Debates of October 31, 2025 (day 72)

October
31
2025
Session
20th Assembly, 1st Session
Day
72
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 35: Miscellaneous Statutes Law Amendment Act, 2026, Carried
Bill 36: Trespass to Property Act, Carried
Committee Motion 132-20(1): 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 – Rule 7.3 – Written Questions Submission, Carried
Committee Motion 133-20(1): 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 – Guidelines for Written Questions, Carried
Committee Motion 134-20(1): 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 – Daily Order of Business on Thursdays, Carried
Committee Motion 135-20(1): 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 – Sitting after Thanksgiving, Carried
Committee Report 34-20(1): Standing Committee on Procedure and Privileges Report on the Review of Motion 56-20(1): Code of Conduct referral to the Standing Committee on Procedure and Privileges, Received and Adopted by the Assembly
Member’s Statement 797-20(1): Deh Cho Negotiations Process
Member’s Statement 798-20(1): French Language Education
Member’s Statement 799-20(1): Premier’s Awards Winners
Member’s Statement 800-20(1): Economic Impacts of Federal Budget
Member’s Statement 801-20(1): Reflections on the Sitting
Member’s Statement 802-20(1): Education in the Tlicho Region
Member’s Statement 803-20(1): Ending Daylight Savings Time
Member’s Statement 804-20(1): Halloween Message
Member’s Statement 805-20(1): Celebration of Life for Rolande Norwegian
Minister’s Statement 165-20(1): First Poppy Ceremony
Minister’s Statement 166-20(1): Government of the Northwest Territories-Literacy Council Agreement
Minister’s Statement 167-20(1): Update on Non-Government Organizations Sector Support Initiative
Motion 65-20(1): Extended Adjournment of the House to February 4, 2026, Carried
Question 905-20(1): Dehcho Negotiations Process
Question 906-20(1): NOrthwest Territories Nominee Program
Question 907-20(1): Midwifery Services
Question 908-20(1): French-first Language Education Rights
Question 909-20(1): Housing Northwest Territories Contracting Process
Question 910-20(1): Supports for Students in Small Communities
Question 911-20(1): Environmental Securities
Question 912-20(1): Building Standards Legislation
Question 913-20(1): Government of the Northwest Territories Procurement Processes
Question 914-20(1): Animal Welfare and Emergency Management
Question 915-20(1): Environmental Securities
Question 916-20(1): CT Scanner Procurement for Inuvik Hospital
Question 917-20(1): Rayrock Minesite Remediation
Question 918-20(1): Chipsealing of the Inuvik Bypass Road
Question 919-20(1): Government Service Delivery Training
Question 920-20(1): New Housing Allocation for Tlicho Communities
Question 921-20(1): Impacts of Jordan’s Principle Funding Changes
Question 922-20(1): Building Standards Framework
Tabled Document 432-20(1): Statement of Consistency for Bill 34: Trespass to Property Act
Tabled Document 435-20(1): Northwest Territories Hydro and Northwest Territories Power Corporation 2024-2025 Annual Report
Tabled Document 436-20(1): Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Motion 61-20(1): Remuneration of Essential Staff During an Evacuation
Tabled Document 437-20(1): 2024-2025 Annual Report: Action Plan in Response to the Calls for Justice on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People
Tabled Document 438-20(1): Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Motion 63-20(1): Creation of an Emergency Management Agency for the Northwest Territories
Written Question 23-20(1): Healthcare Professionals Returning as Locums
Statements

Question 922-20(1): Building Standards Framework

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I just have a follow-up question for the Minister of Infrastructure. I understand that there's priorities that need to be set therefore I'm seeking a commitment that the GNWT be ready to action a building standards framework at the start of the 21st Assembly. That means getting the preparatory work done now. Thank you.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Member from Frame Lake. Minister of Infrastructure.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So I guess part of the problem is, is that we do have a lot of the work completed, and there's been a lot of background work going on with it; however, you know, we're not building a made-in-the-north standard building agreement. It is a Canadian one and, of course, with the things that have been changing, we're constantly updating it. So moving ahead, you know, there is a commitment to put it forward here the next year, and hopefully by the 21st Assembly we have it ready to go. So thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm noticing a bit of a -- there's a theme of hope developing in the sitting today. Mr. Speaker, can we go a little bit beyond hope and just get a commitment that this is going to be ready in the 21st Assembly for adoption by the Assembly or for a legislative proposal to come forward? It's important work. The human rights commission has been asking for it for years. Let's get it done, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Listen, I don't disagree with the Member. This is a commitment that has been -- with the Member, sorry. This is a commitment that's been made. It's been on the table for a long time. The department is continually working on it. Like I said, the priorities of the Legislative Assembly and legislative proposals are all -- yeah, they're all there, and sometimes these ones get pushed on the back burner a little bit. It depends on what the appetite of all the Members are, and apparently this one here has been slowed down a little bit. But, again, the commitment is to have this completed hopefully in 2026 and the beginning of the 21st Assembly. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I keep hearing that word hopefully. Can we just get a commitment in place? This is a long time coming. It's a piece of legislation for a future Assembly. Let's get the work in place so that we're ready to bring it forward in the 21st. I think the problem that we've identified, a few of us in talking back and forth, has been, you know, when this Assembly came into place, we didn't have legislation ready to go right off the bat. I think it would be great to see that happen. It will certainly be a recommendation I make to the transition committee. Can we just get a commitment on the floor to get this ready and have it ready for the 21st Assembly so we can get that Act in place. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I don't know how else to word this. I've been pretty much agreeing with him but I don't know how else to -- yes, I guess so. Thank you.