Legislative Assembly briefs
Cabinet tones down 'doom and gloom'
John McFadden
Northern News Services
Monday, February 29, 2016
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
MLAs have voted in favour of several motions that will force the government to change the wording of the 18th Legislative Assembly's mandate before the document is officially published.
Specifically, regular MLAs want the government to tone down its description of the territory's bleak financial outlook. According to a news release from the government, MLAs voted unanimously to adopt the revised mandate following a section-by-section review last week.
The first motion to change the mandate was introduced by Yellowknife North MLA Cory Vanthuyne, who said he was not comfortable with the language used in the mandate's fiscal context. Nahendeh MLA Shane Thompson agreed with Vanthuyne.
"I understand we're in a fiscal situation but when we keep on hearing doom and gloom, why would anybody want to be living in the NWT?" he asked.
The revised mandate document will be tabled in the legislative assembly this week.
The challenges to the mandate came just days after it was introduced on the opening day of the current sitting, the first of 2016. It was delivered by NWT Commissioner George Tuccaro, who pointed out this is the first time in history that the government has made its mandate public.
He said the move was in response to calls for a more transparent and accountable government.
Tuccaro repeated the mantra that the government must live within its fiscal means. He pointed out the GNWT intends to make dealing with indigenous issues a priority, including settling land claims and enhancing on-the-land treatment programs for people with mental health and addiction issues.
The new government will also strive to implement recommendations outlined in the Truth and Reconciliation report, Tucccaro said. Battling the high cost of living in the territory and making more affordable housing available were also listed as priorities.
Now that the mandate has been adopted by the assembly, it will form the basis for developing departmental business plans and establishing the budgets of individual government departments for the 2016-17 fiscal year and beyond, the news release from the government stated.
Sebert is new oil and gas regulator
A question from a Yellowknife MLA to the premier Feb. 19 revealed Justice Minister Louis Sebert has taken on some extra responsibilities.
Frame Lake MLA Kevin O'Reilly was seeking confirmation that Sebert as been named minister responsible for the Office of the Oil and Gas Regulator after coming across a letter to planning officials from Premier Bob McLeod stating that was the case.
"I'm just curious to know is there a formal instrument and does it have to be published in The Gazette," wondered O'Reilly about how cabinet members receive official designation for new responsibilities.
"It's a decision of cabinet," said McLeod, adding there didn't seem to be much need for public notice because "there is very little oil and gas activity going on."
MLAs speak out against bullying on Pink Shirt Day
Several MLAs made anti-bullying at least part of the theme and their questions on Feb. 17, which was pink shirt anti-bullying day.
It began in 2007 in Nova Scotia after two high school students supported another student who had been bullied for wearing a pink shirt to school. Education, Culture and Employment Minister Alfred Moses, who is also the MLA for Inuvik Boot Lake, said bullying is being addressed in NWT schools.
"Today ... I am pleased to announce that new safe and caring schools regulations including a territorial school code of conduct will come into force on Sept. 1," Moses told the assembly.
"These regulations set a standard of behaviour for NWT students, teachers and the school community.
All schools will be required to offer healthy relationship programming to teach students about bullying prevention and intervention strategies."
Later in the day, MLAs gathered in the Great Hall to sing the Jackie DeShannon classic Put a Little Love in Your Heart to demonstrate their support for anti-bullying initiatives.
