.6 million for projected fire suppression costs; and
$2.3 million for costs associated with increased student enrolment and implementation of junior kindergarten in NWT schools.
That concludes my opening remarks. I am prepared to respond to the committee's questions. Thank you.
