Debates of February 5, 2025 (day 38)

February
5
2025
Session
20th Assembly, 1st Session
Day
38
Speaker
Shane Thompson
Word PDF
Members Present
Mr. Hawkins, Hon. Lucy Kuptana, Hon. Jay Macdonald, Hon. Vince McKay, Mr. McNeely, Ms. Morgan, Mr. Morse, Ms. Reid, Mr. Rodgers, Hon. Lesa Semmler, Hon R.J. Simpson, Mr. Testart, Hon. Shane Thompson, Hon. Caroline Wawzonek.
Assembly Members
Topics
Bill 17: Municipal and Community Affairs Statutes Amendment Act
Bill 18: An Act to Amend the Partnership and Business Names Act
Committee Motion 54-20(1): Committee Report 17-20(1): Standing Committee on Procedure and Privileges Interim Report on the Review of the Rules of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly – Prayer (Chapter Four), Carried
Committee Motion 55-20(1): Committee Report 17-20(1): Standing Committee on Procedure and Privileges Interim Report on the Review of the Rules of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly – Prayer – Rule 5.4(2), Carried
Committee Motion 56-20(1): Committee Report 17-20(1): Standing Committee on Procedure and Privileges Interim Report on the Review of the Rules of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly – Acknowledgements – Rule 5.8(2), Carried
Committee Motion 57-20(1): Committee Report 17-20(1): Standing Committee on Procedure and Privileges Interim Report on the Review of the Rules of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly – Consolidation of Rules, Carried
Committee Motion 58-20(1): Committee Report 17-20(1): Standing Committee on Procedure and Privileges Interim Report on the Review of the Rules of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly – Restrictions on When Replies to the Commissioner’s ...
Committee Motion 59-20(1): Committee Report 17-20(1): Standing Committee on Procedure and Privileges Interim Report on the Review of the Rules of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly – Motions Location on Daily Orders, Carried
Committee Motion 60-20(1): Committee Report 17-20(1): Standing Committee on Procedure and Privileges Interim Report on the Review of the Rules of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly – Returns to Oral Questions, Carried
Committee Motion 61-20(1): Committee Report 17-20(1): Standing Committee on Procedure and Privileges Interim Report on the Review of the Rules of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly – Oral Questions, Carried
Committee Motion 62-20(1): Committee Report 17-20(1): Standing Committee on Procedure and Privileges Interim Report on the Review of the Rules of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly – Follow-up Information to Oral Questions – Rule 7.2(...
Committee Motion 63-20(1): Committee Report 17-20(1): Standing Committee on Procedure and Privileges Interim Report on the Review of the Rules of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly – Follow-up Information to Oral Questions – Rule 7.2(...
Committee Motion 64-20(1): Committee Report 17-20(1): Standing Committee on Procedure and Privileges Interim Report on the Review of the Rules of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly – Sitting Hours – Rule 2.2(1), Carried
Committee Motion 65-20(1): Committee Report 17-20(1): Standing Committee on Procedure and Privileges Interim Report on the Review of the Rules of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly – Sitting Hours – Rule 2.2(2), Carried
Committee Motion 66-20(1): Committee Report 17-20(1): Standing Committee on Procedure and Privileges Interim Report on the Review of the Rules of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly – Ministers’ Statements in Committee of the Whole, Ca...
Committee Motion 67-20(1): Committee Report 17-20(1): Standing Committee on Procedure and Privileges Interim Report on the Review of the Rules of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly – Ministers’ Statements in Committee of the Whole –...
Committee Motion 68-20(1): Committee Report 17-20(1): Standing Committee on Procedure and Privileges Interim Report on the Review of the Rules of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly – Short Titles for Bills, Carried
Committee Motion 69-20(1): Committee Report 17-20(1): Standing Committee on Procedure and Privileges Interim Report on the Review of the Rules of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly – Prayer, Carried
Member’s Statement 430-20(1): Support for Northwest Territories Residents
Member’s Statement 431-20(1): State of the Northwest Territories
Member’s Statement 432-20(1): Request for Support for the Town of Norman WElls
Member’s Statement 433-20(1): Improving the Land Use Permitting Process
Member’s Statement 434-20(1): Respite Care and At-Home Care
Member’s Statement 435-20(1): Welcome Back Message
Member’s Statement 436-20(1): Tariffs
Member’s Statement 437-20(1): State of the Northwest Territories
Member’s Statement 438-20(1): Hay River Curling Team Success
Member’s Statement 439-20(1): Celebration of Life of Avery Julianna Burke
Minister’s Statement 87-20(1): Minister Absent from the House
Minister’s Statement 88-20(1): Sessional Statement
Question 424-20(1): Canada-USA Tariffs and Trade
Question 425-20(1): Arctic Sovereignty and Investment
Question 426-20(1): Public Lands Act Regulations Update
Question 427-20(1): Out-of-Territory Care, Supportive Living and Respite Care
Question 428-20(1): Out-of-Territory Care, Supportive Living and Respite Care
Question 429-20(1): Green New Deal and Critical Minerals
Question 430-20(1): Quarrying and Land-Use Permits
Question 431-20(1): Changes to the Government of the Northwest Territories Affirmative Action Policy
Question 432-20(1): Naming of Government of the Northwest Territories Buildings
Question 433-20(1): Government of the Northwest Territories Employment Satisfaction Survey and Action Plan
Question 434-20(1): Northwest Territories Carbon Taxation
Question 435-20(1): Aspen Building Project Update
Tabled Document 241-20(1): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 405-20(1): Winter Road Tabled Document 241-20(1): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 405-20(1): Winter Road Season Planning
Tabled Document 251-20(1): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 423-20(1): Carbon Tax
Tabled Document 257-20(1): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 397-20(1): Overdose-Related RCMP Calls
Tabled Document 271-20(1): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 419-20(1): Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority Operational Concerns
Tabled Document 272-20(1): Documents Compiled by Town of Norman Wells regarding the Town’s Declaration of a Local State of Emergency for Humanitarian Reasons
Statements

Thank you, Member of Hay River North. Member of Great Slave, to the motion.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yeah, I certainly am happy to try and clarify, but I believe, Mr. Chair, what you said is accurate. It's simply to say that if witnesses appear, they can supply information at the witnesses' table. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you to the Member of Great Slave. To the motion.

Speaker: SOME HON. MEMBERS

Question.

Question's been called. All in favour? Any opposed? Any abstentions? Motion has been carried.

---Carried

Back to the Member of Great Slave.

Committee Motion 68-20(1): Committee Report 17-20(1): Standing Committee on Procedure and Privileges Interim Report on the Review of the Rules of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly – Short Titles for Bills, Carried

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that this committee recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories bring forward legislation that includes provisions for bills to have both a technical title and a short title. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Member of Great Slave. The motion's in order. To the motion. The Member of Hay River North.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. And Cabinet does have a position on this one because this is a recommendation for government and so when there's a recommendation for government, we do abstain. We want to ensure that we can actually look into these issues before we put a vote to it. So we'll be abstaining. Thank you.

Thank yobu to the Member of Hay River North. To the Member of Yellowknife Centre.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, respectfully to the Premier, I hear what he is saying clearly about a recommendation of the government, but I would also semi disagree in saying this is a rule of the Assembly that all bills come with a name, so it's more of an Assembly process. Even though, yes, you are the stewards of the normal bills and normal process, and if we pass -- well, at the rate this Assembly is going, what, half a dozen bills in four years? I don't know. Or less. The principle being it's true 99 percent will come from the government, but I don't view this is a government direction. I see this as an administrative direction to the Assembly that all bills come forward in that manner. So I'm only disagreeing in the sense that I think it's a broader view. You know, I don't hesitate to disagree if I feel necessary or don't feel necessary, one or the other. But the truth be told is I don't view it that way. I see it strictly as a procedure matter. I would encourage a free vote from Cabinet. Unshackle the bonds. That's all.

Thank you to the Member of Yellowknife Centre. To the motion.

Speaker: SOME HON. MEMBERS

Question.

Question's been called. All in favour? All opposed? All abstained? Okay, motion's been carried.

---Carried

Member of Great Slave.

Committee Motion 69-20(1): Committee Report 17-20(1): Standing Committee on Procedure and Privileges Interim Report on the Review of the Rules of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly – Prayer, Carried

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you, committee, for your patience. This is the last one. I move that this committee recommends that rule 4.3(1) be amended by replacing the words "Member or the clerk" with "person." Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Member of Great Slave. To the motion -- or the motion's in order. To the motion.

Speaker: SOME HON. MEMBERS

Question.

Question's been called. All in favour? All opposed? Any abstentions? The motion's carried.

---Carried

Thank you, committee. Do you agree that you have concluded consideration of Committee Report 17-20(1), Standing Committee on Procedure and Privileges Report on the Review of the Rules of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly?

Speaker: SOME HON. MEMBERS

Agreed.

Thank you. Committee, we have concluded consideration of the Committee Report 17-20(1), Standing Committee on Procedure and Privileges Report on the Review of the Rules of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly. What is the will of committee?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I move that the chair rise and report progress.

There is a motion on the floor to report progress. The motion is in order and non-debatable. Mahsi. We're done. Opposed? Abstentions? Motion's carried, and committee is concluded.

---Carried

I will now rise and report progress. Mahsi.

Report of Committee of the Whole

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Report of Committee of the Whole. Member for the Sahtu.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Your committee has been considering Committee Report 17-20(1) and would like to report progress with 16 motions carried, that Committee Report 17-20(1) are concluded. Mahsi.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you. To the motion. Do I have a seconder? Moved by Deh Cho, second by the Deh Cho. All those in favour? All those -- you said nay? Let's try this again, boys and girls.

All those in favour? Thank you. All those opposed? Any abstentions? The motion is carried. ---Carried

Orders of the Day

Speaker: Mr. Glen Rutland

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Orders of the day for Thursday, February 6th, 2025, 1:30 p.m.

Prayer

Budget Address

Ministers’ Statements

Members’ Statements

Motions

Returns to Oral Questions

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Replies to the Budget Address (Day 1 of 7)

Acknowledgements

Oral Questions

Written Questions

Returns to Written Questions

Replies to the Commissioner’s Address

Petitions

Reports of Committees on the Review of Bills

Reports of Standing and Special Committees

Tabling of Documents

Notices of Motion

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

Report of Committee of the Whole

Third Reading of Bills

Orders of the Day

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. This House stands adjourned until Thursday, February 6th, 2025, at 1:30 p.m.

---ADJOURNMENT

The House adjourned at 4:59 p.m.