Northwest Territories.

• Author: Bennett, Gail
• Position: Legislative Reports

The Fourth Session of the 17th Legislative Assembly reconvened May 29, 2013. The six-day sitting saw the consideration and adoption of four pieces of legislation, including supplementary appropriations for both capital and operation expenses. Eleven bills were introduced, received first and second reading and were referred to standing committees for review and consideration during the summer and fall.

On June 5, 2013, the Assembly voted on a motion, introduced by Robert R. McLeod, Premier of the Northwest Territories, seeking the support of the Legislative Assembly for the approval of the Northwest Territories Lands and Resources Devolution Agreement. All nineteen Members spoke to the motion and following a recorded vote the motion was carried, with one Member opposing.

Another motion of interest was adopted on May 31, 2013. Introduced by Norman Yakeleya, the motion called on the Auditor General of Canada to undertake a comprehensive performance audit of the Nutrition North Canada Program and to report his office's findings and any recommendations to the Parliament of Canada and the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories. Following a recorded vote, the motion was carried with all Members in favour.

The Final Report of the Electoral Boundaries Commission, May 2013 was tabled in the Legislative Assembly on May 29, 2013, and moved by motion of the House into Committee of the Whole for consideration during the fall sitting.

Other motions debated and adopted by the House during the sitting included:

* Directing the Government of the Northwest Territories to revise or replace the Human Tissue Act in order to create a framework for organ donation that reflects the best practices across Canada;

* Supporting the efforts of federal, provincial and territorial justice ministers to better protect children by combating cyberbullying; and

* Proposing the use of new resource revenues.

Legislation

One of the bills referred to a standing committee was a Private Member's Public Bill. Bill 24: An Act to Amend the Liquor Act was introduced by Mr. Yakeleya, Member for Sahtu. Bill 24 amends the Liquor Act to enable Sahtu communities to request that the minister hold a plebiscite to determine the wishes of voters in those communities, respecting limitations on the sale of liquor by a liquor store in a Sahtu community. Bill 24 was referred to the Standing Committee on Government Operations for consideration.

Bill 22: Territorial Emblems and Honours Act...