Julian Morse

Just very quickly, Mr. Speaker, the Member for Yellowknife Centre suggested that the committee can hold the bill hostage. I would just note that...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you for granting me a bit of time to prepare a response, Mr. Speaker. I would like to inform you and the House that the committee is ready to present a report as early as next week summarizing its review of Bill 26 to date and explaining the reasons the bill has not been reported back as of yet.

Mr. Speaker, the committee is scheduled to meet on Monday, October 20th.

Mr. Speaker, Rule 8.3(2) states that a committee may request an extension of its review, not that it must. The rules do not state that a committee must report a bill back as ready or not or seek an...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And, again, I'm pleased to hear that the department is doing a pretty extensive engagement with various NGOs, but I do want to continue to advocate that that engagement also -- and involvement occurs with the population themselves.

Mr. Speaker, I note that the capacity of the facility is planned to accommodate 25 people. Does the Minister have a current estimate for unsheltered residents in our community, and will the 25 spaces be sufficient to meet that need? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister of Housing NWT.

Mr. Speaker, Housing NWT has announced the pending opening of a transitional housing facility near the Yellowknife Airport. Can the Minister describe how the department has engaged with our homeless population on this solution. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think I would need a little bit of time just to speak with committee staff and make sure that my response is in order with everything required of me as a chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Actually, Mr. Speaker, I made my point already, and it's on the record. I'll just leave it at that.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this is a bit of a difficult one. I understand that the Member's speaking to his point of order; however, in accordance with Rule 3.2, paragraph 3(o), the Member's alluding to matters discussed during a confidential meeting of a committee. And so this puts us in a bit of a difficult situation where we're raising a point of order and speaking to the reasons for that point of order on things that are discussed during committee. Committee hasn't reported back on the bill yet. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am at this time in support of the motion and support the motion coming forward as written. I mean, it sounds -- I appreciate that explanation from the Finance Minister, and, you know, it unfortunately sounds like this is all hinging on a bit of a technicality in terms of how it was claimed, what was claimed, whether it was proceeding during the emergency. I think the thing that was clear to me is during the 2023 evacuation, a lot of things were up in the air. There wasn't very much clarity for a lot of people involved, I think GNWT staff, various NGOs...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Your committee would like to report on its consideration of Bill 29, First Responders Workers' Compensation Amendment Act.

Bill 29 received second reading in the Legislative Assembly on May 29th, 2025, and was referred to the Standing Committee on Government Operations for review. The committee was briefed by the sponsor of the bill on June 19th, 2025. The committee received a separate briefing on the bill from the Minister responsible for the Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission the same day.

The committee has recently received detailed responses to questions asked...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, your committee would like to report on its consideration of Bill 21, An Act to Amend the Workers' Compensation Act.

Bill 21 received second reading in the Legislative Assembly on February 28, 2025, and was referred to the Standing Committee on Government Operations for review.

The standing committee completed its clause-by-clause review of the bill with the Minister responsible for the Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission on September 24th, 2025.

Mr. Speaker, the committee reports that Bill 21, An Act to Amend the Workers' Compensation Act, is ready for...