Debates of November 2, 2022 (day 131)

Date
November
2
2022
Session
19th Assembly, 2nd Session
Day
131
Members Present
Hon. Diane Archie, Mr. Bonnetrouge, Hon. Paulie Chinna, Ms. Cleveland, Hon. Caroline Cochrane, Mr. Edjericon, Hon. Julie Green, Mr. Jacobson, Mr. Johnson, Ms. Martselos, Ms. Nokleby, Ms. Semmler, Hon. R.J. Simpson, Mr. Rocky Simpson, Hon. Shane Thompson, Hon. Caroline Wawzonek, Ms. Weyallon-Armstrong.
Topics
Statements

Tabled Document 782-19(2): Plain Language Summary for Bill 63: An Act to Amend the Official Languages Act

Tabled Document 783-19(2): 2021 – 2202 Annual Report on Official Languages Administration of the Northwest Territories

Tabled Document 784-19(2): Administration of the Northwest Territories Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act Annual Report 2021-2022

Speaker: DEPUTY SPEAKER

Thank you. Tabling of documents. Minister of Health and Social Services.

Tabled Document 785-19(2): Tłı̨cho Community Services Agency Health and Social Services Agency Annual Report for 2021-2022

Tabled Document 786-19(2): 2022 – 2023 Health and Social Services Authority Budgets

Tabled Document 787-19(2): Hay River Health and Social Services Authority Annual Report 2021-2022

Tabled Document 788-19(2): Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority 2021-2022 Annual Report

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I wish to table the following four documents: Tlicho Community Services Agency Health and Social Services Agency Annual Report 20212022; the 20222023 Health and Social Services Authority Budgets; Hay River Health and Social Services Authority Annual Report 20212022; and, the Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority 20212022 Annual Report. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Speaker: DEPUTY SPEAKER

Thank you. Tabling of documents. Minister of Infrastructure.

Tabled Document 789-19(2): Connecting Us: Four Year Action Plan under the 25-year Transportation Strategy 2020 – 2024

Madam Speaker, I wish to table the following document: Connecting Us: Four Year Action Plan under the 25year Transportation Strategy 20202024. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Speaker: DEPUTY SPEAKER

Thank you. Tabling of documents. Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs.

Tabled Document 790-19(2): Physical Activity, Sport and Recreation Fund 2021 – 2022 Annual Report

Tabled Document 791-19(2): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 1224-19(2): Court Decision Regarding Search of Łutselk’e Camp

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I wish to tabling the following two documents: Physical Activity, Sport and Recreation Fund 20212022 Annual Report; and, a Followup Letter for Oral Question 122419(2): Court Decision Regarding Search of Lutselk'e Camp. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Speaker: DEPUTY SPEAKER

Thank you. Tabling of documents. Member for Yellowknife North.

Tabled Document 792-19(2): Plain Language Summary for Bill 61: An Act to Amend the Ombud Act

Tabled Document 793-19(2): Plain Language Summary for Bill 64: An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, No. 3

Madam Speaker, I wish to table the following document: Plain Language Summary for Bill 61, An Act to Amend the Ombud Act. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Speaker: DEPUTY SPEAKER

Thank you. Tabling of documents. Member for Great Slave.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I wish to table the following document: Plain Language Summary for Bill 64, An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, No. 3. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Motions

Motion 67-19(2): Appointment of Sergeant-at-Arms of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly, Carried

Thank you, Madam Speaker.

WHEREAS the Sergeant-at-Arms of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly, Mr. Brian Thagard, has indicated his intention to retire from the position after 18 years of service, making him the longest currently serving Sergeant-at-Arms in Canada;

AND WHEREAS it is desirable to name an individual to fill the position of Sergeant-at-Arms;

AND WHEREAS Section 54(3) of the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act provides that the Sergeant-at-Arms shall be appointed by the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories on the recommendation of the Board of Management approved by the motion of the Legislative Assembly;

AND WHEREAS the Board of Management is prepared to make a recommendation;

NOW THEREFORE I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River North, that Mr. Floyd Andrew Powder of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, be recommended for appointment as Sergeant-at-Arms of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly by the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories as recommended by the Board of Management of the Legislative Assembly.

AND FURTHER, that the Speaker be authorized to communicate the effective date of the appointment to the Commissioner.

AND FURTHERMORE, that the Legislative Assembly expresses its gratitude to Mr. Brian Thagard for his many years of loyal and dedicated service.

Speaker: DEPUTY SPEAKER

The motion is in order. To the motion. Member for Great Slave.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I just wanted to say "thank you" to Mr. I'm not going to say your last name right either, Thagard, Brian, for all of his hard work for us and for keeping us safe. I know that our Assembly has been a particularly challenging Assembly, and I know that that's definitely made Brian have to stay on his toes. So I know it's a welldeserved retirement, and I look forward to seeing him riding his bike on the highway. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Speaker: DEPUTY SPEAKER

To the motion. Member for Kam Lake.

Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I too would just like to thank Mr. Thagard for his service here. He's been an absolute joy to work with and I would like to, on behalf of Kam Lake, congratulate him on his retirement.

Speaker: DEPUTY SPEAKER

Thank you. To the motion. Member for Nunakput.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I'd like to congratulate Mr. Thagard in regards to his retirement. I've been working with him since 2007 and being a former Speaker, he was an awesome he did really well at his job. He really protected the Members, and I want to thank you and wish you all the best from the people of Nunakput. And, also, I'd like to congratulate the new Sergeant-at-Arms, Mr. Powder. I worked with Mr. Powder 20 years ago as a Ranger, when he was a Ranger instructor in Colorado Springs. So all the best to both of them, and God bless. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Speaker: DEPUTY SPEAKER

To the motion. Member for Range Lake.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I'd also like to congratulate Brian on his retirement. Anyone that can last in this building 18 years deserves to retire and deserves a huge reward. I'd also like to congratulate Mr. Powder for taking over; he couldn't have picked a better person. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Speaker: DEPUTY SPEAKER

To the motion. Member for Yellowknife South.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I'm also taking this opportunity to congratulate Mr. Thagard. I am also taking this opportunity to say that this is a chance for Yellowknife South to have the most fantastical and wonderful tourism attraction because if he is the longest serving Member anywhere in Canada, we should get maybe a big spin bike at the entrance to Yellowknife South since he happens to be a resident. So congratulations, thank you, and welcome to our new Sergeant-at-Arms.

Speaker: DEPUTY SPEAKER

To the motion. Member for Sahtu.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. And I just wanted to congratulate Mr. Brian Thagard as well too on his retirement and also welcoming Mr. Floyd Powder to the Legislative Assembly. Mahsi, Madam Speaker.

Speaker: DEPUTY SPEAKER

Thank you. To the motion. Member for Thebacha.

I too want to say thank you to Brian for all the welcoming. Every time I come early in the morning, it's a pleasure to meet your staff and yourself at the door. And I also want to welcome Floyd to this Assembly. Floyd was born in Fort Smith and is a resident of the Northwest Territories, and I know his whole family and I'm very proud of that. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Speaker: DEPUTY SPEAKER

To the motion. Member for Nahendeh.

Thank you. As everybody else here, I'd like to thank Brian, you know, for all the service. I've been able to have the pleasure of working with him and looking up at these beautiful lights. There is one left out there, so we need to get that fixed before you leave. So it started out with Glen and then Glen passed on the or Minister Abernethy passed it on to me. So I've kept him on his toes, so he left one, so we'll work on that. And welcome, Mr. Powder. You will now have the pleasure of me tormenting you about these lights as well. So thank you very much.

Speaker: DEPUTY SPEAKER

Thank you, Member for Nahendeh. I didn't even notice the lights in here. So I'll leave that to you. To the motion.

Speaker: SOME HON. MEMBERS

Question.

Speaker: DEPUTY SPEAKER

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Abstentions? The motion is carried.

Carried

First Reading of Bills

Bill 65: Builder’s Lien Act

Madam Speaker, I wish to present to the House Bill 65, Builder's Lien Act, to be read for the first time. Thank you.

Speaker: DEPUTY SPEAKER

Thank you, Minister. Pursuant to Rule 8.2(3), Bill 65, Builder's Lien Act, is deemed read for the first time and is now ready for second reading.

First reading of bills. Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs.

Bill 66: An Act to Amend the Property Assessment and Taxation Act

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I wish to present to the House Bill 66, An Act to Amend the Property Assessment and Taxation Act, to be read for the first time. Thank you, Madam Speaker.