I appreciate the Minister bringing forth that information to me later on when he gets it. I'm not asking minutes or seconds. I'm asking how long, you know, what time. What time did it take off?
In speaking with the residents in Nahanni Butte, they were hoping that a debriefing team would be coming into the community for this type of incident. As a lot of residents were doing their best to pull together and ensuring everybody that was involved, the injured people were taken care to their best ability; some residents felt very stressed over the whole incident. Did this happen?
Following the incident in Nahanni Butte, the community counselling team based in Fort Liard were in regular and constant contact with the community of Nahanni Butte. They were also in contact with the affected staff and available for questions and support as needed. The territorial mental health and addictions program had an additional counsellor in Fort Simpson from August 18th to 21st. They provided on-call support as needed to the region in person, as well as via telephone and telehealth. That was in the region.
The community counsel team also travelled to Nahanni Butte the week of August 20th to provide some extra services and help extend visits to the week of August 20th. Some people did go in, but the results were more people in the region could do stuff by phone.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nahendeh.
Thank you. I thank the Minister and department for doing that. That was a big concern when I was there actually the day after the accident happened. That was a big concern. I commend the department and the Minister for getting people in there. That made a big difference there.
Mr. Speaker, when I was in there, the health staff, you know, that was a lot of stress put on that person. Then they had an individual who was former staff helping out there. Did the department actually reach out to those individuals to work with them, to debrief with them, and help them move forward? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
On August 22nd, a counsellor with the GNWT Family Assistance Program, the FAP, travelled to the community of Fort Simpson and provided additional counselling services to the region. She was available to meet with staff through the region, including Nahanni Butte via phone, via telehealth, and in person for those individuals who were in the community as needed. If community members still required counselling supports, they were encouraged to reach out to the Fort Liard counselling team as well.
The GNWT staff are also eligible for the Employee Family Assistance Program services for additional counselling support, and if they are interested in continuing counselling services, we are happy to make that available for our staff who were there and had to live through that event. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I have three documents to table today. The first is, "No place for poverty – NWT Poverty Update." Thank you. Continuing on, I wish to table a document entitled "Terms of Reference for a Special Committee on Transition Matters." Further, I wish to table a document entitled "Terms of Reference for a Special Committee to Increase the Representation of Women in the Legislative Assembly." Thank you.
Masi. Tabling of documents. Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment.
Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following two documents entitled "Updates to Northwest Territories Petroleum Legislation: What We Heard" report, and pursuant to Section 32(2) of the Financial Administrative Act, I wish to table the NWT Business Development and Investment Corporation 2017-2018 Annual Report. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Thursday, November 1, 2018, I will move the following motion: Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member of Hay River South, that Mr. Danny Gaudet of Deline be appointed as Chair of the Northwest Territories Honours Advisory Council. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Notices of motion. Member for Yellowknife North.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Thursday, November 1, 2018, I will move the following the motion: Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Thebacha, that pursuant to rule 92(1), the Legislative Assembly hereby establish a Special Committee on Transition Matters; and further, that the following Members be named to this special committee: the Member for Hay River North, Mr. R.J. Simpson, Chair; the Member for Frame Lake, Mr. Kevin O'Reilly; the Member for Great Slave, Mr. Glen Abernethy; the Member for Hay River South, Mr. Wally Schumann; the Member for Kam Lake, Mr. Keiron Testart; and the Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Shane Thompson, and furthermore, that the Special Committee on Transition Matters be established by the terms of reference, identified as Tabled Document 277-18(3). Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Notices of motion. Member for Yellowknife North.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Thursday, November 1, 2018, I will move the following motion: Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River South, that Mr. Colin Baile of Yellowknife be recommended to the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories for reappointment as a member of the Human Rights Adjudication Panel, effective immediately for a term of four years. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Notices of motion. Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Thursday, November 1, 2018, I will move the following motion: Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Nahendeh, that pursuant to rule 92(1), the Legislative Assembly hereby establish a Special Committee to Increase the Representation of Women in the Legislative Assembly; and further, that the following Members be named to that special committee: the Member for Yellowknife Centre, Ms. Julie Green, Chair; the Member for Deh Cho, Mr. Mike Nadli; the Member for Nunakput, Mr. Herbert Nakimayak; the Member for Range Lake, Ms. Caroline Cochrane; the Member for Thebacha, Mr. Louis Sebert; and the Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh, Mr. Tom Beaulieu; and furthermore, that the Special Committee to Increase the Representation of Women in the Legislative Assembly be established by the terms of reference, identified in Tabled Document 278-18(3). Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Notices of motion. Member for Mackenzie Delta.
Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Thursday, November 1, 2018, I will move the following motion: Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River South, that Mr. Yacub Adam of Yellowknife be recommended to the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories for reappointment as a member of the Northwest Territories Human Rights Commission, effective immediately for a term of four years; and further, that Ms. Gerri Sharpe of Yellowknife be recommended to the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories for reappointment as a member of the Northwest Territories Human Rights Commission, effective immediately for a term of four years. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Notices of motion. Member for Yellowknife Centre.
Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Thursday, November 1, 2018, 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 November 1, 2018, it shall be adjourned until Tuesday, February 5, 2019; and further, that any time prior to February 5, 2019, 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.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River South, that Bill 30, An Act to Amend the Human Rights 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
Bill 30 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 Hay River South, that Bill 33, Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), 2019-2020, 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
Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River South, that Bill 29, An Act to Amend the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, be read for the second time.
This bill amends the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act to:
provide for the application of the act to municipalities that are designated in regulations;
clarify the types of records that are exempted from disclosure because the records would reveal confidences of the Executive Council or the Financial Management Board and provide for a similar exemption for records of municipalities;
allow for a compelling public interest to override particular statutory grounds for exemption from disclosure;
clarify timelines throughout the act so they are calculated using business days;
set out a process for the Information and Privacy Commissioner to consider requests from heads of public bodies to extend time limits for responding to requests for access;
address documents relating to human resources matters, including employee evaluation documents and workplace investigation documents;
clarify exemptions relating to business interests;
permit disclosure of information for delivery of a common or integrated program or service;
update the general powers of the Information and Privacy Commissioner;
provide for a review of the act every seven years; and
make other adjustments to the act to improve the language and enhance clarity.
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
Bill 29 has had its second reading and is now referred to standing committee. Member for Nahendeh.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to waive rule 89(3) and have Bill 29, An Act to Amend the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, referred to the Standing Committee of Government Operations. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. The Member is seeking unanimous consent to waive rule 89(3) to have Bill 29, An Act to Amend the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, referred to a Standing Committee on Government Operations.
---Unanimous consent granted
Bill 29, An Act to Amend the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, is now referred to the Standing Committee on Government Operations. Masi. Second reading of bills. Minister of Finance.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Yellowknife South, that Bill 33, Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), 2019-2020, be read for the second time.
Mr. Speaker, this bill authorizes the Government of the Northwest Territories to make appropriations for infrastructure investments for the 2019-2020 fiscal year. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. The motion is in order. To the principle of the bill.
