Debates of October 3, 2023 (day 165)

October
3
2023
Session
19th Assembly, 2nd Session
Day
165
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. Jacobson, Mr. Johnson, Ms. Martselos, Ms. Nokleby, Mr. O’Reilly, Ms. Semmler, Hon. R.J. Simpson, Mr. Rocky Simpson, Hon. Shane Thompson, Hon. Caroline Wawzonek, Ms. Weyallon Armstrong
Assembly Members
Topics
Bill 81: An Act to Amend the Education Act, No. 2, Carried
Bill 93: Practice of Engineering, Geoscience and Applied Science Technology Act, Carried
Bill 94: Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act, Carried
Committee Motion 477-19(2): Committee Report 62-19(2): Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Review of Bill 74: Forest Act – Independent Review, Carried
Committee Motion 478-19(2): Committee Report 62-19(2): Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Review of Bill 74: Forest Act – Information Sharing, Carried
Committee Motion 479-19(2): Committee Report 62-19(2): Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Review of Bill 74: Forest Act – Annual Meeting, Carried
Committee Motion 480-19(2): Committee Report 62-19(2): Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Review of Bill 74: Forest Act – Collaboration with Standing Committee, Carried
Committee Motion 481-19(2): Committee Report 62-19(2): Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Review of Bill 74: Forest Act – Extend Review Process, Carried
Committee Motion 482-19(2): Committee Report 62-19(2): Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Review of Bill 74: Forest Act – Developing Legislation Publicly, Carried
Committee Motion 483-19(2): Committee Report 62-19(2): Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Review of Bill 74: Forest Act – Additional Resources for Co-Drafted Resource Management Legislation, Carried
Committee Motion 484-19(2): Committee Report 62-19(2): Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Review of Bill 74: Forest Act – Public Engagement Through Co-Drafting Process, Carried
Committee Motion 485-19(2): Committee Report 62-19(2): Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Review of Bill 74: Forest Act – Resources to Develop REgulations, Carried
Committee Motion 486-19(2): Bill 74: Forest Act – Amend Clause 14.1, Defeated
Committee Motion 487-19(2): Bill 74: Forest Act – Amend Subclause 15.1(1), Defeated
Committee Motion 488-19(2): Bill 74: Forest Act – Amend Subclause 48(2.1), Defeated
Committee Motion 489-19(2): Bill 74: Forest Act – Amend Paragrah 127(z.01), Defeated
Committee Motion 490-19(2): Bill 74: Forest Act – Amend Paragrah 127(z.01.1), Defeated
Committee Motion 491-19(2): Bill 74: Forest Act – Amend New Clause 128.1, Defeated
Committee Motion 492-19(2): Bill 92: An Act to Amend the Petroleum Products and Carbon Tax Act, No. 3 – Amend Clause 4, Carried
Committee Report 75-19(2): Report on the Review of the Rules of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly, No. 2,
Member’s Statement 1618-19(2): Evacuation Supports
Member’s Statement 1619-19(2): Future Polytechnic University
Member’s Statement 1620-19(2): Affirmative Action Policy
Member’s Statement 1621-19(2): People Unable to Work Because of Disabilities
Member’s Statement 1622-19(2): Mining Promotion
Member’s Statement 1623-19(2): Strengthen and Diversity Northwest Territories Economy through Agriculture
Member’s Statement 1624-19(2): Government Renewal
Member’s Statement 1625-19(2): Energy and Climate Crisis Conference
Member’s Statement 1627-19(2): Special Olympics World Summer Games Gold Medal Winner CHELSEY MAKArO
Member’s Statement 1628-19(2): North American Indigenous Games 2023 Participants and Experience of Athlete Ava Erasmus
Member’s Statement 1629-19(2): Frank Gruben
Minister’s Statement 385-19(2): Mineral Resources Act Regulations – Status Report
Minister’s Statement 386-19(2): 2023-2028 Child, Youth and Family Services Strategic Direction and Action Plan
Minister’s Statement 387-19(2): Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission’s New President and Chief Executive Officer
Ms. Archie’s Reply
Question 1601-19(2): Evacuation Supports
Question 1602-19(2): Affirmative Action
Question 1603-19(2): Polytechnic University and Environment and Natural Resources Technology Program in Fort Smith
Question 1604-19(2): Affirmative Action Policy
Question 1604-19(2): Agricultual Growth
Question 1605-19(2): Mining Promotion
Question 1606-19(2): Climate Change Emergency
Question 1607-19(2): Government Renewal
Question 1608-19(2): Frank Gruben
Question 1609-19(2): Disabilities
Recorded Vote
Tabled Document 1015-19(2): NWT Department of Health and Social Services 2022-2023 Annual Report
Tabled Document 1021-19(2): Regional Economic Development Plan – Beaufort-Delta
Tabled Document 1022-19(2): Government of the Northwest Territories Public Service Announcement dated September 27, 2023 titled “Public Service Announcement – Have your say on the delivery of an Indigenous Environmental Studies and Sciences Diplo
Statements

Member’s Statement 1619-19(2): Future Polytechnic University

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I want to speak about the future polytechnic university and some of the actions taking place at Aurora College as it transitions into a territorial university.

First of all, Mr. Speaker, I want to once again reiterate that there are several positions within Aurora College that are currently on loan to the Yellowknife campus but, in fact, they belong to the headquarters office in Fort Smith, and that includes the office of the president. All of the positions in question are entitled to be based in Fort Smith, and they must be returned as soon as possible.

In addition, Mr. Speaker, one of the pillars of the 19th Assembly has been for our government to decentralize jobs and services away from the capital and back into the small communities and regional centres. We are not properly serving the people of the NWT when we have everything concentrated in the capital.

Moreover, Mr. Speaker, last week, on September 28th, the Government of the Northwest Territories announced that it is seeking input on a postsecondary institution application that would deliver a new diploma program on Indigenous environmental studies and sciences beginning in the fall of 2023. The program is being put forward by Trent University and is being developed in partnership with YKDFN.

Mr. Speaker, while I certainly do support the people of the NWT having more program options to consider for postsecondary at Aurora College; however, I do not want new education options to be coming at the expense of existing programs that the college delivers. I am worried specifically how this new program might affect the world-renowned environment and natural resources technology program that has existed for many years at Aurora College Thebacha campus. I do not want the ENR technology program to be threatened, undermined, or replaced. Period. I especially do not want to see Fort Smith lose yet another highly valued and popular program that is taken away from our community. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

--Unanimous consent granted

In closing, Mr. Speaker, given our current circumstance of an upcoming territorial election happening very soon, I want to urge the college itself, along with the minister of ECE, to hold off on rolling out this new program at this time. I believe it would be a better decision to wait until after the next government is formed in the 20th Assembly before any new major programs or changes occur within Aurora College. I will have questions for the minister of ECE later today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Member for Thebacha. Members' statements. Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.