Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, when people leak confidential information, there should be consequences, but our ability to express is another issue. From Indigenous perspective, as an Indigenous person, a woman, we finally got our voice. As a result of the colonization, it destroyed our language, culture, and way of life. For so long, the racist Indian Act had power and control over our life. Not only that, it discriminated more against the Indigenous women. With this in mind, Mr. Speaker, I do not support this motion. Thank you.
Thank you, Member from Monfwi. To the motion. Member from Inuvik Twin Lakes.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I stand here today to support the motion to send the Members' Code of Conduct to the standing committee on procedure and privilege for review and possible changes. This motion, again, is not about restricting free speech. As my colleague has said, as an Indigenous woman, we have a voice, we'll use it, but it's about our duty as elected leaders to maintain the respect and the trust of the people that we represent.
In our territory, governance goes beyond just laws and parliamentary rule. It's also deeply connected to Indigenous laws, values, and northern traditions as we practice those as part of our processes. The Dene, Metis, Inuvialuit, and other northern communities have long governed themselves based on respect, honesty, and accountability. These values are not just written down; they are shown in our relationships, teachings, and the shared responsibility to keep harmony in our communities. And when I speak about this, one of the areas that I like to talk about is when my first experience of walking into this chamber of fear, of fear of doing it wrong and getting it wrong for the people that I represent, of being a role model for those that come behind me, and to be the person that my elders expect of me. And many of our elders are sitting around us, behind us, as we do these proceedings. And I do hear feedback from my constituents and other residents in the Northwest Territories and ask me what's going on, what's going on, why is this happening, you know. And I take it a step back and, you know -- and I say that we -- we are all passionate. That is not -- I'm not going to say that that's not -- that's not -- that's happening in this room. Every single one of us are here because we are passionate about the work that we are doing. We may disagree. And, again, we can disagree. We can, you know, get to the point where we may not even like each other very much. But we have to respect each other. And that was something that was taught to me a long time ago, and I'm not saying that rule that's in here. That was given to me when I was working, when I was in school. I had teachers that I didn't get along with. It was, like, you may not like them but they are there, and you have to respect them and you have to do the work with them. So, you know, and I take that away.
So, Mr. Speaker, our northern laws and values teach us to communicate carefully and with integrity, especially in the public. That's another part that I've always said, is as a leader everything that I say carries weight, even though I'm not very big and -- but I'm very loud and so I try to be heard because I'm very small, but the things I say, I have to be careful because it may, you know -- and the way that it's interpreted, I -- you know, I have to be very careful in the way that I speak because it may be interpreted in the wrong way that I don't want somebody to take that the wrong way. So, you know, this reminds us to be role models, protect, honour, through respect, behaviour, and care for one another. When a Member of this House speaks publicly, whether here or in it the community, again, like I said, those words represent not just the individual but all of us, the integrity of this building, this Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories, and we need to be aware of difference between lawful speech and speech that is respectful and responsible. So this motion acknowledges that our current code of conduct may not fully meet the public's expectation in this digital age where words can spread quickly and cause significant harm; it also shows our common goal across cultures that communities and communities that -- to ensure that our leaders are held to a standard that respects the privilege of serving in this house.
Mr. Speaker, this is not a partisan matter. This is about people honouring our legislative traditions and respecting the laws of the land as experienced by Northerners. It's about fostering respectful dialogue, accountability, and leadership that reflects the best of who we are, both as Members of this House and neighbours.
And at the end, in closing, Mr. Speaker, you know, I do reflect when I have conversations with Members or with people in the public that might get heated and take away, and I'm always okay to say I'm sorry and I forgive you and move on for the greater good, and I think that's something that a lot of people that are close to me kind of go I don't know how you can forgive and forget a lot of things. And that's not to say that that's -- in this House. It's something that I try to carry throughout everything that I do. So for those reasons, I wholeheartedly support this motion and the work that will come with it. Thank you.
Thank you, Member from Inuvik Twin Lakes. To the motion. Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiliideh.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to respond to this motion today which seeks to update the code of conduct to include public statements made outside the Legislative Assembly to voice both my disappointment in this motion and explain the risk I know it will have on our unique democracy. I think the intent of this motion is to signal some constituents in the North that our institutions are strong, especially when it mentions words like "trust" and "in confidence." Those words may inspire reassurance to some who look around the world are frightened. However, my constituents will interpret this motion very differently, that our institutions are, in fact, weak because they look to their history, the history of the rule of law of selectively applying to silence them. The truth is this motion will have the unintended consequences of restricting the speech of elected representatives. Even though this motion makes it clear that such speech does not meet the threshold of legal action, that my constituents would ask, if this speech is not defamation then what is the problem.
However, that would be a rhetorical question because as an Indigenous man, I know what the problem with this speech is, and my constituents do as well. The problem with this is free speech is that it's only one guilty of eroding a confidence of the Legislative Assembly. In other words, speech that the territorial government may find objectionable. We treat each other with very high standards in this Assembly to ensure we do our best work, to follow the traditional parliamentary democracy. Outside of this chamber, I consult with my communities, my constituents, chief and Metis councils who I represent, and I work hard to bring their perspectives back into this chamber. These are different institution that this Legislative Assembly of the Government of the Northwest Territories because they come from a different tradition. The tradition of my communities have existed here since time immemorial, so there are going to be in conflict with the territorial government which arrived very recently. This is the history of the Northwest Territories, and the North has changed for better as we let natural disagreements shape our common future. Yet, when you take the standards we have in this building and you apply them onto how I work out in my communities with vague policies decided by strangers behind a desk, then you are disconnecting me from my communities and limiting my ability to serve them.
I've been through this before because I am first generation survivor of residential schools. The schools thought to disconnect us from communities and limit how we can express ourselves. This was done to assimilate us through an unequal application of rights by a political system that made no room for other perspectives out of fear and ignorance. How can we work, how we look around at the progress that has been made in this territory to advance the rights of Indigenous people in their self-determination which culminated in many of my colleagues -- sorry, my Indigenous colleagues, and I becoming elected representative to the Legislative Assembly only to be told that to participate, we must assimilate and disconnect ourselves from community -- from our communities.
Again, Mr. Speaker, we been through this before. So I oppose this motion and caution because our democracy is stepping between us and our communities will prevent us from shaping that common future based on a respect and self-determination we have so far worked -- so hard to achieve. If our institutions are indeed strong, it would not need to rely on motions which seek to prevent criticism therefore prevent changes.
And this motion, to me, I feel that it's going to prevent us from speaking out on what we're told by our people in our community. And in some ways, this motion, to me, it seems like it's a -- would muzzle us, and my voice for small communities is not going to be heard. So no matter how the vote turns out, I want you to listen to what I have to say here today because it's coming from the people in the small communities, and we need to be heard. And I've been saying that since day one, that we're here to do a job for our people and work together. That's what our elders always say. So, Mr. Speaker, thank you.
Thank you, Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. To the motion. Member from Thebacha.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, when I am outside of this chamber, I make every effort to consider the 18 other Members of the 20th Legislative Assembly in how I conduct myself and how I make comments in the public. You know, a lot of passion in this room regarding this issue on both whether you're supportive of moving forward with this discussion or you're not, and I think the one thing that -- and I'm going to keep my comments pretty short here -- that should be considered throughout this conversation is how did we get here and why are we having this actual conversation. So maybe a little bit of inner reflection from the Members in this room to look at the situation that created the need to bring this to the floor or not bring it to the floor as the case may be might just require a little inner reflection. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from Thebacha. To the motion. Member for Nunakput.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, first of all, I respect everyone's viewpoint, and I don't want to be stifling or suppressing any type of freedom of expression as we live in a democratic society. But in our role as elected officials, we have to be careful in our expression to ensure we are not bullying or intimidating or hurting intentionally. We have to lead the way in public discourse, especially in this age of social media, with our children and our grandchildren accessing it constantly. I would agree that having the committee examine the code of conduct. If it needs to be updated, I would agree with that. I will support this motion.
Thank you, Member from Nunakput. To the motion.
Question.
Question has been called. Before we conclude, Member from Great Slave, you may conclude the debate.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you, colleagues. This was a good discussion. I want to respond to a bit of what I heard today.
The motion I've provided is discrete in the sense that we are looking at our current practice in this House and whether it is something that we would like to consider for the online forum, how we do business as Members. Yeah, it is not about infringing on the freedom of speech in any other fashion.
The broadness of this motion allows the committee to study and recommend actions which are for the public's knowledge which are then voted on by all Members. There is no final decision being made here today. There are several checks and balances before or if any, indeed, changes are made to the code of conduct.
Having respect for each other in this House doesn't mean we need to agree. It means we debate policy, not personalities. I feel that if you can't appropriately argue the content of debate without attacking someone's intent or character, in the rules of our House that's something that the Speaker would rule on. Being honourable means respecting your colleagues. Both our elders and our youth are watching us here and outside of these walls. I also think of the principles of consensus. We're not here to defeat or discredit or lie about each other. If impugning motive to Members is unacceptable in this House, my question, I suppose, with this motion is why should it be acceptable online?
Consistent behaviour strongly contributes to perceptions of integrity and encouraging Members to behave consistently in all and public contexts helps build trust and confidence in individual Members and the Assembly as a whole. I would like for standing committee to investigate what other jurisdictions have done to encourage civil and truthful discourse amongst their Members online. And regardless of the outcome of the vote, I really do honestly thank Members for an open and frank conversation here today. Mr. Speaker, I would request a recorded vote. Thank you.
The Member for Great Slave. The Member for Yellowknife North. The Member for Thebacha. The Member for Yellowknife South. The Member for Kam Lake. The Member for Hay River North. The Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes. The Member for Nunakput. The Member for Frame Lake.
All those opposed, please stand.
The Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. The Member for Yellowknife Centre. The Member for Range Lake. The Member for Monfwi.
All those abstaining, please stand.
The Member for Hay River South.
Colleagues, all in favour, 9. Opposed, 4. Abstentions, 1. Motion has carried.
---Carried
Mr. Speaker, I wish to present to the House Bill 27, An Act to Amend the Protection Against Family Violence Act, to be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister of Justice. Pursuant to Rule 82(3), Bill 27 is deemed to have been read for the first time and is ready for second reading.
I now call committee to order. What is the wish of the committee? Member from Boot Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, committee wishes to consider Tabled Document 340-20(1), Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures) No. 1, 2025-2026, and Tabled Document 341-20(1), Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures and Borrowing Authorization) No. 1, 2025-2026, Mr. Chair. Thank you very much.
Thank you, Member. Does committee agree?
Agreed.
Thank you. We will take a short recess and resume with the first item. Mahsi.
---SHORT RECESS
Recognizing that we had the introductions there from yesterday and we're carrying on, we would carry on. Please turn to page 10 for the Department of Justice.
Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures and Borrowing Authorization) No. 1, 2025-2026. Department of Justice, operations expenditures, community justice, not previously authorized, $588,000. Are there any questions?
Seeing none, Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures and Borrowing Authorization) No. 1, 2025-2026. Department of Justice, operations expenditures, community justice, not previously authorized, $588,000. Does committee agree?
Agreed.
Thank you, committee. Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures and Borrowing Authorization) No. 1, 2025-2026. Department of Justice, operations expenditures, court services, not previously authorized, $246,000. Are there any questions?
Seeing none, Department of Justice, operations expenditures, court services, not previously authorized, $246,000. Does committee agree?
Agreed.
Thank you, committee. Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures and Borrowing Authorization) No. 1, 2025-2026. Department of Justice, operations expenditures, legal aid services, not previously authorized, $1,793,000. Are there any questions?
Seeing none, Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures and Borrowing Authorization) No. 1, 2025-2026. Department of Justice, operations expenditures, legal aid services, not previously authorized, $1,793,000. Does committee agree?
Agreed.
Thank you. Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures and Borrowing Authorization) No. 1, 2025-2026. Department of Justice, operations expenditures, services to government, not previously authorized, $31,000. Are there any questions?
Seeing none, Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures and Borrowing Authorization) No. 1, 2025-2026. Department of Justice, operations expenditures, services to government, not previously authorized, $31,000. Does committee agree?
Agreed.
Thank you, committee. Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures and Borrowing Authorization) No. 1, 2025-2026. Department of Justice, operations expenditures, total department, not previously authorized, $2,658,000. Are there any questions?
Seeing none, Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures and Borrowing Authorization) No. 1, 2025-2026. Department of Justice, operations expenditures, total department, not previously authorized, $2,658,000. Does committee agree?
Agreed.
Thank you, committee. Please turn to page 11 for the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs.
Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures and Borrowing Authorization) No. 1, 2025-2026. Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, operations expenditures, directorate, not previously authorized, $137,000. Are there any questions?
Seeing none, Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures and Borrowing Authorization) No. 1, 2025-2026. Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, operations expenditures, directorate, not previously authorized, $137,000. Does committee agree?
Agreed.
Thank you, committee. Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures and Borrowing Authorization) No. 1, 2025-2026. Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, operations expenditures, sport, recreation and youth, not previously authorized, $2,194,000. Are there any questions? I will now turn to the Member from Frame Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I have a few questions about the contribution to physical activities, sport and recreation fund. Just to be clear, what is this funding proposed to cover, the $1.8 million?
Thank you, to the Member. Minister of Finance.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. This specific amount of funding, Mr. Chair, is suggested in order to help fund the cost associated with 2026 Arctic Winter Games which will be held in Whitehorse March 18th to 15th of 2026. The funds do need to be confirmed well enough in advance for teams to be selected and the associated coaching and support staff to be selected, and so that's why it is coming through now. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Minister. Member from Frame Lake.
So what is the current position of the lotteries revolving fund? Because I understand that that's typically where money for Arctic Winter Games and other such sport-related activities comes from. So can the Minister discuss how we got to the point we're providing supplementary estimates to afford to send kids to the games.
Thank you, Member. Minister of Finance.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, so I'll see if we can get the specifics on the lottery revolving fund just shortly. I can say that in terms of more broadly how we get to where we are, where there's a deficit in this particular fund. Mr. Chair, there's a couple of factors at play. One is that the revenues being received from lotteries are not simply -- or simply not keeping up with the costs and the expenditures. Lottery revenues are trending downwards and, meanwhile, the cost of sending students and youth and their associated coaches and sport teams on trips are becoming ever more expensive, and there are more draws on the sport and recreation fund every year so, again, that is leading to -- and also just wanted to try to ensure that there's -- you know, a large contingent that goes from the Northwest Territories. So, again, between the reductions in revenues and increasing costs, the current team for March -- next March of 2026 is proposed to be at 600 participants. I don't -- I can't say necessarily -- or sorry, 600 participants just for the trials and then sort of 360 or so for the final games. So even just running the trials around the Northwest Territories, all of that comes with costs. And, again, costs of travel are on the up and revenues on the down. Thank you.
