Debates of October 19, 2017 (day 3)

October
19
2017
Session
18th Assembly, 3rd Session
Day
3
Speaker
Jackson Lafferty
Word PDF
Members Present
Hon. Glen Abernethy, Mr. Beaulieu, Mr. Blake, Hon. Caroline Cochrane, Ms. Julie Green, Hon. Jackson Lafferty, Hon. Bob McLeod, Hon. Robert McLeod, Mr. McNeely, Hon. Alfred Moses, Mr. Nadli, Mr. Nakimayak, Mr. O’Reilly, Hon. Wally Schumann, Hon. Louis Sebert, Mr. Simpson, Mr. Testart, Mr. Thompson, Mr. Vanthuyne
Assembly Members
Topics
Bill 1: Western Canada Lottery Act
Bill 2: Supplementary Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2017-2018
Committee Motion 10-18(3): Committee Report 1-18(3): 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 Election, Supplementary Recommendation
Committee Motion 11-18(3): Committee Report 1-18(3): 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 Election, Supplementary Recommendati
Committee Motion 12-18(3): Committee Report 1-18(3): 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 Election, Supplementary Recommendati
Committee Motion 13-18(3): Committee Report 1-18(3): 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 Election, Supplementary Recommendati
Committee Motion 14-18(3): Committee Report 1-18(3): 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 Election, Supplementary Recommendati
Committee Motion 15-18(3): Committee Report 1-18(3): 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 Election, Supplementary Recommendati
Committee Motion 16-18(3): Committee Report 1-18(3): 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 Election, Supplementary Recommendati
Committee Motion 17-18(3): Committee Report 1-18(3): 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 Election, Supplementary Recommendati
Committee Motion 18-18(3): Committee Report 1-18(3): 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 Election, Supplementary Recommendati
Committee Motion 2-18(3): Concurrence of Tabled Document 2-18(3): Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 3, 2017-2018, Carried
Committee Motion 3-18(3): Concurrence of Tabled Document 3-18(3): Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 1, 2018-2019, Carried
Committee Motion 4-18(3): 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 Election, Supplementary Recommendations and the White Paper on th
Committee Motion 5-18(3): Committee Report 1-18(3): 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 Election, Supplementary Recommendations
Committee Motion 6-18(3): Committee Report 1-18(3): 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 Election, Supplementary Recommendations
Committee Motion 7-18(3): Committee Report 1-18(3): 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 Election, Supplementary Recommendations
Committee Motion 8-18(3): Committee Report 1-18(3): 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 Election, Supplementary Recommendations
Committee Motion 9-18(3): Committee Report 1-18(3): 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 Election, Supplementary Recommendations
Committee Report 3-18(3): Report on Motion 32-18(2), referral of Petition 6-18(2), elimination of time change in the Northwest Territories to the Standing Committee on Social Development
Member's Statement on Clean-up of Sacred Vent Hole of Tthenaago
Member's Statement on Climate Change Audit
Member's Statement on Consensus Government
Member's Statement on Disparity Between Employees of Local Housing Organizations and the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation
Member's Statement on Eulogy for Joseph Maurice Norn
Member's Statement on Giant Mine Remediation
Member's Statement on Government Strategies and Action Plans
Member's Statement on Highway Pedestrian Crossings
Member's Statement on Northern Manufacturing of Modular Homes
Minister's Statement 10-18(3): Climate Change Framework Next Steps
Minister's Statement 11-18(3): Implementation of the NWT Agriculture Strategy
Minister's Statement 12-18(3): Minister Absent from the House
Minister's Statement 8-18(3): Northwest Territories 911 Program
Minister's Statement 9-18(3): Supporting Families and Seniors across the North
Motion 2-18(3): Appointment of Conflict of Interest Commissioner, Carried
Motion 3-18(3): Appointment of the Equal Pay Commissioner, Carried
Motion 4-18(3): Extended Adjournment of the House to February 7, 2018, Carried
Motion 7-18(3): Setting of Sitting Hours by the Speaker
Motion 7-18(3): Setting of Sitting Hours by the Speaker, Carried
Motion to Receive Committee Report 3-18(3) and Move Into Committee of the Whole, Carried
Question 25-18(3): Moose Harvesting Concerns
Question 26-18(3): Modular Public Housing Units
Question 27-18(3): Hay River Pedestrian Crossing Upgrade
Question 28-18(3): Climate Change Audit and Strategic Framework
Question 29-18(3): Differences in Employment Terms Between Northwest Territories Housing Corporation and Local Housing Organizations
Question 30-18(3): Opportunities from Giant Mine Remediation Project
Question 31-18(3): Manufacturing Strategy in the Northwest Territories
Question 32-18(3): Governance of the Northwest Territories Power Corporation
Question 33-18(3): History of Social Housing in the Northwest Territories
Question 34-18(3): Modular Public Housing Units
Question 35-18(3): Energy Requirements for Giant Mine Remediation Project
Question 36-18(3): Modular Public Housing Units
Recorded Vote
Tabled Document 30-18(3): Grants and Contributions Results Reports 2016-2017
Written Question 1-18(3): Maintenance of Highway No. 3
Statements

Question 27-18(3): Hay River Pedestrian Crossing Upgrade

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier, I spoke about safety concerns about highway crossings in Hay River that were brought to my attention. One issue was about how bright, or rather dim, the lights are at the crosswalk by the Red Rooster. I would like to ask the Minister of Infrastructure if we can upgrade those lights so that they are brighter and more noticeable similar to the ones at the new health centre crossing. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Minister of Infrastructure.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, there is a difference between the two lightings at the two crossings in Hay River. The one that we just put up at the Hay River Hospital has the latest technology that has been introduced right across the country. Moving forward, the department has a program that we are going to install the latest version within this fiscal year at this crossing at the Red Rooster. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

That is good news. My constituents will be happy to hear that. I would like the Minister to confirm that this upgrade is only to the electrical portions of the crosswalk, just to the lighting. I know that yesterday we discussed the Frank Channel Bridge has been delayed because Industry said that it would rather -- they want to bring wide loads through and high loads through. I know the new crosswalk in Hay River, the arms on it don't swivel so there is a limit to the loads it can go under. I want to make sure that we are going to keep the swivelling arms on this crosswalk and just upgrade to electrical. Is that correct, Mr. Speaker?

This is correct. We are going to be installing the new flashing beacons that are the LED ones similar to the or exactly the same as the ones at the hospital, but we will also be changing the panels that house those lights.

I also discussed the unofficial highway crossing at Poplar Road. Has the department considered installing some type of crossing lights here, or even signs warning motorists that there are pedestrians on this highway? Has that been looked into at all?

When we consider new crosswalks anywhere in the communities, or in particular on the highway system, there are a number of factors that are involved. We have to figure in the projected traffic flows, the type of traffic, the volume of traffic, the width of the highway, the speed limit, all these sorts of things, but we also sit down with the community and talk to the RCMP about these types of things. I can commit to having the department have a conversation with the Town of Hay River and the RCMP for consideration.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Hay River North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That is good to hear, that the Minister is going to sit down and have that conversation. I will just ask: would the Minister keep me informed of this so I can keep Nicholas informed of the progress we are making? Thank you.

Yes, I will keep the Member informed as this progresses. Just as a note, if there is a consideration of doing something, adding a crosswalk to a highway system in the Northwest Territories, the cost is approximately $40,000 and takes 12 weeks to complete. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Frame Lake.