Debates of June 23rd, 1992

This is page numbers 719 - 744 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

Item 1: Prayer

Ministers' Statement 72-12(2): Summer Program For Highschool Students

Social Problems In The Nwt

Legislature Working As A Team

Appreciation To Women

Hunters 'and Trappers' Coverage By Workers' Compensation Board

Criticism By Media Of Ordinary Members

Society For Friends Against Family Violence

Canadian Broadcasting Corporation

Media Allegations Re Mlas

Potential Of Scallop Harvesting, Cumberland Sound

Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

Item 5: Oral Questions

Question O609-12(2): Rcmp Services In Lake Harbour

Question O610-12(2): Outside Firms Bidding On Northern Work

Question O611-12(2): Government Action Re Child Care Services

Question O612-12(2): Status Of Report Re Fuel Oil Contracts

Question O613-12(2): Changing Definition Of "principally Engaged" In Workers' Compensation Act

Question O614-12(2): Arctic College Procedures For Contractual Agreements

Question O615-12(2): Plans For Expansion And Diversification Of Fishery Industry In Baffin

Question O616-12(2): Advice Of Agencies, Boards And Commissions Committee Re "principally Engaged"definition

Question O617-12(2): Creation Of Jobs In South Baffin

Question O618-12(2): Action Taken On Pipeline Spill

Question O619-12(2): Long-range Plan For Corrections Services

Question O620-12(2): Recommendations Of 1990 Labour Standards Law Review Panel

Question O621-12(2): Provision Of Services For Abusers And Abused

Question O622-12(2): Arviat Health Committee Representative On Keewatin Regional Health Board

Question O623-12(2): Tabling Of Housing Needs Survey

Question O624-12(2): Status Of Complaints Commission Review Re Kitty Nowdluk-reynolds Case

Question O625-12(2): Assessment Of Rcmp Complaints Commission Process

Question O626-12(2): Security Costs For Royal Oak Mine Strike

Question O627-12(2): "healing Our Spirit, World Wide Conference"

Question O628-12(2): Efforts Being Made In Search For Johnny Tonka

Question O629-12(2): Food Basket Survey

Question O630-12(2): Rates Paid To Private Truckers

Question O631-12(2): North Pole Expedition Rescue

Question O632-12(2): Economic Benefits To North Re Participation In Expo '92

Question O633-12(2): Education Assessments

Item 7: Returns To Written Questions

W36-12(2): Department Of Transportation Guidelines For Use Of Construction Equipment

W41-12(2): Summer Student Employment With The GNWT

Committee Report 12-12(2): Report Of The Standing Committee On Finance On Inter-sessional Activities

Item 12: Tabling Of Documents

Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Motion To Undertake Comprehensive Audit Of NWT Power Corporation

Item 19: Report Of Committee Of The Whole

Item 20: Third Reading Of Bills

Item 21: Orders Of The Day

Question O627-12(2): "healing Our Spirit, World Wide Conference"
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 730

Brian Lewis Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I again refer to the brief on Social Services that we heard earlier, given by Mr. Antoine. There is a concern that we are not making the right

kinds of decisions of where money goes, and this brief says that they want to see cuts in management and administration as well as cuts to all unnecessary travel, particularly outside the NWT. I note the Minister's department will be funding 42 people to go to a conference called 'Healing Our Spirit, World Wide Conference,' and it will take place in Edmonton from July 6 to 11. Why do we have to send 42 people to one conference, because it fits into this concern about travel and particularly travel outside the NWT?

Question O627-12(2): "healing Our Spirit, World Wide Conference"
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 731

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Mr. Whitford.

Return To Question O627-12(2): "healing Our Spirit, World Wide Conference"
Question O627-12(2): "healing Our Spirit, World Wide Conference"
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 731

Tony Whitford Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The matter the Member is addressing is a solUtion to numerous requests by groups who work with alcohol and drug counselling services across the NWT to attend a conference of this nature. Initially the request had been by the groups to send several people from each of the counselling facilities, and this would have far exceeded our budget. Because the department and I place a high priority on alcohol and drug counselling services, this was a solution to the numerous requests we were getting. Rather than send several people from one agency or one group, we would approve the travel costs for one individual from each of these communities to attend this conference. I think it is a good solution.

Return To Question O627-12(2): "healing Our Spirit, World Wide Conference"
Question O627-12(2): "healing Our Spirit, World Wide Conference"
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 731

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Mr. Lewis.

Supplementary To Question O627-12(2): "healing Our Spirit, World Wide Conference"
Question O627-12(2): "healing Our Spirit, World Wide Conference"
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 731

Brian Lewis Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In light of the concerns about cutbacks in all the Social Services departments, is this a priority? Have the commitments been made to these 42 people to travel outside the NWT to a conference?

Supplementary To Question O627-12(2): "healing Our Spirit, World Wide Conference"
Question O627-12(2): "healing Our Spirit, World Wide Conference"
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 731

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Mr. Whitford.

Further Return To Question O627-12(2): "healing Our Spirit, World Wide Conference"
Question O627-12(2): "healing Our Spirit, World Wide Conference"
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 731

Tony Whitford Yellowknife South

Yes.

Further Return To Question O627-12(2): "healing Our Spirit, World Wide Conference"
Question O627-12(2): "healing Our Spirit, World Wide Conference"
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 731

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Mr. Lewis.

Supplementary To Question O627-12(2): "healing Our Spirit, World Wide Conference"
Question O627-12(2): "healing Our Spirit, World Wide Conference"
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 731

Brian Lewis Yellowknife Centre

This is a worldwide conference. Could the Minister tell us how many people he estimates will attend this conference from around the world?

Supplementary To Question O627-12(2): "healing Our Spirit, World Wide Conference"
Question O627-12(2): "healing Our Spirit, World Wide Conference"
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 731

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Mr. Whitford.

Supplementary To Question O627-12(2): "healing Our Spirit, World Wide Conference"
Question O627-12(2): "healing Our Spirit, World Wide Conference"
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 731

Tony Whitford Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will take the question as notice.

Supplementary To Question O627-12(2): "healing Our Spirit, World Wide Conference"
Question O627-12(2): "healing Our Spirit, World Wide Conference"
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 731

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

The question has been taken as notice. Mr. Antoine.

Question O628-12(2): Efforts Being Made In Search For Johnny Tonka
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 731

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. Members are aware that an elder from Simpson has been missing since Friday evening from the community, and I hope that with his experience on the land he may be safe. So considering the search being conducted for John Tonka is now under the direction of the RCMP, has the Minister communicated with the detachment commander or with the chief superintendent of that division to ensure that all possible efforts have been made to conduct an intensive search?

Question O628-12(2): Efforts Being Made In Search For Johnny Tonka
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 731

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Mr. Patterson.

Return To Question O628-12(2): Efforts Being Made In Search For Johnny Tonka
Question O628-12(2): Efforts Being Made In Search For Johnny Tonka
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 731

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

I was going to answer the question, yes, Mr. Speaker, but I would not want to mislead the honourable Member. do not communicate directly with the RCMP, but through my officials, yes, that communication has occurred with the detachment commander in Simpson.

Return To Question O628-12(2): Efforts Being Made In Search For Johnny Tonka
Question O628-12(2): Efforts Being Made In Search For Johnny Tonka
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 731

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Mr. Antoine.

Supplementary To Return To Question O628-12(2): Efforts Being Made In Search For Johnny Tonka
Question O628-12(2): Efforts Being Made In Search For Johnny Tonka
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 731

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Can the Minister tell me how the search for Johnny Tonka has been funded? Is there a certain policy or program from within your department that provides for a search of this nature?

Supplementary To Return To Question O628-12(2): Efforts Being Made In Search For Johnny Tonka
Question O628-12(2): Efforts Being Made In Search For Johnny Tonka
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 731

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Mr. Patterson.

Further Return To Return To Question O628-12(2): Efforts Being Made In Search For Johnny Tonka
Question O628-12(2): Efforts Being Made In Search For Johnny Tonka
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 731

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Mr. Speaker, yes, there is a policy on community scorches which is in place within this government. It does provide for reimbursement to community members for gas incurred in a search of this kind, and that is happening in Simpson in connection with this search. The RCMP also can, and have, made funds available for searches of this kind, and those funds were already made available for the air part of the search that has been under way. I should also note that, through the co-operation of the Department of Renewable Resources, fire crews have also been made available to assist with the search, and that department has absorbed related costs associated with that and of course, Mr. Speaker, community volunteers are also assisting. All that is co-ordinated by the RCMP.

Further Return To Return To Question O628-12(2): Efforts Being Made In Search For Johnny Tonka
Question O628-12(2): Efforts Being Made In Search For Johnny Tonka
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 731

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Mr. Zoe.

Question O629-12(2): Food Basket Survey
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 731

Henry Zoe North Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Social Services. During the 11th Assembly, Motion 19-11(2) recommended that the Department of Social Services make significant changes to the way social assistance rates are calculated. One of the recommendations was that the new food basket survey should be conducted by October of last year, and that social assistance rates should be calculated on the basis of this new survey. Could the Minister inform this House whether this food basket survey has been completed?

Question O629-12(2): Food Basket Survey
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 731

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Mr. Whitford.

Return To Question O629-12(2): Food Basket Survey
Question O629-12(2): Food Basket Survey
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 731

Tony Whitford Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, it has.

Return To Question O629-12(2): Food Basket Survey
Question O629-12(2): Food Basket Survey
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 731

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Mr. Zoe.

Supplementary To Question O629-12(2): Food Basket Survey
Question O629-12(2): Food Basket Survey
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 731

Henry Zoe North Slave

Could the Minister tell me when his department

plans to recalculate social assistance rates based on this new survey?

Debates of June 23rd, 1992

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