Debates of March 3, 2026 (day 87)

March
3
2026
Session
20th Assembly, 1st Session
Day
87
Speaker
Shane Thompson
Word PDF
Members Present
Mr. Edjericon, Mr. Hawkins, Hon. Lucy Kuptana, Hon. Jay MacDonald, Hon. Vince McKay, 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, Mrs. Yakeleya
Assembly Members
Topics
Bill 46: Prevention of Proceedings that Hamper Expression on Matters of Public Interest Act
Committee Report 37-20(1): Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Bill 34: Trespass to Property Act, Carried Received and Referred to COW
Committee Report 38-20(1): Standing Committee on Public Accounts Report on the Review of the 2024-2025 Public Accounts, Carried, Deemed Read, Received and Adopted, Response from Government Requested
Member's Statement 950-20(1): Training Standards for Northwest Territories Security Guards
Member's Statement 951-20(1): Rent Control Measures and the Residential Tenancies Act
Member's Statement 952-20(1): Arctic Winter Games Tryout Location
Member's Statement 953-20(1): Indigenous Employment Policy
Member's Statement 954-20(1): Diabetic Footcare
Member's Statement 955-20(1): Legislative Pace
Member's Statement 956-20(1): Liquified Natural Gas
Member's Statement 958-20(1): Establishment of Distinct Tlicho Administrative Region
Member's Statement 959-20(1): Work of the Electoral Boundaries Commission
Member's Statement 960-20(1): Fort Simpson New year's Eve Celebration
Minister's Statement 190-20(1): Update on Implementation of the Indigenous Recruitment and Retention Framework Action Plan
Minister's Statement 191-20(1): Progress Update on Public Administrator Workplan
Minister's Statement 192-20(1): Northwest Territories Association of Communities Annual General Meeting
Minister's Statement 193-20(1): Ministers Absent from the House
Motion 70-20(1): Referral of Tabled Document 483-20(1): 2025-26 Electoral Boundaries Commission Final Report
Motion 71-20(1): Referral of Tabled Document 445-20(1): 2025 Review of Members of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly Compensation and Benefits Report
Motion 72-20(1): Protection of Transboundary Waters and Rights of Northerners
Motion 73-20(1): Strengthening the Government of the Northwest Territories' Medical Travel Policy
Motion 74-20(1): Transfer of Housing Northwest Territories Market Rental Units to Tenants
Motion 75-20(1): Waiving of Rent for Elders in Public Housing
Question 1135-20(1): Abandoned Vehicles
Question 1136-20(1): Training Standards for Northwest Territories Security Guards
Question 1137-20(1): Ineligible Hiring Lists in the Public Service
Question 1138-20(1): Stanton Territorial Hospital Emergency Room Security
Question 1139-20(1): Landlord Obligations under Section 30 of the Residential Tenancies Act
Question 1140-20(1): Diabetes-related Foot Disease
Question 1141-20(1): Location of Arctic Winter Games Trials
Question 1142-20(1): Private Security Contractors
Question 1143-20(1): Liquefied Natural Gas Development
Question 1144-20(1): Establishment of Tlicho Administrative Region
Question 1145-20(1): Review of Intergovernmental Agreement on Lands and Resources Management
Question 1146-20(1): Electoral Boundaries Commission Final Report
Question 1147-20(1): Private Security Contractor Regulations
Question 1148-20(1): Policy Basis for Establishments of Administrative Regions
Question 1149-20(1): Healthcare Reform
Question 1150-20(1): Review of Intergovernmental Agreement on Lands and Resources Management
Question 1151-20(1): Referrals
Question 1152-20(1): Locums
Statements

Question 1146-20(1): Electoral Boundaries Commission Final Report

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. During today's Member's statement, I talked about the electoral boundaries report and the -- the commission's final report, that is. My question is actually to the Premier with respect to the -- we'll call it the final disposition of the report. So will the Premier be exercising a free vote in Cabinet so Cabinet Ministers can not only vote their conscience, as they say, or vote representative of their perspective? Thank you.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Member from Yellowknife Centre. Mr. Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When something comes up that is a matter for the Legislative Assembly or more of an MLA matter like this, it's always been a free vote. I don't see any reason why I would change that. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the age-old matter of cost is always an issue. Does Cabinet have a particular issue on cost or size of this change in the Assembly? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That is not within the administrative authority of the Government of the Northwest Territories to decide. When the Assembly says it wants more Members in the House, then the budget for government at large goes up. So if there's more Members, hopefully we'll have at least one more Minister to share the workload, which would mean another office, some staff. So there will be cost implications, but we'll take that when it comes, if it comes. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Mr. Premier. Final supplementary. Member from Yellowknife Centre.

Given that I have the floor, and certainly the attention of the Speaker, would he be able to articulate the current position based on the report for the Member for Hay River North. Thank you.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Member from Yellowknife Centre. I don't know if the Premier -- sorry, thank you. Mr. Premier will not be answering any questions as an MLA. Should you wish to ask the Member from Hay River North, there's the opportunity to talk to the individual in the Members' lounge or his office or your office.

Oral questions. Member from Yellowknife North.