Mr. Pollard.
Debates of June 16th, 1992
This is page numbers 616 - 630 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 communities.
Topics
Question O536-12(2): Ownership Of Water Bomber Hangar Facility, Fort Smith
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 627
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Return To Question O536-12(2): Ownership Of Water Bomber Hangar Facility, Fort Smith
Question O536-12(2): Ownership Of Water Bomber Hangar Facility, Fort Smith
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 627
John Pollard Hay River
Thank you Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think that this was part of our decentralization plan, and Madam Premier said in her speech that she encouraged MLAs, mayors, chiefs, and chambers of commerce to get involved and give us some suggestions. In this regard, there has been already some discussion with the territorial forestry group, so we would be looking at others building this facility, Mr. Speaker. The government does not want to participate in the building and operation of it. We would be more pleased if it was done by the private sector or by some other group. Thank you Mr. Speaker.
Return To Question O536-12(2): Ownership Of Water Bomber Hangar Facility, Fort Smith
Question O536-12(2): Ownership Of Water Bomber Hangar Facility, Fort Smith
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 627
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Oral questions. Mr. Bernhardt.
Question O537-12(2): Lack Of Government Decentralization To Kitikmeot Region
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 627
Ernie Bernhardt Kitikmeot
Thank you Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister responsible for Finance. Since the
Kitikmeot Region is seen as a poor cousin to other regions of the government, could the Minister tell me, why must we go the route of mines and not government decentralization and to an economy based on our renewable resources? Surely your former deputy minister and your acting deputy minister liked our fishing so much. We have lots to offer. And yet, where do we stand with this present government? Thank you Mr. Speaker.
Question O537-12(2): Lack Of Government Decentralization To Kitikmeot Region
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 627
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Mr. Pollard.
Return To Question O537-12(2): Lack Of Government Decentralization To Kitikmeot Region
Question O537-12(2): Lack Of Government Decentralization To Kitikmeot Region
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 627
John Pollard Hay River
Mr. Speaker, the Kitikmeot did benefit some years ago from the previous government's decentralizing and creating a new region there, so it has been the recipient of a decentralization program in the past. This time, Mr. Speaker, as I said before, the decentralization process was tied very closely to the budget impacts, and we were trying to mitigate the effects of budget impacts on communities and also, as I said before, try to beef them up a little bit. Why would we be talking about mining in the Coronation Gulf area in the Kitikmeot Region? Because, Mr. Speaker, in the Northwest Territories we have to use everything that is available to us to develop our economy. In Norman Wells it was oil because oil was there. You will find not a whole lot of government people in Norman Wells. Mr. Speaker, in Hay River it was fishing and it was transportation, and there is not a lot of government in Hay River. So the Kitikmeot is coming on stream mining-wise. Local people are feeling better about it because we are going to be supporting them in getting those jobs and getting those economic benefits, Mr. Speaker, and we are just using that as a natural thing in that particular area to boost that economy. As I said before, it has received decentralization in the past, and we are hoping that mining will cause us to spend money in that area with regard to infrastructure, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.
Return To Question O537-12(2): Lack Of Government Decentralization To Kitikmeot Region
Question O537-12(2): Lack Of Government Decentralization To Kitikmeot Region
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 627
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Oral questions. Mr. Lewis.
Question O538-12(2): Basis For Economic Development In Nwt
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 627
Brian Lewis Yellowknife Centre
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism. Since our first fully elected government under Mr. George Braden, this government has taken the position that our economy has to be based on something that is sustainable and renewable, so that all communities could find themselves a niche, if you like, a little area that they could develop. So I would like to ask the Minister, since I have heard recently during the Prospects North conference that our government has indicated that our economy would be based upon non-renewable resources, oil and gas, mining and so on, whether this represents a new vision, a change in the way government is going to look at economic development in the Northwest Territories.
Question O538-12(2): Basis For Economic Development In Nwt
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 627
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Mr. Pollard.
Return To Question O538-12(2): Basis For Economic Development In Nwt
Question O538-12(2): Basis For Economic Development In Nwt
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 627
John Pollard Hay River
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There has been no change. I guess you might say that this government is going to be opportunistic, and if those opportunities exist for ventures in the Northwest Territories that are going to be owned in the Northwest Territories, preferably, where the jobs are going to be maintained in the Northwest Territories, if It is joint ventures in the Northwest Territories with development corporations or local businesses, if it is renewable resources, if it is fishing, if it is mining, if it is oil and gas, if it is coal, if it is manufacturing, if local people agree with that kind of
business going on in their particular region, if they are happy with the spinoffs from that particular business and they tell us that, then we will support them, Mr. Speaker. So there has been no change in our direction whatsoever. Thank you.
Return To Question O538-12(2): Basis For Economic Development In Nwt
Question O538-12(2): Basis For Economic Development In Nwt
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 628
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Oral questions. Mr. Pudlat.
Question O539-12(2): Varied Utility Prices In Communities
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 628
Kenoayoak Pudlat Baffin South
(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question to the Minister of NCPC, and she replied to me in written correspondence in regards to utility prices being varied in different communities. She told me she would look into this matter further, so I am asking the Minister of the Public Utilities Board. She stated in her letter that she was going to look into this matter. Has she looked into this matter as of late? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Question O539-12(2): Varied Utility Prices In Communities
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 628
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Ms. Cournoyea.
Return To Question O539-12(2): Varied Utility Prices In Communities
Question O539-12(2): Varied Utility Prices In Communities
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 628
Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput
Mr. Speaker, the rate structure review has been completed, and I believe it is presently being reviewed by the Public Utilities Board as it has been presented, so they have not done an analysis of it to reply to what has been submitted. Thank you.
Return To Question O539-12(2): Varied Utility Prices In Communities
Question O539-12(2): Varied Utility Prices In Communities
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 628
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Oral questions.
Item 6, written questions. Item 7, returns to written questions. Mr. Clerk.
Item 7: Returns To Written Questions
Item 7: Returns To Written Questions
Page 628
Clerk Of The House Mr. David Hamilton
Mr. Speaker, return to Question W33-12(2), asked by Ms. Mike and replied to by the Minister of Culture and Communications, concerning the location of the Inuit Cultural Institute collection of Inuit fine art.
W33-12(2): Location Of Inuit Cultural Institute Collection Of Inuit Fine Art
Item 7: Returns To Written Questions
Page 628
Clerk Of The House Mr. David Hamilton
Hon. Titus Allooloo's return to Question W33-12(2), asked by Ms. Mike on April 2, 1992: In 1989 the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs transferred ownership of 1653 art pieces to the Inuit Cultural Institute. The Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre has received 1618 pieces, all of which are being stored within the heritage centre where they are being cared for until the Inuit Cultural Institute has facilities to store and display them. The Inuit Cultural Institute has received 12 art pieces which they are housing. Twenty-three pieces have not yet been shipped to the Northwest Territories by Indian and Northern Affairs. The delay in receiving these 23 items is due to problems with records kept by Indian and Northern Affairs. We have been assured that these problems will be cleared up in the near future.
W33-12(2): Location Of Inuit Cultural Institute Collection Of Inuit Fine Art
Item 7: Returns To Written Questions
Page 628
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Item 8, replies to Opening Address.
Item 9, petitions. Item 10, reports of standing and special committees. Mr. Kakfwi.
Committee Report 10-12(2): Report Of The Special Committee On Constitutional Reform On Multilateral Conferences On The Constitution
Item 10: Reports Of Standing And Special Committees
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Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu
Mr. Speaker, on April 1, 1992, the special committee on constitutional reform tabled an interim
report which outlined a multilateral negotiation process involving constitutional Ministers and leaders from the federal, provincial and territorial governments and the four national aboriginal organizations. The objective of the multilateral meetings on the constitution was to produce the best efforts on a constitutional reform package based upon reports prepared by governments and aboriginal organizations. The package would provide Quebec and all other participants in what has been termed the "Canada round" with a comprehensive approach to national constitutional reform.
Mr. Speaker, the special committee's April 1 interim report also included five principles and objectives which would guide our delegation in the negotiation process. They included: 1) ensuring territorial participation in public and private meetings and conferences on constitutional, economic and aboriginal matters; 2) constitutional entrenchment of an inherent right to aboriginal self-government; 3) changing the amending formula to return responsibility for the creation of new provinces to Parliament; 4) territorial recognition and participation in Canadian economic union proposals and mechanisms for decentralization of the federation; 5) territorial participation in Supreme Court nominations and a reformed Senate.
The multilateral process included 22 days of meetings from March 12 to June 11. With one exception, I represented the special committee at all of the sessions. I want to acknowledge and commend Mr. Gargan, Mr. Lewis, Mrs. Marie-Jewell and Mr. Bernhardt for their capable assistance during the last four meetings.
Mr. Speaker, on June 12 federal Constitutional Affairs Minister Clark, who also chaired the sessions, announced that while negotiations had produced some significant agreements, the process should be concluded, in part, because of fundamental differences over Senate reform. I cannot yet report to the House on what the next step in the process will be, although I expect there could be a decision sometime this week on whether another multilateral process or a First Ministers' conference should be convened. Another option the federal government is considering would involve proceeding unilaterally with their own constitutional reform package.
The special committee's report outlines our participation in the process and the agreements which were reached on territorial principles and objectives. At the end of my presentation today, I will move that the report be considered in committee of the whole.
I want to say on behalf of all my colleagues that the agreements reached through the MMC represent a significant achievement and further progress toward the realization of aboriginal and territorial constitutional objectives which our government, Legislature and aboriginal organizations have been working on for the last decade.
For example, the process produced agreements to entrench the inherent right to aboriginal self-government and also to return the authority for creation of new provinces to parliament and to recognize a role for territorial institutions in future constitutional reform initiatives. The special committee's report will provide further details on these achievements. However, the process is far from complete. Outstanding issues include Senate reform, Quebec's response to the proposals and their veto over changes to national institutions. These remain to be addressed before this phase of the Canada round is complete.
To be blunt, the potential still exists for these achievements to be modified or removed from the final constitutional reform package. Given these circumstances, the special committee remains committed to representing this House and northern residents for the remainder of the process.
In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, I want to state for the record the special committee's appreciation for the significant contribution which northern residents have made to the national reform process. These leaders include: Rosemary Kuptana, the president of the Inuit Tapirisat of Canada; the head of the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, Roger Gruben, chairman; Mary Simon, the chairman of the Inuit Circumpolar Conference; John Amagoalik, negotiator with the Inuit Tapirisat of Canada; and the president of the Metis Nation, Gary Bohnet, and his advisor, Rick Hardy. Their presence at the negotiating table, I believe, contributed significantly to the northern and aboriginal achievements in the process.
I also want to acknowledge the dedicated service by officials from my office from Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs, from the Department of Justice and the Department of Finance over the last three months. Thank you.
Motion To Move Committee Report 10-12(2) To Committee Of The Whole, Carried
Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, that the report of the special committee on constitutional reform on multilateral conferences on the constitution be received and moved into committee of the whole.
Committee Report 10-12(2): Report Of The Special Committee On Constitutional Reform On Multilateral Conferences On The Constitution
Item 10: Reports Of Standing And Special Committees
Page 629
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Your motion is in order. All those in favour? Opposed, if any? The motion is carried.
--- Carried
Committee Report 10-12(2), Report of the Special Committee on Constitutional Reform, will be put into committee of the whole. Reports of standing and special committees.
Item 11, reports of committees on the review of bills. Mr. Arngna'naaq.
Committee Report 10-12(2): Report Of The Special Committee On Constitutional Reform On Multilateral Conferences On The Constitution
Item 10: Reports Of Standing And Special Committees
Page 629
Silas Arngna'naaq Kivallivik
I would like to deal with that tomorrow.
Committee Report 10-12(2): Report Of The Special Committee On Constitutional Reform On Multilateral Conferences On The Constitution
Item 10: Reports Of Standing And Special Committees
Page 629
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Item 12, tabling of documents. Mr. Ningark.
Item 12: Tabling Of Documents
Item 12: Tabling Of Documents
June 15th, 1992
Page 629
John Ningark Natilikmiot
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table Tabled Document 48-12(2), 37th Annual Report of the Northwest Territories Liquor Commission. Thank you.
Item 12: Tabling Of Documents
Item 12: Tabling Of Documents
Page 629
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Mr, Antoine.
Item 12: Tabling Of Documents
Item 12: Tabling Of Documents
Page 629
Jim Antoine Nahendeh
Mr. Speaker, I wish to table Tabled Document 49-12(2), Emerging Market Communities. These communities were previously targeted for economic activity, and I would like to table it so that government will have a look at which communities they should be concentrating on it when they are devolving some of the projects and programs. Thank you.