Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to recognize Norma Jumbo, who is a chaperone for two Pages, Aiden and Adam, and I would like to thank her for all of her commitment and work to bring these young men here to learn our operation here. Thank you very much for your time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to report to the Assembly that the Standing Committee on Government Operations has reviewed Bill 26, Statistics Act, and that Bill 26 is now ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole as amended and reprinted. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Reports of committees on the review of bills. Member for Kam Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, your committee would like to report on its consideration of Bill 30, An Act to Amend the Human Rights Act. Bill 30 received second reading in the Legislative Assembly on October 31, 2018, and was referred to the Standing Committee on Government Operations for review.
To permit time for the legislative drafters to complete the proposed amendments, I would like to advise the House of the committee's wish to extend their review of the bill with the intention of reporting back to the House on or before March 11, 2019.
Therefore, Mr. Speaker, in accordance with rule 75(1)(c) of the Rules of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River North, that the review period for Bill 30 be extended to March 11, 2019. 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 wish to table the following document entitled "Annual Report 2017-18 NWT Hydro Corporation and NWT Power Corporation." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Tabling of documents. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.
Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to table an information package on Thaidene Nene, "Land of Our Ancestors," the Lutselk'e Dene.
Masi. Tabling of documents.
Colleagues, pursuant to section 5 of the indemnities, allowances, and expenses regulations of the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, I wish to table the summary of Members' absences for the period of October 11, 2018, to February 4, 2019.
I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Great Slave, that, notwithstanding rule 4, when this House adjourns on February 28, 2019, it shall be adjourned until Tuesday, March 5, 2019; and further, that at any time prior to March 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. Mahsi.
The motion is in order. To the motion.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Question.
Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.
---Carried
Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes that Bill 40, Smoking Control and Reduction Act, be read for the second time.
This bill repeals the Cannabis Smoking Control Act and replaces it with a new act. It also replaces provisions of the Tobacco Control Act. This bill creates prohibitions and offences, including in respect of smoking in a public place and in a motor vehicle while another person who is a minor is present in the motor vehicle; imposes requirements in respect of the display of signs, including signs respecting the health risks associated with smoking; provides for the enforcement of the bill and any regulations made under it; authorizes the making of regulations; and consequentially amends the Cannabis Products Act.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. The motion's in order. To the principle of the bill?
Question.
Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.
---Carried
Bill 40 has had a second reading and is now referred to standing committee.
Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, that Bill 41, Tobacco and Vapor Products Control Act, be read for the second time.
This bill repeals the Tobacco Control Act and replaces it with a new act. This bill creates prohibitions and offences, including in respect of the sale, supply and display of tobacco products, vapour products, accessories or prescribed substances or products; imposes requirements in respect of the display of signs respecting the legal age to purchase such products, accessories or substances; imposes an automatic prohibition in respect of the sale or storage of such products, accessories or substances in a place in which at least two sales offences have been committed within a five-year period, and imposes requirements in respect of the display of signs respecting the automatic prohibition in the place; provides for the enforcement of the bill and any regulations made under it; authorizes the making of regulations; and consequentially amends the Tobacco Tax Act.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The motion is in order. To the principle of the bill?
Question.
Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Motion carried.
---Carried
I will now call Committee of the Whole to order. What is the wish of committee? Mr. Testart.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Committee would like to consider Tabled Document 322-18(3), Main Estimates, 2019-2020, with the Department of Executive and Indigenous Affairs as the item under consideration for Committee of the Whole today. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Testart. Does committee agree?
Agreed.
Thank you, committee. We will consider the document after a brief recess.
---SHORT RECESS
Welcome back, committee. We have agreed to consider the main estimates for the Department of Executive and Indigenous Affairs. I will turn to the Minister responsible for opening comments. Premier McLeod.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am pleased to present the 2019-2020 Main Estimates for the Department of Executive and Indigenous Affairs. These estimates total $22.1 million, which represents an overall proposed increase of $715,000, or 3 percent over the 2018-2019 Main Estimates.
The departments' proposed increase relates to forced growth initiatives and transfers partially offset by sunsets. Highlights of the proposed estimates include:
$250,000 in funding to assist in self-government implementation;
$50,000 in additional funding to match contributions to the Arctic Inspiration Prize; and
$38,000 in additional funding to support the delivery of campaign schools to further encourage women's participation in politics.
These estimates continue to support the priorities of the 18th Legislative Assembly by improving residents of smaller communities' awareness and ability to access government programs and services through government service officers and Single Window Service Centres. Currently there are 22 communities across the Northwest Territories with Single Window Service Centres, providing residents with a single point of access to information on government programs and services. Of these 22 Single Window Service Centres, 15 have now expanded their services to seamlessly deliver Government of Canada programs and services directly to residents in some of our most remote communities.
These estimates also include $250,000 in additional resources for the continuation of advancing, finalizing, and implementing lands, resources, and self-government agreements. With the possibility of up to 42 self-governments, self-government financing agreements, and implementations plans in the Northwest Territories, this funding supports the Government of the Northwest Territories' mandate and legal commitments and obligations arising from self-government agreements.
The additional funding for the Arctic Inspiration Prize shows the Government of the Northwest Territories' continued commitment to a strong and sustainable Arctic in the areas of education, human health, socio-cultural issues, environment, and economy.
Finally, these main estimates continue to support initiatives designed to increase the number of women running for elected office in the Northwest Territories in support of our mandate commitments in this area.
That concludes my opening remarks. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Premier. Do you have witnesses you wish to bring into the House?
Yes, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the witnesses into the Chamber. Please introduce your witnesses for the record.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. To my left, I have Michael Aumond, the deputy minister of Executive and Indigenous Affairs, and to my right, I have Chervahun Emilien, director of Shared Services. Thank you.
Thank you. Committee, the department begins on page 103 of the document. There are five activities, and there are three additional information items at the end, which we will treat as one. We will defer consideration of the total department until after consider of the activities. The first activity is on page 110, Cabinet support. Comments or questions from committee? Executive and Indigenous Affairs, Cabinet support, operations expenditure summary, $2,523,000. Does committee agree?
Agreed.
Thank you, committee. Moving on to activity 2, corporate communications. It begins on page 113. Comments or questions? Executive and Indigenous Affairs, corporate communications, operations expenditure summary, $1,399,000. Does committee agree?
Agreed.
Thank you, committee. Please turn to the next activity, directorate, which begins on page 116. Comments or questions? Mr. Nakimayak, getting things started.
