This is page numbers 49 - 72 of the Hansard for the 12th Assembly, 1st Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was community.

Topics

Return To Question O49-12(1): Moving Corrections Services To Department Of Justice
Question O49-12(1): Moving Corrections Services To Department Of Justice
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 59

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Oral questions. Mr. Lewis.

Brian Lewis Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The 11th Assembly did many stupid things, in my opinion: We set up new departments that we decide we do not need any more. That is one of them. We decided we wanted to confirm in the public's mind that we were kind of a Third World country with a Cadillac government in a Third World economy. We set up more work so that all our people -- all they were going to do is go to meetings and consult. A perfect example of this is the constitutional commission we have set up. It has a three-year life, and according to my arithmetic it is going to cost us $5.334 million so people can go around talking to people.

Mr. Speaker, we did many, many things in the 11th Assembly that many of us thought were stupid, and we have a new report now that is going to tell us how we can undo all those things. Since there is a tremendous amount of criticism of all these things we did in the last Assembly which have proven not to be right, will the government, in addition to more of this restructuring that is going on, close down the commission? Because it is as exciting as watching paint dry. And look at all the other things we did in the last four years, which many of us thought were rather crazy, and we are now having to revisit. Will they look at all those things that are costing us money for the next few years and see if we cannot get rid of them?

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

A rather lengthy preamble. Madam Government Leader.

Return To Question O50-12(1): Dismantling Of Western Constitutional Commission
Question O50-12(1): Dismantling Of Western Constitutional Commission
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 59

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Mr. Speaker, I would like to say that many of these commissions are set up as a total government decision, not only cabinet Ministers but all the Legislative Assembly, and I think it is out of our respect for continuing change in the NWT, different aspirations, always to revisit these issues as they come up. I do not consider them stupid. I believe at certain times we do certain things because they are appropriate at that time, or are thought to be appropriate.

In terms of the consolidation of government departments, this is thought to be a way of doing business more efficiently. These are not new things. We quote "Strength at Two Levels" continually. But all that is is a reaffirmation of what people have been saying all along, to try to put it into some focus.

I know that in the past, when we try to deal with certain areas, the functions are in different agencies of the government; and any cabinet Minister can tell you very clearly, who has had these responsibilities, that when you have a certain responsibility and half of the decision-making is in another department and a quarter of it is in another, it is very difficult. So we are really doing a practical exercise in that regard.

As well, over the years, whenever we negotiate with the federal government, the federal government says, "What kind of vessel are you going to put this in so we have a clear line of what you are going to do?" For the time it is necessary to do that. But each time that we have people with new ideas and then we have some crunches that we have to live under in terms of financial restraints -- maybe we cannot afford all the things that are out there and all the priorities we set. But what we are trying to do now, in terms of "Strength at Two Levels", is to consolidate the ideas that have been collected from many regions and different people who have been in the process, to make ourselves more efficient and more credible.

I believe the exercise here, if people think that past decisions are not appropriate or if the commission -- the commission is a body of the whole Legislative Assembly, as thought to be appropriate, for dealing with the issues that are fundamental in trying to get some ideas on the western territory. If the Members feel it is inappropriate, well let us look at it. We do not make the decisions as a cabinet alone. Many of these broader decisions, such as on the Western Constitutional Commission, we made collectively. Thank you.

Return To Question O50-12(1): Dismantling Of Western Constitutional Commission
Question O50-12(1): Dismantling Of Western Constitutional Commission
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 60

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Return To Question O50-12(1): Dismantling Of Western Constitutional Commission
Question O50-12(1): Dismantling Of Western Constitutional Commission
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 60

Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to extend question period.

Return To Question O50-12(1): Dismantling Of Western Constitutional Commission
Question O50-12(1): Dismantling Of Western Constitutional Commission
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 60

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Unanimous consent has been requested. Are there any nays? Unanimous consent has been given. Proceed, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Government Leader. Will the Government Leader be able to give the Members of this House an update on the status of the Northern Accord, taking into consideration the announcements that she made in her Ministers' statement today?

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Ms. Cournoyea.

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Mr. Speaker, I will have a response and an update for presentation tomorrow.

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

The question is taken as notice. Mr. Pudluk.

Ludy Pudluk High Arctic

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question to the Minister of Culture and Communications. There is no cultural institute in the Baffin Region, but there is a board. Has the Minister looked into the possibility of creating an Inuit cultural institute in the Baffin Region? Thank you.

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Mr. Allooloo.

Return To Question O52-12(1): Creation Of Inuit Cultural Institute In Baffin Region
Question O52-12(1): Creation Of Inuit Cultural Institute In Baffin Region
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 60

Titus Allooloo Amittuq

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am aware that the Baffin Regional Council and the Baffin Region Inuit Association have had discussions regarding the possibility of creating a cultural institute in the Baffin Region. I have said that once they come up with something, I have told them to advise me but up until now I have not received any response from them.

Return To Question O52-12(1): Creation Of Inuit Cultural Institute In Baffin Region
Question O52-12(1): Creation Of Inuit Cultural Institute In Baffin Region
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 60

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Oral questions. Mr. Todd.

John Todd Keewatin Central

Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation, but he seems to be out of the House; so I will address the question to the Government Leader. Given the concerns expressed over the last two or three years regarding the home-ownership program across the Arctic, I wonder if the Minister or the Government Leader would give serious consideration to quickly doing a complete review on the selection criteria as it relates to HAP, so that we can have a simple explanation of how people can apply and be approved for the HAP program. It is far too complicated right now.

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Minister of Housing, Mr. Morin.

Return To Question O53-12(1): Review And Simplification Of Hap Eligibility Criteria
Question O53-12(1): Review And Simplification Of Hap Eligibility Criteria
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 60

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have asked my department to look into HAP allocation. There have been a lot of concerns expressed by communities, so we are doing that.

Return To Question O53-12(1): Review And Simplification Of Hap Eligibility Criteria
Question O53-12(1): Review And Simplification Of Hap Eligibility Criteria
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 60

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

The question was taken as notice. Mr. Todd, supplementary.

Supplementary To Question O53-12(1): Review And Simplification Of Hap Eligibility Criteria
Question O53-12(1): Review And Simplification Of Hap Eligibility Criteria
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 60

John Todd Keewatin Central

My question was about the selection criteria, not HAP application. There is a requirement for a review of the selection criteria. What criteria do you have to meet to be a successful HAP client?

Supplementary To Question O53-12(1): Review And Simplification Of Hap Eligibility Criteria
Question O53-12(1): Review And Simplification Of Hap Eligibility Criteria
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 60

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Mr. Morin.

Further Return To Question O53-12(1): Review And Simplification Of Hap Eligibility Criteria
Question O53-12(1): Review And Simplification Of Hap Eligibility Criteria
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 60

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I guess maybe I did not phrase it right. That is what we are looking at, is the criteria. I realize it is too narrow, and we are trying to expand it. Thank you.

Further Return To Question O53-12(1): Review And Simplification Of Hap Eligibility Criteria
Question O53-12(1): Review And Simplification Of Hap Eligibility Criteria
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 60

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

I stand corrected. The question is not being taken as notice. The Minister said they were, in fact, reviewing it. Oral questions. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Question O54-12(1): Policy On Travel Arrangements For Students
Item 5: Oral Questions

December 10th, 1991

Page 60

Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Education. Recently the Department of Education has advised many of the travel agencies across the North that they are attempting to formulate a policy to address travel arrangements made for students. Taking into consideration that in my constituency one of the Arctic College campuses are there and we do have

a travel agency in my constituency, that even though the students are attending the campus in Fort Smith, their travel arrangements are made through out-of-town travel agencies. This causes some concern with respect to the students and confusion, both on the students' part and the travel agency's part. Will the Minister be able to advise me as to when he feels that this policy will be formulated to clarify the confusion that needs to be addressed with respect to travel arrangements for students? Thank you.

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Mr. Minister of Education.