Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister responsible for Intergovernmental Affairs and Constitutional Development in regard to the plebiscite. Will funding be available for a campaign to inform the public in the West about the plebiscite question on May 4th, similar to funding that was made available to TFN?
Debates of April 3rd, 1992
Topics
Question O519-12(2): Funding For Western Public Awareness Campaign On The Plebiscite
Revert To Item 5: Oral Questions
April 2nd, 1992
Page 605
Jim Antoine Nahendeh
Question O519-12(2): Funding For Western Public Awareness Campaign On The Plebiscite
Revert To Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 605
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Mr. Kakfwi.
Return To Question O519-12(2): Funding For Western Public Awareness Campaign On The Plebiscite
Question O519-12(2): Funding For Western Public Awareness Campaign On The Plebiscite
Revert To Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 605
Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu
Mr. Speaker, the point was made last week by one of the Members that this Legislative Assembly is not bound by decisions or commitments made by previous Legislatures. I do not want to quibble about the point, but the fact is the last Legislature, in July of last year, through political agreement, made two motions. One motion committed and directed the Executive to set up a western constitutional commission and fund it appropriately. I think the funding came to about $1.7 million. This was in response to a request and discussions through a committee of western leaders, which included the Dene Nation, the Metis Association at that time, the Gwich'in Tribal Council, the Sahtu Tribal Council and the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, as well as myself and another Member of the Legislative Assembly.
The agreement among MLAs was reached unofficially that this would be done, and the subsequent motion that was moved in this House dealt with the aspirations of people in the Eastern Arctic. It was moved by eastern MLAs, and was supported by everyone here, that there would be some public awareness campaign set up and appropriate money set aside for that to be carried out in the East, and that this would be co-ordinated through the Tungavik Federation of Nunavut's office and it would involve MLAs, to make sure that there is public involvement; and there is some implication that because it is public money, that there was some involvement by the Legislature. I think that money was set up to not exceed, totally -- this fiscal year it was about $134,000. 1 may not be exact on my figures, but it was not to total more than $250,000. That was the way that this Legislature and this government proceeded.
I raise that because I think it has to be understood that the way we have operated up until now -- and the Legislature is free to do what it wants -- is that money was sought by the different groups that worked with us on political and constitutional development. The general consensus of the aboriginal leaders and representatives of this Legislature and the previous government was to put the full allocation money, set aside for the West, into the work of the Western Constitutional Commission. In the East there was a lesser amount set aside to do the political awareness.
I say that because that is where the direction went, and if Members seek to request that additional moneys be allocated, they should at least understand the mechanism and the process we have used up until now to do that. So as a Minister, if I get sufficient direction, I would of course have to consider it and see if it would not upset the political understanding that I have with the other aboriginal leaders and organizations about how we allocate the resources in this exercise. Thank you.
Return To Question O519-12(2): Funding For Western Public Awareness Campaign On The Plebiscite
Question O519-12(2): Funding For Western Public Awareness Campaign On The Plebiscite
Revert To Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 605
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Mr. Antoine.
Supplementary To Question O519-12(2): Funding For Western Public Awareness Campaign On The Plebiscite
Question O519-12(2): Funding For Western Public Awareness Campaign On The Plebiscite
Revert To Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 605
Jim Antoine Nahendeh
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the Minister for that information, but I think that he mentioned that $1.3 million was spent in the West to develop the constitution if there is division. This $1.3 million is not allocated to provide the necessary information in the West or to do a public campaign on this plebiscite. I say this because a lot of people in my constituency have indicated to me that they do not have all the information that is required to make a really good decision on May 4th when they are going to be voting on the boundary issue.
One hundred and forty-three thousand dollars was allocated to TFN to do their campaign on this plebiscite, and I do not think that this question about expending money is finished yet. I think that if there is division, then the East will probably come back and ask for funding to develop their constitution, and we have already spent $1.3 million. So that is still going to happen.
I think the important thing right now is that the people in the West need that information. We have only one month left for this information to be disseminated to them. So we need funding to provide that information to them in the West so that the people in the West can make a really honest decision. I will ask the Minister again if there will be funding made available to people and groups in the West if they want to do a campaign before May 4th?
Supplementary To Question O519-12(2): Funding For Western Public Awareness Campaign On The Plebiscite
Question O519-12(2): Funding For Western Public Awareness Campaign On The Plebiscite
Revert To Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 605
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
If I could ask honourable Members, if they are posing a question, the preamble should be enough to set the stage and provide the background to the question. But question period is not meant to be the time to give a Members' statement. Mr. Kakfwi.
Further Return To Question O519-12(2): Funding For Western Public Awareness Campaign On The Plebiscite
Question O519-12(2): Funding For Western Public Awareness Campaign On The Plebiscite
Revert To Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 605
Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu
Mr. Speaker, I have just a short response. I tried to indicate earlier that if Members want to draft a motion and ask the Executive Council to consider or recommend taking a certain course of action, of course we would take it very seriously. That is the prerogative of the
Legislature.
For myself, as a Minister in this government and involved in the previous government, it was my political understanding that it is not for me by myself to go about seeking money from this Legislature without some understanding with the Done Nation, with the Metis Nation, with the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation and with other Members of this Legislature that make up this committee of western leaders, in regard to what kinds of funds should be made available to do work in this political area. So I feel bound by that, but it would not prohibit Members of this House from doing something, in which case it should also indicate what kind of money we are talking about and who it should go to and who should benefit from this money.
Further Return To Question O519-12(2): Funding For Western Public Awareness Campaign On The Plebiscite
Question O519-12(2): Funding For Western Public Awareness Campaign On The Plebiscite
Revert To Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 606
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Oral questions. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.
Question O520-12(2): Criteria For Funding Hunters' And Trappers' Associations
Revert To Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 606
Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister of Renewable Resources, what are the criteria used to fund hunters' and trappers' associations in the NWT?
Question O520-12(2): Criteria For Funding Hunters' And Trappers' Associations
Revert To Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 606
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Mr. Ningark.
Return To Question O520-12(2): Criteria For Funding Hunters' And Trappers' Associations
Question O520-12(2): Criteria For Funding Hunters' And Trappers' Associations
Revert To Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 606
John Ningark Natilikmiot
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe the group has to be an association in order to get funding from the department.
Return To Question O520-12(2): Criteria For Funding Hunters' And Trappers' Associations
Question O520-12(2): Criteria For Funding Hunters' And Trappers' Associations
Revert To Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 606
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Mrs. Marie-Jewell.
Supplementary To Question O520-12(2): Criteria For Funding Hunters' And Trappers' Associations
Question O520-12(2): Criteria For Funding Hunters' And Trappers' Associations
Revert To Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 606
Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha
Mr. Speaker, is it the policy of the government to fund organizations that are not in compliance with the Societies Act?
Supplementary To Question O520-12(2): Criteria For Funding Hunters' And Trappers' Associations
Question O520-12(2): Criteria For Funding Hunters' And Trappers' Associations
Revert To Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 606
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Mr. Ningark.
Further Return To Question O520-12(2): Criteria For Funding Hunters' And Trappers' Associations
Question O520-12(2): Criteria For Funding Hunters' And Trappers' Associations
Revert To Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 606
John Ningark Natilikmiot
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is not a policy of the government to fund organizations who are not in compliance with the regulations.
Further Return To Question O520-12(2): Criteria For Funding Hunters' And Trappers' Associations
Question O520-12(2): Criteria For Funding Hunters' And Trappers' Associations
Revert To Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 606
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Mrs. Marie-Jewell.
Supplementary To Question O520-12(2): Criteria For Funding Hunters' And Trappers' Associations
Question O520-12(2): Criteria For Funding Hunters' And Trappers' Associations
Revert To Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 606
Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha
If it is not the policy of the department to fund organizations that are not in compliance with the Societies Act, why did he fund the Fort Smith Hunters' and Trappers' Association?
Supplementary To Question O520-12(2): Criteria For Funding Hunters' And Trappers' Associations
Question O520-12(2): Criteria For Funding Hunters' And Trappers' Associations
Revert To Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 606
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Mr. Ningark.
Supplementary To Question O520-12(2): Criteria For Funding Hunters' And Trappers' Associations
Question O520-12(2): Criteria For Funding Hunters' And Trappers' Associations
Revert To Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 606
John Ningark Natilikmiot
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will take that question as notice and review the matter.
Supplementary To Question O520-12(2): Criteria For Funding Hunters' And Trappers' Associations
Question O520-12(2): Criteria For Funding Hunters' And Trappers' Associations
Revert To Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 606
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Oral questions. Mr. Koe.
Question O521-12(2): Provision Of Funds For Plebiscite Awareness Campaign
Revert To Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 606
Fred Koe Inuvik
I have a question to the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, a follow-up to my colleague's questioning re funding for a plebiscite. It is my understanding that in one of the Minister's statements he indicated that if a request for funds is to be made, it should be made by letter. Yesterday the Minister received a letter from western Members asking the Minister to look into providing funds for a western campaign. Has the Minister done anything in response to this letter?
Question O521-12(2): Provision Of Funds For Plebiscite Awareness Campaign
Revert To Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 606
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Mr. Kakfwi.
Return To Question O521-12(2): Provision Of Funds For Plebiscite Awareness Campaign
Question O521-12(2): Provision Of Funds For Plebiscite Awareness Campaign
Revert To Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 606
Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu
Mr. Speaker, whether or not I received a letter, it would not be sufficient to get me to do anything substantial. The only way that anything can happen in this area is right here in the Legislature, some motion to direct the Executive to consider allocating some money for this exercise. I cannot do anything on my own. I am not going to draft anything for the Members. I already gave a suggestion as to how it can be done.
Return To Question O521-12(2): Provision Of Funds For Plebiscite Awareness Campaign
Question O521-12(2): Provision Of Funds For Plebiscite Awareness Campaign
Revert To Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 606
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Mr. Koe.
Supplementary To Question O521-12(2): Provision Of Funds For Plebiscite Awareness Campaign
Question O521-12(2): Provision Of Funds For Plebiscite Awareness Campaign
Revert To Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 606
Fred Koe Inuvik
I am a bit confused now because in the interim appropriations, and reviewing the items in those amounts, there was an item for TFN, $143,000, to carry out this work approved by this Legislature. In an earlier statement you mentioned that you could not do anything because these motions were passed by a previous Assembly. But this Assembly approved funding for a campaign in the East. Will the western communities be given the same consideration for access to funding?