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

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Notices of motions. Mr. Dent.

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Friday, December 13, 1991, I will move the following motion: Now therefore, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Keewatin Central, that the Government Leader include three ordinary Members of this Assembly on its strategy committee for implementing the recommendations of the report "Strength At Two Levels."

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Thank you. Mr. Gargan.

Notice Of Motion 28-12(1): Custom Adoption
Item 12: Notices Of Motions

December 10th, 1991

Page 65

Samuel Gargan Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Friday, December 13, 1991, I will move the following motion: Now therefore, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for High Arctic, that this Legislative Assembly requests the Minister of Justice to undertake a review of all territorial statutes to ensure that, where appropriate, the definition of "parents" and "children" will include custom adoptive parents and custom adopted children, so as to ensure that the parents and children of custom adoption will be afforded the same legal rights as currently exist between biological parents, parents by legal adoption and their children. Thank you.

Notice Of Motion 28-12(1): Custom Adoption
Item 12: Notices Of Motions

Page 65

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Notices of motions. Ms. Cournoyea.

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

I give notice that on Friday, December 13, 1991, I will move the following motion: Now therefore, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Sahtu, that the Legislative Assembly hereby approves the Statute Roll, Third Volume.

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Thank you. Notices of motions. Mr. Lewis.

Brian Lewis Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Friday, December 13, 1991, I shall move the following motion: Whereas every community in the Northwest Territories has a physical structure for education with the exception of Kakisa; now therefore, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Deh Cho, that this Legislative Assembly recommends that the Minister of Education considers the construction of a small education facility in Kakisa as a high priority in the department's plans during the next four years.

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Notices of motions. Mr. Gargan.

Samuel Gargan Deh Cho

Mr. Speaker, on Friday 13, December 13, I will move the following motion: Now therefore, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Thebacha, that this Legislative Assembly adopts that the voting age at an election in the Northwest Territories, be changed from 19 to 18 years of age; and further that this Legislative Assembly requests that the Executive Council introduce the necessary amendments to the Elections Act, Local Authorities Election Act and Plebiscite Act to give effect to any change in the voting age. Thank you.

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Notices of motions. Mr. Antoine.

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I understand that Sam is only allowed to do two motions, which kind of illustrates my concern in my Member's statement about the process. I am doing this one for him.

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

I give notice that on Friday, December 13, I shall move the following motion: I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Deh Cho, that this Legislative Assembly recommends that the Minister of Education include an adult education centre for the Hay River Reserve when developing the department's five-year capital plan. Mahsi.

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Notices of motions. Notices of motions.

Item 13, notices of motions for first reading of bills. Notices of motions for first reading of bills.

Because we still have two motions to go through it may take some time. We will recess for a short coffee break but I would like to ask all Members to remain in their places. Mr. Arvaluk's father, Mr. Mathias Awa, would like to make a presentation to the Legislative Assembly. If I could ask that Mr. Arvaluk bring his father forward in front of the Clerk's table to make the presentation.

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I call the Assembly back to order. Item 14, motions.

Samuel Gargan Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

WHEREAS the settlement of Kakisa does not have a building that would enable the residents of Kakisa to come together as a community;

AND WHEREAS the capital forecasting plan identifies a community centre for Kakisa to be built in 1993-94;

AND WHEREAS the community of Kakisa urgently requires a new community centre;

AND WHEREAS the existing building that is used as the community centre is an old garage converted to an office space which is heated by wood;

NOW THEREFORE, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Nahendeh, that this Legislative Assembly recommends that the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs consider moving the allocation of funding for the construction of a community centre in Kakisa up to the 1992-93 fiscal year.

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Copies of the motion are found in your binders under your desk. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Samuel Gargan Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have been a Member for eight years and of the eight years I have basically distributed my priorities between the three communities I represent, one of them being Kakisa. During my first year in office I did a lot of the community of Fort Providence. During my second term I did quite a bit for the Hay River Reserve. In Kakisa, other than getting the allocation of one or two HAP units a year, no extensive progress has been made in that community, although I have been consulted by the communities on their requests and one of the requests is that they would like to have a community centre with a couple of offices in it. There is an allotment for construction to happen several years from now, two summers from now. The motion suggests that we move the capital project ahead one year.

Mr. Speaker, during the next four years -- I have not consulted with the Members of this House with regard to the intention of the motion. I would like to remind the Members that we probably are going to be sitting for one week or week and a half at the most, and in order for me to consult each Member with regard to my intentions, it was very difficult for me to do. Even to consult the ordinary Members would be difficult because of the amount of time required. I apologize to the Members for not consulting them.

A review will be done in two years time and I would like to be able to determine the amount of progress this government has made, based on motions that are made in formal sitting. All the motions that are done by ordinary Members are supported by the Members themselves. Because I am the only one that knows what Kakisa looks like. I am also the only one that knows what Kakisa's needs are, as opposed to wants. I am also the only one that knows the people there and their aspirations. For the Members who are not too sure what Kakisa or the people of Kakisa are like, should not determine it by voting against my motion. They should support or respect the motion I presented on the basis that I am representing them and they are not. They should be supporting me on a motion of the aspirations that the community wants or needs.

Everyone in the Western or Eastern Arctic have a community gym, a multi-purpose hall, a community hall, at least a physical structure where people can gather. The community of Kakisa does not have any such facility. We have a building that I go to when I meet with people. It is the size of this public washroom here. When we have community feasts we find it difficult to have any kind of space available to talk or -- we do not even have a non-smoking section.

I would like to ask the Members' indulgence in supporting my motion. Perhaps I am jumping ahead of other Members by doing as many motions as I can, but that is the only way I might be able to get what I need for my constituency. I would hope the Members support my motion.

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

The seconder of the motion. Mr. Antoine.

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I know what Sam is talking about. I have been to Kakisa a few times and I feel they require such a building for a community centre. Mahsi.

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Ms. Cournoyea.

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Just on the process here. It seems to me that there was some general agreement that in the new planning process and in sort of delaying the budget, it was to give Members a more equal opportunity to feed into the development of a capital plan. As a cabinet the direction is given to us. It seems to me that there is a question as to the reason this is put on the floor. For some reason the honourable Member does not feel that the SCOF process is going to work for him, so he feels he wants to circumvent that process in dealing with his issue. And the reason he is putting the motion on the floor is, he wants to aim to the two year review to see whether his project is going to be considered and then he will make a determination.

But then again, is that also saying that every other Member should be putting all their motions for all their capital projects on the floor as well, and circumvent all the process that comes around in terms of the communities, the planning and the assessments that are done in terms of regional need. It seems to me it is placing an unfair advantage on the other people who are going to use the process for determining where their capital requirements are. In any event, it is an observation.

Henry Zoe

Henry Zoe North Slave

Point of order.

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Point of order. Mr. Zoe.

Henry Zoe

Henry Zoe North Slave

Mr. Speaker, the motion clearly states to move the community centre in Kakisa up to the 1992-93 fiscal year. I do not know why the Minister is making comments in terms of the process that does not pertain to the motion itself.

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

I am speaking to your motion, what you stated when you were addressing it.