Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker,
WHEREAS the Northwest Territories experienced a historic and unprecedented wildfire season in 2023 that displaced twothirds of the territorial population through emergency evacuations and that destroyed community infrastructure and private property in many northern communities;
AND WHEREAS the people of the Northwest Territories are still experiencing individual and collective trauma induced by the 2023 wildfires and subsequent emergency management operations;
AND WHEREAS the Government of the Northwest Territories is undertaking an internal review of its emergency operations during the 2023 wildfires;
AND WHEREAS there were municipal, territorial and national responses to the crisis that require a broader scope of review that is practicable by the after-action reporting undertaken by the Government of the Northwest Territories;
AND WHEREAS Indigenous governments and municipal governments have called for greater inclusion in emergency management operations and greater transparency for decisionmaking during the 2023 wildfires;
AND WHEREAS the public has a right to know what the government has done on its behalf during the 2023 wildfires to make informed decisions about protecting themselves and their communities during a state of emergency;
NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Deh Cho, that this Legislative Assembly resolve that the Commissioner cause an inquiry to be made into the 2023 wildfires pursuant to the Public Inquiries Act;
AND FURTHER that this resolution include the Commissioner establishing a Board composed of four persons appointed by the Commissioner to make the inquiry and to report on the inquiry to the Commissioner;
AND FURTHERMORE that the Commissioner receive recommendations from the Executive Council for two persons to be appointed to the Board;
AND FURTHERMORE that the Commissioner receive recommendations from the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight for two persons to be appointed to the board;
AND FURTHERMORE that the Commissioner ensure the perspectives of all Northwest Territories residents are adequately captured in the public inquiry undertaken by the Board;
AND FURTHERMORE that the Commissioner ask that the public inquiry to make comprehensive recommendations into the future management of territorial emergencies by the Government of the Northwest Territories based on its findings;
AND FURTHERMORE that the inquiry establishment order is prepared jointly between the Executive Council and the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight;
AND FURTHERMORE that the inquiry establishment order be tabled on the first day of the May sitting of this House. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from Range Lake. To the motion. Member from Hay River North.
Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member from Yellowknife South, that the motion be postponed to Thursday, February 22nd, 2024. Thank you.
Thank you, Member from Hay River North. The Member from Hay River North has moved to postpone debate on Motion 920(1). I will ask that the motion be distributed to the Members. The motion is in order. Rule 6.2(5)(i) states the motion is nondebatable, the motion cannot be amended. As a result, I will call the questions. Member for Range Lake.
The Member from Range Lake has requested a recorded vote. We'll just wait for the motion to be delivered. Okay.
Question.
Question has been called. All those in favour, please stand.
(audio) this debate if we're going to postpone the debate on this motion today to the 24th of February. Right, 24th of February or 22nd. Sorry, the 22nd of February. For all those in favour, please stand.
The Member for Hay River North. The Member for Hay River South. The Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes. The Member for Nunakput. The Member for Great Slave. The Member for Frame Lake. The Member for Thebacha. The Member for Yellowknife South. The Member for Kam Lake.
All those opposed.
The Member for Tu NedheWiilideh. The Member for Monfwi. The Member for Deh Cho. The Member for Inuvik Boot Lake. The Member for Range Lake. The Member for Yellowknife North. The Member for Sahtu. The Member for Mackenzie Delta. The Member for Yellowknife Centre.
All those abstained.
Thank you. The vote is nine yeses, nine nos. Because we have a tie, I have to cast the vote. And as the role of the Speaker, we vote to encourage and continue debate so the debate will be scheduled for February 22nd at that time. Thank you.
Motions. Ms. Morgan. Sorry, motions. Member from Yellowknife North.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker,
I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member from Hay River North, that notwithstanding Rule 2.1, when the House adjourns on Friday, February 9th, 2024, it shall be adjourned until Tuesday, February 20th, 2024;
AND FURTHER that any time prior to February 20th, 2024, 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, Member from Yellowknife North. To the motion.
Question.
Question has been called. All in favour? Opposed? Abstention? Motion passed.
Carried.
Thank you. What is the wish of committee to proceed? Mr. Rodgers.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I move the chair rise and report progress.
(audio) the floor to report progress. Is there any nays to the motion. (audio) nays. Motion carried.
Carried
Thank you. May I have the report of the Committee of the Whole. Member from Tu NedheWiilideh.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The committee has been considering Minister's Statement 420(1), Minister's Statement 520(1), Tabled Document 1320(1) and would like to report progress. Mr. Speaker, I move the report of the Committee of the Whole be concurred with. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from Tu NedheWiilideh. Do I have a seconder? Member from Yellowknife Centre. The motion is in order and nondebatable. All those in favour? All those opposed? Abstentions? Motion has been carried, and the report of Committee of the Whole has been concurred with.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Orders of the day for Tuesday, February 20th, 1:30 p.m.
Prayer
Ministers’ Statements
Members’ Statements
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Reports of Committees on the Review of Bills
Reports of Standing and Special Committees
Returns to Written Questions
Acknowledgements
Oral Questions
Written Questions
Returns to Written Questions
Replies to the Commissioner’s Address
Petitions
Tabling of Documents
Notices of Motion
Motions
Notices of Motion for First Reading of Bills
First Reading of Bills
Second Reading of Bills
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Minister’s Statement 4-20(1): 2023 Wildfire Season Review and Planning for the 2024 Season
Minister’s Statement 5-20(1): Emergency Management Preparation
Tabled Document 13-20(1): Interim Estimates, Operations Expenditures, April 1 to June 30, 2024
Report of Committee of the Whole
Third Reading of Bills
Orders of the Day
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Clerk. This House stands adjourned until Tuesday, February 20th, 2024, at 1:30 p.m. Thank you.
---ADJOURNMENT
The House adjourned at 12:59 p.m.
