Robert Bouchard

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Kam Lake, that Bill 15, An Act to Amend the Human Rights Act, No. 3, be read for the second time.

Bill 15 amends the Human Rights Act to establish that the director of human rights is an employee in the public service. This act also amends the act to modify the terms of employment of the members of the adjudication panel established under the act and to authorize the Speaker, on the recommendation of the Board of Management, to designate the chairperson and deputy chairperson of the adjudication panel. The adjudication panel...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Government of the Northwest Territories, as well as Aboriginal governments with settled land claims, have authority in areas such as air quality and wildlife. The Government of the Northwest Territories is currently negotiating increased management authority for land and water. The committee recognizes the current Mackenzie Valley Resources Management Act as a strong federal law, designed by Northerners, that allows for control of the pace and scale of development. A policy on hydraulic fracturing is needed to supplement provisions in the Mackenzie Valley Resources...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I indicated in my Member’s statement, I am concerned with addictions in the Northwest Territories and the lack of productivity it’s causing in our industries. My questions are going to be for the Minister of ITI.

Has the Department of ITI had any involvement with a drug and alcohol program for industry?

Madam Chair, the importance of the changes here is to make it a little more… It is updating it. We are not consistent with all of the jurisdictions, but it is modernizing it. It is only the second director that we have in the position, so we are looking to modernize ourselves. Are we consistent with every jurisdiction? Every jurisdiction is a little bit different and ours is special in its own way.

Yes, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to waive Rule 39(2) and have Bill 15, An Act to Amend the Human Rights Act, No. 3, moved into Committee of the Whole today.

---Unanimous consent granted

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. WHEREAS Section 48(1) of the Human Rights Act provides for the establishment of an adjudication panel composed of at least three persons, appointed by the Commissioner on the recommendation of the Legislative Assembly;

AND WHEREAS Section 48(5) of the Human Rights Act provides that the members of the panel hold office, during good behaviour, for a term of four years, with the exception of the first members appointed;

AND WHEREAS the appointments of two of the adjudication panel members expired on October 31, 2012;

AND WHEREAS the Board of Management has considered a number...

I’m glad the Minister understands the problem here. My question is, though – the diamond mines have been here for a long time, for many years – what programs has his department worked with the diamond mines, for example, to get these people in the Northwest Territories to the job to be able to contribute to the economy of the Northwest Territories?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Kam Lake, that Bill 15, An Act to Amend the Human Rights Act, No. 3, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I appreciate that information from the Minister. I guess my question was about the linking of those expenditures and those funding programs to some sort of index that shows that they’re going to see increases. Like I indicated, some of those have not seen increases for several years. Is there a way that the government is looking at implementing this to a CPI index to increase those amounts for seniors?