Glen Abernethy

The department is reviewing a number of issues with the legislation that were raised by the rental officer. One of the issues that was not raised was this particular issue about the powers and the orders and the enforcement of those orders.

However, recognizing the concerns of my two colleagues as well as people throughout the Northwest Territories, I have directed the Department of Justice to look at possible issues relating to the enforcement of orders under the Residential Tenancies Act. In this review we need to determine that there are actually issues that can be addressed through the...

Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories is committed to establishing a public service that is inclusive and representative of the population it serves. Today I am pleased to provide my colleagues with an update on initiatives currently underway to achieve this important goal.

Established in March 2010, the GNWT Advisory Committee on Employability provides advice on how government can promote, support and increase the participation of persons with disabilities. Working closely with this committee, the Department of Human Resources has developed a draft framework to guide efforts...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Thebacha, that Bill 2, Miscellaneous Statute Amendment Act, 2012, be read for the second time.

Mr. Speaker, this bill corrects inconsistencies and errors in statutes of the Northwest Territories. The bill deals with other matters of a minor, noncontroversial and uncomplicated nature in the statutes and repeals provisions that cease to have effect. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I think what we’re talking about is utilizing existing wall space in the public areas of buildings where we might have an opportunity to hang product from northern artists. I will work with my colleagues and we will have conversations with some of the local artist organizations in the Northwest Territories to get their input on how to best facilitate the placement of their art, artists from the Northwest Territories, in public areas of our government buildings.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don’t actually know if we have a specific policy about local artists’ art on walls in public spaces within our government buildings, but I will check with the department to find out if we have anything.

I have directed the department to have some results ready for discussion with committee and Members in the fall. Thank you.

We only have 36 minutes and I don’t think anybody wants me to use that entire time up. What I’d like to offer is I can certainly meet with committee to go through some of the things that we’re planning and build upon the discussions that we’ve already had on the business plan and walk through some of the details of this report. If the committee wants that, I am happy to provide the Member and committee with a little bit more of a briefing on this topic. Thank you.

The most recent technical report on the Public Works and Services building still indicates that there are limitations to that building to be used as a secure facility for corrections purposes. That building has been turned over to Public Works and Services who will do some remediation work on it and have it ready for some disposal. Somebody will be able to use that building. Unfortunately, it can’t meet the criteria or the conditions for a secure facility.

We do need a female facility. The female facility we have in Fort Smith is not meeting the needs. It needs to be upgraded, and it is in the...

I agree completely. We want to make sure that this type of thing doesn’t happen. What I’m committing to do is providing a bit of an analysis and report on what can be done to make sure that orders can be enforced and how they can be enforced. I’m not sure that’s going to require a legislative amendment. It may be policy, it might be regulation. We will do that research and analysis. We will bring it to committee. We will present it to committee and seek direction from committee and the Member as well. We will seek direction on how we want to move forward on that. It may be legislation; it may...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The rental officer has powers and authorities as identified within the Residential Tenancies Act. When a dispute occurs between a tenant and a landlord and cannot be resolved through mediation or discussion, the rental officer does have the power to make an order. Once filed with the court, that order does have the power of the courts. If one of the parties disagrees with the order, there is a right to appeal. The right to appeal is the cornerstone of the Canadian justice system and that cannot be ignored. When an appeal is filed, the Supreme Court has a couple of...