Debates of February 16, 2026 (day 81)

February
16
2026
Session
20th Assembly, 1st Session
Day
81
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, Mr. Nerysoo, 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 Statute Law Amendment Act 2026, Moved into Committee of the Whole
Member's Statement 885-20(1): Internationally Educated Nurses
Member's Statement 886-20(1): Literacy in the Northwest Territories
Member's Statement 887-20(1): Closure of Imperial Oil project in norman Wells
Member's Statement 888-20(1): Integrated Service Delivery
Member's Statement 889-20(1): Arctic Security
Member's Statement 890-20(1): Diabetes in the Northwest Territories
Member's Statement 891-20(1): Government of the Northwest Territories Cuts to Education
Member's Statement 892-20(1): Northwest Power Rates
Member's Statement 893-20(1): Condolences for Tumbler Ridge
Member's Statement 894-20(1): Interim Superintendents of Dehcho Divisional Education Council
Minister's Statement 180-20(1): Yellowknife Primary Care Status Update
Question 1038-20(1): Municipal Power Purchase Agreements
Question 1039-20(1): Early Literacy Screening and Interventions
Question 1040-20(1): Readiness for Closure of Imperial Oil Operations in Norman Wells
Question 1041-20(1): Internationally Educated Nurses
Question 1042-20(1): Integrated Service Delivery
Question 1043-20(1): Jordan's Principle Funding
Question 1044-20(1): Diabestes Prevention, Detection and Care
Question 1045-20(1): Rental Office and Residential Tenancies Act
Question 1046-20(1): Arctic Sovereignty and Security
Question 1047-20(1): Supports for Unhoused Encampments
Question 1048-20(1): Inclusive Schooling and Literacy in the Northwest Territories
Question 1049-20(1): Future Plans for Yellowknife Airport Terminal
Question 1050-20(1): Northwest Territories Nominee Program
Question 1051-20(1): Government of the Northwest Territories Efforts to Secure Federal Education Funding
Question 1052-20(1): Northwest Territories Nominee Program
Question 1053-20(1): Remediation of Unhoused Encampments
Question 1054-20(1): Status of Winter Road Resupply to Fort Good Hope Housing Projects
Question 1055-20(1): Yellowknife Airport Alignment with Department of National Defence Procurement
Tabled Document 470-20(1): Letter Dated February 13, 2026, from Chairs of Board of Trustees of Yellowknife Education District No. 1 and Yellowknife Catholic Schools regarding Urgent Funding for JK-12 Indigenous Students
Statements

Question 1045-20(1): Rental Office and Residential Tenancies Act

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I want to ask questions about the rental office and the Residential Tenancies Act. There's been no shortage of criticism here, including from the other side of the House very publicly. So I'd like to ask the Minister of Justice, is the Minister able to issue policy guidance to the rental officer in the same manner as to the public utilities board or other independent bodies that are still empowered by territorial statute? Thank you.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Member from Range Lake. Minister of Justice.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the rental office is a statutory office and is beyond my ability to provide direction to that office. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, that's the case. If the decisions of the rental officer are contravening the Residential Tenancies Act, what remedies are available to applicants outside of appealing it at the Supreme Court? Which is costly, takes the court's time. The rental officer is not abiding by the Act. What is the Minister -- how does the Minister propose to solve that problem? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am unable to speak on the floor about items that are directly in front of the rental officer. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Minister of Justice. Final supplementary. Member from Range Lake.

He could have also said that's hypothetical so I can't answer it. But the point is there's significant concerns coming here. So when is this Minister going to update and modernize the RTA so it's very clear -- it takes a side essentially. Because right now it's up to total interpretation of the rental officer. We're giving far too much latitude. And the decisions that are being made are not helping communities, and that's what we're here to do. So when will the Minister actually take action, stop talking about it, and fix this problem with the RTA?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Residential Tenancies Act is currently under review and recommendations will come forward which we will review and look to implement in the not-too-distant future. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Minister of Justice. Oral questions. Member from Inuvik Boot Lake.