R.J. Simpson

Madam Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, that Bill 18, An Act to Amend the Legal Profession Act, be read for the third time, and, Madam Speaker, I request a recorded vote. Thank you.

Madam Speaker, I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, that Bill 20, An Act to Amend the Employment Standards Act, be read for the second time. This bill amends the Employment Standards Act to provide an entitlement to unpaid emergency leave for employees who are unable to perform their duties because of an emergency; definitions that in apply in respect of emergency and extend the definition of care to apply in respect of emergency leave; establish regulation making authorities in respect of emergency leave and provide that regulations made under this authority may...

As I stated earlier, the Member was an intermediary between me and the chief in Gameti, and we were supposed to meet. Things did not line up, and so we have not had that meeting yet, but I am happy to have those meetings, work with the Member, and meet with the Tlicho Government. We have already reached out to the RCMP, and now we need to take that next step. I have told the department we need to take that next step sooner than later, so the wheels are turning. I am committed to moving forward with this and exploring any options that we have and including the Member and updating the Member as...

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I've had conversations with the Member about this. I was supposed to meet with the chief of Gameti, but our schedules didn't line up during this time, which isn't unusual; but I look forward to that conversation. The detachment in Whati is being replaced. It's a federal asset, and there is a process by which the federal government surplus their goods. That's the process we would have to follow. We did reach out to the commanding officer of "G" Division, and he said he is open to having that conversation to see if that can be surplused. Now, it's just a matter of...

It's not a matter of accepting the proposal. The proposal has been looked at, and as I stated, it was over half-a-million dollars for six spaces. It sounds like there was a second phase, which I'm guessing would have been more. There were additional improvements to the space. I understand that, but the fact is that we have limited resources. We have a lot of needs all over the territory, and there are competing priorities. I wish I could fund all the spaces and especially French-first-language spaces. I know that there is a limited number of those in the territory, but the numbers didn't add...

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I have made public comments on this, so it's on the record. I have had frank conversations with the chair of the CSFTNO, and so we are both aware of each other's positions. I can have a frank conversation with the Member. However, as you know, Madam Speaker, Rule 24(g) prohibits the discussion of matters that are before the courts, and I don't want to offend the rules of this Assembly. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, that Bill 19, An Act to Amend the Student Financial Assistance Act, be read for the third time, and, Madam Speaker, I request a recorded vote. Thank you.

Yes, I would.

Madam Speaker, I wish to table the following document: "Aurora College Corporate Plan, 2020-2021." Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you. First, I want to apologize to Mr. Patzer, whose name escaped me. He is probably the first person in the Department of Justice that I met, about six years ago, so my apologies on that one. This bill, it's also important because we are in a situation where, for a lawyer to come up to the territory, they would have to self-isolate for two weeks. We are in a situation where there is a backup of cases, and we need this service. I thank the committee for working with the department to move this along. Thank you.