Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document: Follow-Up Letter for Oral Question 720-19(2), Airport Taxi Fees. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Tabling of documents. Minister responsible for Northwest Territories Housing Corporation.
Mr. Speaker, I wish to table to the following eight documents: Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Committee Report 16-19(2), Report on Housing Phase One Needs for the Northwest Territories Homeowners and Private Landlords; Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Motion 30-19(2) Action for Improved Housing Outcomes; Follow-Up Letter for Oral Question 707-19(2) Closure of the Inuvik Homeless Shelter; Follow-Up Letter for Oral Question 710-19-2 [sic], Northwest Territories Housing Corporation Local Housing Consultation; Follow-Up Letter for Oral Question 730-19(2) Flood Recovery; Follow-Up Letter for Oral Question 747-19(2) State of Housing in Nunakput; and Follow-Up Letter for Oral Question 749-19(2) Suitability of Public Housing Units. Thank you Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Tabling of documents. Member for Kam Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table a letter received from multiple constituents on November 8th, 2021 regarding compensation and incentives for essential workers. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Kam Lake. Just one second. Tabling of documents. Minister responsible for MACA.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document: Follow-Up Letter of Oral Question 754-19(2), Lottery Revenue for Hay River Sporting Organization. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Tabling of documents.
Members, I wish to table the investigation dated June 14, 2021 of the Northwest Territories Integrity Commissioner, Mr. David Jones, into a complaint made by Mr. Rylund Johnson, MLA for Yellowknife North, at the direction of the MLAs Caucus alleging that Mr. Steve Norn, MLA for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh, had breached the Members’ code of conduct.
Members, I wish to table the disposition report of the Sole Adjudicator, the Honourable R. L. Barclay, dated November 17th, 2021, in the Matter of the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, Northwest Territories 1999 C.22, in a matter of a complaint made by Rylund Johnson, Member of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly, under the Act concerning the conduct of Steve Norn, also a Member of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly; and in the Matter of the Inquiry directed by the Integrity Commissioner under section 12(11)(b) of the Act; and in the Matter of The Honourable R. L. Barclay, Q.C. having been duly appointed June 28th, 2021, as Sole Adjudicator for the Inquiry respecting the matters subject to the terms of reference duly approved on July 8, 2021.
Merci, Monsieur le President. I give notice that on Wednesday, November 24th, 2021, I'll move the following motion: Now therefore I move, second by the Honourable Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, that the following Member be appointed to the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight, Ms. Jane Weyallon-Armstrong, the Member from Monfwi.
And further that the following Member be appointed to the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment, Ms. Jane Weyallon-Armstrong, the Member from Monfwi.
And, further, that the following Member be appointed to the Standing Committee on Social Development, Ms. Jane Weyallon-Armstrong, the Member for Monfwi. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Frame Lake. Notices of motion. Member for Yellowknife North.
Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Wednesday, November 24th, 2021, I will move the following motion: Now therefore, I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Hay River North, that each Member of this Legislative Assembly must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 prior to attending and participating in a sitting of this House, its committees, or any proceeding of the Assembly.
And further, that a Member who is fully vaccinated where two weeks have passed since the person's final dose of a COVID-19 vaccine approved by Health Canada has been administered.
And furthermore, that Members must provide to the Speaker proof of full vaccination status prior to attending and participating in a sitting of this House, its committees, or any other proceeding of the Assembly.
And, furthermore, that a Member who has provided a valid medical exemption from vaccination to the Speaker may, at the discretion of the relevant or residing officer, participate in a sitting, committee meeting, or other proceeding of the House remotely.
And, furthermore, that this motion takes effect at the start of the first sitting day after this motion has been passed and continues until the current session is prorogued or is formally rescinded by the House.
And Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time, I will be seeking unanimous consent to deal with this motion today.
Thank you, Member for Yellowknife North. Notices of motion. Member for Yellowknife North.
Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Wednesday, November 24th, 2021, I will move the following motion: Now therefore, I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Hay River North, that this Legislative Assembly, by virtue of section 5 of the Elections and Plebiscites Act, recommends to the Commissioner the appointment of Mr. Steven Dunbar of Yellowknife as the chief electoral officer for the Northwest Territories for a term of four years commencing on November 25th, 2021. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Yellowknife North. Notices of motion. Member for Monfwi.
Mr. Speaker, I just want to ask if I can get an unanimous request to return to the oral questions to my Member's statement. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to deal with the motion I gave notice of earlier today. That is the motion for mandatory vaccination, Mr. Speaker.
---Unanimous consent granted.
The motion of requirement of proof of full vaccination by Members of the Legislative Assembly, I will read this again, Mr. Speaker.
WHEREAS COVID-19 is a communicable disease which has and continues to put the lives and livelihoods of residents of the Northwest Territories at risk;
AND WHEREAS the chief public health officer of the Northwest Territories has recommended that all eligible residents become fully vaccinated;
AND WHEREAS the Government of the Northwest Territories and Canada have adopted vaccine policies to encourage eligible individuals to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 virus and whereas elected representatives, Members of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly are expected to hold themselves to a high standard of conduct and set an example;
AND WHEREAS the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly retains the right to control its own proceedings according to the privileges or practices and procedures of the Assembly or parliament;
NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the Member of Hay River North, that each Member of this Legislative Assembly must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 prior to attending and participating in a sitting of this House, its committees, or any proceeding of the Assembly;
AND FURTHER, that a Member who is fully vaccinated where two weeks have passed since the person's final dose of COVID-19 vaccine approved by Health Canada has since been administered;
AND FURTHERMORE, that Members must provide the Speaker proof of full vaccination status prior to attending and participating in a sitting of this House, its committees, or any proceeding of this Assembly;
AND FURTHERMORE, that a Member who has provided a valid medical exemption from vaccination to the Speaker may, at the discretion of the relevant presiding officer, participate in a sitting, committee meeting, or other proceeding in the Assembly remotely;
AND FURTHERMORE, that this motion takes effect at the start of the first sitting day after this motion has been passed and continues until the current session is prorogued or is formally rescinded by the House. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you. Motion is in order. To the motion. Member for Frame Lake.
Merci, Monsieur le President. Look, I know it's all been -- it's been a very long day for all of us but I think it's really important to go on the public record as supporting this motion and what it's really all about.
So the board of management that governs the Legislative Assembly, the employees and so on, we already have a policy for the building itself so that anybody who enters the building, including contractors now, have to be fully vaccinated.
What this motion is about is about whether MLAs have to be vaccinated to enter into the building for committee work and sittings of the House. That's what this motion is all about because the only ones that -- the only authority to tell us what to do as Members of this House is the House itself, and that's what this motion is doing, is saying that we have to be fully vaccinated to be allowed to come in for committee meetings and for the sittings of the House.
I want to note for the record, Mr. Speaker, that this actually sets a higher standard than the GNWT vaccination policy as there are no allowances or accommodations for someone who refuses to get vaccinated. If MLAs refuse to get vaccinated, and I don't believe there's anybody like that in this House, they cannot get PPE and regular testing and come in here. Their only option is to participate remotely, which the rules of the Assembly now allow for.
So in any event, we're holding ourselves to a higher standard than the GNWT policy. I support this strongly, and I'm sure I would ask for a recorded vote, and I'm sure we're going to get unanimous support for this. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The Member for Frame Lake. The Member for Nunakput. The Member for Kam Lake. The Member for Yellowknife South. The Member for Range Lake. The Member for Yellowknife Centre. The Member for Great Slave. The Member for Hay River South. The Member for Monfwi. The Member for Yellowknife North. The Member for Deh Cho. The Member for Tu Nedhe-Willideh. The Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes. The Member for Nahendeh. The Member for Sahtu. The Member for Inuvik Boot Lake. The Member for Yellowknife North. The Member for Thebacha. Hay River North. The Member for Thebacha.
Thank you. All those opposed, please rise. All those abstaining, please rise. The results of the recorded vote: 18 in favour, zero opposed, zero abstentions. The motion is carried.
---Carried.
Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Wednesday, November 24th, 2021, I will move that Bill 36, an Act to Amend the Territorial Court Act be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Notices of motion for the first reading of bills. Bill 37, Minister responsible for Justice.
Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Wednesday, November 24th, 2021, I will move that Bill 37, an Act to Amend the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Notices of motion for the first reading of bills. Bill 38, Minister of Justice.
Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Wednesday, November 24th, 2021, I will move that Bill 38, Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act 2021 be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Notices of motion for the first reading of bills. Bill 39, Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment.
