Northwest Territories.

• Author: Bennett, Gail
• Position: Legislative Reports

The Legislative Assembly prorogued the Fourth Session of the 17th Legislative Assembly on November 1, 2013 and returned on Nov. 4, 2013, to open the Fifth Session. The Session began with Commissioner George L. Tuccaro presenting the Commissioner's Address on behalf of the Government of the Northwest Territories.

Legislation

During the four-day sitting, six bills received first and second reading and were referred to standing committees. Three of the bills were directly related to the implementation of the devolution agreement with the Government of Canada. Responsibility for public lands, water and resource management are scheduled to be transferred on April 1, 2014, from the Government of Canada to the Government of the Northwest Territories.

In order for the transfer to take place the Government of Canada has introduced Bill C-15, the Northwest Territories Devolution Act which must be passed prior to April 1, and the Government of the Northwest Territories must introduce and adopt legislation mirroring current federal statutes. If all the devolution-related legislation is adopted, this legislation will be reviewed in the same manner as other territorial legislation, with a similar process to amend.

The Standing Committee on Priorities and Planning, consisting of all 11 regular Members, is mandated to deal with devolution-related matters. The Surface Rights Board Act, the Reindeer Act and the Archaeological Sites Act are currently before the committee and seven additional pieces of legislation were expected to be introduced during the February/March sitting. The Standing Committee is soliciting public input on the proposed legislation and any amendments that Northern residents feel should be addressed in the future. The Standing Committee will report to the House on its findings during the upcoming sitting.

The Standing Committee on Economic Development and Infrastructure and the Standing Committee on Social Programs also held public hearings in January to review both Bill 5: An Act to Amend the Motor Vehicles Act and Bill 6: An Act to Amend the Medical Care Act. Both Committees will report back to the House when it resumes on February 5, 2014.

Committees

Standing...