Members Present
Hon. Titus Allooloo, Mr. Antoine, Mr. Arngna'naaq, Mr. James Arvaluk, Hon. Michael Ballantyne, Mr. Bernhardt, Hon. Nellie Cournoyea, Mr. Dent, Mr. Gargan, Hon. Stephen Kakfwi, Mr. Koe, Mr. Lewis, Mrs. Marie-Jewell, Hon. Rebecca Mike, Hon. Don Morin, Hon. Richard Nerysoo, Mr. Ningark, Mr. Dennis Patterson, Hon. John Pollard, Mr. Pudlat, Mr. Pudluk, Hon. John Todd, Mr. Tony Whitford, Mr. Zoe
---Prayer
Item 1: Prayer
Item 1: Prayer
Page 397
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Good afternoon. Item 2, Ministers' Statements. Ms. Cournoyea.
Minister's Statement 29-12(3): Cabinet Assignments
Item 2: Ministers' Statements
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Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to advise the Members of the ministerial responsibilities assigned to the new Cabinet Members.
Minister's Statement 29-12(3): Cabinet Assignments
Item 2: Ministers' Statements
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The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Excuse me, Ms. Cournoyea. Is this an emergency statement?
Minister's Statement 29-12(3): Cabinet Assignments
Item 2: Ministers' Statements
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Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput
Mr. Speaker, it is an emergency statement.
Minister's Statement 29-12(3): Cabinet Assignments
Item 2: Ministers' Statements
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The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Continue please, Ms. Cournoyea.
Minister's Statement 29-12(3): Cabinet Assignments
Item 2: Ministers' Statements
Page 397
Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput
Mr. Speaker, I would like to advise Members of the ministerial responsibilities assigned to the new Cabinet Members.
Ms. Rebecca Mike will be responsible for the Department of Health and the Department of Social Services.
Mr. John Todd will be responsible for the Department of Transportation and the Department of Safety and Public Services. He will also be the Minister responsible for the Workers' Compensation Board and the Public Utilities Board.
---Laughter
---Applause
Mr. Richard Nerysoo will be responsible for the Department of Education, Culture and Employment Programs and Minister responsible for Arctic College and the Science Institute of the Northwest Territories.
Mr. Speaker, I want to add that it is important for residents of the Northwest Territories to realize the recent resignations of Cabinet have not disrupted our agenda. They are unfortunate but the election of Rebecca Mike, John Todd and Richard Nerysoo to Cabinet will ensure our ability to continue the directions that both the government and Legislative Assembly set out to achieve when we were elected a little over a year ago. Thank you very much.
---Applause
Minister's Statement 29-12(3): Cabinet Assignments
Item 2: Ministers' Statements
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The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Ministers' Statements. Mr. Kakfwi.
Minister's Statement 30-12(3): International Year Of The World's Indigenous People
Item 2: Ministers' Statements
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Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu
Mr. Speaker, today is the opening day for the International Year of the World's Indigenous people at the United Nations general assembly in New York city. The theme for the year will be "indigenous people - a new partnership".
The purpose of naming 1993 as an international year is to highlight the circumstances facing aboriginal peoples around the world and to foster international cooperation to try to solve some of the problems that affect these peoples including areas such as human rights, health, education and the environment.
The United Nations has several criteria for determining what should be the subject of an international year. The theme should be of concern to the majority of member countries. The theme should be one requiring action which could take place at the international and national levels. There should be a reasonable expectation that an international year will generate significant follow-up action at both the national and international levels in the form of new activities or the strengthening of existing ones.
Frankly, Mr. Speaker, there are signs that the international year of indigenous people is already in some trouble here in Canada and abroad. For example, the name of the year refers to "people" instead of "peoples", which suggests in international law that aboriginal peoples are not collectives with rights of self-determination. Secondly, aboriginal peoples in Canada as early as 1991 rejected the involvement of the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development in planning for and coordinating activities for the year. D.I.A.N.D. is the lead federal department in spite of this aboriginal opposition. Thirdly, it appears that Canada is taking a lead role at the United Nations in planning for the year but apparently the federal government is not allocating any new money for special activities or programs during the year. In fact, the federal Finance Minister announced about $150 million worth of budget cuts to aboriginal programs last week. For past international years there have been special budgets for activities. Canada has contributed only $72,000 to the United Nations for this international year and it is the single largest contributor so far.
On the international stage, Canada is seen as a world leader in aboriginal and human rights issues. The media has reported, however, that Canada originally opposed the idea of an international year for indigenous peoples at the United Nations prior to the Oka crisis, but shortly after that event Canada tried to take the lead in organizing the United Nations affair. Some people have questioned Canada's motives for this change of heart. From within Canada we can still see many areas requiring significant measures. Had the Charlottetown Accord been approved in the recent national referendum, we would have been well ahead of the world in forging a new relationship with aboriginal peoples. We cannot afford to lose sight of the objectives of that process.
The international year could be an opportunity for the Government of Canada and aboriginal leaders to highlight for other countries some of the progress made in Canada to resolve aboriginal issues. More importantly, 1993 should be a year for governments, aboriginal peoples and Canadians generally to make more progress on issues like aboriginal self-government, comprehensive claims, and social and economic issues now under study by the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples.
Aboriginal peoples, through their national, regional and local organizations, will have to take the lead in identifying activities for the international year. Two national aboriginal leaders, Mary Simon and Ovide Mercredi, will be in New York at the opening ceremonies to represent the aboriginal peoples of Canada and each will be making a short presentation. It is clear that governments in Canada will have to do more if this is going to be a meaningful exercise.
Mr. Speaker, I will keep Members informed over the course of the year on matters of interest relating to the International Year of the World's Indigenous People. Thank you.
---Applause
Minister's Statement 30-12(3): International Year Of The World's Indigenous People
Item 2: Ministers' Statements
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The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Ministers' Statements. Mr. Allooloo.
Minister's Statement 31-12(3): Support For N.W.T. Fur Trade
Item 2: Ministers' Statements
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Titus Allooloo Amittuq
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, last night several Members of this Legislative Assembly joined me at a meeting with members of the Italian Fur Trade Association and the Italian media. Today the Italians are visiting a trap line in the Fort Simpson area and will return to eastern Canada and Italy on the weekend.
I am pleased with the interest the Italian Fur Trade Association and the media are showing in northern Canadian wildlife fur. They are making efforts to ensure the Italian public is fully aware of the extent to which fur-bearing animals are carefully managed by the hunters and trappers and the Department of Renewable Resources. The fur trade representatives tell us that Italians, living in a very small crowded country with no wildlife at all, place a high value on fur garments. In fact, one out of every three Italian women owns at least one fur coat. Yet, in their country many people believe all wild animals are endangered. Animal rights and anti-trapping groups prey on this misunderstanding.
The Italian Fur Trade Association is doing what it can to support our fur industry and advises us that we should do more in two areas.
First, it strongly recommends that our political leaders maintain contacts with members of the European Parliament. European politicians are under tremendous pressure to pass anti-trapping and anti-fur legislation and frequently do so without accurate information on the situation in northern Canada. The Fur Trade Association believes northern politicians meeting with European politicians can be most effective.
Second, the Italian Fur Trade representatives and media people are offering to work with our government and the federal government to organize and present exhibits in Italy which accurately display life in northern Canada. The fur trade and people's inter-relationships with the land and water and what it offers would of course be a central theme to any exhibit.
Mr. Speaker, it is important that our government take steps to counter the actions of all animal rights groups. Ads like those placed in the Toronto Globe and Mail and on C.B.C. recently by the International Fund for Animal Welfare can be very misleading to people who do not understand our lifestyle. We cannot win by attacking the animal rights groups directly but through cooperation with European politicians, media and fur trade representatives, we can do much to present accurate information. This support is critical to our hunters and trappers who represent the backbone of our economic and cultural foundation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Minister's Statement 31-12(3): Support For N.W.T. Fur Trade
Item 2: Ministers' Statements
Page 398
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Item 2, Ministers' Statements. Item 3, Members' Statements. Mr. Ningark.
Appointment Of Mrs. Marie-jewell As O.M.C. Chairperson
Item 3: Members' Statements
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John Ningark Natilikmiot
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to announce the selection of my honourable colleague, Mrs. Marie-Jewell, as the Chairperson of the Ordinary Members' Caucus.
---Applause
Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate Mrs. Marie-Jewell on her selection. I know she will do an excellent job.
Mr. Speaker, I would also like to point out that the chairperson does not control the issues in the caucus. The chairperson only controls the proceedings of the caucus. Mrs. Marie-Jewell replaces the Hon. Richard Nerysoo, who, as we all know, has been elected to the other side of the House and who served as the chairperson of our caucus. Thank you.
---Applause
Appointment Of Mrs. Marie-jewell As O.M.C. Chairperson
Item 3: Members' Statements
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The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Item 3, Members' Statements. Mr. Lewis.
Member's Statement Paying Tribute To Hon. Titus Allooloo
Item 3: Members' Statements
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Brian Lewis Yellowknife Centre
I would like to begin today Mr. Speaker, by paying tribute to Mr. Titus Allooloo. We do this from time to
time because very often things go by unnoticed and they are forgotten. In Norman Wells during the 11th Assembly, Mr. Titus Allooloo skillfully persuaded all the Members of the 11th Assembly that it was time to have a plebiscite on division of the territories. He worked very hard, he was very persuasive and agreed that in the wording of the eventual plebiscite question there would be protection for the interest of the west. These kinds of things are often forgotten, Mr. Speaker. They are hidden away in the Hansard, which very few people read. It is only perhaps 15, 20 or 30 years later, or perhaps after the poor guy is dead, that people realize that the person who started this was never really recognized for it. Today however, at least this Assembly will know that it was this gentleman in Norman Wells who achieved that very remarkable event that lead to the plebiscite and the eventual division of the Northwest Territories.
---Applause
Member's Statement Paying Tribute To Hon. Titus Allooloo
Item 3: Members' Statements
Page 399
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Item 3, Members' Statements. Mr. Dent.
Cost Of Decentralization
Item 3: Members' Statements
Page 399
Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in June, the Premier announced the government's plan to decentralize certain government services and positions to regional centres, such as Rankin Inlet and Inuvik, to improve the sluggish economy in these areas. First, I want to state that I cannot readily accept the government's positive assessment of Yellowknife's current economic prospects. In fact, Yellowknife faces harder times. As the government moves to further decentralize its services, the loss of positions in Yellowknife will most certainly be felt by this community.
I want to make it clear that I do however support economic development initiatives in the regions. Surely the government could introduce more creative development measures. We need new initiatives, not just ones which simply move jobs from one place to another. Furthermore, in a period of fiscal restraint I am very concerned about how much the move of positions and services out of Yellowknife will cost this government.
The capital and one time costs for the government's proposed decentralization initiatives are projected to be $5.8 million. In addition, the projected ongoing annual costs are $2.3 million. In fact, these figures are conservative cost estimates as they do not account for the expense of moving people from Yellowknife to the regions or the expense of recruitment and hiring people from the south for positions which may not be filled by people already in the communities.
Mr. Speaker, given the current state of the economy, I firmly believe that we must give careful consideration to the most efficient and worthy use of limited government funds. The increasing federal cutbacks to the N.W.T. budget necessitate responsible fiscal management. For example, because the federal government has cut back on its financial commitment to our housing programs, we are hard pressed to allocate the necessary funds to address the very serious housing shortage that we face in the N.W.T.
The capital cost alone for decentralization represents the dollar figure for approximately 542 houses. Ongoing annual costs projected for decentralization provide another 222 units each year. Each additional housing unit benefits more than just those who eventually reside in them. The overall economic impact of the construction activity in the communities provides jobs for those who build the housing units and revenue to support local business.
Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
Cost Of Decentralization
Item 3: Members' Statements
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The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Please proceed, Mr. Dent.
Cost Of Decentralization
Item 3: Members' Statements
Page 399
Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. Mr. Speaker, this is the time in which we can least afford the considerable costs of decentralization. Our limited resources would be better directed towards issues which require our most urgent attention. Especially now, with no Yellowknife Minister in Cabinet, there must be no new moves towards decentralization. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Cost Of Decentralization
Item 3: Members' Statements
Page 399
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Item 3, Members' Statements. Mr. Pudlat.
Environmental Assessment Of Great Whale Hydroelectric Project
Item 3: Members' Statements
Page 399
Kenoayoak Pudlat Baffin South
(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to speak about the participation of the people of Sanikiluaq in the environmental assessment process for the Great Whale hydroelectric project in northern Quebec. In Inuvik on December 4, the Minister of Renewable Resources announced that investor funding of $480,000 has been awarded to the Sanikiluaq Environment Committee, and another $25,000 has been awarded to the Nunavut Environmental Coalition for the Keewatin.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the Minister of Renewable Resources, the Hon. Titus Allooloo, and his officials for their efforts to secure this funding. It will allow the people of that region to fully participate in the environmental assessment project.
I also understand that the Government of Quebec has provided funding to the people of Great Whale River to allow them to participate fully in this project. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
---Applause
Environmental Assessment Of Great Whale Hydroelectric Project
Item 3: Members' Statements
Page 399
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Members' Statements. Mr. Pudluk.
Settlement Of Issues In The House
Item 3: Members' Statements
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Ludy Pudluk High Arctic
(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My statement will be brief. Today, we are more relaxed than last week. Today in this House during our session people's faces seem to be much happier. I also want to state that when we have conflicts among the Members our constituents are unhappy as well. They can see through the statements and they can feel our unhappiness through the radios. We are more relaxed today, although we went through some hard times, which I am pleased to say are past. We will be heading home and Christmas is coming closer and we will celebrate the holidays with our constituents. I, for one, thought that if we did not settle the issues here that we would be going home with
unhappiness. I stand today to make a statement that I am very pleased that we have settled the issues and that we can work together and wish happy holidays to all. Thank you.
---Applause
Settlement Of Issues In The House
Item 3: Members' Statements
Page 400
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Members' Statements. Mr. Antoine.
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