Debates of November 22, 2021 (day 81)

November
22
2021
Session
19th Assembly, 2nd Session
Day
81
Speaker
Frederick Blake Jr.
Word PDF
Members Present
Mr. Blake, Mr. Bonnetrouge, Ms. Cleveland, Ms. Chinna, Ms. Cochrane, Ms Green, Mr. Jacobson, Mr. Johnson, Ms. Martselos, Ms. Nokleby, Mr. Norn, Mr. O'Reilly, Ms. Semmler, Mr. R.J. Simpson, Mr. Rocky Simpson, Ms. Thom, Mr. Thompson, Ms. Wawzonek, Ms. Wayallon-Armstrong
Assembly Members
Topics
Bill 23: An Act to Amend the Public Utilities Bill
Bill 24: An Act to Amend the Revolving Funds Act
Bill 29: Resource Royalty Information Disclosure Statute Amendment Act
Bill 30: An Act to Amend the Aurora College Act
Bill 31: An Act to Amend the Pharmacy Act
Bill 32: An Act to Amend the Northern Employees Benefit Services Pension Plan Act
Bill 33: National Indigenous Peoples Day Act
Bill 36: An Act to Amend the Territorial Court Justice Act
Bill 37: An Act to Amend the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act
Bill 38: Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act 2021
Bill 39: An Act to Amend the Post-Secondary Education Act
Committee Report 17-19(2): Report on the Review of Bill 23: An Act to Amend the Public Utilities Act
Member's Statement on Condolences on the Passing of Constituents
Member's Statement on COP 26 and Climate Change
Member's Statement on COP 26 and the Climate Crisis in the Northwest Territories
Member's Statement on COVID-19 Vaccination
Member's Statement on Eulogy for Mary (Bernice) Bonnetrouge
Member's Statement on Government of the Northwest Territories Property Leases
Member's Statement on Great Slave Lake Commercial Fisheries
Member's Statement on Housing Needs in Monfwi
Member's Statement on Issues Relating to First Nation Access Along Waterways
Member's Statement on Progress During the 19th Legislative Assembly.
Member's Statement on Progress on Housing During the19th Legislative Assembly
Minister's Statement 178-19(2): Sessional STATEMENT – November 2021
Motion 39-19(2): Appointment of Member for Monfwi to Standing Committees
Motion 40-19(2): Members of the Legislative Assembly Vaccination Policy
Motion 40-19(2): Members of the Legislative Assembly Vaccination Policy, Carried
Motion 41-19(2): Appointment of Chief Electoral Officer
Oral Question 775-19(2): Government of the Northwest Territories COVID-19 Vaccination Policy
Oral Question 776-19(2): Government of the Northwest Territories Property Leases
Oral Question 777-19(2): First Nation Access Along Waterways
Oral Question 778-19(2): COP 26 and the Climate Crisis in the Northwest Territories
Oral Question 779-19(2): Great Slave Lake Commercial Fisheries
Oral Question 780-19(2): COP 26 Outcomes
Oral Question 781-19(2): Progress on Housing Priorities
Oral Question 782-19(2): Northwest Territories Power Corporation COVID-19 Vaccination Policy
Recorded Vote
Tabled Document 441-19(2): Follow-up letter for Oral Question 500-19(2): Government Renewal Initiative
Tabled Document 443-19(2): Follow-up letter for Oral Question 717-19(2): Disaster Navigator Recommended for flooded Communities
Tabled Document 450-19(2): Self-Isolation Exemption Data
Tabled Document 453-19(2): Additional Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 497-19(2): Corrections Workplace Assessment
Tabled Document 454-19(2): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 720-19(2): Airport Taxi Fees
Tabled Document 461-19(2): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 749-19(2): Suitability of Public Housing Units
Tabled Document 462-19(2): Letter received November 8, 2021 from Multiple Constituents regarding Compensation and Incentives for Essential Workers
Tabled Document 463-19(2): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 754-19(2): Lottery Revenues for Hay River Sporting Organizations
Tabled Document 465-19(2): Disposition Report of the Sole Adjudicator , the Honourable R. L. Barclay, Q.C. dated November 17, 2021
Statements

Merci, Monsieur le President. Look, I know it's all been -- it's been a very long day for all of us but I think it's really important to go on the public record as supporting this motion and what it's really all about.

So the board of management that governs the Legislative Assembly, the employees and so on, we already have a policy for the building itself so that anybody who enters the building, including contractors now, have to be fully vaccinated.

What this motion is about is about whether MLAs have to be vaccinated to enter into the building for committee work and sittings of the House. That's what this motion is all about because the only ones that -- the only authority to tell us what to do as Members of this House is the House itself, and that's what this motion is doing, is saying that we have to be fully vaccinated to be allowed to come in for committee meetings and for the sittings of the House.

I want to note for the record, Mr. Speaker, that this actually sets a higher standard than the GNWT vaccination policy as there are no allowances or accommodations for someone who refuses to get vaccinated. If MLAs refuse to get vaccinated, and I don't believe there's anybody like that in this House, they cannot get PPE and regular testing and come in here. Their only option is to participate remotely, which the rules of the Assembly now allow for.

So in any event, we're holding ourselves to a higher standard than the GNWT policy. I support this strongly, and I'm sure I would ask for a recorded vote, and I'm sure we're going to get unanimous support for this. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Recorded Vote

Speaker: Mr. Mercer

The Member for Frame Lake. The Member for Nunakput. The Member for Kam Lake. The Member for Yellowknife South. The Member for Range Lake. The Member for Yellowknife Centre. The Member for Great Slave. The Member for Hay River South. The Member for Monfwi. The Member for Yellowknife North. The Member for Deh Cho. The Member for Tu Nedhe-Willideh. The Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes. The Member for Nahendeh. The Member for Sahtu. The Member for Inuvik Boot Lake. The Member for Yellowknife North. The Member for Thebacha. Hay River North. The Member for Thebacha.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you. All those opposed, please rise. All those abstaining, please rise. The results of the recorded vote: 18 in favour, zero opposed, zero abstentions. The motion is carried.

---Carried.