This is page numbers 745 - 761 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 housing.

Topics

Members Present

Hon. Thus 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, Ms. Mike, Hon. Don Morin, Mr. Ningark, 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 745

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Good afternoon. Orders of the day for Wednesday, June 24, 1992. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Ms. Cournoyea.

Ministers' Statement 73-12(2): Abortion Services
Item 2: Ministers' Statements

Page 745

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Mr. Speaker, at a meeting on Thursday, June 18, the abortion services review committee presented me with its report. The report, with a translated introduction and recommendations, will be tabled at the appropriate time today. Translation is continuing on the remainder of the document, and it will be made available to Members as soon as it is completed.

The abortion services review committee completed the difficult task set out for it in its terms of reference tabled in this House on April 15, on time and within budget. I am pleased with the general approach taken by the committee, and support the positive nature of the 32 recommendations.

Earlier today, I met with members of the Status of Women Council of the Northwest Territories to provide them with an overview of the report. A complete briefing of the council's membership is taking place this afternoon.

In addition, the board of management of Stanton Yellowknife Hospital and the Department of Health, in consultation with other health and hospital boards, have been directed to examine the report and Its recommendations and to develop an implementation plan by July 31 of this year. I will table the implementation plan early in the fall session.

Mr. Speaker, it is important to note that the committee was given the mandate of referring any matter arising from the review for more specific investigation by a professional licensing or other disciplinary body where It considered such action to be desirable and in the public interest. The chairperson has advised me that there was no evidence of professional malpractice and no basis for recommending disciplinary action. As a result, the committee made no referrals.

The chairperson has also advised that all members of the committee were offered the opportunity of providing an addendum to the report to set out issues or facts which they believed warranted communication. In that respect, one member concurred fully with the recommendations, but would have preferred to see additional editorial changes to the body of the report, although no specific dissenting opinion was put forward.

In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to personally thank all individuals and organizations, such as the Status of Women Council, who came forward to provide information and opinion to the review committee members. All of them played a positive and

constructive role in sharing their experiences with the expressed intention of improving the delivery of abortion services in the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

--- Applause

Ministers' Statement 73-12(2): Abortion Services
Item 2: Ministers' Statements

Page 745

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Ministers' statements. Mr. Morin.

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Mr. Speaker, during the last session, the Member for Deh Cho announced that site clearing had been completed and foundation work for the Hay River Reserve treatment centre would begin this spring. Tu Cho Gha Contracting Ltd., a construction company which is 100 per cent owned by the Hay River Dene Band, undertook this work.

On June 4, 1992, the Department of Public Works, with the approval of the Financial Management Board, awarded a negotiated contract to Tu Cho Gha Contracting Ltd. for the construction of the centre. The contract is worth $2.3 million. The treatment centre is expected to be finished in the spring Of 1993.

This construction project will provide much needed employment for band members and valuable business experience for this company. This is the largest project ever undertaken by Tu Cho Gha. The subcontractors and suppliers are all NWT companies, and include Mackenzie Electrical Ltd., Weaner's Plumbing and Heating, United Carper/United Furniture, Alternative Energy Supplies, Igloo Building Supplies and Lakeshore Building Supplies, all from Hay River. In addition, Silverado Painting from Yellowknife is also a subcontractor.

The band leadership has played a major role in securing this facility for their community. During the past several years, members of the band, along with representatives from surrounding communities, have helped DPW and Social Services in planning this project.

The Department of Social Services has supported DPWs efforts to work with Tu Cho Gha and the Hay River Dene Band throughout the planning of the project and contract negotiations. Construction of the centre is managed by DPW on behalf of the Department of Social Services. This facility will provide an important service for many years to come. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Ministers' statements. Ms. Cournoyea.

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Mr. Speaker, over the past few weeks I have been considering a re-alignment of ministerial responsibilities, particularly because of our plan for consolidation. More recently, a motion of this House has requested that I report, by today, on what I plan to do in respect to a lack of confidence ordinary Members have expressed in certain Ministers.

Mr. Speaker, I have given this matter careful consideration, and do not believe there is good reason to act on the premise of lack of confidence. However, a more equal distribution of portfolios will be announced shortly, once I have had the opportunity to speak with the new Minister to consider individual preferences and abilities in relation to the strength and workloads of other Ministers. As previously mentioned, these changes will be accompanied by the re-assignment of some deputy ministers. Thank you.

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

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

Revised Business Incentive Policy
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 746

John Todd Keewatin Central

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is not often that I get an opportunity to stand here and throw compliments to Members of the cabinet on a job well done. However, today I am pleased to give credit where credit is due. Earlier this month, the Minister of Public Works, the Hon. Don Morin, brought forward a revised business incentive policy. This improved policy will allow northern businesses a greater opportunity to receive GNWT contracts. I was particularly happy to see this policy now apply to all authorities that receive over half their funding from the GNWT. This is long overdue.

Mr. Speaker, Mr. Morin was also able to convince CMHC to allow this policy to apply with respect to the Housing Corporation contracts. This is surely a major breakthrough. Many past Ministers have attempted to convince CMHC to accept this provision. Mr. Morin has succeeded in getting it done. Perhaps we should allow Mr. Morin to undertake more negotiations with the federal government, considering his stunning success.

-- Applause

It would certainly be really stunning if he could convince the NWT Power Corporation to accept a similar policy. It is no secret that I have long been a major opponent of an absolute preference for northern businesses who bid on GNWT contracts. While the revised policy does not go this far, it does indeed represent a substantive improvement that should see a large reduction in the dollars flowing south.

Revised Business Incentive Policy
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 746

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Members' statements. Ms. Mike.

Aboriginal Representation In Corrections Services
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 746

Rebecca Mike Baffin Central

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to raise a concern about the way corrections services is administered by the Department of Social Services. Mr. Speaker, the corrections field can be a rewarding career for aboriginal people, who have had an interest in working with people, throughout the Northwest Territories. This field can offer them an opportunity to help others and to develop their skills in fulfilling work with offers and potentials for career advancement. But, Mr. Speaker, aboriginal people are not well represented within the corrections field. There are 254 corrections positions in the Department of Social Services.

Seventy-four of these are filled by aboriginal people. Mr. Speaker, that means aboriginal people hold 29 per cent of corrections jobs, and that Is not good enough.

What concerns me even more is that of 13 positions that are classified as management, only one position is held by an aboriginal person. Mr. Speaker, that is a very poor record for corrections services. Although aboriginal people are turning to the corrections field for a promising and fulfilling career, it seems there is a block within the system. Aboriginal people are simply not advancing to the management level. I am very concerned with the record of the Department of Social Services with respect to the representation of aboriginal people at the management level. The government must make serious efforts to improve their performance in this crucial area. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Aboriginal Representation In Corrections Services
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 746

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Members' statements. Mr. Pudluk.

Rcmp Detachment Remain In Grise Fiord
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 746

Ludy Pudluk High Arctic

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. One of my constituents in Grise Fiord is concerned that the RCMP will be removed because of what Inspector J.W. Rushton had written. For a number of reasons, Grise Fiord feels they need the presence of the RCMP. It was created by the RCMP with the present population coming from other communities in the High Arctic. Even though it is a remote place to live in, it has been a community for quite some time now. So the people feel that if the RCMP is removed from Grise Fiord, their people might move out. The people that were raised there feel they are aboriginal and want to keep living there too. But if the detachment is to be closed and moved to other communities, the people born there will feel quite an impact of this.

They say the reason is because of the budget cutbacks but, from my point of view, I feel the funding should not be used as an excuse for law enforcement program cuts.

Today I would like to ask the federal government to review and to reconsider that the detachment should remain in Grise Fiord. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Rcmp Detachment Remain In Grise Fiord
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 746

An Hon. Member

Hear, hear!

Rcmp Detachment Remain In Grise Fiord
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 746

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

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

Inmates Voting In Elections
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 746

Samuel Gargan Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Members of the Legislative Assembly may recall that I introduced a motion on July 3, 1991, which urged the Minister of Justice to refer the prohibition against inmates voting contained in our legislation to the Supreme Court of the Northwest Territories so that the court could determine whether the prohibition was constitutional. At that time, a number of lower level courts had determined that similar provisions in other jurisdictions contravened the Charter right that guarantees every citizen of Canada the right to vote in an election for Members of the House of Commons or the Legislative Assembly.

At that time, Mr. Speaker, we were facing a territorial election, and I believed that it was important that the courts ruled on the issue before an election, rather than during an election and risk disrupting the entire election process. The motion was defeated, Mr. Speaker, much to my dismay.

We are fortunate that no challenge was launched by inmates during the last territorial election. A challenge could have seriously disrupted the entire election and, I believe, based on recent court decisions, would have been successful.

Very recently, Mr. Speaker, yet another high level court decision was released which held that a similar provision of the Ontario Elections Act was unconstitutional. The Ontario Court of Appeal, in the case of Sauve vs Attorney General of Canada, hold the prohibition unconstitutional saying that the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms confirms "that the right to vote must be protected against those who have the capacity, and often the interest, to limit the franchise."

Mr. Speaker, I would also like to bring to Members' attention the fact that the chief electoral officer, in Tabled Document 50-12(2), a report on our last election, has suggested that the Legislative Assembly may wish to review the issue of inmates' voting rights with a view to possible future amendments to the NWT Elections Act.

I am, today, calling on this government to recognize that our Elections Act contains a section which has been held unconstitutional by other courts and to take the wise advice of the chief electoral officer. I urge this government to correct this situation immediately and remove this ancient, outdated and unconstitutional prohibition. Thank you.

--Applause

Inmates Voting In Elections
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 747

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

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

Ingamo Hall Programs
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 747

Fred Koe Inuvik

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to say a few words about the programs Ingamo Hall offers to the people in Inuvik. Ingamo Hall is constantly looking at programs that will enhance the community. Since Inuvik has an equal number of Gwich'in, Inuvialuit and non-aboriginal residents, the centre tries to appeal to these groups. The staff are using innovative ways to bridge gaps in the community. One way that the centre is trying to bring people together is to plan programs that will strengthen the relationships between youth and elders. Ingamo Hall has taken on a stronger community spirit and has become involved in a variety of community agencies. The centre has provided practise space for organizations and donated time to fellow agencies.

Over the past 12 months, Ingamo Hall has run 18 regular programs, eight annual events, and hosted a variety of feasts and dances, seminars and workshops. The friendship centre has also initiated now programs. These programs are offered to the community and taught by local people. The new programs offered this year included art classes, a healing circle, literacy programs, monthly coffee houses, new dimensions, strings across the sky and a trading post. These programs were delivered to enhance the skills of the community people.

As well, the programs are accessible to any individual or group in the community. Individuals from outlying communities are also welcome to got Involved. The staff at the friendship centre are presently looking into other programs for the upcoming year.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for giving me this opportunity to recognize the opportunities that Ingamo Hall is providing to the people in Inuvik and the surrounding communities. Any time that visitors are in Inuvik, please take the time to visit Ingamo Hall. Mahsi cho.

--Applause

Ingamo Hall Programs
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 747

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Thank you, Mr. Koe. Mr. Lewis.

Economic Development Of Nwt
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 747

Brian Lewis Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today because I am very concerned about the direction in which this government is going as it relates to the overall economic development of our Northwest Territories. What I have seen in the Now Directions paper is an attempt to decentralize jobs to other places, and there is a mixed signal, Mr. Speaker, when at the very time we are in need of economic development, the amount of money that is made available for the Development Corporation, which has already been reduced once from $10 million down to eight million dollars, is now going to be reduced to six million dollars. It had been our recommendation over the last four years that what we should be doing is looking at some mechanism for creating wealth in our small communities; not simply by providing government jobs.

Although that may be an interim thing, what we have to look at is to find ways to develop another sector of our economy. It is a bad signal, I think, to the people of the Northwest Territories that we have so little imagination that all we can do is out down the amount of money that will create real wealth in the future by simply replacing it in the easiest way which is simply to just move a job out. Thank you.

--Applause

Economic Development Of Nwt
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 747

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Members' statements. Mr. Antoine.

Lack Of Phone Service In Small Communities
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 747

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I am going to speak in my language today. (Translation) Where I am from, there are three communities Jean Marie River, Nahanni Butte and Trout Lake, that do not have telephones. In each community, they only have one pay phone. If one wants to use it, sometimes the offices are locked up late at night, so it is difficult for people to use the phone. Now there are such things as faxes and telephones, and a person can communicate very easily, but not in those communities.

The reason I am saying this is because the NorthwesTel company over there, last year, raised a lot of money through the pay phones that are in these communities. As a government, we should get the government to assist them to get more phones for those communities. Mr. Zoe and Mr. Bernhardt have a similar situation in their ridings. I am really concerned about this, and this is why I wanted to raise it. Thank you.

Lack Of Phone Service In Small Communities
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 747

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Allooloo.

Tfn Land Claim Ratification And Political Accord
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 747

Titus Allooloo Amittuq

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I was very pleased last May 5 when the results from the plebiscite were finalized, and it appeared that the dream that we had carried in our hearts, Nunavut, would be established within the next decade. However, I would like to emphasize that there is a lot of work to be done before this now territory becomes a reality. The residents of the entire NWT began to march down the road toward Nunavut when we voted to confirm the boundary line. However, the next stop is up to the Inuit residents of Nunavut when we vote to ratify the Tungavik Federation of Nunavut land claim early in November. Without the acceptance of the claim by the Inuit the establishment of Nunavut becomes less likely and, indeed, almost impossible

at this time.

In order to approve the claim, a majority of Inuit in each region must ratify the claim. This does not mean that only a majority of Inuit who vote must approve of the claim, but that at least 51 per cent of all Inuit on the voters' list must agree to accept the claim. It is vital that the beneficiaries show their support by voting, as a "no show will count as a 'no'." I, as chairman of the Nunavut caucus, urge all Inuit who are eligible to vote to be sure that their vote counts that we may move toward the attainment of our shared dream, a now territory called Nunavut.

There is much work to be done before Nunavut is established on April 1, 1999. The successful ratification of the land claim is the first stop in the process, and negotiations toward the successful creation of Nunavut must proceed in an orderly manner with full participation of residents of the territory. We look forward to participating in the building of our new homeland, and wish to get on with the work. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.