This is page numbers 207 - 230 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 chairman.

Topics

Members Present

Hon. Titus Allooloo, Mr. Antoine, Mr. Arvaluk, Hon. Michael Ballantyne, Mr. Bernhardt, Hon. Nellie Cournoyea, Mr. Dent, Mr. Gargan, Mr. Koe, Mr. Lewis, Mrs. Marie-Jewell, Ms. Mike, Hon. Don Morin, Mr. Nerysoo, 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 207

The Speaker

Good afternoon. Orders of the day for Monday, March 2, 1992. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Mr. Allooloo.

Titus Allooloo Amittuq

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. The Inuvik Community Education Council met on Friday, February 28, and recommended a compromise that will provide teachers in both schools in Inuvik with one-half day for in- service training. They also recommended that teachers at both schools be allowed to dismiss classes early in the afternoon on two other days to complete their in-service training.

The Speaker

I would like to welcome to the Assembly, Mrs. Colbourne and her grade 10 class, from Sir John Franklin High School.

--- Applause

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

John Todd Keewatin Central

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to talk about an issue that was raised on several occasions by the honourable Member for Baffin Central regarding the sobriety requirements for alcohol and drug workers in the Northwest Territories. After listening to the debate in question period last Friday, I became very concerned with the approach taken by the Minister of Social Services. Essentially the Minister has told dissenting alcohol and drug groups that it is "my way or the highway."

Mr. Speaker, it is my understanding that the sobriety requirement is to be included in all contribution agreements between the GNWT and local boards for the provision of alcohol and drug treatment programs. To me, a contribution agreement means exactly that, an accommodation negotiated between two parties. It does not mean, "Here is the agreement; sign on the bottom line." My question to the Minister would be: Where is the agreement in the current process?

The second concern I have, Mr. Speaker, is the Minister's attitude toward communities who have chosen not to adhere to the sobriety requirement as arbitrarily implemented by the Minister. In the unedited Hansard on February 28 the Minister stated, "I am contemplating very seriously that as the door closes on the acceptance of some of these resources, that I redistribute them to the communities that are showing active participation and support the intent and spirit of the program."

Mr. Speaker, in the Minister's world only communities that adhere to his policy will get funding for drug and alcohol treatment. I hope this is not a typical attitude of this government. I wonder if we will be negotiating community transfer agreements in a similar manner.

Mr. Speaker, this approach and attitude, to me, is clearly unacceptable. No matter what the advantages or disadvantages of a sobriety requirement are, the process used by the Minister of Social Services to implement this requirement is heavy-handed at best. I hope the Minister would reconsider his intransigent approach to this issue, sit down and negotiate with all parties concerned. Thank you.

--- Applause

The Speaker

Members' statements. Members' statements. Ms. Mike.

Rebecca Mike Baffin Central

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have already voiced my concerns about the decision made by the Department of Social Services which tries to force alcohol and drug project employees to abstain from any use of alcohol. Today I would like to raise additional concerns about the way the Minister of Social Services has gone about implementing the decision. I am very unhappy with the Minister's unwillingness to listen seriously to the concerns that have been raised about this policy. I do not believe the Minister understands our Eastern Arctic communities, and I know he does not understand the role of alcohol and drug counsellors at the local level. It troubles me and my constituents that the Minister has not respected the opinions of people who do not understand these things; people like our elders, the community members who sit on our alcohol and drug committees, and skilled addiction counsellors who work in the Baffin Region.

The recommendation to develop this policy was apparently made by the board of management for alcohol and drug services. This board meets in secret and does not make its minutes available for public review. I am shocked to learn that there is currently no representation from either the Baffin Region or the Keewatin Region on the board. The decision to implement this policy has not been re-evaluated since the election to determine whether it conforms with the community self -initiatives about which the Government Leader has been telling us. The concept has never been debated fully in this House.

Mr. Speaker, the Minister is fond of pointing out that only two alcohol and drug projects in the Northwest Territories have refused to sign the contribution agreement which includes the Minister's sobriety clause. But we should make no mistake, there is very little support for this policy in the Eastern Arctic. There is resentment over the disrespect this Minister has shown to our regional council, and there is concern over his disregard for the views of alcohol and drug workers in my region. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

Members will join me in welcoming Mr. Mark Evaloarjuk, a former MLA, presently speaker of the Baffin Regional Council and a member of the board of directors of TFN.

--- Applause

Members' statements. Mr. Gargan.

Samuel Gargan Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am making this statement as a private Member. My comments may not necessarily reflect the views of my honourable colleagues on the special committee on constitutional reform. The report of the Special Joint Committee on a Renewed Canada carries important applications for all Canadians, and for aboriginal Canadians in particular. I am gratified by the joint committee's position that "after 125 years the time has come to bring aboriginal people into the constitution with equality and respect." Members of the joint committee have proven their commitment to this ideal by proposing entrenchment of aboriginals' inherent right to self-government. This is a significant development in terms of this country's constitutional evolution. I am impressed that the committee chose to overlook those people who, in an attempt to further their self interest, argued that an inherent right to self-government should not or could not exist.

I am referring to the submission made by Mr. Bob MacQuarrie of Yellowknife and certain others across the country. Mr. Speaker, the joint committee did not hear any evidence during the public meetings on whether the entrenchment of aboriginal self-government would affect land claims, but it did consider this to be an important issue which deserves further study. This is a question of significant importance to the Dene of Deh Cho. Our people had the courage to resist political pressures to proceed with a comprehensive Dene/Metis regional claim. They did this because of the federal government's insistence on the extinguishment of treaty rights. I believe that the entrenchment of inherent right to self-government may affect this federal position.

Time has now proved that the stance of Deh Cho and South Slave chiefs has been the correct one. They are to be commended for their patience in waiting to see the outcome of the national constitutional process, and for their reluctance to be hurried into a deal that would not have been in the best interests of the region.

Mr. Speaker, this is a critical time in the history of the South Slave people. I assure this House that I will be working closely with my honourable colleague for Nahendeh, as well as with the Deh Cho Regional Council, to examine the implication of our inherent right on the land claims process. I will be urging the territorial government to support us in these efforts. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

Thank you, Mr. Gargan. Members' statements. Mr. Patterson.

Establishment Of Upassuraakut
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 208

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise to inform Members of this Assembly that as a result of a lot of hard work on the part of many concerned citizens in lqaluit last week and this past weekend, a new group, which call themselves "Upassuraakut," which means "a place for people to go," has established itself to provide a drug and alcohol education and counselling service for lqaluit. Joe Adla Kunuk will chair the group, assisted by Alicy Joamie, vice-chairperson, and Bill McConkey, secretary-treasurer. The other seven members of the board reflect a good mix of elders and young people, all of whom have experienced first hand the effects of alcohol and drug abuse on people's lives. They are determined that the counselling service they establish will reflect this life experience of the board members.

The board intends to form a society which will apply for funding from the Government of the Northwest Territories' Department of Social Services to deliver a drug and alcohol education and counselling service for lqaluit. Mr. Kunuk has emphasized that any program endorsed by the group will have spiritual, emotional, physical and mental components. He also noted at a public meeting held on this subject last week that members of the community stressed the importance of the land in developing a recovery program.

Mr. Kunuk also stated that the so-called abstinence policy of the territorial government is not an issue with the new board, which is comprised of abstainers. Mr. Kunuk stated that the main concern of the board is to provide a drug and alcohol education and counselling service which is badly needed in lqaluit. Qujannamiik.

--- Applause

Establishment Of Upassuraakut
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 208

The Speaker

Members' statements. Mr. Antoine.

Praise For Hardworking Staff On Redknife Highway
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 208

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to tell people here that I drove back to Fort Simpson over the weekend. I thought the highway was fairly good all the way to Simpson, and I made good time. I was lucky I did not encounter any highway patrol, like my colleague here, so I made very good time.

Praise For Hardworking Staff On Redknife Highway
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 208

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

What about buffalo?

Praise For Hardworking Staff On Redknife Highway
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 208

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

When I got to the Redknife Highway maintenance camp, I could not continue because they had just cooked some moose ribs over the fire. I could not say, "No," because I had been eating restaurant food here all week, so it was a good treat for me.

What I found out was that they closed the road to Trout Lake. Apparently they had four days of good weather in the plus eight and plus nine area, and one day at plus 15 degrees Celsius. What happened is that the winter road had thawed out and four tanker fuel trucks were stuck on the road into Trout Lake. It was inconvenient for the people of Trout Lake to get in and out of the community I know the people that work on the highways are helping to try to open the road. They are working over the weekend, and I want to mention that there are people that work hard and try to do their job right. I want them to be recognized. Mahsi.

Praise For Hardworking Staff On Redknife Highway
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 208

The Speaker

Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Pudlat.

Kenoayoak Pudlat Baffin South

(Translation) Mr. Speaker, I have a question for the Minister of Municipal Affairs. Sanikiluaq has requested funding for a gym. They have been requesting a community hall for quite a long time. I would like to know what the status is on their application for a gym or community hall. Thank you.

The Speaker

Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs.

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Mr. Speaker, I guess I am learning in this job that you no sooner get one project completed than another pops up. I am delighted that the capital budget for my department includes a new arena for Sanikiluaq in the coming year.

---Applause

But I see the community is already turning toward their next requirement. Mr. Speaker, I do not have the information at hand to answer the Member's question. We are concentrating on the arena right now, so I will take the question as notice.

The Speaker

Question is being taken as notice. Mr. Pudlat. New question.

Kenoayoak Pudlat Baffin South

(Translation) I have a question to the Minister of Education. Sanikiluaq has been trying to get grade 11 in the community for some time. They had conferences in Sanikiluaq about this. Students come home before the end of the school year because they are getting homesick. For that reason they would like to have grade 11 in the community. What is the status of that request?

The Speaker

Mr. Allooloo.

Return To Question O213-12(2): Implementation Of Grade 11 In Sanikiluaq
Question O213-12(2): Implementation Of Grade 11 In Sanikiluaq
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 209

Titus Allooloo Amittuq

(Translation) Thank you, Mr .Speaker. Last Thursday as the Minister of Education I presented the budget for education for grades being upgraded to grade 11 in Sanikiluaq. When the main estimates are approved, the grade 11 that they are requesting will be implemented. Thank you.

Return To Question O213-12(2): Implementation Of Grade 11 In Sanikiluaq
Question O213-12(2): Implementation Of Grade 11 In Sanikiluaq
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 209

The Speaker

Oral questions. Mr. Antoine.