Debates of October 31, 2025 (day 72)

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following three documents: The 71st Annual Report 2024-2025 of the Northwest Territories Liquor Licensing Board; the Northwest Territories Liquor and Cannabis Commission 71st Annual Report 2024-2025; and, the Northwest Territories Hydro and Northwest Territories Power Corporation 2024-2025 Annual Report. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister of Finance and Minister responsible for Power corp. Tabling of documents. Minister of Health and Social Services.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document: Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Motion 61-20(1): Remuneration of Essential Staff During an Evacuation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister of Health and Social Services. Tabling of documents. Minister responsible for Status of Women.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document: 2024-2025 Annual Report Action Plan in Response to Calls for Justice on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister responsible for Status of women. Tabling of documents. Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document: Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Motion 63-20(1): Creation of an Emergency Management Agency for the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. Tabling of documents.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Thebacha, that notwithstanding Rule 2.1, when the House adjourns on Friday, October 31st, 2025, it shall be adjourned until Wednesday, February 4th, 2026;

And further, that any time prior to February 4th, 2026, if the Speaker is satisfied, after consultation with the Executive Council and Members of the Legislative Assembly, that the public interest requires that the House should meet at an earlier or later time during the adjournment, the Speaker may give notice and thereupon the House shall meet at the time stated in such notice and shall transact its business as it has been duly adjourned at that time.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Yellowknife North. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Question.

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? All those abstaining? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Motions. Notices of motion for the first reading of bills. First reading of bills. Colleagues, being cognitive of the time, we will take a brief recess to give a break for the translators. Thank you.

---SHORT RECESS

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member from Nunakput, that Bill 36, Trespass to Property Act, be read for the second time.

The proposed Trespass to Property Act is to enhance public safety and private property protections and will establish trespassing as a territorial offence. The bill will address significant gaps in trespassing law by creating a new law intended to govern trespass to private property, to schools, and to certain types of private interests on public lands, such as leases. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister. The motion is in order. To the principle of the bill.

Question.

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? All those abstaining? The motion is carried. Bill 34 has been read a second time and is referred to the standing committee of the Assembly for further considerations.

---Carried

Second reading of bills. Minister of Justice.

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River North, that Bill 35, Miscellaneous Statutes Law Amendment Act, 2026, be read for the second time.

This bill corrects inconsistencies and errors in the statutes of the Northwest Territories. The bill also deals with other matters of a minor, noncontroversial, or uncomplicated nature in the statutes. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister of Justice. The motion is in order. To the principle of the bill.

Question.

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? All those abstaining? The motion is carried. Bill 35 has been read a second time and is referred to the standing committee of the Assembly for further consideration.

---Carried

I now call the Committee of the Whole to order. I am going to go to the Member from Inuvik Boot Lake.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, the committee wishes to consider Committee Report 33-20(1), Standing Committee on Procedure and Privileges Report on the Review of the Rules of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly, No. 2. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you. Does committee agree?

Agreed.

Thank you. Committee, we have agreed to Consider Report 33-20(1), Standing Committee on Procedure and Privileges Report on the Review of the Rules of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly, No. 2.

I will go to the chair of the Standing Committee on Procedure and Privileges for opening comments.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

In June and September of 2025, the committee received correspondence from Speaker Thompson requesting a review of certain rules of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly. The committee has considered the matters referred by the Speaker and delivered its report to the House on October 29th, 2025. Individual Members may have additional comments. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. I'll now open the floor to general comments on committee report 33-20(1), Standing Committee on Procedure and Privileges Report on the Review of the Rules of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly. Are there any comments from the Members?

Seeing no further comments, Members, I'll go back to the Member from Great Slave.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that this committee recommends that the following be added to Rule 7.3: (3.1) written questions must be provided in writing to the Speaker at least 24 hours prior to the commencement of the sitting day.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The motion is in order. To the motion.

Question.

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? All those abstaining? Motion carried. Thank you.

---Carried

I will go back to the Member from Great Slave.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that this committee recommends that the Office of the Clerk develop and distribute to all Members of the Legislative Assembly a document providing guidelines for written questions and including a template that can be used by Members. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Okay, thank you. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Question.

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? All those abstaining? Motion carried.

---Carried

I'll go back to the Member from Great Slave.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that this committee recommends that Rule 4.1(5) be amended to read: The daily orders of business in the Assembly on Thursdays shall be:

1. Prayer or reflection

2. Ministers' statements

3. Members' statements

4. Recognition of visitors in the gallery

5. Notices of motion

6. Motions

7. Returns to oral questions

8. Acknowledgements

9. Oral questions

10. Written questions

11. Returns to written questions

12. Replies to Commissioner's address

13. Petitions

14. Reports of committees on the review of bills

15. Reports of standing and special committees

16. Tabling of documents

17. Notices of motion for first reading of bills

18. First reading of bills

19. Second reading of bills

20. Consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters

21. Report of Committee of the Whole.

22. Third reading of bills

23. Orders of the day

Thank you, Mr. Chair.