Northwest Territories.

• Author: Bennett, Gail
• Position: Legislative Reports - Report

The Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, George L. Tuccaro, formally opened the Fourth Session of the 17th Legislative Assembly on February 6, 2013. The Commissioner's Address reviewed the government's accomplishments in the last year, and identified projects of particular importance to the territory, including the opening of the Deh Cho Bridge. The bridge, spanning the Mackenzie River, now provides all-weather road access to the Northwest Territories.

The Commissioner outlined the government's plans for the upcoming year, noting the planned construction of both the Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk portion of the Mackenzie Valley Highway, the Mackenzie Valley Fibre Optic Link, and continued negotiations with the federal government concerning an agreement on the devolution of land and resources.

In the Budget Address, which was delivered on February 7, 2013, J. Michael Miltenberger, Minister of Finance, provided details of the government's economic plans for the next fiscal year. The budget reflected the input that the government received from the standing committees and from Budget Dialogue 2012, public meetings held in regional centres across the NWT.

Following the Budget Address, and in keeping with the Assembly's budget procedures, the Finance Minister tabled the 2013-2014 Main Estimates of the Northwest Territories. The Estimates document was immediately moved into Committee of the Whole for review by the Assembly.

The House considered the Main Estimates by department over the next eighteen sitting days, adopting eighteen motions pertaining to the budget document.

On March 8, 2013, Mr. Miltenberger rose to acknowledge the work of the House during the review. On behalf of the government, and in response to the motions adopted in Committee of the Whole, the Minister committed to increase funding for the budgets of the Department of Industry, Tourism and investment, the Department of Health and Social Services and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. The changes were introduced in a subsequent supplementary appropriation bill introduced later that same sitting.

The House debated seven substantive motions during the sitting.

* Federal Changes to Environmental Law (Defeated)

* Federal Support for Sahtu Jobs and Economic Growth (Adopted)

* Gasoline Pricing Regulations (Adopted)

* Secondary Diamond Industry (Adopted)

* Ground Ambulance and Highway Rescue Services (Adopted)

* Plebiscite on Ratification of Devolution Final Agreement...