Northwest Territories.

• Author: Bennett, Gail
• Position: Legislative Report

The 17th Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories resumed its 5th Session on February 4, 2015, with a Sessional Statement by Robert R. McLeod, Premier of the Northwest Territories.

Premier McLeod outlined the government's progress with regard to the priorities as set out by the 17th Legislative Assembly at its inception. He recognized the devolution of land and water resources, the implementation of policies supporting economic growth, as well as efforts to address poverty, mental health and addictions.

Minister of Finance J. Michael Miltenberger delivered the Budget Address on February 5, 2015, providing details of the government's economic plans for the last year of the current Assembly.

Following the Budget Address and in keeping with the Assembly's budget procedures, the Finance Minister tabled the Northwest Territories Main Estimates 2015-2016. Further to the rules of the Legislative Assembly, the tabled document was immediately moved into Committee of the Whole for Assembly consideration. The review of the Main Estimates was conducted over a four-week period with the adoption of a Concurrence Motion by the House to further consider the Main Estimates through the form of an appropriation bill.

In a similar manner, the House also reviewed three supplementary appropriation bills. Following the motions for concurrence, all four appropriation bills were adopted by the House on March 12, 2015.

Later that day, prior to the adjournment of the spring sitting, the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, George L. Tuccaro, granted assent to a total of 10 bills.

The 5th Session of the 17th Legislative Assembly was scheduled to resume May 27, 2015.

Legislation

Several pieces of legislation of particular note were considered during the sitting. The first of these was Bill 46: Deline Final Self-Government Agreement Act. This bill creates the Deline Gotine Government, the first community-based self-government in the Northwest Territories. The Bill was debated in Committee of the Whole and received third reading on March 4, 2015, following heartfelt and congratulatory words from Premier McLeod and Norman Yakeleya, the Member for Sahtu. Members of the team that worked on the 19-year long negotiation and residents of the Community of Deline filled the gallery to witness the historic event.

Also of note was Bill 12: Northern Employee Benefits Services Pension Plan Act. Bill 12 was sponsored by the Department of Finance and sets out the...