Question has been called. All those in favour of the motion? All those opposed? All those abstentions? The motion is carried.
---Carried
Mr. Testart.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that this Assembly recommends that the Department of Finance provide the standing committee with the opportunity to review and provide comment on the platform and content used for the public disclosure of contaminated sites prior to the finalization of this work. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Testart. The motion is on the floor and has been distributed. The motion is in order. To the motion. Mr. Testart.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Environmental liability has been a subject of interest for the committee over the years reviewing the public accounts. Again, the transparency around these liabilities has improved year on year. We have recommended that the GNWT put this information on some sort of website or single portal so it's very clear what the environmental liabilities are, where they're located, and additional information that may be relevant to an interested member of the public. The Treasury Board of Canada has a similar digital repository for the environmental liabilities of the Government of Canada. We believe that model is an excellent one, and we have made recommendations to pursue it.
I should mention that the government is actually working on a single portal like this, and we commend them for that effort. Prior to it being finalized, and rather than be proscriptive and say do what the Treasury Board has done, this motion just calls for some sort of electronic platform, or a platform to come forward, and for the committee to be able to see it before it's finalized to make sure it conforms with the expectations of the committee based on its knowledge of the reviews of the public accounts, and this longstanding concern around how best to present environmental liabilities.
Again, we know this work is being done, and we commend the work. We just want to make sure the committee is involved in the final product. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Testart. To the motion.
Question.
Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Any abstentions? The motion is carried.
---Carried
Mr. Testart.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that this Assembly recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories provide a response to this report within 120 days. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Testart. The motion is on the floor and has been distributed. The motion is in order. To the motion.
Question.
Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Any abstentions? The motion is carried.
---Carried
Thank you, committee. Do you agree that you have concluded consideration of Committee Report 19-18(3)?
Agree.
Agreed. Thank you, committee. We have concluded consideration of Committee Report 19-18(3), Standing Committee on Government Operations Report of the 2017-2018 Public Accounts of the Northwest Territories. Does committee agree?
Agreed.
Thank you. Mr. Testart.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move the chair rise and report progress.
Thank you, Mr. Testart. I will now rise and report progress, and the motion in non-debatable. Does committee agree?
Agreed.
Thank you. Do I have a seconder? Member for Kam Lake. The motion is in order and non-debatable. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.
---Carried
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River South, that Bill 38, Protected Areas Act, be read for a third time. Mr. Speaker, I request a recorded vote. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you. The motion is in order. To the motion.
Question.
The Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, the Member for Hay River South, the Member for Thebacha, the Member for Mackenzie Delta, the Member for Sahtu, the Member for Yellowknife North, the Member for Kam Lake, the Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh, the Member for Nahendeh, the Member for Frame Lake, the Member for Yellowknife Centre, the Member for Deh Cho, the Member for Nunakput, the Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, the Member for Great Slave.
All those opposed, please rise. All those abstaining, please rise. The results of the recorded vote are: 15 in favour, zero opposed, and zero abstentions. The motion is carried.
---Carried
Bill 38 has received its third reading. Mr. Clerk, will you ascertain of the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, the Honourable Margaret Thom, is ready to enter the Chamber and assent to bills.
Mr. Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly, good afternoon. I have been very busy for the past month or so attending various events to honour the achievements of Northerners. This includes the 50th anniversary of Aurora College, high school graduations, three Aurora College convocations, and the annual Territorial Showcase.
The Territorial Showcase involves northern students only, and I was very, very impressed with all the history projects that our young people presented at the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre, such a beautiful place to hold such an event. I would like to congratulate Madame Monique Marinier for her leadership and hard work to establish the Territorial Showcase, and I hope very much that it will continue even though she is retiring very soon.
Colleagues, I would like to extend the appreciation of this House to the Commissioner, Margaret M. Thom. It is always a pleasure to have her in the House.
Over the past three weeks, we have achieved a great deal, and I want to thank each and every Member for your hard work and dedication to this House and to all the people whom we represent.
I would also like to take this opportunity to recognize the honourable Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh, who has announced he will not be seeking re-election this fall.
The member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh has served many official roles in this Assembly since 2007, including chair of the Standing Committee on Social Programs in the 16th Assembly, Minister of Transportation, Health and Social Services, Human Resources, Seniors and Persons With Disabilities in the 17th Assembly, and the chair of the Standing Committee on Priorities and Planning in this Assembly. He has served as the Member for both Tu Nedhe and Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.
Beyond these official roles, the Member has shared his wisdom and leadership with all Members and has served as a mentor to many of us. Throughout the years, he has been and remains a valued member of this institution, and he will be missed.
Colleagues, please join me in thanking the Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh for his dedication to this House and wish him all the best as he prepares for life after public office.
---Applause
I also have to thank the interpreters and Pages who have been with us for these past three weeks. Your assistance and contributions to our work are appreciated. It is a pleasure to share this Chamber with you all.
We know there is still plenty of work to be done in this Assembly. While it may be a short summer as a result of this work, I wish you all a happy National Aboriginal Day and Canada Day, and encourage you to take the time to enjoy our land and waters safely.
[Translation] Orders of the day for Monday, August 12, 2019, at 1:30 p.m.:
Prayer
Ministers' Statements
Members' Statements
Returns to Oral Questions
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Acknowledgements
Oral Questions
Written Questions
Returns to Written Questions
Replies to the Commissioner's Opening Address
Petitions
Reports of Standing and Special Committees
Reports of Committees on the Review of Bills
Tabling of Documents
Notices of Motion
Notices of Motion for First Reading of Bills
Motions
First Reading of Bills
Second Reading of Bills
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
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Minister's Statement 151-18(3), New Federal Infrastructure Agreement
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Minister's Statement 158-18(3), Developments in Early Childhood Programs and Services
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Minister's Statement 211-18(3), Addressing the Caribou Crisis
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Tabled Document 442-18(3), 2030 NWT Climate Change Strategic Framework 2019-2023 Action Plan
Report of Committee of the Whole
Third Reading of Bills
Orders of the Day
Thank you, Madam Clerk. It's always good to hear one of our many official languages used in this House. This House stands adjourned until Monday, August 12, 2019, at 1:30 p.m.
---ADJOURNMENT
The House adjourned at 5:20 p.m.
