Debates of March 30, 2023 (day 153)

March
30
2023
Session
19th Assembly, 2nd Session
Day
153
Speaker
Frederick Blake Jr.
Word PDF
Members Present
Hon. Diane Archie, Hon. Frederick Blake Jr., Mr. Bonnetrouge, Hon. Paulie Chinna, Ms. Cleveland, Hon. Caroline Cochrane, Mr. Edjericon, Hon. Julie Green, Mr. Johnson, Ms. Martselos, Ms. Nokleby, Ms. Semmler, Hon. R.J. Simpson, Mr. Rocky Simpson, Hon. Shane Thompson, Hon. Caroline Wawzonek, Ms. Weyallon Armstrong
Assembly Members
Topics
Bill 68: An Act to Amend the Child Day Care Act, Carried As Amended
Bill 80: Dental Hygienists Profession Statute Amendment Act, Carried
Bill 81: An Act to Amend the Education Act, No. 2, Carried
Bill 82: Legal Profession Act, Carried
Bill 83: Liquor Act, Carried
Bill 84: An Act to Amend the Northwest Territories Business Development and Investment Corporation Act, Carried
Bill 85: United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Implementation Act, Carried
Committee Motion 438-19(2): Committee Report 49-19(2): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the 2021-22 Review of the Official Languages Act - Increase Funding for Indigenous-Language Education, Services and Revitalization, Carried
Committee Motion 439-19(2): Committee Report 49-19(2): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the 2021-22 Review of the Official Languages Act - Reimbursement for Use of Indigenous Official Languages, Carried
Committee Motion 440-19(2): Committee Report 49-19(2): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the 2021-22 Review of the Official Languages Act - Creative Commons for Indigenous-Language Resource Material, Carried
Committee Motion 441-19(2): Committee Report 49-19(2): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the 2021-22 Review of the Official Languages Act - Annual Official Languages Action Plan, Carried
Committee Motion 442-19(2): Committee Report 49-19(2): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the 2021-22 Review of the Official Languages Act - Individual Language Training Account, Carried
Committee Motion 443-19(2): Committee Report 49-19(2): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the 2021-22 Review of the Official Languages Act - Indigenous Languages Revitalization Fund, Carried
Committee Motion 444-19(2): Committee Report 49-19(2): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the 2021-22 Review of the Official Languages Act - Indigenous Language Terms and Spellings for Languages and Communities, Carried
Committee Motion 445-19(2): Committee Report 49-19(2): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the 2021-22 Review of the Official Languages Act – Indigenous-Language Early Childhood Education, Carried
Committee Motion 446-19(2): Committee Report 49-19(2): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the 2021-22 Review of the Official Languages Act - Right to Receive Language Services, Carried
Committee Motion 447-19(2): Committee Report 49-19(2): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the 2021-22 Review of the Official Languages Act – Indigenous-Language Signs, Carried
Committee Motion 448-19(2): Committee Report 49-19(2): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the 2021-22 Review of the Official Languages Act - Michif Language, Carried
Committee Motion 449-19(2): Committee Report 49-19(2): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the 2021-22 Review of the Official Languages Act - Indigenous Official Languages in Education, Carried
Committee Motion 450-19(2): Committee Report 49-19(2): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the 2021-22 Review of the Official Languages Act – Response to Recommendations, Carried
Committee Motion 451-19(2): Committee Report 51-19(2): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on Indigenous Representation in the Northwest Territories Public Service - Implementation of Priority 1-Only Competition, Carried
Committee Motion 452-19(2): Committee Report 51-19(2): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on Indigenous Representation in the Northwest Territories Public Service - Relocation or Remote Classification of Positions, Carried
Committee Motion 454-19(2): Committee Report 51-19(2): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on Indigenous Representation in the Northwest Territories Public Service - Capacity Building, Carried
Committee Motion 455-19(2): Committee Report 51-19(2): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on Indigenous Representation in the Northwest Territories Public Service - Outreach Campaign to Attract Indigenous Professionals, Carried
Committee Motion 456-19(2): Committee Report 51-19(2): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on Indigenous Representation in the Northwest Territories Public Service - Hiring Practices and Job Competitions, Carried
Committee Motion 457-19(2): Committee Report 51-19(2): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on Indigenous Representation in the Northwest Territories Public Service - Transparent Retention Practices, Carried
Committee Motion 458-19(2): Committee Report 51-19(2): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on Indigenous Representation in the Northwest Territories Public Service - Exit Interviews and Analysis, Carried
Committee Motion 459-19(2): Committee Report 51-19(2): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on Indigenous Representation in the Northwest Territories Public Service - Increasing Indigenous Students Participation, Carried
Committee Motion 460-19(2): Committee Report 51-19(2): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on Indigenous Representation in the Northwest Territories Public Service - Support for Indigenous Employees, Carried
Committee Motion 461-19(2): Committee Report 51-19(2): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on Indigenous Representation in the Northwest Territories Public Service - Indigenous Recruitment and Retention Framework, Carried
Committee Motion 462-19(2): Committee Report 51-19(2): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on Indigenous Representation in the Northwest Territories Public Service – Response to Recommendations, Carried
Member’s Statement 1500-19(2): Impacts of Carbon Taxation on the Northwest Territories
Member’s Statement 1501-19(2): Unauthorized Occupancy and Indigenous Rights
Member’s Statement 1502-19(2): Reflection on Return of Spring
Member’s Statement 1503-19(2): Regional Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Funding
Member’s Statement 1504-19(2): Pace of Government and Intention to Seek Re-Election
Member’s Statement 1505-19(2): Bison Jamboree in Fort Providence
Member’s Statement 1506-19(2): Repudiation of Doctrine of Discovery and Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action
Member’s Statement 1507-19(2): Inuvik Muskrat jamboree
Member’s Statement 1508-19(2): Engagement of Youth with Standing Committee on Social Development
Member’s Statement 1509-19(2): Order of the Northwest Territories Recipient Joanne Deneron
Minister’s Statement 347-19(2): Draft Homelessness Strategy
Minister’s Statement 347-19(2): Sustainable Canadian Agriculture Partnership
Minister’s Statement 348-19(2): Combined Mental Wellness and Addictions Fund
Minister’s Statement 349-19(2): Review of Land lease-Only Policy
Motion 78-19(2): Extended Adjournment of the House to May 23, 2023, Carried
Motion 79-19(2): Expression of Gratitude to Clerk, Tim Mercer, for Dedicated and Exemplary Service, Carried
Mr. Johnson’s Reply
Question 1494-19(2): Indigenous Harvesting Rights
Question 1495-19(2): Carbon Tax
Question 1496-19(2): Doctrine of Discovery
Question 1497-19(2): Taltson Hydro Expansion
Question 1498-19(2): Business Incentive Policy Process
Question 1499-19(2): Carbon Tax Increase
Question 1500-19(2): Dempster Highway Repair
Question 1501-19(2): Request a New School for Behchoko
Question 1502-19(2): Northwest Territories Infrastructure Support
Question 1503-19(2): Hay River Harbour Remediation
Question 1504-19(2): Request for New School for Dettah
Question 1505-19(2): Hay River Area Flood Mitigation Measures
Recorded Vote
Representation in the Northwest Territories Public Service - Appeal Process for Public Service Positions, Carried
Tabled Document 919-19(2): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 1402-19(2): Cooperation Between Income Support and Child and Family Services
Tabled Document 923-19(2): Let’s Talk Agriculture: Have Your Say Online Survey Results
Tabled Document 925-19(2): A Way Home: A Comprehensive Strategy to Address Homelessness in the Northwest Territories
Tabled Document 926-19(2): Summary of Members’ Absences for the Period October 13, 2022 - February 6, 2023
Statements

Question 1495-19(2): Carbon Tax

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, will the Minister of Finance confirm if she plans to meet with the federal government to relay this government's opposition and concerns around the carbon tax. Thank you.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Member for Hay River South. Minister responsible for Finance.

Yes, Mr. Speaker. In fact, Mr. Speaker, I've already conveyed that message today to one minister, Minister Vandal. I intend to convey that message to Minister Guilbeault. I will hopefully convey that message to Minister Wilkinson. And it's my hope that it's not only about the opposition; it's time for them to help us find solutions. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the Minister also relay to the federal government the negative impact the carbon tax has on all residents and businesses in the Northwest Territories? Thank you.

Yes, Mr. Speaker, I'll be doing that as well. But more than that, Mr. Speaker, it's about the fact that there are a total lack of alternatives to fossil fuel use here in the Northwest Territories, and if this is how the federal government wants to respond is through a carbon tax, then they need to help us find the alternatives to it. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the Minister of Finance also relay to the federal government the value that the Northwest Territories adds to Canada? Thank you.

Absolutely, Mr. Speaker. And in fact, Mr. Speaker, in my view the value we add can only grow. If the Northwest Territories, a remote region, rural High Arctic, if this is a place that the Canadian can come and make us a shining example of how to get off of fossil fuel use, then they can stand up internationally and truly be a star. So they should come here, and we should be the shining example of how to get off of fossil fuels. I think we add a tremendous value to the Government of Canada. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary. Member for Hay River South.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the Minister also ask the federal government to consider exempting residents and businesses of the Northwest Territories from carbon tax? Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, this one we've tried. We've tried. I've tried. Other jurisdictions facing similar situations have tried. Other territories have tried. And we haven't gotten very far. Mr. Speaker, I want to look forward, and I want to find solutions that's going to reduce our carbon tax costs in the North because we have less reliance on fossil fuel use. And that's the point of the carbon tax, is to get people off of fossil fuels. We don't have alternatives in the Northwest Territories. But if that's the federal government's goal, then the federal government needs to help us get off of fossil fuel use, provide reliable and responsible alternatives to fossil fuels here in the North. It will dramatically change our energy situation. And if this is the situation we face ourselves in now with the carbon tax, it's time for them to come here and help us get there. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Tu NedheWiilideh.