Northwest Territories.

AuthorBennett, Gail
PositionLegislative Reports

Seminars and Conferences

The Northwest Territories Table was delighted to host the Association of Clerks-at-the-Table Professional Development Seminar in Yellowknife from July 27-31, 2015. Fifty-six delegates and accompanying persons attended the event with international delegates travelling from the United Kingdom, Australia, Isle of Man and the United States.

Delegates participated in eight very informative business sessions and conducted the Association's Annual General Meeting. There were also many opportunities provided to enjoy the beautiful northern landscape from land, water and air.

In August, the Chair of the Standing Committee on Government Operations, Daryl Dolynny, had the pleasure of attending the annual conference of the Canadian Council of Public Accounts Committees (CCPAC) and the Canadian Council of Legislative Auditors (CCOLA) in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Mr. Dolynny and Michael Ferguson, Auditor General of Canada and of the Northwest Territories, issued an invitation to the CCPAC and CCOLA members to attend the next conference, scheduled to take place in Yellowknife, from August 21-23, 2016.

Committee Activities

In advance of the final sitting of the 17th Legislative Assembly, 12 bills were before standing committees for consideration. The Standing Committee on Economic Development and Infrastructure held public hearings in Yellowknife to consider six pieces of proposed legislation. An additional six bills were under review by the Standing Committee on Social Programs.

Of particular note was Bill 55: Mental Health Act, a highly anticipated modernization of the current legislation. The introduction of the bill generated intense public interest and the Standing Committee, chaired by Alfred Moses, entered into a comprehensive public consultation process, visiting nine communities and hearing from over one hundred witnesses. During the final committee review, 27 motions to amend Bill 55 were adopted, with the concurrence of the Minister of Health and Social Services, Glen Abernethy. During the debate in the Assembly, both Mr. Moses and Mr. Abernethy commented on the collaboration which took place during the review process and which facilitated the passage of the legislation during the life of this Assembly. The Standing Committee on Social Programs also presented to the House a substantive report of its review of Bill 55, setting out the many concerns that were raised and providing recommendations with regard to the next steps and...

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