This is page numbers 113 - 142 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 chairman.

Topics

Members Present

Hon. Titus Allooloo, Mr. Antoine, Mr. Arngna'naaq, Mr. Arvaluk, Hon. Michael Ballantyne, Mr. Bernhardt, Hon. Nellie Cournoyea, Mr. Dent, Mr. Gargan, Hon. Stephen Kakfwi, Mr. Koe, Mr. Lewis, Mrs. Marie-Jewell, Ms. Mike, Hon. Don Morin, Hon. John Ningark, Hon. Dennis Patterson, Hon. John Pollard, Mr. Pudlat, Mr. Pudluk, Mr. Todd, Hon. Tony Whitford, Mr. Zoe

---Prayer

Item 1: Prayer
Item 1: Prayer

Page 113

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Good afternoon. Orders of the day for Monday, December 16, 1991. Item 2, Ministers' statements. The honourable Member for Sahtu.

Ministers' Statement 19-12(1): Tungavik Federation Of Nunavut Claim
Item 2: Ministers' Statements

December 15th, 1991

Page 113

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Thank you. I am pleased to announce to the House that the Tungavik Federation of Nunavut and the federal government have concluded successfully land claim negotiations in Ottawa over the weekend. The Hon. Dennis Patterson was present at the negotiating session on Friday night, where agreement was reached on the outstanding issues.

The initialling of the claim is an important step, both for the Inuit who have been negotiating the claim for about 15 years, and for the creation of a new territory called Nunavut. I am sure that the Members of the House will join me in offering congratulations to the Tungavik Federation of Nunavut on the successful negotiations of the initialled document.

---Applause

Contained in the claim is an affirmation of the Inuit ownership over 350,000 square kilometres of land, including 36,000 square kilometres of land with subsurface rights; the provision by the federal government of $580 million, in 1989 dollars, in the form of a capital transfer to be paid over the next 14 years; detailed provisions which ensure participation by Inuit on boards with responsibilities in the fields of wildlife management, land use planning, water management and environmental and socio-economic reviews of development proposals.

A very important article in the agreement is related to the political development of the new territory in the Eastern Arctic called "Nunavut." The article confirms that the federal government will recommend to Parliament, legislation to establish a new Nunavut territory with its own legislative assembly and public government. There needs to be much discussion before this occurs, and the article further states that a political accord shall be negotiated between this government, TFN and Canada. This accord will establish the date of parliamentary legislation, the types of powers of the new government, certain principles relating to the financing of the Nunavut government and the time limits for the coming into existence and operation of the new government. As the Members of the House may appreciate, there is much work to be done on the development and approval of this accord as the parties aim to reach agreement on it by April 1 of next year. It is expected that the Inuit will vote on the acceptance of the claims settlement in the late spring, with the ratifying legislation being introduced into Parliament a few months later.

---Applause

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Thank you, Mr. Kakfwi. I would like to take this opportunity to recognize, in the gallery, Mr. Charlie Lyall, Mayor of Spence Bay.

---Applause

Ministers' statements. Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Allooloo.

Tungavik Federation Of Nunavut Claim
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 113

Titus Allooloo Amittuq

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to congratulate the Tungavik Federation of Nunavut in reaching a final agreement in Ottawa during the weekend. I would like to thank the Tungavik negotiators. They worked very hard, and I wish to thank them. They worked so hard they seemed to forget about their personal lives. There is to be a Nunavut territory, and the territorial government has agreed. We have a lot of work ahead of us. The residents of Nunavut have to be informed of the details of the agreement. A plebiscite has to be held on the boundary question, and the agreement has to be ratified.

In addition we still have to negotiate a political accord with TFN and the federal government which will cover such important questions as principles for financing the Nunavut government, transition arrangements and timing.

As the Minister of Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs mentioned, the federal government has agreed to a $580 million payment over 14 years, and it has a guaranteed interest rate of 9.36 per cent. That means a total federal contribution of over one billion dollars over 14 years.

Finally, as Minister of Education I was also pleased to learn that TFN has negotiated a special fund of $13 million dedicated to training. This will help ensure that northern people are prepared to implement the claim. Thank you.

Tungavik Federation Of Nunavut Claim
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 114

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Members' statements. Mr. Todd.

John Todd Keewatin Central

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to inform this Legislature and the cabinet of the Keewatin Regional Health Board's response to the Minister of Health's directive regarding the expenditure management initiatives. The board has proposed seven recommendations that, if approved, would not only realize significant reductions in long-term costs of delivering health and social services to the region, but also dramatically improve the delivery of these services to the region. I believe a copy of these recommendations is already in the hands of the Minister.

I need not remind you, Mr. Speaker, that this year has been a very difficult one for the Keewatin Regional Health Board. The region has been drastically hit by various disease outbreaks, including the E-coli and red measles. I am sure Members will join me in congratulating the Keewatin Regional Health Board for their excellent work in dealing with these problems.

---Applause

Thank you. It is all the more impressive that they have also found the time to discuss and develop strategies to improve the cost efficiency of the delivery of the health care system in the Keewatin while dealing with these difficult problems.

Mr. Speaker, I will be tabling these proposals at the appropriate time today. I would also like to give notice to the Minister of Health that I will be very interested to know what steps his department has taken to implement these recommendations, when the House reconvenes in February. Thank you.

---Applause

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Thank you, Mr. Todd. Members' statements. Mr. Lewis.

Praise For Minister Of Social Services
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 114

Brian Lewis Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to congratulate my former colleague on this side of the House, Mr. Whitford, for the tough stand that he took last week in refusing to divulge information which was of a confidential nature; also to maintain cabinet solidarity in the face of a demand for a review of Social Services. It is absolutely imperative, if you sit on that other side, that there has to be loyalty among all Members to deliver a government program. I congratulate him because I found that he behaved exactly the same way when he was on this side of the House; he gave up some of his individual freedom, from time to time, in order to support other Members to achieve the purposes that they had indicated were important to them, to other ordinary Members.

So, Mr. Speaker, one day in the local newspaper you get congratulated and you get all kinds of wonderful accolades because of the good work that you are doing, and the following week you get dumped over simply because you have been loyal to your colleagues. I would like to congratulate him for standing his ground. Thank you.

---Applause

Praise For Minister Of Social Services
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 114

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Members' statements. Mr. Arvaluk.

James Arvaluk Aivilik

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (Translation) As you have heard earlier and heard and watched this morning on the news, the Tungavik Federation of Nunavut president, Mr. Louis Pilakapsi, and Tom Siddon have come to an agreement. I am positive that the Inuit are very happy about this agreement with regard to Nunavut and government.

A lot of times we were doubtful whether or not this was going to proceed. I remember in 1968 I was working with Peter Mansbridge, with CBC, and Tagak Curley, who was an adult educator at the time. We had a discussion about the desires and needs of the Inuit people, that they should be able to control their own land. When we were discussing this, I also mentioned that the Inuit people have to get more training, and Tagak responded to me, "If we really want this to go through, we will have to fight for it."

Mr. Speaker, I would like to state at this time that I am very happy about the progress. Even though there were changes, the government officials or the leaders, the people of Nunavut were able to continue, to the fullest, to the end. Thank you.

---Applause

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Members' statements. Mr. Gargan.

Institutional Violence Against Natives
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 114

Samuel Gargan Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last Thursday I commented on the history of victimization of women of aboriginal decent. Men have been victims of racial hatred, too. Today I wish to talk about the role that Canadian institutions have played in perpetuating that victimization process.

I had to laugh out loud, Mr. Speaker, when I heard about the Right Honourable Joe Clark's November 28th comments to the First Nations' leadership, when he tried to say that violence has not been part of the Canadian tradition. Mr. Speaker, violence against aboriginal people has been part of the Canadian experience right from the first moment Europeans set foot on this land. It was part of the Canadian tradition when the Beothuks were slaughtered in Newfoundland, and later when the government took up arms against native people during the Riel Rebellion, the Duck Lake confrontation, and most recently, Oka.

And these are just low points from Canada's own shameful past. If you consider the history of race relations throughout the Americas, you can find evidence of the mistreatment of native people from the time of Christopher Columbus right up to the tragedy at Wounded Knee. It continues today, with human rights abuses and land theft in many nations of Central and South America.

No, Mr. Speaker, Joe Clark was wrong. There has been a history of violent manipulation and victimization of Amerindian peoples throughout the years of our contact with non-native cultures. And we have tasted the bitter victimization in the North, too, Mr. Speaker. It was present in the corporal punishment endured by aboriginal children in the residential school system. It is present in our current system of justice. Many things must be wrong with any system that spends half a million dollars to conclude that it is all right for a judge to say that rape is different when it happens to northern women from when it happens to dainty southern Canadian co-eds.

I am heartened by a recent report of the Law Reform Commission of Canada which proposes a system of justice based on aboriginal traditions...

Institutional Violence Against Natives
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 115

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Mr. Gargan, your time has expired. Are you seeking unanimous consent to conclude?

Institutional Violence Against Natives
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 115

Samuel Gargan Deh Cho

Yes, Mr. Speaker.

Institutional Violence Against Natives
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 115

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Unanimous consent is requested. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Continue, Mr. Gargan.

Institutional Violence Against Natives
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 115

Samuel Gargan Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and Members. I am heartened by a recent report of the Law Reform Commission of Canada which proposes a system of justice based on aboriginal traditions and beliefs for First Nations peoples. I believe that it is only through the establishment of these sorts of aboriginal institutions that native people will break free of the pattern of victimization that has plagued us throughout the history of Canada. I would urge the cabinet and my colleagues in this House to remember this in all our efforts to develop a constitutional framework for our northern homelands. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Institutional Violence Against Natives
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 115

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Members' statements. Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Mr. Ningark.

Return To Question O65-12(1): Legislation Re Establishment Of Northern Brewery
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

Page 115

John Ningark Natilikmiot

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a return to a question asked by Mr. Lewis on December 11, 1991, concerning legislation regarding the establishment of a northern brewery. Alcohol abuse is such a large problem in the NWT that anything to do with alcohol causes a lot of emotion. In my own riding, two out of three communities have prohibition. Recognizing the emotional response this legislation is likely to receive, I will review it carefully and will discuss it with other Members of cabinet. Until this is done, I have no intentions, one way or the other, regarding brewery legislation. Thank you.

Return To Question O65-12(1): Legislation Re Establishment Of Northern Brewery
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

Page 115

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Returns to oral questions. Ms. Cournoyea.

Return To Question O51-12(1): Update On Status Of Northern Accord
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

Page 115

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is a reply to a question asked by Mrs. Marie-Jewell on December 11, 1991, regarding an update on the status of the Northern Accord. Mr. Speaker, between the fall of 1989 and the spring of 1990, the Government of the Northwest Territories, with the direct participation of the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, the Tungavik Federation of Nunavut and the Dene/Metis, did develop a comprehensive proposal for the finalization of the accord. The accord will see the transfer of oil and gas management responsibilities from the federal government to the Government of the Northwest Territories. The proposal contains provisions which guarantee that the accord will not diminish the ability of the federal government and aboriginal claimant groups to negotiate and implement land claims.

The proposal was tabled with the federal government in May, 1990. However, we did not proceed with formal negotiations at that time because we had not completed an agreement with the Yukon on the Beaufort Sea. There were also significant uncertainties about the status of the Dene/Metis land claim, and more specifically, with the issues of aboriginal subsurface benefits agreements. The federal government refused to provide for these agreements in the claims but had not indicated to the GNWT how they could be provided through the Northern Accord.

Last spring we were able to successfully complete the negotiation of an agreement with Yukon regarding oil and gas management responsibilities in the Beaufort Sea. Furthermore, Minister Siddon has formally committed to transfer to the GNWT, through the accord, the additional powers to legislate in respect of aboriginal subsurface agreements on settlement lands as part of the Gwich'in final agreement.

The federal government has not yet provided a full response to our proposal. The informal discussions that we have had to date indicate that we can expect that the fiscal and financial elements of the accord will be the most difficult to resolve. Without an adequate fiscal and financial package, I must stress that this government will not be willing to accept the transfer.

I cannot predict how long it will take before we can arrive at a satisfactory agreement, but I will certainly inform this House of any developments which alter the present status of the accord.

Return To Question O51-12(1): Update On Status Of Northern Accord
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

Page 115

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Returns to oral questions. Mr. Patterson.

Return To Question O3-12(1): Transportation Of Equipment To Snare Lake
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

Page 115

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is a return to Question O3-12(1), asked on December 9th, concerning transportation of equipment to Snare Lake. The Department of Public Works on behalf of Municipal and Community Affairs has purchased equipment and is managing the construction of a maintenance garage due to begin in the summer of 1992. We are working with the Department of Transportation, which is co-ordinating the review of options for the winter freight haul for the territorial government. A decision is expected by the end of this month. The road would ordinarily be constructed in January/February.

Further Return To Question O24-12(1): Membership On Workers' Compensation Board
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

Page 115

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

I have a return to Question O24-12(1) concerning membership on the Workers' Compensation Board. The directors currently serving on the Workers' Compensation Board are: Mr. Grant Hinchey, Mr. Jim Evoy, Mr. Grant Horseman, Mr. Dale Johnston, Mr. Ronald Williams. All are residents of Yellowknife, and Mr. Williams is an aboriginal person, being an NWT Metis.