This is page numbers 143 - 180 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 ---agreed.

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, Mr. Nerysoo, 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 143

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Good Afternoon. Orders of the day for Tuesday, December 17, 1991. Item 2, Ministers' statements. The honourable Member for Nunakput.

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

We have stated on numerous occasions that this government is determined to transfer significantly more authority, responsibility and resources to communities. However, it is not just a matter of what and how much we transfer to a community. It is also a matter of to whom.

In the case of communities above the treeline, we can predict that in most cases the institution accepting the transfer will be the local, public, community government. However, the issue in Dene communities is far more complex. Chiefs and band councils have been the traditional self-governing structure of Dene communities at least since the signing of Treaties 8 and 11 in 1899 and 1921 respectively. They are also institutions recognized by the federal Indian Act. Despite the establishment of public municipal bodies in many Dene communities in recent years, the chief and band council have remained a vital and important institution, and they will continue to play an important role in the future.

Ministers had the opportunity to attend portions of the Dene leadership in Rae last month. On behalf of the government, Minister Stephen Kakfwi expressed to the chiefs our sincere desire to improve our relations with the Dene Nation and each chief and to find ways we can work together co-operatively over the next four years. Mr. Kakfwi described our community transfer initiative, restated our recognition of an aboriginal right to self-government, and expressed our belief that aboriginal self-government can best be implemented in the North within the context of a public government system. He invited the chiefs to accept our offer of co-operation and to consider ways Dene bands might participate in the community transfer initiative.

As a follow-up to this offer, I am pleased to announce that a grant will be provided to each band council in the Northwest Territories...

---Applause

...to assist it to prepare itself for discussions about community transfers, including the continuing role of the chief and band council. The grants are for the remainder of this fiscal year, and the total amount of $233,360 will be divided among the 21 bands and five sub-bands.

Many communities in the North have expressed a desire to assume more powers and responsibilities. We want to make real progress in this direction, and we are optimistic that Dene communities will find ways to take full advantage of the opportunities that more authority at the community will provide. Thank you.

---Applause

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Ministers' statements. Mr. Kakfwi.

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Mr. Speaker, efforts to determine the meaning of aboriginal self-government in the Northwest Territories will require the participation and co-operation of Dene, Metis, Inuvialuit, Inuit and non-aboriginal people, as well as the federal and territorial governments. These efforts will be essential if we are to find solutions which fulfill aboriginal peoples' right to self-government, yet are suitable and practical in our unique environment.

Past Legislative Assemblies took the position that aboriginal self-government in the North should be realized within the context of public government. By public government we simply mean a government that represents and serves all residents in the North, whether they be aboriginal or non-aboriginal. Our government continues to hold this view. While no one can predict with certainty what this concept will become in practice, the self-government framework agreement in the Gwich'in final claim agreement indicates the direction we think aboriginal self-government negotiations could take.

Clearly, aboriginal self-government within a public government system does not just mean participation in public government institutions. However, the overall structure of government, including aboriginal and public bodies, must be a practical and fiscally responsible system protecting aboriginal rights while, at the same time, respecting the rights and needs of all its citizens.

We have stated very clearly during this session that our government is committed to transferring significant levels of authority and resources to communities to enable them to set priorities and make the very best possible use of the moneys available. We are also prepared to make every effort to incorporate aspirations for aboriginal self-government into policies and a process for implementing community self-government.

There is no point in our pursuing an approach to community self-government that ignores aboriginal self-government only to find we have to revisit the entire process in the wake of a newly entrenched constitutional right. It makes far more sense for us to assume that such a right will be entrenched in the near future and to incorporate aspirations for aboriginal self-government into the development of the community transfer strategy which we will be presenting to the Legislative Assembly in March.

Last week, this House passed a motion to establish a special committee on constitutional reform to deal with the upcoming round of national constitutional discussions. One of the most important elements of the federal proposals for amending the Canadian Constitution is a call for the entrenchment of an aboriginal right to self-government. Many aboriginal groups argue strongly that the amendment should state aboriginal people have an inherent right to self-government, which is to say that the right pre-dates the Constitution of Canada and is not dependent upon the constitution for its validity.

The Government of the Northwest Territories accepts this view. Aboriginal peoples of the North practised self-government long before there was a country called Canada, and they continue to hold an aboriginal right to exercise self-government to this day. In this sense, aboriginal peoples have a natural or inherent right to self-government which must be recognized in the Constitution of Canada. However, a simple statement that aboriginal people have such a right still begs the question of exactly what that right means.

In the view of this government, an inherent right to self-government does not mean a sovereign, independent nation state. Aboriginal groups are nations within a nation, and aboriginal people are citizens of Canada. Nor do we see a right to self-government as meaning that each aboriginal group has the ability to determine unilaterally what powers it will exercise over which peoples living on which lands. We all live too close together and depend on each other too much for this approach to be practical.

It is a fairly straightforward proposition for this government and the Legislative Assembly to support the entrenching in the Canadian Constitution of an inherent aboriginal right to self-government. Our challenge will be to figure out how aboriginal self-government will be exercised here at home. I am confident that we can meet the test. Mahsi.

---Applause

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Ministers' statements. Mr. Allooloo.

Titus Allooloo Amittuq

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am pleased to inform the House that the new network, Television Northern Canada, will begin broadcasting across the Northwest Territories on January 13, 1992. The official inauguration of the network will take place on January 21, 1992, with a three-hour live telecast to mark the occasion.

The Governor General and the federal Minister of Communications have accepted the invitation of Television Northern Canada to officially inaugurate the network in Iqaluit. All Members of this House are being invited by Television Northern Canada to participate as well. The telecast will involve live broadcasting from Television Northern Canada centres in Iqaluit, Yellowknife and Whitehorse, where people will gather to celebrate.

Television Northern Canada will truly span the North in its coverage and audience. Every community in the Northwest Territories, the Yukon, Arctic Quebec and Northern Labrador will be receiving Television Northern Canada programming.

The Government of the NWT can be proud of its vision for and participation in Television Northern Canada. Acknowledging the great power of television, Culture and Communications convened a meeting in 1987 of aboriginal broadcasters and other interested parties to discuss the potential of a northern broadcasting network. From these discussions, Television Northern Canada was born.

Television Northern Canada represents the best of co-operative broadcasting. Northern aboriginal broadcasters and government organizations have co-ordinated their energies and worked together to ensure that we are not competing for limited financial resources and a limited audience but that we are supporting one another, with each partner having freedom to produce what it feels is best.

As the Television Northern Canada concept became a reality, this government has continued to play a major role in Television Northern Canada's growth through the provision of financial and staff resources and by assisting to secure ongoing funding from the federal government.

Television Northern Canada programming will be produced by aboriginal broadcasters, including the Inuit Broadcasting Corporation, the Inuvialuit Communications Society, Native Communications Society, Northern Native Broadcasting Yukon, Taqramiut Nipingat of Arctic Quebec, the Okalakatiget Society of Labrador, and Wawatay of Northern Ontario. In addition, Mr. Speaker, programs will be provided by GNWT departments, Arctic College, Yukon College, Labrador Community College, the Kativik School Board of Arctic Quebec, and CBC Northern Service.

Television Northern Canada programming, being controlled by the partners, will feature issues from a northern perspective that are of daily importance to northern people. Constitutional development, land claims, environmental and social issues will be reviewed. Any one of the partners can choose to use its air time to broadcast proceedings from this Legislature, committee hearings, the Arctic Winter Games, special conferences or events. The opportunity exists for the creation of a northern version of "The Nation's Business," a program where Members of this House have an opportunity to discuss issues with the public.

And very importantly, the use of aboriginal languages on Television Northern Canada will not only allow for greater northern understanding of issues but send clear messages about the importance of language and culture.

The potential communications value of a television network that reaches every household in the North is vast. Television Northern Canada is a remarkable opportunity for Northerners to communicate directly with Northerners. The effect of Television Northern Canada will be to shrink distances between home and school, between communities and between cultures.

The power of television is great. Now in the hands of Northerners, that power can be used for the benefit of all Northerners. This government is proud to be working alongside the aboriginal broadcasters and other northern governments to develop the full potential of northern television. I invite you to tune in to Television Northern Canada in January and to celebrate the beginning of a new era in northern communications. Thank you.

---Applause

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Ministers' statements. Mr. Patterson.

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have two. At the appropriate time today I will be tabling the report of the task force on legal aid. This report is the work of a task force which was appointed by the Legal Services Board in 1990 to review the delivery of legal aid in the NWT and make recommendations for future directions. The report was received by the legal services board in November, and the board has provided it to me with the request that it be made public. The report of the task force covers some of the same matters as are dealt with in the "Strength At Two Levels" report, but the task force on legal aid recommendations cover

a broad range of service delivery and organizational issues as well as financial concerns. The report contains 65 recommendations.

The members of the task force were all persons who had experience with different aspects of the legal aid system. In the course of their work, they visited several communities and spoke to interested persons across the Territories.

I wish to thank chairperson Adrian Wright and the members of the task force on legal aid for their thoughtful report and recommendations. It is obviously premature to say which of those recommendations should be accepted, but in the coming weeks and months this government will be reviewing the report of the task force on legal aid and conferring with the Legal Services Board on its recommendations. I invite all honourable Members to let me know their views about the contents of the report.

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Mr. Speaker, if I may, the Department of Safety and Public Services has taken another step in support of our government's efforts to reduce incidents of propane sniffing in the Northwest Territories. It is now releasing the recently completed anti-abuse video "Straight Shooting" to NWT schools. The 28-minute video was filmed in Cape Dorset by the Inuit Broadcasting Corporation for the office of the Fire Marshal. It will be used in "Learn Not To Burn" presentations in NWT schools.

The actors in this video are not professional. They are young adults from the hamlet of Cape Dorset who, as first time actors, have done a remarkable job in delivering a very serious message in a way that touches all age groups.

Mr. Speaker, we must learn from our fire loss records; we must change our lifestyles so that our children are not left unsupervised when they are too young to reason or react; we must get the matches and lighters out of reach of children and teach them the dangers of playing with fires, and we must start controlling our use of alcohol so that alcohol is not a contributing factor to fires.

I would urge each Member of this Assembly to take every opportunity to speak to their constituents about fire prevention. Qujannamiik.

---Applause

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Ministers' statements. Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Mlas' Involvement In Capital Planning Process
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 145

Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as the chairperson of the ordinary Members' caucus, I want to take this opportunity to congratulate the Government Leader on a commitment she has made to allow ordinary MLAs to participate in the development of the 1992-93 capital estimates and to scrutinize future years' requests. In keeping with her commitment of more open government and greater ordinary Member involvement, the Government Leader has agreed, yesterday, to provide Members with copies of community budget submissions. In past years this information was with held from Members, and as a result, Members were excluded from the planning process. It has been past practice that Members attempted to exert influence by introducing formal motions in the House. It has become apparent that this practice can only lead to chaos. Ordinary Members agreed that capital projects should be based on need and should not be brought down to the level of debating one region against the other, or community against community.

This information will be invaluable to the ordinary Members as we attempt to prioritize the capital needs of our communities for the coming year. Delivery of these documents will provide us with this opportunity. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Mlas' Involvement In Capital Planning Process
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 145

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Members' statements. Mr. Zoe.

Henry Zoe

Henry Zoe North Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a statement to make regarding the involvement of ordinary Members in the capital planning process. Mr. Speaker, I was very pleased to hear the statement made by the chairperson of the ordinary Members' committee, that the Government Leader has agreed to allow ordinary Members to have meaningful input into this process. I fully agree with this process that has been developed. I think it is long overdue. In light of this, Mr. Speaker, I will not be proceeding with my Motion 36-12(1) on the order paper today.

---Applause

Mr. Speaker, I originally brought this motion forward on the strong recommendation of my constituents. I tabled a petition in this House last week to that effect. The need for an airport for Rae-Edzo is an essential component in building a viable economy in the North Slave region. It will help solidify transportation linkage between Rae-Edzo and the smaller communities. This is of utmost importance because Rae-Edzo is the economic and administrative centre and the cultural hub for my region.

Currently, transportation routes between the smaller communities and Rae-Edzo go through Yellowknife. It is our hope that creating direct links between our communities will lessen the dependence our region has on Yellowknife. I will stress that I remain fully committed to the construction of this airport and will be pursuing this matter with the Executive Council during our discussion on the capital planning process. Thank you.

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Members' statements. Mr. Todd.

John Todd Keewatin Central

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to start this afternoon by hoping that this House has a sense of humour. I would like to use my statement today to congratulate Canadian Airlines International on becoming a corporate partner in Expo '92. It is my understanding of the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism's statement to this House on Friday that as part of the sponsorship agreement, Canadian Airlines would provide business class seats to GNWT employees travelling to Seville for the price of an economy class ticket.

I note, Mr. Speaker, that we are using this airline as our exclusive air carrier to travel back and forth to Seville. I am quite sure that this service had little or nothing to do with our agreeing to the corporate sponsorship package. This offer shows Canadian Airlines' deep commitment to the North and its people, and I am quite heartened by their concern for the comfort and extra leg-room for GNWT employees.

I would like to offer the suggestion that Canadian Airlines could continue their generous ways by extending the same offer to other groups in our society who perhaps need this service more, such as elders who have to travel by air...

---Applause

...students who have to travel to attend school, and our sick people who have to travel to the hospitals.

In closing, Mr. Speaker, I would like to quote, for the benefit of Canadian Airlines, a famous Christmas character, Ebenezer Scrooge, who when asked if he would contribute to some well-meaning charity said, "Bah, humbug!"

---Laughter

---Applause

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Members' statements. Mr. Arvaluk.

Passing Of David Ovinqayak
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 146

James Arvaluk Aivilik

(Translation) Mr. Speaker, today I want to express my condolences to David Ovinqayak's family. David is from Arviat. He did not recover from heart surgery during his operation. David Ovinqayak has been active with the Inuit Cultural Institute for over 15 years and has produced books on Inuit cultures, including "Arctic Survival," which is intended for everyone in the Arctic.

Some of you may remember that he travelled by snowmobile from Arviat to Baker Lake, Gjoa Haven, Spence Bay, Pelly Bay, Repulse Bay and back to Arviat via Chesterfield Inlet, Rankin Inlet and Whale Cove. He has walked from Churchill, Manitoba to Arviat all by himself, recording the camps where his ancestors used to live and travel. Before he died, he wrote a book about his travels and his knowledge of the land and its contents. He was making final touches with his publishers when he died on Saturday.

Mr. Speaker, it is very sad to see a friend like David to go, but happy that he has contributed to make us all richer inside. Thank you.

---Applause

Passing Of David Ovinqayak
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 146

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Members' statements. Mr. Pudluk.

Hiring Northerners
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 146

Ludy Pudluk High Arctic

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Employment prospects in the North are practically non-existent in the communities. It is becoming increasingly difficult to earn a living. The government has stated for some time now that they will give preference to northern contractors who put in a bid. To date, this has not yet happened. As of this minute, there is a contractor from my riding who is from the South and who does not have a single Inuk working for him. Seeing this is very depressing. Although this has been improving slowly, we have been trying to tell the government to hire northern contractors to keep the economy going in the communities. When the government hires southern contractors, they should tell the contractors to hire the people from the communities because jobs are hard to come by in the communities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Hiring Northerners
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 146

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Members' statements. Mr. Dent.

Medal Of Bravery Award To Clem Paul
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 146

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to inform the House that on December 14th, the Governor General awarded the medal of bravery to Mr. Clem Paul of Yellowknife. Mr. Paul was cited for attempting to save two men whose snowmobile had broken the thin ice of Harding Lake, north of Yellowknife, on November 11, 1990. Following some distance behind his friends, Mr. Paul immediately stopped his snowmobile, unhooked the sleigh, and using a gun case paddled furiously over 30 meters of open, frigid water to the victims. Unfortunately, just before he had arrived, one man disappeared below the surface while the other was rapidly losing consciousness. Unable to lift the second man onto the unstable sleigh, Mr. Paul tied him to the rear and made the exhausting trip back toward the shore where others in the hunting party threw a rope out to tow the sleigh onto solid ice. Mr. Paul and the victim were taken to a cabin, where they awaited a rescue helicopter.

I am sure all of us in the House will join in congratulating Mr. Paul on receiving this award, which recognizes his selfless actions in a dangerous situation. Thank you.

---Applause

Medal Of Bravery Award To Clem Paul
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 146

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Members' statements. Mr. Allooloo.

Summit Of Inuit Leaders, Iqaluit
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 146

Titus Allooloo Amittuq

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is my pleasure to address this House today as the chairman of the Nunavut caucus. First, I would like to thank the Members of the Nunavut caucus for their faith and confidence in me to continue to be the chairman of the Nunavut caucus for the time being.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to inform the Members of this Assembly that we are proposing to hold a summit of Inuit leaders in Iqaluit during the last week of January 1992. The participants at this proposed summit are Inuit leaders working for our people at the local, regional and national level through the different organizations such as Tungavik Federation of Nunavut, Pauktuutit, Inuit Tapirisat of Canada, and regional council representatives. Also, Members of our own Nunavut caucus will be taking part at this summit.

We are working toward the same goal, which is the control of our own destiny in order to ensure a good life for our people. Because of the conditions in the society that surrounds us and the incredible changes we have to adjust to in such rapid succession, we find ourselves today, as leaders, in a critical time. It is a time when our leaders are called to make decisions that will greatly affect our present circumstances as well as our future. We need to come together, as is our tradition in such times, to talk, to evaluate where we are, where we wish to go and how we can best support each other to work in a united way, as we have always done.

These are difficult times, not just for Inuit, but for all people in our country. Canada itself is facing an uncertain future. The effects of the current economic recession are being felt here in our northern communities as well, and at all levels of government. Our hunters and trappers find themselves in a life and death struggle for the protection of their way of life.