This is page numbers 273 - 296 of the Hansard for the 12th Assembly, 3rd 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 women.

Topics

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, Ms. Mike, Hon. Don Morin, Mr. Nerysoo, Mr. Ningark, Mr. Dennis Patterson, Hon. John Pollard, Mr. Pudlat, Mr. Pudluk, Mr. Todd, Mr. Tony Whitford, Mr. Zoe

---Prayer

Item 1: Prayer
Item 1: Prayer

Page 273

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Item 2, Ministers' Statements. Mr. Whitford.

Minister's Statement 21-12(3): Resignation
Item 2: Ministers' Statements

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Tony Whitford

Tony Whitford Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to make an emergency statement. Mr. Speaker, after much soul-searching, consultation with my family, my constituents, and my colleagues, I have decided to submit my resignation from the Executive Council effective immediately.

While I realize the greater part of my decision is personal and private, I also realize that I cannot continue to carry out my duties to serve all the people of the Northwest Territories as a Minister in any department without the full support of my Cabinet colleagues and the full support of the ordinary Members. Mr. Speaker, I am also very sensitive to the concerns of my constituents who put me here. I have consulted with some of them on this matter and they are in full support of my actions. I am unable to serve them in the way in which I would like. As an ordinary Member I will continue to serve them and the people of the Northwest Territories to the best of my ability.

I would like to thank my staff for their dedication and full support throughout these trying times. Mr. Speaker, as perception is everything in politics, I am leaving of my own volition. I believe in good government and clean politics. "I am going to walk it and talk it with no compromises." Thank you.

Minister's Statement 21-12(3): Resignation
Item 2: Ministers' Statements

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The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Thank you, Mr. Whitford. Ministers' Statements. Madam Premier.

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I realize that the honourable Member, Tony Whitford, had to spend a great deal of time to come to such a decision. Mr. Whitford is a fine man, a good man, a hard working man and an honest man. In our dealings with Mr. Whitford there was never a time when there needed to be extra effort put into the responsibility as a Cabinet Minister, that he was unwilling to take the extra time to do so, no matter how small or how big the task was.

I understand that Mr. Whitford has taken this step because although he has these qualities, technically he could not reach the expectations of the Legislative Assembly. I wish Mr. Whitford well. I hope we can continue with our working relationship and I hope that we continue to have his support. Thank you.

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Thank you, Ms. Cournoyea. Ministers' Statements. Mr. Allooloo.

Titus Allooloo Amittuq

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to inform the Legislative Assembly of recent events concerning the environmental assessment of the proposed Great Whale hydroelectric project in northern Quebec.

In September 1992, the federal-provincial environmental assessment committees and panels issued the final guidelines for Hydro Quebec's Environmental Impact Statement. I am happy to report that the guidelines direct Hydro Quebec to examine potential impacts on the community of Sanikiluaq and to the marine ecosystem of the Hudson and James Bays. The guidelines also instruct Hydro Quebec to examine potential cumulative environmental effects. These issues are very important to the territorial residents of the Hudson Bay area. Over the past year the Department of Renewable Resources has been trying to secure intervenor funding from the federal government for northern organizations.

After persistent effort by the Government of the Northwest Territories, local communities and Members of the Legislative Assembly, the federal and Quebec Ministers of Environment awarded intervenor funding to two northern groups: the Sanikiluaq Environmental Committee received $480,000; and the Nunavut Environmental Coalition for Keewatin received $25,000.

The Department of Renewable Resources is coordinating the government's participation in the environmental assessment process through a working group which has representation from the Departments of Justice, Health and Social Services. The main tasks include reviewing the Environmental Impact Statement and intervening in the environmental assessment hearings.

The next major stage in the environmental assessment process will be the release of Hydro Quebec's Environmental Impact Statement. This is expected early in 1993. I will continue to update the Legislative Assembly on events related to the proposed Great Whale Hydroelectric project. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Ministers' Statements. Mr. Allooloo.

Titus Allooloo Amittuq

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, last week, Canada's Parks, Wildlife, Forestry and Environmental Ministers made a formal commitment to complete the country's network of protected natural areas which include parks and wildlife sanctuaries by the year 2000. Conservation of habitat is essential for present and future generations of northern residents to continue harvesting fish, wildlife and forests. Our government will work with the federal government and land claim organizations, who are the other land owners in the north, to fulfil this commitment. We will also work with the land and resource users to assess the economic impact of the creation of any new parks.

At the tri-council meeting all Ministers agreed to support the Biodiversity Convention signed by the Prime Minister in Rio de Janeiro. Biodiversity means that we should try to maintain a wide variety of species, both plants and animals, by protecting the habitats which support them. The major action item will be to develop a strategy to implement the convention in Canada. This will be done by a federal/provincial/territorial working group. The Northwest Territories component will focus on designing and managing a protected area, promoting a wider application of traditional knowledge in biodiversity conservation and integrating conservation and sustainable use into decision making. In this way we hope to ensure that economic development will proceed without harming our natural resources which are essential to traditional lifestyles. In addition, Mr. Speaker, I would like to add that this was the first time that I have seen aboriginal organizations present at a Ministers' meeting. This reflects the greater recognition of aboriginal participation in intergovernmental forums. Thank you.

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Item 2, Ministers' Statements. Item 3, Members' Statements. Mr. Pudluk.

Ludy Pudluk High Arctic

Mr. Speaker, a number of times I have been called the dean Member. Sometimes, they call me the oldest Member. This time, I would like to speak about a person in this House. I have been here for 17 years. I do not have any more experience than you have. Since I have been called the dean I would like to say a few words about this Assembly. It is not going to be a precedent speech.

When this Assembly started in 1967, the government moved to the north. At that time there was only one government. That was the Commissioner. Secondly, there was a deputy commissioner. In 1975, there was the first fully elected 15 Member Assembly. I was there. At that time, I thought we had a hard time making policies and guidelines more suitable for the north. After that, we started talking about changing the government. There was no complaining about the Commissioner of duty. Even if we tried to complain, because there were no Ministers, he would say, "none of your business; it cannot be done." When he said no, we could not do anything about it.

Later on, we introduced the ministerial positions. We said, "All right, eight is good enough. Let us have eight Ministers." We did not fill those positions in one day. Some of those positions would wait for two years because there was confusion between those Ministers' positions. We were trying to take over the Commissioner's portfolio at the same time. The Commissioner said, "All right, it is time for me to go. You will take over." We filled those four ministerial positions. Later on, it was working smoothly.

Somehow, elections came and went by again and again. Jealousies seemed to be rising. "Why do I not have that power as a Minister? Why do the people in the north not treat me like a Minister?" One starts to feel that he/she should not be a Minister, that "maybe that guy is better than me." The other guy says, "No, I am better than him or her." It goes back and forth now. I think we are all accountable. No matter where you go, you will never find a better government. It does not matter how long you take or where you go, they will never be accountable. You wonder what is satisfactory with the government. Maybe one person out of this entire room is satisfied with this good government. All the other people will never be satisfied. I guarantee that is true. I am asking for the honourable Members' consent to continue.

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Please proceed, Mr. Pudluk.

Ludy Pudluk High Arctic

Mr. Speaker, I will conclude my speech. In my history since 1975, this is the worst thing that has happened is Ministers resigning this and last week. I have never seen this before. To be reasonable and agreeable, we seem to be always complaining about the Ministers. As elected Members sitting in this room, are we all accountable? Please judge yourself first if you want an accountable government. Thank you.

---Applause

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

That was an important statement from the dean of this House. Item 3, Members' Statements. Mr. Ningark.

Good Government
Item 3: Members' Statements

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John Ningark Natilikmiot

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Like my honourable colleague, Mr. Whitford, I believe in good government. The public believes in good government. We all want a good government.

Mr. Speaker, and all my colleagues, including this side, the public needs direction, not destruction. Mr. Speaker, we want a government that is unselfish, a government that is sensitive to the people that it serves. What is the perception of the public? We all know at this point in time.

Mr. Speaker, I pray to God that Mr. Whitford's resignation will be the last one until the Cabinet review.

Good Government
Item 3: Members' Statements

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The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Item 3, Members' Statements. Mr. Gargan.

"the Justice House"
Item 3: Members' Statements

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Samuel Gargan Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, later on today the Legislative Assembly will consider "The Justice House" Report of the Special Advisor on Gender Equality. The honourable Members may be aware that I have not always been enthusiastic about the initiative, Mr. Speaker. However, I wish to indicate that I consider "The Justice House" Report of the Special Advisor on Gender Equality to be a significant document and one that is worthy of the full attention of this House.

As with any major comprehensive report, some of the findings are easy to agree with and some are not. I am pleased, for instance, to note the special advisor's recommendations regarding the use of clean language in the courthouse and court rooms, and I agree with her recognition of the need to encourage public education programs about legal systems. I fully support her recommendation that we should take a strong stance in demanding that the federal government maintain its commitment to cost shared funding for criminal injuries, compensation and victims' assistance. I am in complete agreement also with the special advisor's recommendation regarding the discipline of judges, including the development of a procedure of lodging anonymous complaints and the establishment of a code of contact and judicial ethics. Yes, Mr. Speaker, much of the contents of "The Justice House" is commendable.

I do wish to comment, however, on what I perceive as two disadvantages of this sort of review. First, I think it should be noted that the majority of the special advisor's findings raised issues that are relevant to both men and women who become involved in the justice system. In identifying certain issues as feminist issues or matters of gender equality, there is a risk that we may create a type of thinking that actually reinforces existing biases and can potentially lead to the development of even worse double standards.

Secondly, if we must identify certain shortcomings within the justice system as having an impact on women, then we should never lose sight of the fact that it is aboriginal...

"the Justice House"
Item 3: Members' Statements

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The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Mr. Gargan, your allotted time has lapsed. Mr. Gargan.

"the Justice House"
Item 3: Members' Statements

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Samuel Gargan Deh Cho

Mr. Speaker, I would like to get unanimous consent to continue my statement.

"the Justice House"
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. Gargan.

"the Justice House"
Item 3: Members' Statements

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Samuel Gargan Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and honourable Members. Secondly, if we must identify certain shortcomings within the justice system as having an impact on women, then we should never lose sight of the fact that it is aboriginal women who are being treated most unfairly. This is the truth that is not emphasized strongly enough in Ms. Peterson's report.

Mr. Speaker, I look forward to this afternoon's consideration of this report and I congratulate the Minister of Justice for ensuring that it has been placed on the orders paper in this House. Mahsi Cho, Mr. Speaker.

"the Justice House"
Item 3: Members' Statements

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The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Item 3, Members' Statements. Mr. Patterson.

Replacement Of Nanook School In Apex
Item 3: Members' Statements

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Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to report on further developments following the unfortunate fire at the Nanook School in Apex early yesterday morning.

Mr. Speaker, the community is working very hard to keep this school program going. At a community meeting held last night in Apex, parents and the Niaqunguut Education Council expressed their determination to carry on the school program in Apex. Busing students to Iqaluit is completely unacceptable to them and it has been decided that classes will continue in the I.O.D.E. hall until the Christmas break. In the new year, four available houses have been identified in Apex, two of them vacant G.N.W.T. staff houses, which could be utilized as classrooms. The community of Apex is grateful for the generous help which has been received locally from the Department of Public Works and Environmental Health in particular, making sure these houses will be suitable for classes in the new year.

Secondly, Mr. Speaker, the community is determined to work towards building a new school on the site of the old school and I am pleased that the Department of Education, the Divisional Board of Education, officials in the Department of Finance and the risk management section, headquarters D.P.W. are making every effort to move rapidly to assess the situation and begin the planning to replace this very successful community school. If insurance proceeds are available, this may ease the problem of identifying capital money. In any event, Mr. Speaker, I will be seeking the support of the government and the Members of this Assembly to move to deal with this unfortunate situation in my constituency as rapidly as possible. I hope to begin work in the coming fiscal year. Qujannamiik.

Replacement Of Nanook School In Apex
Item 3: Members' Statements

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The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Item 3, Members' Statements. Mr. Koe.