This is page numbers 91 - 99 of the Hansard for the 12th Assembly, 2nd 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 safety.

Members Present

Hon. Titus Allooloo, Mr. Antoine, Mr. Arngna'naaq, Hon. Michael Ballantyne, Mr. Bernhardt, Hon. Nellie Cournoyea, Mr. Dent, Mr. Gargan, Hon. Stephen Kakfwi, 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, Hon. Tony Whitford

---Prayer

Item 1: Prayer
Item 1: Prayer

Page 91

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Good morning. Orders of the day for Friday, February 21, 1992.

Item 2, Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Injustice To Women In Justice System
Item 3: Members' Statements

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Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak out on the injustice in how women are treated by the justice system. Mr. Speaker, last week a prominent Inuit leader was given an absolute discharge after being found guilty of sexual assault. Mr. Speaker, whether the sexual assault was deemed to be sexual touching, or whatever, the point I want to make is the fact that a woman was subjected to a gesture that she did not consent to, and a gesture that is totally unacceptable to today's society.

Mr. Speaker, in my opinion, giving an absolute discharge after being found guilty of sexual assault sends out a message that there is a double standard in the justice system. It sends out a message that prominent leaders are not subjected to the justice system even though they are found guilty. This appears to say that leaders can be considered above the law, and I do not agree with that.

Mr. Speaker, it is my hope that the Minister of Justice ensures that he makes every effort to ensure that women are treated more fairly through our system of justice than we are now subjected to in our society today. Thank you.

---Applause

Injustice To Women In Justice System
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 91

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Members' statements. Mr. Pudlat.

Kenoayoak Pudlat Baffin South

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. At the beginning of this month we became aware of a death, due to a fire, in the Koukdjuak area of the Nunavut region. There were also other deaths at the beginning of the month in Sanikiluaq due to a fire. This is a sad story, and it causes hardship.

Just after my election, some weeks ago, my uncle died. This occurred when I was present, but I had to travel. These things cause great hardship, and I wish to express my apologies to the people who are experiencing hardship in the Nunavut region. We have to keep going, and we have to keep working hard in spite of these difficulties. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Members' statements. Members' statements. Mr. Lewis.

Staff Sergeant Al Kirbyson
Item 3: Members' Statements

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Brian Lewis Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, I would like to pay tribute to a former constituent of mine who now lives in Hay River. Staff Sergeant Al Kirbyson is well known to many Members, and I would like to point out to Members, Mr. Speaker, that the staff sergeant is known throughout the Northwest Territories as the heart and soul of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. This particular individual has shown exactly the nature of the work of a staff sergeant who hopes to have a good team of people to get the very difficult work of police enforcement done. He is a person of great humour and great leadership ability at that level.

Just over a week ago he demonstrated that the old style RCMP officer is something, perhaps, that has been lost, so what he did was to take a whole bunch of people out on the lake, on the land if you like, and the lake, and showed them that when they left Hay River and went to some of the more isolated places in the Northwest Territories they would have to face conditions which they have never faced in their lives before, even as part of their police training.

I understand that this exercise has been very, very widely acknowledged as a good example of something, perhaps, that has been lost over the last 20 years and which he is trying to reintroduce as a way of initiating young police constables into the realities of northern life, and learning about northern lifestyles and learning how to survive and operate on the land.

So today, Mr. Speaker, I would like to acknowledge the work of the old-fashioned, old style policeman such as Al Kirbyson, who has contributed so much to our society in the past. Thank you.

Staff Sergeant Al Kirbyson
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 91

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

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

Return To Question O39-12(2): Cost Of Repairs To Yellowknife Correctional Centre.
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

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Tony Whitford

Tony Whitford Yellowknife South

Thank you. Mr. Speaker, I have a return to an oral question that was asked by Mr. Gargan on February 14, 1992, Valentine's Day. Mr. Speaker, in answer to the honourable Member for Deh Cho, I am pleased to reply to his question regarding the cost of repairs for the damage caused to the Yellowknife Correction Centre. The total cost of reconstruction is $363,920. The project is on schedule and on budget so far. The scope of the work to be done is more than the simple replacement of what was destroyed. Building by-laws have changed since the Yellowknife Correctional Centre was first built, and it cannot be restored exactly as it was originally constructed, thank heavens. Care is being taken to ensure that appropriate standards are being met in the reconstruction.

The scope of the work was increased to add cameras in the dormitory areas. In order to protect both staff and inmates, the dormitories will be monitored by a remote control surveillance system. This should provide a deterrence to the kind of disturbance that occurred on New Year's Eve, because correctional officers will be able to see what is going on at all times. Other safety features were designed to improve staff access to parts of the building.

Negotiations with the insurance company are ongoing at the present time, and the final recovery will not be known until the work is completed. Public discussion of the amount that may be recovered from the insurer is premature. Speculation about the amount to be recovered could jeopardize the final settlement. My officials suggest that it is safe to say that the amount recovered for the building itself will not exceed $365,000. There is also discussion regarding the replacement of furniture and equipment, transportation costs, staff overtime, and the RCMP expenses which were related to the incident, which will contribute to the final recovery from the insurance company.

Mr. Speaker, I also have another return to a question asked by Mr. Todd. Am I permitted to make it while he is not here?

Return To Question O39-12(2): Cost Of Repairs To Yellowknife Correctional Centre.
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

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The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

You are permitted. Whether he would appreciate it is his decision, but you are definitely permitted to make it.

Return To Question O39-12(2): Cost Of Repairs To Yellowknife Correctional Centre.
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

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Tony Whitford

Tony Whitford Yellowknife South

Perhaps I will wait until Mr. Todd returns to the House.

Return To Question O39-12(2): Cost Of Repairs To Yellowknife Correctional Centre.
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

Page 92

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Returns to oral questions. Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Dent.

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation. I recently requested some basic demographic information about clients for public housing, just to gain some understanding for the local authorities and the housing associations we are serving.

I was looking for information such as the proportion of clients on social assistance, proportion of family incomes below the poverty line, proportion of incomes between $30,000 and $40,000 a year, et cetera. I was advised that such information is not available. I think we all agree that government should be able to assess the success of their programs to ensure the programs are reaching the people to whom they are aimed. I do not believe the Housing Corporation can assess the success of those programs without some basic demographic information being provided back to them.

Therefore, I would like to ask the Minister to institute a policy requiring local housing authorities and housing associations to report some of the basic demographic information back to the Housing Corporation. Thank you.

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation, Mr. Morin.

Return To Question O112-12(2): Demographic Information Re Clients For Public Housing
Question O112-12(2): Demographic Information Re Clients For Public Housing
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 92

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I agree with the Member that such information should be forwarded to the Housing Corporation so that it can be retained on file. I will look into seeing how this may be achieved. Thank you.

Return To Question O112-12(2): Demographic Information Re Clients For Public Housing
Question O112-12(2): Demographic Information Re Clients For Public Housing
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 92

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Oral questions. Mr. Gargan.

Samuel Gargan Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to direct my first question to the Minister for Housing with respect to the warehouse that was to have been built last fall. The site chosen was an old public housing unit that was converted to a warehouse and was moved in order to build a new warehouse. The warehouse was supposed be have been started last fall and got as far as site development, but the money was never allocated for that. I am wondering whether or not it was because of the lateness in construction that it was deferred. Or, is it that the budget for this program has been deleted?

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Mr. Morin.

Return To Question O113-12(2): Financing Construction Of New Warehouse, Fort Providence
Question O113-12(2): Financing Construction Of New Warehouse, Fort Providence
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 92

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The warehouse Mr. Gargan is speaking about was postponed because the tender call received only one submission. Due to the lateness of the tender -- the bid was $411,000, which exceeded the budget figure. Attempts to negotiate with the contractor were unsuccessful. At the present time, the Housing Corporation is looking at the availability of facilities in Fort Providence. We are also looking at a method of construction that will bring the cost down. Thank you.

Return To Question O113-12(2): Financing Construction Of New Warehouse, Fort Providence
Question O113-12(2): Financing Construction Of New Warehouse, Fort Providence
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 92

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Gargan.

Supplementary To Question O113-12(2): Financing Construction Of New Warehouse, Fort Providence
Question O113-12(2): Financing Construction Of New Warehouse, Fort Providence
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 92

Samuel Gargan Deh Cho

Mr. Chairman, I also have a copy of two letters that have been written to the hamlet council of Fort Providence as well as a copy of a letter that was written to the band council. The letters were from the Housing Corporation, inquiring whether or not the hamlet office or the band council have a facility that they might be able to use. In both cases, they do not have the warehouse space the housing association requires. While I realize the Housing Corporation is looking at alternatives, there does not seem to be any space available for the corporation to utilize. I would like to ask the Minister whether or not the budget allocation for the warehouse exists, or could the corporation consider building a new warehouse this coming year?

Supplementary To Question O113-12(2): Financing Construction Of New Warehouse, Fort Providence
Question O113-12(2): Financing Construction Of New Warehouse, Fort Providence
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 92

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Mr. Morin.

Further Return To Question O113-12(2): Financing Construction Of New Warehouse, Fort Providence
Question O113-12(2): Financing Construction Of New Warehouse, Fort Providence
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 92

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I requested, a while back, to find out if there was any other space that we would have in Fort Providence. I wanted to be satisfied that there was not a duplication of services in the community. I wanted to make sure that DPW is maximizing their warehouse, and find out if the Housing Corporation could have used it. But what I find out is that they are indicating that all the facilities that are in Fort Providence now, are being used to their maximum. So the other alternative we have, because of the high cost of the tender, is that there is a discussion on the tender method. The Housing Corporation can possibly do a project management function using local labour provided by a joint venture of the local economic development arm of the band, DIGAA Enterprises and Snowshoe Inn Limited, and a local business contractor.

If this method of construction is used, we can also incorporate some community training into it. Then all we have to do is make sure that we can bring it in within budget. That is in the process, and that money has not been lost. Thank you.

Further Return To Question O113-12(2): Financing Construction Of New Warehouse, Fort Providence
Question O113-12(2): Financing Construction Of New Warehouse, Fort Providence
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 93

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Oral questions. Mr. Pudlat.