Members Present
Hon. Titus Allooloo, Mr. Antoine, Mr. Arngna'naaq, Mr. Arvaluk, Hon. Michael Ballantyne, Hon. Nellie Cournoyea, Mr. Dent, Mr. Gargan, 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,
--- Prayer
Item 1: Prayer
Item 1: Prayer
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The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Good afternoon. Orders of the day for Thursday, March 12, 1992. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Ministers' statements. Mr. Ningark.
Ministers' Statement 37-12(2): Wildlife Conservation Act
Item 2: Ministers' Statements
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John Ningark Natilikmiot
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I intend to introduce to the House the new Wildlife Conservation Act. This act will replace the current Wildlife Act, which is now more than 13 years old. This new act will do four things: 1) It provides a framework that can be used to incorporate future changes more quickly and easily; 2) It recognizes and puts into law the provisions of the Inuvialuit Final Agreement, which was signed in 1984, in a separate part of the act; 3) It removes or alters provisions from the Wildlife Act which were in contravention of Canada's Charter of Rights and Freedoms; 4) It makes minor changes which, although they do not affect the meaning or intent of the legislation, make the wording consistent with other territorial statutes, and will aid translation. Mr. Speaker, I ask the House to support this new act. Thank you.
Ministers' Statement 37-12(2): Wildlife Conservation Act
Item 2: Ministers' Statements
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The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. Members' statements. Mr. Dent.
Amendments To Legislative Assembly And Executive Council Act
Item 3: Members' Statements
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Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last fall, Mr. Speaker, voters from across the Northwest Territories made clear their desire for a more accountable government and greater access to information.
Another major issue in last fall's campaign was the compensation paid to MLAs and Ministers of this government. Many people believe that since these elected officials are paid with public funds, their salaries, expenses and constituency expenses should be tabled in the Legislative Assembly. Many people also believe that the salaries and expenses of high level civil servants should also be tabled.
Although the figures provided in the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act can be used to calculate the maximum amounts payable to MLAs and Ministers, the public does not consider this to be enough, and I certainly agree. I think it is important to put actual dollars beside names in the case of elected officials; and beside positions in the case of senior civil servants.
I have asked our Legislative Assembly research team to prepare a document which outlines how other jurisdictions in Canada deal with this type of information. This document, which I will table later today, clearly shows that many legislatures have gone to great lengths to make salaries and expenses public. Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Saskatchewan provide their residents with the most detailed information. I firmly believe that we should aim to match, or better the standards set by these provinces.
Mr. Speaker, many candidates in last fall's campaign found that politicians are held in rather low esteem. I am convinced that taking steps to make more information public is one way to regain the public's confidence. Since most Members of this House have embraced the concept of more open and accountable government, and since tabling an annual report of Members' expenditures would be an important step toward providing the access to information that many of our constituents are demanding, I will, at the appropriate time today, give notice of motion asking that the Speaker prepare amendments to the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, to provide for such reports to be tabled. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Amendments To Legislative Assembly And Executive Council Act
Item 3: Members' Statements
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The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Members' statements. Members' statements. Mr. Whitford.
Tribute To Sister Marie-olive Sarrasin
Item 3: Members' Statements
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Tony Whitford Yellowknife South
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I rise, as a Member of this House, to pay tribute to Sister Marie-Olive Sarrasin, who passed away in the Provincial House in St. Boniface, Manitoba on February 21, 1992, at the age of 87 years.
Sister Sarrasin was a member of the Order of Sisters of Charity of Montreal, better known as the Grey Nuns, for 68 years. Of those years she had spent over 40 of them in the North.
Sister Sarrasin, like most Grey Nuns, served a dual role as a school teacher and nurse. As a school teacher she taught many young people from the South Slave area. She was a great and gifted lady, who loved her students and it showed in class attendance. Mr. Speaker, I was one of her students in 1957-58.
Grey Nuns served the people of the North for over 100 years as teachers, social workers, and public health nurses. Founded in 1770, the Sisters of Charity of Montreal were the first all Canadian religious order. They had a great love for the people of the North and contributed greatly to our social, physical and spiritual well-being. But sadly, Mr. Speaker, there have fewer and fewer replacements in recent years, In 1962 there were 111 Grey Nuns in the Northwest Territories. Today there are only 11.
Sister Sarrasin was a great lady in her own way and I am sure, Mr. Speaker, she will be fondly remembered by her students. Thank you.
--- Applause
Tribute To Sister Marie-olive Sarrasin
Item 3: Members' Statements
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The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Mr. Ningark.
Further Return To Question O275-12(2): Tabling Of Canada Forest Strategy
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
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John Ningark Natilikmiot
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a return to an oral question asked by Mr. Antoine on March 6, 1992. At the appropriate time today, I will be tabling the Canada Forest Accord that the federal, provincial and territorial Ministers of Forestry signed in Ottawa last week. The accord contains the overall goal and objectives of the strategy. I have also provided Mr. Antoine with a copy of the Canadian Forest Strategy for his information. Thank you.
Further Return To Question O275-12(2): Tabling Of Canada Forest Strategy
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
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The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Returns to oral questions. Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Nerysoo.
Question O311-12(2): Review Of Gwich'in Final Agreement In New Wildlife Conservation Act
Item 5: Oral Questions
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Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If I could ask the Hon. John Ningark a question with regard to his statement today. Has the Minister or the department reviewed the Gwich'in final agreement to consider its implementation in the new Wildlife Conservation Act?
Question O311-12(2): Review Of Gwich'in Final Agreement In New Wildlife Conservation Act
Item 5: Oral Questions
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The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Minister of Renewable Resources, Mr. Ningark.
Return To Question O311-12(2): Review Of Gwich'in Final Agreement In New Wildlife Conservation Act
Question O311-12(2): Review Of Gwich'in Final Agreement In New Wildlife Conservation Act
Item 5: Oral Questions
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John Ningark Natilikmiot
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This proposed act will allow for the other land claim areas to do what we are going to be able to do with the Inuvialuit claim. Thank you.
Return To Question O311-12(2): Review Of Gwich'in Final Agreement In New Wildlife Conservation Act
Question O311-12(2): Review Of Gwich'in Final Agreement In New Wildlife Conservation Act
Item 5: Oral Questions
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The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Nerysoo.
Supplementary To Question O311-12(2): Review Of Gwich'in Final Agreement In New Wildlife Conservation Act
Question O311-12(2): Review Of Gwich'in Final Agreement In New Wildlife Conservation Act
Item 5: Oral Questions
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Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta
Thank you. Mr. Speaker, could I ask the Minister why in his reconsideration for an amendment to the Wildlife Conservation Act or the creation of the new Wildlife Conservation Act, he did not consider any changes that would reflect the Gwich'in final agreement, despite the fact that it has already been approved and voted on by the Gwich'in?
Supplementary To Question O311-12(2): Review Of Gwich'in Final Agreement In New Wildlife Conservation Act
Question O311-12(2): Review Of Gwich'in Final Agreement In New Wildlife Conservation Act
Item 5: Oral Questions
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The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Mr. Ningark.
Further Return To Question O311-12(2): Review Of Gwich'in Final Agreement In New Wildlife Conservation Act
Question O311-12(2): Review Of Gwich'in Final Agreement In New Wildlife Conservation Act
Item 5: Oral Questions
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John Ningark Natilikmiot
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is my understanding that the Gwich'in agreement has not been signed yet. As soon as it is signed, you will be part of this act. Thank you.
Further Return To Question O311-12(2): Review Of Gwich'in Final Agreement In New Wildlife Conservation Act
Question O311-12(2): Review Of Gwich'in Final Agreement In New Wildlife Conservation Act
Item 5: Oral Questions
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The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Supplementary, Mr. Nerysoo.
Supplementary To Question O311-12(2): Review Of Gwich'in Final Agreement In New Wildlife Conservation Act
Question O311-12(2): Review Of Gwich'in Final Agreement In New Wildlife Conservation Act
Item 5: Oral Questions
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Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta
Mr. Speaker, the Gwich'in final agreement has been signed. I guess the honourable Member probably should say it is not in legislation yet. I want to ask the honourable Member why, in proposing a new Wildlife Conservation Act for consideration by this House, he did not take into consideration the possibility of that agreement being in legislation by the end of April. Maybe it is worth consideration by this House.
Supplementary To Question O311-12(2): Review Of Gwich'in Final Agreement In New Wildlife Conservation Act
Question O311-12(2): Review Of Gwich'in Final Agreement In New Wildlife Conservation Act
Item 5: Oral Questions
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The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Mr. Ningark.
Further Return To Question O311-12(2): Review Of Gwich'in Final Agreement In New Wildlife Conservation Act
Question O311-12(2): Review Of Gwich'in Final Agreement In New Wildlife Conservation Act
Item 5: Oral Questions
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John Ningark Natilikmiot
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I guess I was wrong when I said it was not signed yet. It is my understanding that it is not finalized yet. According to the Wildlife Conservation Act which is proposed for this House, number one says that it will provide a framework that can be used to incorporate changes more quickly and easily. I think that is what the honourable Member is asking for.
Further Return To Question O311-12(2): Review Of Gwich'in Final Agreement In New Wildlife Conservation Act
Question O311-12(2): Review Of Gwich'in Final Agreement In New Wildlife Conservation Act
Item 5: Oral Questions
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The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Last supplementary, Mr. Nerysoo.
Supplementary To Question O311-12(2): Review Of Gwich'in Final Agreement In New Wildlife Conservation Act
Question O311-12(2): Review Of Gwich'in Final Agreement In New Wildlife Conservation Act
Item 5: Oral Questions
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Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I note the absence of any changes that might reflect the Sparrow case. I want to ask the Minister if the department has considered any changes as a result of the Sparrow case.
Supplementary To Question O311-12(2): Review Of Gwich'in Final Agreement In New Wildlife Conservation Act
Question O311-12(2): Review Of Gwich'in Final Agreement In New Wildlife Conservation Act
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 384
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Mr. Ningark.
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