This is page numbers 163 - 184 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 questions.

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 163

The Speaker

Good afternoon. Orders of the day for Thursday, February 27, 1992. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Mr. Kakfwi.

Ministers' Statement 18-12(2): Sale Of Staff Housing
Item 2: Ministers' Statements

February 26th, 1992

Page 163

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Mr. Speaker, cabinet has made a decision to sell government-owned staff houses in Yellowknife, Hay River and Fort Smith. The homes will be appraised and sold to the occupants at market rates.

---Applause

There are 113 of these units. The potential revenue to government will be about $12 million.

---Applause

Occupants who are not able to arrange conventional mortgages through the banks will be able to enter into a lease-purchase plan with the government. The lease-purchase plan will be based on current mortgage rates and conditions. There will be no special deals.

This initiative comes at a time of low mortgage rates and 95 per cent financing. The federal government's announcement of allowing up to $20,000 in RRSP savings to be used toward payment of the purchase price may be another incentive to some people to buy the home they presently occupy.

The initiative is the first phase of a long-term staff housing strategy. That strategy will outline a plan for providing staff housing where it is needed most and eliminating it in communities where employee needs can be looked after by the private sector. It will consider overall housing needs in the Northwest Territories and will integrate our reduced staff housing needs with other government housing programs.

In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, employees living in government-owned housing in Yellowknife, Hay River and Fort Smith will have four months to arrange financing and make a formal offer to purchase. After that period, the units will be subject to the terms and conditions of the long-term housing strategy which is scheduled to be finalized in June of this year. Thank you.

Ministers' Statement 18-12(2): Sale Of Staff Housing
Item 2: Ministers' Statements

Page 163

The Speaker

Ministers' statements. Mr. Allooloo.

Titus Allooloo Amittuq

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Hon. Perrin Beattie, federal Minister of Communications, has advised me that the federal government intends to table new telecommunications legislation today.

The tabled telecommunications legislation strives to deal with the importance of this high technology industry in an increasingly global community. Of particular importance is an obligation of the federal Minister to consult with the two territories and the provinces in the discussions of communications issues.

The Minister has also advised me of his intention to regionalize the CRTC, Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission. He will be obtaining the views of the provinces and Territories regarding the location, method of appointment, and duties of commissioners, including regionally-based commissioners. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Beattie also intends to establish a conference of Ministers to discuss emerging policy issues on a regular basis.

Mr. Speaker, I point this out particularly as an indication of the success of the Government of the Northwest Territories in being accepted as a partner with the federal and provincial governments in the management of Canada. I am pleased that we continue to move forward in our efforts to strengthen our position in confederation. Thank you.

The Speaker

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

Speaker's Birthday
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 163

Brian Lewis Yellowknife Centre

Mr. Speaker, I rise today and had a Member's statement prepared on a different subject from the one I am going to address today. I keep a journal and have kept one for over 30 years, Mr. Speaker, and had thought that your birthday was tomorrow. I have since learned that, in fact, it is today. I would like to point out that as the Minister of Justice our honourable Speaker kept his cards very close to his chest. It was very, very tough to get information out if he really did not want to divulge it.

I remember trying to get from our current Speaker the information I wanted about a lady called Mrs. Hope, who was in the prediction business, who would tell you your fortune, and I found it very, very difficult to find out under what kind of regulation or law she, in fact, practised this profession of predicting people's future. So since we now have a northern government with an access to information act, I would like to urge all Members to use whatever force they can so that this very carefully guarded secret would be available to all people in the Northwest Territories.

I would like to know, and I ask all Members to help me in this process, to find out not only how old the Speaker is, how many years he has got on the clock, but also where he was born, what time of the day, in fact, this great event took place, so that we can refer the information back to Mrs. Hope so that she can predict the future, not only of our Speaker, but also of this Legislative Assembly. Thank you.

---Applause

Speaker's Birthday
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 163

The Speaker

That information, as all information, will be

available when the freedom of information bill comes out. Thank you for those wishes as I enter my golden years. Members' statements. Mr. Koe.

"reshaping Northern Government" Working Group
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 164

Fred Koe Inuvik

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to make a statement regarding the ordinary MLAs' participation on the newly formed Reshaping Northern Government working group. The motion was passed in this House which requested that the Government Leader include three ordinary Members of this Assembly on its strategy committee for implementing the recommendations of the report, Strength at Two Levels. Subsequently, I, along with my colleagues Jim Antoine and James Arvaluk, were chosen by the honourable Members on this side of the House to represent them on the proposed committee, and now everyone in this House is aware of the feelings of most of the ordinary Members relating to the perceived implementation plan of the Strength at Two Levels report.

Mr. Speaker, yesterday I rose in this House and spoke about my concern about participating on this committee at this time. When I spoke, I had no information or plans as to what the ongoing process and task of the working group would be. Subsequently, later in the afternoon, I and all my colleagues received a letter from the Government Leader inviting us to participate with three Ministers on the newly named Reshaping Northern Government working group. Also, during discussions in committee of the whole yesterday, the Minister of Finance talked about involving other ordinary Members by channelling any proposed changes through the appropriate standing committees. Mr. Speaker, this is the type of information which we were waiting to hear. We wanted to be reassured that the government was not moving ahead full bore without our involvement.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to seek unanimous consent to proceed with my statement.

"reshaping Northern Government" Working Group
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 164

The Speaker

Unanimous consent has been requested. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Proceed, Mr. Koe.

"reshaping Northern Government" Working Group
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 164

Fred Koe Inuvik

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am probably one of the last people to criticize or curtail management ability to get the job done, even if this entails making changes. In one of my first speeches to this Assembly I stated that I do not support the status quo. Changes are necessary to make the business of managing and running government more effective and efficient, and let us get on with it. I am from the school of thought always looking at ways of how do you do something, rather than hearing all the reasons of how not to do anything.

---Applause

Of course, I do not necessarily agree with everyone on everything, but through talking and discussions we can all make our viewpoints and opinions known. If it eventually comes to a vote, we can vote accordingly.

By allowing us to participate in developing an implementation plan and strategy, all Members will have an opportunity to express their views and those of their constituents.

Mr. Speaker, the honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Antoine, the honourable Member for Aivilik, Mr. Arvaluk, and I have received the full support of our colleagues, and we will accept the invitation from the Government Leader to meet with their representatives to begin the task of reshaping northern government. Mahsi cho.

---Applause

"reshaping Northern Government" Working Group
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 164

The Speaker

Members' statements. Mr. Pudluk.

Late Mail Delivery
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 164

Ludy Pudluk High Arctic

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My constituency has a concern about mail delivery since Canadian Air stopped delivering it from the East and the West. First Air now has the contract to deliver mail. They fly from Ottawa to Iqaluit, Nanisivik, Resolute Bay and Yellowknife. From Yellowknife, they return the same route. The mail that is coming into my constituency from the West is flown first to Ottawa. The mail arrives very late, which causes real problems for people expecting urgent mail. We did not have a problem with late mail delivery when Canadian Air was delivering it. Canada Post should look into this problem so that my constituents can have better and faster mail delivery. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Late Mail Delivery
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 164

The Speaker

Members' statements. Mr. Patterson.

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am very pleased to bring to the attention of all Members a scientific achievement which has been developed in the Baffin Region, and which I am sure all Members will find most exciting. The project involves a scientific method to convert DC power to AC power. In simple terms, the invention uses power from ordinary car batteries and changes this battery power into a form that is exactly the same as what we get from an ordinary wall socket in any home. For example, it can take two 12-volt car batteries and convert that into 1500 watts of power that will last for a minimum of 100 hours. All of this from a box weighing about 36 pounds!

In addition, the system can be easily recharged in a number of ways from windmills and solar panels to an ordinary battery charger. This means that the power is virtually available at all times, and the life of these batteries becomes spectacular in length.

The implications for power in remote communities is fantastic as it will offer options for a power source that eliminates much of the capital costs we presently incur when we install or provide portable generators. A new company called North Port, under the capable leadership of its president, Mr. Richard Porter, who is in this House today, has recently announced the completion of their factory in Iqaluit to meet the heavy demand for orders of this marvellous product. Initially, 10 local residents -- and I am happy to say they are to be all women -- will be employed in the factory, and with expanded growth potential, these figures will undoubtedly rise.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud of the efforts of my constituent, Mr. Jean Lambert, who invented this marvellous device, and I believe very strongly that the benefits from the manufacture of this amazing invention should stay in the North. I am also delighted that he has had collaboration with residents of Igloolik, notably Mr. Porter and Mr. Ike Haulli, to get this product marketed and off the ground.

Mr. Speaker, I would also like to distribute a recent newspaper article that provides more detail for Members. In doing so, I want to object to the...

The Speaker

Mr. Patterson, your time has expired.

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

May I make a brief final

statement?

The Speaker

The Member is seeking unanimous consent to proceed. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Proceed, please.

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Humbly requesting unanimous consent, Mr. Speaker. In distributing this newspaper article, Mr. Speaker, I would like to take strong exception to the patronizing statement in that article that Iqaluit is a part of the world not noted for technological breakthroughs. Obviously that is no longer the case, Mr. Speaker. Qujannamiik.

The Speaker

Thank you. Mr. Gargan.

Inmates Voting In Elections
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 165

Samuel Gargan Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As many honourable Members know, there are provisions within our Plebiscite Act, Local Authorities Elections Act and the territorial Elections Act which state that incarcerated persons are not eligible to vote. Honourable Members will also be aware, though, that on January 28th the federal court of appeal heard the case of Belczowski versus Canada. On February 27th the court rendered a judgment that in essence held that it is arbitrary, unfair and irrational to prohibit incarcerates from voting.

Members who were here during the 11th Assembly will remember that I raised this issue way back on July 3rd, 1991. At the time, I sponsored a motion recommending that the Government of the NWT should use the Legal Questions Act to obtain a judgment on the constitutional validity of provisions in the territorial Elections Act which prohibit inmates from voting in territorial elections. Unfortunately, this motion was defeated. Some Members, including the current Minister of Justice, expressed an opinion that this issue should be decided "by people elected to this Assembly" rather than by the courts. It does not appear that the government has been able to address this issue to date. Now, instead of having a legislative amendment that we could debate, or a legal ruling on the constitutionality of the inmate voting prohibitions in our legislation, we only have confusion and uncertainty.

Mr. Speaker, the Northwest Territories is about to embark on the most significant vote of its political history. There is a risk that the entire procedure may be impacted by these new constitutional developments. I would urge the Minister of Justice to move quickly...

Inmates Voting In Elections
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 165

The Speaker

Mr. Gargan, your time has expired.

Inmates Voting In Elections
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 165

Samuel Gargan Deh Cho

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to complete my statement.

Inmates Voting In Elections
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 165

The Speaker

Unanimous consent has been requested. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Proceed, Mr. Gargan.