Debates of October 30, 2025 (day 71)

October
30
2025
Session
20th Assembly, 1st Session
Day
71
Speaker
Shane Thompson
Word PDF
Members Present
Hon. Caitlin Cleveland, Mr. Edjericon, Mr. Hawkins, Hon. Lucy Kuptana, Hon. Jay MacDonald, Hon. Vince McKay, Mr. McNeely, Ms. Morgan, Mr. Morse, Ms. Reid, Mr. Rodgers, Hon. Lesa Semmler, Hon. R.J. Simpson, Mr. Testart, Hon. Shane Thompson, Hon. Caroline Wawzonek, Mrs. Weyallon Armstrong
Assembly Members
Topics
Bill 33: Technical Safety Statutes Amendment Act
Bill 34: Trespass to Property Act
Bill 35: Miscellaneous Statutes Law Amendment Act, 206
Bill 36: Appropriation Act, (Infrastructure Expenditures), 2026-2027
Bill 36: Appropriation Act, (Infrastructure Expenditures), 20262027
Bill 37: Supplementary Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures and Borrowing Authorization), No. 3, 20242025
Bill 37: Supplementary Appropriation Act, (Operations Expenditures and Borrowing Authorization), No. 3, 20242025
Bill 38: Supplementary Appropriation Act, (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 2, 20252026
Bill 39: Supplementary Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures), No. 2, 20252026
Bill 39: Supplementary Appropriation Act, (Operations Expenditures), No. 2, 20252026
Committee Motion 100-20(1): Committee Report 29-20(1): Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Committee Project: Housing as a Human Right - Homeownership in Communities Initiating Locally Led Housing Programs, Carried
Committee Motion 101-20(1): Committee Report 29-20(1): Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Committee Project: Housing as a Human Right - Homeownership Assistance Program, Carried
Committee Motion 102-20(1): Committee Report 29-20(1): Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Committee Project: Housing as a Human Right - Review of Municipal Funding Policies, Carried
Committee Motion 103-20(1): Committee Report 29-20(1): Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Committee Project: Housing as a Human Right - Incentives for Development of Affordable Market Housing, Carried
Committee Motion 104-20(1): Committee Report 29-20(1): Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Committee Project: Housing as a Human Right - Expedited Development of a Territorial Building Code, Carried
Committee Motion 105-20(1): Committee Report 29-20(1): Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Committee Project: Housing as a Human Right - Territorial Trades Strategy for Housing-related Trades, Carried
Committee Motion 106-20(1): Committee Report 29-20(1): Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Committee Project: Housing as a Human Right ??? Memorandums of Understanding with Indigenous Governments to Encourage Housing Development, Carri...
Committee Motion 107-20(1): Committee Report 29-20(1): Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Committee Project: Housing as a Human Right - Coordination to Remove Barriers to Housing Development, Carried
Committee Motion 108-20(1): Committee Report 29-20(1): Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Committee Project: Housing as a Human Right - Revision of Repair and Maintenance Policies, Carried
Committee Motion 109-20(1): Committee Report 29-20(1): Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Committee Project: Housing as a Human Right - Transitional Housing, Carried
Committee Motion 110-20(1): Committee Report 29-20(1): Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Committee Project: Housing as a Human Right - 24-Hour Shelter in Yellowknife, Carried
Committee Motion 111-20(1): Committee Report 29-20(1): Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Committee Project: Housing as a Human Right - 24-Hour Shelters Across the Territory, Carried
Committee Motion 112-20(1): Committee Report 29-20(1): Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Committee Project: Housing as a Human Right - Non-Profit and Charitable Organizations Providing Housing, Carried
Committee Motion 113-20(1): Committee Report 29-20(1): Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Committee Project: Housing as a Human Right - Standardized Encampment Policy, Carried
Committee Motion 114-20(1): Committee Report 29-20(1): Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Committee Project: Housing as a Human Right - Funding Mechanisms for Indigenous Governments and Organizations, Carried
Committee Motion 115-20(1): Committee Report 29-20(1): Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Committee Project: Housing as a Human Right - Unified Territorial Advocacy Plan, Carried
Committee Motion 116-20(1): Committee Report 29-20(1): Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Committee Project: Housing as a Human Right - Three-Year Housing Plan, Carried
Committee Motion 117-20(1): Committee Report 29-20(1): Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Committee Project: Housing as a Human Right - Transparency and Reporting of Distinction-based Funding Allocations, Carried
Committee Motion 118-20(1): Committee Report 29-20(1): Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Committee Project: Housing as a Human Right - Assessing Eligibility for Homeownership Programs, Carried
Committee Motion 119-20(1): Committee Report 29-20(1): Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Committee Project: Housing as a Human Right - Age and Condition of Housing Units under Homeownership Initiative Policy, Carried
Committee Motion 120-20(1): Committee Report 29-20(1): Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Committee Project: Housing as a Human Right - Housing Appeal Process, Carried
Committee Motion 121-20(1): Committee Report 29-20(1): Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Committee Project: Housing as a Human Right - Rights-based Approach to Housing Rating System, Carried
Committee Motion 122-20(1): Committee Report 29-20(1): Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Committee Project: Housing as a Human Right - Public Housing Tenant Eligibility Policy, Carried
Committee Motion 123-20(1): Committee Report 29-20(1): Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Committee Project: Housing as a Human Right - Community Housing Plan Policy, Carried
Committee Motion 124-20(1): Committee Report 29-20(1): Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Committee Project: Housing as a Human Right - Audit of the Small Community Homelessness Fund, Carried
Committee Motion 125-20(1): Committee Report 29-20(1): Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Committee Project: Housing as a Human Right - Eligible Income Thresholds for Co-Payment Programs, Carried
Committee Motion 126-20(1): Committee Report 29-20(1): Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Committee Project: Housing as a Human Right - Expansion of Eligibility Coverage, Carried
Committee Motion 127-20(1): Committee Report 29-20(1): Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Committee Project: Housing as a Human Right - Disposal of Residential Property Policy Review, Carried
Committee Motion 128-20(1): Committee Report 29-20(1): Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Committee Project: Housing as a Human Right - Community Housing Support Initiative Program, Carried
Committee Motion 129-20(1): Committee Report 29-20(1): Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Committee Project: Housing as a Human Right - Housing Northwest Territories Financial Policies Review regarding Treaty Obligations, Carried
Committee Motion 130-20(1): Committee Report 29-20(1): Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Committee Project: Housing as a Human Right - Collections Policy Revision, Carried
Committee Motion 131-20(1): Committee Report 29-20(1): Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Committee Project: Housing as a Human Right - Government Response, Carried
Committee Motion 88-20(1): Committee Report 29-20(1): Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Committee Project: Housing as a Human Right - Formal and Official Recognition of Housing as a Human Right, Carried
Committee Motion 89-20(1): Committee Report 29-20(1): Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Committee Project: Housing as a Human Right - Addressing Colonial Legacies Contributing to Indigenous Homelessness, Carried
Committee Motion 90-20(1): Committee Report 29-20(1): Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Committee Project: Housing as a Human Right - Territorial Housing Advocate, Carried
Committee Motion 91-20(1): Committee Report 29-20(1): Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Committee Project: Housing as a Human Right - Legal Remedies for Violations of Right to Housing, Carried
Committee Motion 92-20(1): Committee Report 29-20(1): Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Committee Project: Housing as a Human Right - Residential Tenancies Act Proportionality Framework, Carried
Committee Motion 93-20(1): Committee Report 29-20(1): Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Committee Project: Housing as a Human Right - Review of Public Housing Evictions Policy, Carried
Committee Motion 94-20(1): Committee Report 29-20(1): Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Committee Project: Housing as a Human Right - Housing Options for Individuals Evicted from Public Housing, Carried
Committee Motion 95-20(1): Committee Report 29-20(1): Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Committee Project: Housing as a Human Right - Legal Aid Services for Housing-Related Matters, Carried
Committee Motion 96-20(1): Committee Report 29-20(1): Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Committee Project: Housing as a Human Right - Culturally Appropriate Housing Northwest Territories' Policies, Carried
Committee Motion 97-20(1): Committee Report 29-20(1): Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Committee Project: Housing as a Human Right - Modernization of Residential Tenancies Act, Carried
Committee Motion 98-20(1): Committee Report 29-20(1): Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Committee Project: Housing as a Human Right - Operational Review of Rental Office, Carried
Committee Motion 99-20(1): Committee Report 29-20(1): Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Committee Project: Housing as a Human Right - Draft Definition of Housing Continuum, Carried
Member' s Statement 787-20(1): Remediation of Lakes Near Rayrock Mine Site
Member' s Statement 788-20(1): Devolution and Economic Development
Member' s Statement 789-20(1): Arctic Security Working Group Meeting in Yellowknife
Member' s Statement 790-20(1): Measures in Departmental Business Plans to Address Trauma
Member' s Statement 791-20(1): Recruitment and Retention of Teachers in Small Communities
Member' s Statement 792-20(1): Strategic Planning
Member' s Statement 793-20(1): Delivery Models of Government Services
Member' s Statement 794-20(1): Expansion of Trades Training Programs
Member' s Statement 795-20(1): Celebration of Life for Bertha Ruby Norwegian
Member' s Statement 796-20(1): Eulogy for Larry Galt
Minister' s Statement 162-20(1): Advancing Northern Critical Infrastructure Projects
Minister' s Statement 163-20(1): Master Service Agreements with Alberta Health Services
Minister' s Statement 164-20(1): Minister Absent from the House
Motion 64-20(1): Naming of the 50th Street Affordable Housing Complex, Carried
Question 888-20(1): Arctic Security Working Group
Question 889-20(1): Teacher Housing Shortage in Small Communities
Question 890-20(1): Departmental Business Plans and Evaluation
Question 891-20(1): Supporting Trades and Apprenticeships
Question 892-20(1): 2025 Report of the Auditor General of Canada to the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly - Housing in the Northwest Territories
Question 893-20(1): Devolution Initiatives
Question 894-20(1): Funding for Therapeutic Specialists in Schools
Question 895-20(1): Strategic Planning and Economic Analysis
Question 896-20(1): Departmental Business Plans
Question 897-20(1): Trades Training and Apprenticeships
Question 898-20(1): Regulation of Online Sports Betting in the Northwest Territories
Question 899-20(1): Northwest Territories Cancer Statistics
Question 900-20(1): Aspen Apartments Project Update
Question 901-20(1): Yellowknife Airport Authority
Question 902-20(1): Health Information Privacy Breach
Question 903-20(1): Orientation and Training for Locums
Question 904-20(1): Master Service Agreements with Alberta Health Service
Recorded Vote
Tabled Document 422-20(1): Statement of Consistency for Bill 33, Technical Safety Statutes Amendment Act
Tabled Document 423-20(1): Inter-Activity Transfers Over $250,000 (April 1 to June 30, 2025)
Tabled Document 428-20(1): 2024-2025 Annual Report - Director of Child and Family Services
Tabled Document 429-20(1): Operating Plans for Northwest Territories Education Bodies for the 2025-2026 School Year Ending June 30, 2026, Volumes 1 and 2
Tabled Document 430-20(1): Northwest Territories Coroner Service 2024 Annual Report
Statements

Question 898-20(1): Regulation of Online Sports Betting in the Northwest Territories

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'm sure you're aware, as are everyone in Canada right now, but the Blue Jays are doing quite well in the World Series. And when all eyes are looking at sports, they are seeing one thing in between the innings, advertisements for sports betting.

And currently in the Northwest Territories -- well, hold on. Currently in the Northwest Territories, we have a gray market situation. There are a lot of sports betting and there are no regulations for online gaming. We brought this up on the floor of the House before.

Without that, there's no consumer protection, there's no addiction programming that can be available to it. So when will the Minister take action on the gray market and regulate online gaming? And that's the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. Thank you.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Member for Range Lake. Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the Member bringing this up. So we've gone through a few things here with this. We've done a little bit of research on how this works with the iGaming stuff for sports betting and all the other stuff that goes on online. The department has spoken to a few other agencies who deal with this. So there is a little bit of work being done in the background and hopefully we can have something for the Member here, you know, within the next few months. There is a goal to move this forward and hopefully encompass some of this online gambling that's happening in the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Member for Inuvik Boot Lake has brought up the loss of funding to Arctic Winter Games. This is a real hit to our kids, to sport. How much longer are we going to lose money as a territory due to revenue leakage by not regulating iGaming in the Northwest Territories? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm sure the Member can understand that this is a very sensitive issue. We have to work through a little bit of a process here on how this is dealt with and how we control it. You know, there is issues with shortfalls in our lottery funding. That's related to numerous things. As I think most communities can appreciate, there's a lot of issues that have happened with gambling over the past few years, including impacts to our local bingos. So There's lots of changes around on what people are doing with their extracurricular money. But going forward, just so the Member is aware, there is work being done in the background and we'd like to get this moving as quickly as we can to try to get some of that money back into the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. Final supplementary. Member from Range Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I do want to point out that as long as it's unregulated, we cannot prevent harm. So if we want to do harm reduction for addictions related to gambling, we need to regulate this market. Will the Minister agree to meet with the responsible gaming council to learn more about how his department can do this? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think we're willing to meet with anybody in regards to this topic. There's a lot of agencies out there that deal with this. I don't think there's one particular group, but more than interested in working with anybody to try to move this forward. And like I said, this isn't just something, you know, that's not being done. There's a lot of work in the background being done and we'd like to hopefully have something here in the next little while. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you very much, Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. Oral questions. Member from Monfwi.