Debates of May 27, 2026 (day 91)

May
27
2026
Session
20th Assembly, 1st Session
Day
91
Speaker
Shane Thompson
Word PDF
Members Present
Hon. Caitlin Cleveland, 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, Mrs. Yakeleya
Assembly Members
Topics
Bill 48: An Act to Amend the Workers' Compensation Act, No. 2.
Committee Report 41-20(1): Standing Committee on Public Accounts: Report on the Review of the 2024-25 Public Accounts, No. 2: Community Government Infrastructure Funding Arrangements
Follow-up to Oral Question 1020-20(1): Royal Canadian Mounted Police Special Constables
Member's Statement 1000-20(1): Mackenzie Valley Highway Permitting
Member's Statement 1001-20(1): Mental Health Supports
Member's Statement 1002-20(1): Social Services Spending
Member's Statement 1003-20(1): Illegal Activities in Mackenzie Delta
Member's Statement 1004-20(1): Lead in Schools
Member's Statement 1005-20(1): Major Projects Office
Member's Statement 1006-20(1): Fuel Prices
Member's Statement 1007-20(1): Nahendeh Youth Parliamentarian Raphaelle Joseph
Member's Statement 997-20(1): Regulatory System Improvements
Member's Statement 998-20(1): Territorial Economic Uncertainty
Member's Statement 999-20(1): Layoffs of Educators in Inuvik
Minister's Statement 201-20(1): Sessional Statement
Motion 77-20(1): Establishment of a Comprehensive Territorial Crime Reduction Strategy, Carried
Question 1199-20(1): Fuel Tax Holidays for Territorial Residents
Question 1200-20(1): Burgundy Fiscal Situation
Question 1201-20(1): Counselling Options and Supports Discussed with the Council of Leaders
Question 1202-20(1): Update on the Mackenzie Valley Highway Permitting
Question 1203-20(1): Update on Teacher Lay-Offs in Inuvik
Question 1204-20(1): Illicit Drug Trade and usage in Public Housing Units
Question 1205-20(1): Update on the Aurora College Polytechnic Transition
Question 1206-20(1): Mental Health Supports in the Dehcho Regions
Question 1207-20(1): Improving Accumulative Impact Assessments from the Environment Audit
Question 1208-20(1): Impact of Lead in Levels in Territorial Schools
Question 1209-20(1): Updated Legislation for Fuel Tax in the Northwest Territories
Question 1210-20(1): Loans to Businesses Impacted by Mining Closures
Question 1211-20(1): Francophone Funding Supports for Inuvik Schools
Question 1212-20(1): Role of the Associate Deputy Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment
Recorded Vote
Return to Oral Question 1071-20(1): Cost of Living
Return to Oral Question 1189-20(1): Cemetery Legislation
Return to Written Question 32-20(1): Medical Travel Costs, Budget Pressures, and Travel Volumes
Tabled Document 501-20(1): Additional Information for Follow-up to Oral Question 1150-20(1), Review of Intergovernmental Agreement on Land and Resources Management 7-Year Review
Tabled Document 502-20(1): Additional Information for Oral Question 1116-20(1), Infrastructure Apprenticeship Positions
Tabled Document 506-20(1): Additional Information for Oral Question 1012-20(1): Access to Magnetic Resonance Imaging Services
Statements

Return to Oral Question 1189-20(1): Cemetery Legislation

Mr. Speaker, I have a Return to Oral Question 1189-20(1) asked by the Member for Yellowknife Centre on March 6, 2026, regarding the cemetery legislation.

The GNWT works with Indigenous communities and the federal government to identify and document residential school burial locations and there are special provisions for the protection of burial sites in the Archaeological Sites Regulations administered by the Department of Education, Culture and Employment.

The Sahtu Dene and Metis Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement, Gwich'in Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement, and Tlicho Agreement all address the protection of burial sites as well as other specific responsibilities on those lands.

Municipal governments in the NWT may exercise their general bylaw making powers to establish and operate cemeteries within their municipal boundaries under the Cities, Towns and Villages Act, the Hamlets Act, the Charter Communities Act or the Tlicho Community Government Act. These Acts are administered by the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs.

Cemetery legislation varies across jurisdictions in Canada but generally supports community involvement in the care and maintenance of cemeteries and provides consumer protections related to accessing cemetery services for individuals and their loved ones. In the NWT, consumer protection matters currently fall within the scope of the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs under the Consumer Protection Act.

The GNWT is not contemplating the development of cemetery legislation at this late stage in the mandate of the 20th Legislative Assembly. Indigenous communities and others with questions relating to the operation of cemeteries may raise these matters with their local municipality. Matters relating to the protection of on the land burial sites should be brought to the Department of Education, Culture and Employment. Such discussions may assist in identifying issues that could be considered in future legislative initiatives, if warranted.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.