Kevin O'Reilly

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I appreciate the comments from my colleagues.

Mr. Chair, I move that this committee recommends that the rules of the Legislative Assembly authorize the Speaker to conduct part or all of a session remotely, using an approved platform, in the event of a state of emergency declared for the entire territory under the Emergency Measures Act or a public health emergency declared under the Public Health Act; and further, that the rules authorize the Speaker to convene part or all of a session remotely if the Speaker is satisfied after consultation with the Executive Council and...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that this committee recommends that the House adopt a revised daily order of business in the Rules of the Legislative Assembly for a remote sitting, pursuant to the changes listed in this report. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

[Microphone turned off] …Mr. Chair, I appreciate that. Committee would like to deal with Committee Report 6-19(2), Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures Report on Remote Sittings. Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that this committee recommends that, when a Member files a written question with the Office of the Clerk, the Member should note if, in the event the Member loses their connection, the written question can be announced by the Clerk and be printed in its entirety in Hansard. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Merci, Madame la Presidente. WHEREAS Mrs. Frieda Martselos was appointed to the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment by Motion 11-19(1) on December 10, 2019;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River North, that the appointment of Mrs. Frieda Martselos to the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment be revoked; and further,

WHEREAS Rule 89(2) requires that Members be appointed to the Standing Committee on Government Operations;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River North, that Mr. Steve Norn be...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that this committee recommends that, during oral questions, if a Member attending remotely is disconnected while asking a question, if the Member is successful in reconnecting before the allotted time expires, the Speaker will allow the Member to continue their questions; and further, if the Member is not able to reconnect before the allotted time expires, the Member may choose to submit the full question and up to three supplemental questions in writing, and that the Minister would have two sitting days in which to respond. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I want to thank the Minister for that. I have looked for data and reports on the output of the agricultural sector here in the Northwest Territories, and it's really hard to find anything. The ITI website has an agricultural sector profile page, but there is not much quantification there. The Bureau of Statistics doesn't seem to have much data on its web page, either. Of course, if you can't count it, how can we measure progress on building food security? Can the Minister tell us what steps she is taking to ensure that we can actually measure food security improvements with real targets and...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that this committee recommends that, when a Member attending remotely loses their connection just prior to or during a vote, the Member immediately contacts the table officer to register their vote, and that the Clerk will announce to the House how that Member voted at the end of the roll call; and further, that three minutes will be counted from the end of the roll call to when the Speaker announces the results if a Member has lost connection prior to voting to allow the Member time to contact the table officer. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Merci, Madame la Presidente. My questions are for the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment. My statement referred first to this government's mandate commandment to increase food security through food industry, increasing country food harvesting, and improving Nutrition North. Of course, there are several tasks there. Can the Minister give us a brief update on the current status of this mandate commandment on increasing food security? Mahsi, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that this committee recommends that any member attending remotely by videoconference be required to have a neutral background on screen; and further, if the Speaker determines a background is distracting to the House, the Speaker be empowered to order the Member to rectify the issue and, if the Member refuses, to turn off the Member's video and allow the Member to participate via audio only. Thank you, Mr. Chair.