This is page numbers 571 - 601 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 health.

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

--- Prayer

Item 1: Prayer
Item 1: Prayer

Page 571

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Good afternoon. Orders of the day for Thursday, April 2, 1992. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Mr. Ningark.

John Ningark Natilikmiot

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In the spring of 1992, the Department of Renewable Resources will carry out a research project on the persistence of the immobilizing drug, Telazol, in the tissue of polar bears. This project will be carried out in co-operation with the Resolute Bay Hunters' and Trappers' Association and the University of Saskatchewan.

For many years, people who live in the communities in the Northwest Territories have asked if meat from polar bears that have been drugged is safe to eat. To answer this question, the hunters' and trappers' association of Resolute Bay has agreed to allocate up to six of their regular polar bear hunting tags in a way that will allow this important research to proceed.

The primary research objective is to find out how long the drug, Telazol, remains in polar bear tissue after an immobilized bear has been released back into the wild. Research scientists generally believe that there is probably no cause for concern for human health for any bear four days after it has been released back to the wild. It is essential that this research hypothesis be verified with actual case studies.

This project will occur in the High Arctic region of Canada during the spring of 1992 and possibly in the fall of 1992 as well. Bears will be immobilized using conventional techniques. At two subsequent intervals of approximately three and four days, these same bears will be relocated by the radio signal coming from their radio collars. The bears will be shot, and samples will be taken. The hides will be taken by the Inuit member of the research team and sold with the same hunting tag that would have been used in a conventional hunt. Up to six polar bears that would have been taken as part of the regular hunt will be killed as part of this research project. Hunters throughout northern Canada will then have a reliable understanding of any human health risks that may be associated with marked bears.

Drugging of polar bears, in general, is a necessary part of research that is required to support responsible conservation of polar bears. Hunting of polar bears continue to be an important element of traditional Inuit culture. This hunting must occur within the framework of a sound management program.

The Government of the Northwest Territories is in the process of developing co-management agreements for polar bears on a population-by -population basis. The government recently

signed a management agreement with the communities of Resolute Bay, Grise Fiord, Arctic Bay and Pond Inlet for the polar bears in this region. (Translation ends)

The Department of Renewable Resources, the Government of the Northwest Territories and communities believe that this project is necessary and worthwhile. The department will work carefully with the other co-operators to ensure that the bears will be treated in the most humane way possible. The results of this work will be of value for many years to come, and, hopefully, alleviate concerns Inuit have about eating polar bear meat. Thank you.

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Ministers' statements. Mr. Pollard.

John Pollard Hay River

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as Members may be aware, Mr. Dwight Noseworthy, after four years as deputy minister for the Department of Economic Development and Tourism and chairman of the Northwest Territories Development Corporation, has left the Government of the Northwest Territories to pursue other interests. Mr. Noseworthy brought considerable expertise to both of these positions, and I am sure that Members join me in wishing him all the best in his future pursuits.

Mr. Speaker, there will be a public competition for the position of deputy minister of the Department of Economic Development and Tourism. However, in the meantime, Mr. Alan Vaughan as agreed to act as deputy minister until the position is permanently filled.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to announce that cabinet has appointed Mr. Alan Vaughan to the position of president of the Northwest Territories Development Corporation. Mr. Vaughan brings several years of experience in the field of northern economic development, and I am confident that he will successfully lead the development corporation management team.

Finally, Mr. Speaker, over the coming weeks, I will be writing to Members requesting their suggestions for the chairman of the board of the Northwest Territories Development Corporation. In addition, I will be soliciting recommendations for new board members, as five of the current eight public members have terms of office that expire this year. Until such time as a chairman is selected, the vice-chairman will chair board meetings. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Ministers' statements. Mr. Patterson.

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Mr. Speaker, today, I would like to advise Members of the results of a meeting I attended as Minister responsible for the Arctic Winter Games while in Whitehorse recently with the political leaders of the other participating jurisdictions and the Arctic Winter Games Corporation Board members. The purpose of this meeting

was to discuss the future of the games and various issues surrounding the current games' format, and to give political direction to the Arctic Winter Games Corporation Board. As Members may be aware, the Arctic Winter Games Corporation acts as guardian of the general philosophy and intent of the games on behalf of the governments involved.

At this meeting, the corporation was looking for direction on the formal admission of Greenland to the games and the involvement of our other circumpolar neighbours in the event, the cultural aspect of the games, and the size and composition of the units involved.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to report on the first two issues that the Greenland minister, the Hon. Marianne Jensen, has committed to send a team to the next games in Slave Lake in Northern Alberta and that the commitment of Greenland over the longer term looks quite positive.

I am also pleased to report that the other ministers and the Lieutenant Governor of Alaska have given general support for a gradual expansion of the games to include possibly Northern Quebec, Labrador and other circumpolar jurisdictions.

On the issue of the cultural element of the games, the assembled leaders also agreed that the corporation should develop a permanent policy for the inclusion of a cultural element in each Arctic Winter Games. As Yellowknife and Whitehorse have shown, this component of the Arctic Winter Games adds to the unique flavour of the event and provides an opportunity for the social interchange that is so important among the circumpolar community.

Mr. Speaker, the question of the overall size of the Arctic Winter Games and the size and composition of the participating units is somewhat more complex and certainly of central importance to all governments involved in the Arctic Winter Games. The Northwest Territories has always considered the Arctic Winter Games as a mass participation event designed to involve as many people as possible, within reasonable limits. While the other units do not disagree with this philosophy, there are different opinions on how to achieve the goals of the Arctic Winter Games, given the current constraints under which we live.

As a result of the discussion on this issue, it became apparent that there was a need for further research by the Arctic Winter Games Corporation and further discussion by the governments involved. It was agreed that the political leaders, at the invitation of the Lieutenant Governor of Alaska, will meet again in August or September in Eagle River, Alaska to further discuss and resolve this and other outstanding issues related to the future direction of the Arctic Winter Games,

Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories remains strongly committed to the Arctic Winter Games and the philosophy behind it. I look forward to Members' continued support for the pre-eminent sporting, social and cultural event. Thank you.

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. Ms. Mike.

Rebecca Mike Baffin Central

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to tell the House, with pride, of an important occurrence which is happening in the Central Baffin region as we speak. Two Pangnirtung residents have mounted an expedition in which

they will travel by dog-team from Pangnirtung to Lake Harbour, following the traditional routes used by Inuit for many years. The two travellers are Rene Wissink and Alan Kilabuk, my cousin.

Honourable Members may recall that Mr. Wissink, who works for the park service, was earlier an organizer of the 1987 Qitluarsuaq expedition, which travelled by dog-team from Igloolik to Qanaaq, Greenland. Mr. Kilabuk lives in Pangnirtung and is well known for the work he has done in raising and training his dogs. He is the grandson of the late Jim Kilabuk, who worked for 45 years for the Hudson's Bay Company and was an early ambassador for Inuit in the national business community.

Alan and Rene will be travelling from Pangnirtung through Nettilling Lake and then through the Amadjuak Lake area en route to Lake Harbour. From Lake Harbour they will continue on to lqaluit and then back to Pangnirtung. They have combined their teams and are travelling with 19 dogs. They were reached by radio last night and reported that the dogs are strong and the weather has been good, although they encountered some soft snow yesterday that slowed their progress slightly. As of last night, they had travelled about 190 kilometres.

Mr. Speaker, this expedition is a significant accomplishment in itself, but I think it also symbolizes something personal that means much more to the Inuit of Pangnirtung.

Alan and Rene will be following a traditional route that was regularly used by Inuit throughout our history as people. I know that this was the same route used by my own great grandfather, Veevee, in travelling to Igloolik area from Pangnirtung. For many years Baffin people have been quietly fearful that our culture might pass away with the passage of time, that we might forget the knowledge and traditions that have sustained us as Inuit for centuries.

By travelling this route, Alan and Rene have kept a link with our past and have ensured that the landforms and guideposts of this traditional pathway to the west coast of Baffin Island will remain fresh in the mind of another generation.

I am very proud of their effort and trust that all honourable Members will join me in wishing them the best. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--- Applause

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Members' statements. Mr. Lewis.

State Of Collective Bargaining
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 572

Brian Lewis Yellowknife Centre

Mr. Speaker, many Members will have received in the mail, over the last few days, letters from constituents who work for government and are concerned about the state of collective bargaining. The letter points out that in midMarch the government and the Union of Northern Workers commenced renegotiations for the renewal of a collective agreement. This agreement expired on March 31, 1992, and yet negotiations did not begin until March 16, 1992.

The point in this letter is that all people who are Members of this House as legislators are being reminded of the tremendous power they have to pass laws, and in a democratic society where you have systems in place which have been developed over a long period of time, many people considered it to be a very, very wrong use of your power simply to use a piece of legislation in order to achieve a result that you cannot achieve through the normal process of bargaining, which is well established in this part of the world. Therefore, everybody has been told that as a representative of those people in this Legislative Assembly, that they are asked to vote against this kind of legislation.

So I would like to point out, Mr. Speaker, that since I have had, and am likely to get many more, letters of this kind -- in fact I have already had over a dozen -- that I will be forced to vote against this legislation if it comes into the House, because I expect many, many people to direct me to do so. Thank you.

State Of Collective Bargaining
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 573

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Mr. Nerysoo.

Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise to speak on a matter of most importance to most Members in this House. Yesterday the chairman of the special committee on constitutional reform tabled in this House an interim report that provided certain direction and recommendations that required the support of the Members of this House. I believe, Mr. Speaker, that the special committee has an obligation to report properly to this Assembly and to all its Members, and in doing such, requires each Member to make comments on the recommendations that a special committee that represents our interests is to take and show to the public as a representation of Members of this House.

Mr. Speaker, that opportunity was not given to us. In fact in many instances the report deals with recommendations to the government, not recommendations to this Assembly, to which the special committee reports. At no time, Mr. Speaker, have Members been given an opportunity to deal with this particular report. The reality is, I introduced a motion yesterday and probably will be ruled out of order because this particular matter has been resolved, without discussion, without comment and without any constructive ideas as to the direction that this special committee, that represents my interests, my constituency, and the people of the NWT, should take. I think that is appalling; appalling because one of the very fundamental privileges that Members have in this House is the freedom of speech and the freedom of expression. And I think it is wrong for any chairperson of a special committee that represents our interest to do the thing that the chairman, Mr. Kakfwi, did to this Assembly yesterday.

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

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

Return To Question O347-12(2): Polar Bear Quota, Pangnirtung
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

Page 573

John Ningark Natilikmiot

I have a return to Question O34712(2), asked by Ms. Mike on March 25, 1992. In the spring of 1991 my predecessor, Mr. Allooloo, visited the Baffin communities with officials of the Department of Renewable Resources to discuss polar bear management. The people of Pangnirtung hunt bears from the southeast Baffin and Labrador population of polar bears. This population is also hunted by Broughton Island, lqaluit and Lake Harbour, as well as by people from Greenland, Labrador and Quebec. The population is estimated at approximately 1000 bears.

Pangnirtung currently has a quota of 14 bears, and this quota cannot be changed until all the communities that hunt from this population have reached an agreement on how the population should be managed in the future. We hope that the communities that share the population hunted by Pangnirtung can develop a management agreement that is acceptable to all concerned. The Department of Renewable Resources, Government of the Northwest Territories, will be meeting with these communities to do everything it can to

assist in the development of a management agreement. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Return To Question O347-12(2): Polar Bear Quota, Pangnirtung
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

Page 573

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Returns to oral questions. Mr. Allooloo.

Return To Question O463-12(2): Number Of Students Enroled In Eastern Arctic Teacher Education Program
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

Page 573

Titus Allooloo Amittuq

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a return to Question O463-12(2), asked by Mr. Arngna'naaq on April 3, 1992, regarding the number of students enroled in the Eastern Arctic teacher education program. As of January, 1992, there were 47 full-time students attending the Eastern Arctic teacher education program. Also, from July 1, 1991 to April 1, 1992, there have been a total of 119 part-time students taking courses in this program. Thank you.

Return To Question O463-12(2): Number Of Students Enroled In Eastern Arctic Teacher Education Program
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

Page 573

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Returns to oral questions. Mr. Whitford.

Further Return To Question O316-12(2): Proposal For Management Of Open Custody Group Home, Inuvik
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

Page 573

Tony Whitford

Tony Whitford Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have three returns. Mr. Speaker, I have a return for Mr. Koe, Question O316-12(2) was asked by Mr. Koe on March 12, regarding proposals for open custody facilities. Mr. Koe asked if there is some form of deal making that can take place once a proposal has been submitted. In forming this question, he quoted from an advertisement that stated, "Following a final evaluation the selected contractor will be required to negotiate a contractual agreement with the Government of the Northwest Territories...."

I would like to advise that the word "negotiate" was intended to mean 'arrange" or "complete' a contractual agreement. That said, some elements of a contract may be negotiated, In a proposal for the operation of a group home, the bidder may suggest a monthly visit with department officials and upon negotiation, agree to change the term to a weekly visit. Several such examples could be found.

There can, however, be no alterations to our requirement for insurance in agreements for services of this type. The potential liability is obvious, and the manager, risk management and insurance through the office of the Comptroller General, insists that both contractors and this government be adequately protected.

Return To Question O395-12(2): Regional Superintendent, Baffin
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

Page 573

Tony Whitford

Tony Whitford Yellowknife South

The second return is to a question asked by Ms. Mike on March 26, 1992, regarding the vacancy of the regional superintendent's position in Baffin. Mr. Speaker, on March 26, 1992, Ms. Mike asked a question with regard to the regional superintendent's position in the Baffin and indicated that there was no acting regional superintendent in place. She also asked when I was planning to fill the vacant position.

I would like to advise Ms. Mike that the regional superintendent's position as been to competition twice and is being currently advertised again. In the first competition, the department was not able to attract qualified candidates, and in the second competition, the successful candidate did not accept the offer of employment.

The current and third competition will close April 17, 1992. There have been acting superintendents in place since the position became vacant in July, 1991.

Return To Question O418-12(2): Minister's Relationship To Work Of Youth Justice Committee
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

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Tony Whitford

Tony Whitford Yellowknife South

The third return is to a question that was asked by Mr. Lewis on March 27, 1992, regarding the Minister's relationship to the work of the youth justice committee. The Young Offenders Act, section 91 (1), states, "The Minister or delegate of the Minister may establish one or more committees of citizens, to be known as youth justice committees, to assist in any aspect of the administration of this act or in any programs or services for young offenders."

The Minister appoints a person to be a member of the committee and has the power to revoke that appointment. In most instances, the Minister receives recommendations from the community on whom to appoint. The process of establishing a committee is flexible so that the committee structure can adapt to the needs of the community.

The Minister is kept in touch with day-to-day operations of the committees through community social service workers and community corrections specialists. These workers may act as advisors with the youth justice committees, who also receive help from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

It should be noted that the Department of Social Services operates at an arm's length distance from the youth justice committee, thus allowing an appropriate degree of autonomy of decision-making, as is the intent of the legislation.

Return To Question O418-12(2): Minister's Relationship To Work Of Youth Justice Committee
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

Page 574

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Ms. Cournoyea.

Return To Question O430-12(2): Lack Of Aboriginal Senior Management In The Department Of Health
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

Page 574

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

This is a reply to a question asked by Mr. Zoe on March 27, 1992. The numbers of applicants for the Department of Health headquarters positions who are of aboriginal descent and who have the skills and knowledge about health care issues required for department positions have been limited. When aboriginal applicants with the required knowledge and skills are identified, the affirmative action criteria for hiring are applied. Since transfer, no aboriginal applicants have had the skills and knowledge required for appointment to the senior management positions that have been open for hiring.

Because the number of aboriginal students choosing health care studies is limited, health career promotion activities are being developed and made available for all communities, targeting elementary and secondary schools. This program includes a health career information package, other promotional material, involvement at career fairs, science fairs, and other suitable events, career counselling on request and media presentations.

Return To Question O375-12(2): Availability Of Abortion Questionnaire In Aboriginal Languages
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

Page 574

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

This is a reply to a question asked by Ms. Mike on March 26, 1992. The Stanton Yellowknife Hospital routinely asks all patients, including therapeutic abortion patients, to complete a questionnaire on the services and procedures they received.

The questionnaire is currently administered through Dogrib, Chipewyan, Inuktitut and French-speaking interpreters on a one-on-one basis. If translations are required in other aboriginal languages, the hospital requests the services of the Department of Culture and Communications language bureau. They had advised that the one-on-one system be maintained for the Dene patients.

The quality assurance committee of the Stanton Yellowknife

Hospital is currently reviewing its patient satisfaction questionnaire. As soon as this is completed, the questionnaire will be translated into Inuktitut and French.