Thank you, Mr. Premier. Final supplementary. Member from Yellowknife North.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Given the fact that there's people often working in silos, each doing their own separate effort, would the Minister commit to producing such a sort of easy to use resource not just to be able to give out to shelter operators, but to distribute amongst Yellowknife businesses who are really asking for this resource? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That's a -- I'm happy to look into this and see what we can do. It makes sense to have that information available. You know, even for MLAs, we often get inquiries from constituents and we need that type of information at hand, whether you're a Yellowknife MLA or you know some folks who wound up here and might need that information. So I will look into it and get back to the Member. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Premier. Oral questions. Member from Great Slave.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you for the admonishment; I will not grandstand in my questions anymore.
Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister of Finance. As she knows, and from my previous line of questions, there have been changes to the CRA posting publicly the information around the lowest return airfare. Can she confirm as to whether or not her department is sharing that information widely with residents to make them aware of this change and to be able to access that information? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from Great Slave. Minister of Finance.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there's always a bit of hesitancy to be seen to be giving or suggesting how people should go about their taxes, but I take that point and I certainly commit to go back to the department and make sure that we are sharing what we can about where to access more information, what to do if people are uncertain about where to go with questions around CRA and to use their calculating -- calculators. So, again, I'll go back and make sure that our comms folks are active in this space and we're doing what we can to help educate residents. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you to the Minister for that. I think that would go a long way for folks to understand the new lay of the land.
There is an outstanding issue that I am not aware of the answer to yet, but it was raised in this House in the 19th Assembly, which is northern residents tax deduction which is a related by separate issue. Can the Minister tell me if indexing of that residency amount has been raised since 2023? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I don't believe that it has, Mr. Speaker, but, again, this is where I do want to be cautious. I'll want to just confirm that I've got the right numbers and the right dates and will certainly by Monday have something on the table to the House just to confirm. It is an area where we do want residents to have accurate information and information that is, you know, certainly not seen as being advice from me or necessarily from the department. They should be seeking that from tax professionals. So to the extent that I can confirm that or provide access to those resources, I will have that tabled for Monday. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister of Finance. Oral questions. Member from Yellowknife Centre.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it's a great privilege to have a question to the health Minister today, and we're going to talk about spectacles, Mr. Speaker. Maybe I'll put them on later.
Mr. Speaker, seniors who go and try to get their coverage are denied through Blue Cross if they have private insurance. Mr. Speaker, this issue's been brought to the department, but the department has said, sorry, we're not interested in talking to you because you provide health care. But, really, they're trying to ensure seniors get their benefit.
Mr. Speaker, can the Minister tell me what she can do to help deal or wade -- help us wade through this quagmire of coverage. Thank you.
Thank you, Member from Yellowknife Centre. Minister of Health and Social Services.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And as I talk, my spectacles get fogged up because of the mask, so. So just with extended health benefits, if somebody else has other coverage they may be qualified, you know, through work or some other benefit. The extended health benefit is the payer of last resort. That is the policy. Therefore, residents have to claim through their first -- the first plan, and then if it's not all covered, then Alberta Blue Cross will pick up the difference up to the eligible amount. And if this is not happening, then we need to discuss this with Alberta Blue Cross because the policy isn't being administered properly. And so I thank Minister, if this is not what's happening, to inform us of this discrepancy. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That's the best answer I've heard out of Cabinet this whole session, Mr. Speaker. And I want to acknowledge that.
Mr. Speaker, the only other question, assuming it goes well, is that can I have the Minister agree that she'll investigate this and report this back to me or the House by -- well, say, can we get an update or some sort before the May session? Because I suspect the next two weeks is too soon. But if she can commit to do a public clarification as to what isn't being done but what will be done and etcetera, she understands. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, and I would also like the Member if he wishes to bring the certain instance directly to my attention at my office so we can deal with that resident immediately. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following two documents: Plain Language Summary for Bill 21, An Act to Amend the Workers' Compensation Act; and, Statement of Consistency for Bill 21, An Act to Amend the Workers' Compensation Act. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member from Hay River North, that Bill 21, An Act to Amend the Workers' Compensation Act, be read for the second time. The bill will amend the Workers' Compensation Act to improve and update the way long-term benefits are calculated for permanently injured workers. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The motion is in order. To the principle of the bill.
Question.
Question has been called. All those in favour? Opposed? Abstentions? The motion is carried. Bill 12 has been read a second time and is referred to the standing committee of the Assembly for further consideration.
---Carried
I now call the Committee of the Whole to order. We'll go to the Member from Inuvik Boot Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, the committee wishes to consider Bill 11, An Act to Amend the Motor Vehicles Act, as well as Tabled Document 275-20(1), 2025-2026 Main Estimates, Executive and Indigenous Affairs. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. Does the committee agree?
Agreed.
Thank you. We'll take a short recess.
---SHORT RECESS
I'll get your attention, please. Before I move on to the bills and other matters, we have in front of us, I just want to take the time to recognize some guests in our gallery here today. I just want to recognize Mary and Gerry Darter, Christine and Eric Gornitsky. They come from California, United States of America. Welcome.
The next one I have is -- I hope I say this right. Tsuyoshi Nagao, and he is from Japan. I want to say welcome to the House. Mahsi.
Thank you, and we're going to continue on. Committee, we have agreed to consider Bill 11, An Act to Amend the Motor Vehicles Act. I will ask the Minister of Infrastructure to introduce the bill. I'll go to the Minister.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I am here to present Bill 11, An Act to Amend the Motor Vehicles Act.
Bill 11 is a package of amendments to the Motor Vehicles Act, which include changing how information held by the registrar of motor vehicles can be shared.
First, Bill 11 will protect consumers by allowing anyone shopping for a used vehicle to independently verify its registration history.
Second, the bill will support the NWT Bureau of Statistics to conduct its population count by allowing the registrar to share information from driver's licenses with government agencies.
Third, the bill will prevent fraud by authorizing the registrar to use facial recognition technology to verify that anyone applying for a driver's license or general ID card does not already hold one.
Finally, the bill will reduce red tape by making minor changes to the application processes for persons applying for copies of their own data from the registrar.
The Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment conducted a clause-by-clause review of Bill 11 on February 13. And At that meeting, the standing committee adopted three motions to clarify wording in the bill, at the recommendation of the Information and Privacy Commissioner. I have agreed to all three motions.
That concludes my opening remarks, and I would be happy to answer any questions Members may have. Thank you.
Thank you. I will ask the Minister of Infrastructure to go to the witness table and, also, I'd like to get the Sergeant-at-Arms to please escort the witnesses into the chamber.
Thank you. Would the Minister please introduce your witnesses, please.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. On my left, Jeffrey Nichols, senior legislative advisor at the Department of Infrastructure. And on my right, Sue McKinney as the legislative counsel from the Department of Justice. Thank you.
I will now turn to the chair of the standing committee. I will go to the Member from Yellowknife Centre.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Before I begin my remarks, I want to thank you for introducing our guests in the gallery. I happened to meet them earlier during the break. Of course, you mentioned they're from -- some of them are from the great state of California, which is quite a trek to come here, and, of course, the gentleman from the island of Japan. I should say island nation of Japan. So thank you again for acknowledging all our guests on the record.
So, Mr. Chairman, thank you. Bill 11, An Act to Amend the Motor Vehicles Act, received second reading in the Legislative Assembly on October 30th, 2024, and was referred to the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment for review.
On February 13th, 2025, the standing committee held a public hearing with the Minister of Infrastructure and completed its clause-by-clause review of the bill. I thank the committee for their efforts in reviewing this legislation. On behalf of the committee, I also wish to thank the Minister for assisting us with our review. And as always, individual committee members may have additional comments on their own. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for your assistance. Thank you.
Thank you. I will now open the floor to general comments on the bill, Bill 11. Any Members that have questions? Does the committee agree that there are no further general comments; can we proceed to clause-by-clause review of the bill? Committee, agree?
Agreed.
Thank you. Committee, we will defer the number and title until after consideration of the clauses. Please turn to page 1 of the bill. Clause 1, does committee agree?
Agreed.
Thank you. Clause 2, does committee agree?
Agreed.
Clause 3, does committee agree?
Agreed.
Clause 4, does committee agree?
Agreed.
Clause 5, does the committee agree?
