Thank you, Mr. Chair. I neglected to indicate that I will be seeking recorded votes for each of the motions, please. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. The Member has requested a recorded vote. All those in favour, please stand.
(Mr. Schauerte): Mr. O'Reilly, Ms. Green, Mr. Nadli, Mr. Nakimayak, Mr. Moses, Ms. Cochrane, Mr. Abernethy, Mr. McLeod – Yellowknife South, Mr. McLeod – Inuvik Twin Lakes, Mr. Schumann, Mr. Sebert, Mr. McNeely, Mr. Vanthuyne, Mr. Testart, Mr. Beaulieu, Mr. Thompson.
All those opposed, please stand. All those abstaining, please stand. Results are 16 in favour; zero opposed; zero abstentions. The motion is carried.
---Carried
Mr. O'Reilly.
Thank you, Ms. Green. The Member has requested a recorded vote. All those in favour, please stand.
(Mr. Schauerte): Ms. Green, Mr. O'Reilly.
All those opposed, please stand.
(Mr. Schauerte): Mr. Nadli, Mr. Nakimayak, Mr. Moses, Ms. Cochrane, Mr. Abernethy, Mr. McLeod –Yellowknife South, Mr. McLeod – Inuvik Twin Lakes, Mr. Schumann, Mr. Sebert, Mr. McNeely, Mr. Vanthuyne, Mr. Testart, Mr. Beaulieu, Mr. Thompson.
All those abstained, please stand. The results of the recorded vote are two in favour; 14 opposed; zero abstentions. The motion is defeated.
---Defeated
To the amendment to the motion. Question has been called. All those in favour. Mr. Testart.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I appreciate the debate that emerged around this, and I just want to make a few comments. This proposal is not a loophole. It is, in fact, a safeguard, and a critical protection of the rights of Northerners on a proposal that is designed to limit the ability of a candidate to contest an election.
We have reasonable limitations to Charter of Rights. For example, hate speech in this country is not allowed, and it is a reasonable limit on the right of free speech. That is just one example, and there are many more. The honourable Minister of Justice, and I respect him greatly, he made the comment that this Assembly should not be determining who gets to run. We do that through the Elections and Plebiscites Act, which was passed and gets amended by this Assembly as well, and it lays out the criteria for being a candidate. That act also lays out the ability for candidates who have conflicts with the act to make petitions to the Supreme Court of the Northwest Territories in asking for exceptions. For example, if a candidate is late in filing their returns, they can petition the court to give them leave in the form of a reasonable excuse. This exception would follow a similar course and, further, this is a motion; it is not a bill or a legislative proposal. The details of exceptional circumstances could be worked out in such time, as if it were accepted and it was drafted into law.
I do appreciate the passion around this, but it is not designed to cause confusion; it is designed to assure the public that the rights of Northerners are protected, and minimal interference is imposed upon the Charter of Rights, as a result of this proposed recommendation. However, I am entirely respectful of the will of the House, and should the amendment not pass, I will then turn to the original recommendation and make comments thereof.
I do not believe that we can support the original recommendation without an amendment that ensures rights are protected, and still allows us to make a very strong statement on an epidemic that is destroying lives in the Northwest Territories. I urge my colleagues, the honourable Members of this House, to support this amendment. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Testart. All those in favour. All those opposed. The motion is defeated.
---Defeated
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I would like to request a recorded vote.
The Member requested a recorded vote. All those in favour, please stand.
Mr. O’Reilly, Ms. Green.
All those opposed, please stand.
Mr. Nakimayak, Mr. Moses, Ms. Cochrane, Mr. Abernethy, Mr. McLeod of Yellowknife South, Mr. McLeod of Inuvik Twin Lakes, Mr. Schumann, Mr. Sebert, Mr. McNeely, Mr. Vanthuyne, Mr. Testart, Mr. Beaulieu, Mr. Thompson.
All those abstaining, please stand.
Mr. Nadli.
The results of the recorded vote are two in favour; 13 opposed; one abstention. The motion is defeated.
---Defeated
Mr. O’Reilly.
The Member has requested a recorded vote. All those in favour, please stand.
(Mr. Mercer): Mr. O'Reilly, Ms. Green, Ms. Cochrane, Mr. Abernethy, Mr. Sebert, Mr. Vanthuyne, Mr. Testart, Mr. Beaulieu, Mr. Thompson, Mr. O'Reilly.
All those opposed, please stand.
(Mr. Mercer): Mr. Nadli, Mr. Nakimayak, Mr. Moses, Mr. McLeod – Yellowknife South, Mr. McLeod – Inuvik Twin Lakes, Mr. Schumann, and Mr. McNeely.
All those abstaining, please stand. The results of the recorded vote are nine in favour; seven opposed; zero abstentions. The motion is carried.
---Carried
Mr. O'Reilly.
Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. To the motion. Question has been called. The Member has requested a recorded vote. All those in favour, please stand.
(Mr. Mercer): Mr. O'Reilly, Ms. Green, Mr. Nakimayak, Mr. Moses, Ms. Cochrane, Mr. Abernethy, Mr. McLeod – Yellowknife South, Mr. McLeod – Inuvik Twin Lakes, Mr. Schumann, Mr. Sebert, Mr. McNeely, Mr. Vanthuyne, Mr. Testart, Mr. Beaulieu, Mr. Thompson.
All those opposed, please stand. All those abstaining, please stand. The results of the recorded vote are 15 in favour; zero opposed; zero abstention. The motion is carried.
---Carried
Noting the time, I will now rise and report progress.
Masi. The Member is requesting a recorded vote. The motion is in order. To the motion.
Question.
Question has been called. All those in favour, please stand.
The Member for Hay River South, the Member for Thebacha, the Member for Hay River North, the Member for Sahtu, the Member for Nunakput, the Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, the Member for Range Lake, the Member for Great Slave, the Member for Yellowknife South, the Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.
Masi. All those opposed, please stand.
The Member for Yellowknife North, the Member for Kam Lake, the Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh, the Member for Nahendeh, the Member for Frame Lake, the Member for Yellowknife Centre, the Member for Deh Cho.
Masi. All those abstaining, please stand. Masi. The results of the recorded vote, 10 in favour; seven opposed; zero abstentions. The motion is carried.
---Carried
