The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Please proceed, Mr. Dent.
Debates of Dec. 8th, 1993
Topics
Member's Statement Re Subsidized Housing Program
Item 3: Members' Statements
Page 520
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Member's Statement Re Subsidized Housing Program
Item 3: Members' Statements
Page 520
Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake
Thank you, Mr. Speaker and Members. Mr. Speaker, I'm happy to report that Monica and the Sissons Court Tenant Association are going to have a community centre. The Yellowknife Housing Authority is going to make a three bedroom unit at Sissons Court available for the tenant's association's use. The arrangement has been made for a six month trial period only, but there is good reason to believe that this community centre can really work for Sissons Court.
The creation of the tenant association alone, last spring, has had positive results. According to the Housing Authority, there has already been a considerable decrease in vandalism in the neighbourhood in the past six months. Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate the Yellowknife Housing Authority, the Honourable Don Morin and the NWT Housing Corporation for recognizing the importance and value of this project and allowing it to proceed.
I would like to thank the Social Services area office for their help and support. And most of all, I would like to congratulate Monica Fusick-Leonard is on her initiative and her can do spirit. Mr. Speaker, she has set an example for all of us.
---Applause
Member's Statement Re Subsidized Housing Program
Item 3: Members' Statements
Page 520
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Thank you, Mr. Dent. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Koe.
Member's Statement Acknowledging Pages From Inuvik
Item 3: Members' Statements
Page 520
Fred Koe Inuvik
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, Today I'd like to acknowledge the performance and contributions of two pages who are from Inuvik. Bernadette Binder and Kevin St. Amand have been with us for the week and a half. They are both from Samuel Hearne Secondary School in Inuvik. They are grade ten students. They were chosen from among many applications from students in Samuel Hearne. The two applicants were chosen based on their scholastic abilities plus their ability to be on time and perform various tasks that have been assigned to them. So, I would like to acknowledge their being here, the work they've done and I would also like to thank the school staff who chose these two from all the other students. I would also like to thank my wife and children for hosting these two, during their stay in Yellowknife. Mahsi.
---Applause
Member's Statement Acknowledging Pages From Inuvik
Item 3: Members' Statements
Page 520
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Thank you, Mr. Koe. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Todd.
Member's Statement Welcoming Pages From Rankin Inlet
Item 3: Members' Statements
December 7th, 1993
Page 521
John Todd Keewatin Central
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Like Mr. Koe, I'm very pleased to inform Members of this House that serving this week as pages are two young students from Rankin Inlet. On the immediate left is Pauline Sabourin and on the right is Shauna Tatty. These two young students were selected by the teachers of the Maani Ulujuk Secondary School, based on their academic performance and their attitude. I'm extremely proud of Shauna and Pauline, and I know their parents, Robert and Annie Tatty of Rankin Inlet and Marie Sabourin of Whale Cove are equally proud they've been selected to serve as pages through the sitting of this Assembly.
Mr. Speaker, this is the third occasion that I've been able to sponsor students from the Keewatin to travel to Yellowknife to serve as pages. The experience for all of these students has been tremendous and I intend to sponsor more students in the future. I hope, Mr. Speaker, that, through your office, we can see an expansion of this program so that more students from outside of Yellowknife can have the opportunity to see how the Legislative Assembly operates. Thank you.
---Applause
Member's Statement Welcoming Pages From Rankin Inlet
Item 3: Members' Statements
Page 521
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Thank you, Mr. Todd. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Patterson.
Miracle In Iqaluit
Item 3: Members' Statements
Page 521
Dennis Patterson Iqaluit
Mr. Speaker, I'm waiting for the light, although the clock started ticking.
---Laughter
Am I on? Mr. Speaker, although I know this is not Friday, but it is getting very close to Christmas, I have seen the light...
---Laughter
...and I rise today to inform the House of a veritable miracle in the House. This relates to the ongoing saga of the town of Iqaluit. Mr. Speaker, on November 12, I was informed in the grave, sombre tones of a letter hand-delivered from the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs that, even with the debenture interests forgiveness relief granted by the FMB, "The town will be still be saddled with a considerable financial burden which it cannot meet with its present funds."
"The long and short of it," the Minister went on to say in his very unsettling letter, "is that the town of Iqaluit is incapable of meeting its financial obligations, for which reason, I have been directed by Cabinet to declare the town under the control of a municipal administrator." Mr. Speaker, it got worse.
On November 18, in a further letter to me, the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs stated, "Even with the debenture refinancing, the town was still facing a deficit of nearly $1 million, much of which is due December 31, 1993." My anxiety rose. If that wasn't bad enough news, Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Finance, Mr. Pollard, speculated in this House, on November 24, in a return to a question about the financial obligations of the town of Iqaluit, "As late as yesterday, I was told by someone that amount may go as high as another $2.4 million." The miracle is this Mr. Speaker -- and I will get to who the miracle worker was later in this statement -- after all these grave warnings, even with the debenture relief having been approved, a financial crisis and crippling debt looming and year end deficits, the new municipal administrator reported to the people of Iqaluit, at a public meeting which I attended last Monday night, "The financial situation has been stabilized."
---Applause
"The patient is out of danger," he said. "The town can meet the debenture payments." Hallelujah!
---Laughter
---Applause
Mr. Speaker, in less than four weeks...(Microphone turned off)
---Laughter
Miracle In Iqaluit
Item 3: Members' Statements
Page 521
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent. Are there any nays?
Miracle In Iqaluit
Item 3: Members' Statements
Page 521
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
---Agreed
Miracle In Iqaluit
Item 3: Members' Statements
Page 521
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
There are no nays. Please proceed, Mr. Patterson.
Miracle In Iqaluit
Item 3: Members' Statements
Page 521
Dennis Patterson Iqaluit
Thank you very much, Members. You can see I have been rejuvenated by my visit to Iqaluit.
Miracle In Iqaluit
Item 3: Members' Statements
Page 521
An Hon. Member
(Microphone turned off)
Miracle In Iqaluit
Item 3: Members' Statements
Page 521
Dennis Patterson Iqaluit
We got to hallelujah. The miracle is this, Mr. Speaker. In less than four weeks, Mr. Beaumont has turned a threatened $1 million to $2 million deficit into financial stability. The financial crisis has been averted. Financial crisis has become financial stability. Mr. Speaker, Robin Beaumont is a miracle worker. He has saved hundreds of thousands of dollars each day he has been in office. I cannot understand why the citizens of Yellowknife didn't elect him mayor.
---Laughter
Mr. Speaker, we should clone Mr. Beaumont.
Miracle In Iqaluit
Item 3: Members' Statements
Page 521
Some Hon. Members
Boo.
Miracle In Iqaluit
Item 3: Members' Statements
Page 521
Dennis Patterson Iqaluit
We should clone him and put him to work in departments of the government. We should make him a special assistant in charge of fighting deficits for Mr. Pollard.
---Applause
Maybe, Mr. Speaker, he should even been put in charge of managing the Ministers' home travel budgets.
Miracle In Iqaluit
Item 3: Members' Statements
Page 521
Some Hon. Members
Boo.
Miracle In Iqaluit
Item 3: Members' Statements
Page 521
Dennis Patterson Iqaluit
Now, Mr. Speaker, not everyone believes in miracles. Some of my more cynical constituents are not
convinced that miracles have been wrought by the new municipal administrator. If Mr. Beaumont is not a miracle worker, Mr. Speaker, if such powers are not given to mere mortals, even retired senior MACA officials with Mr. Beaumont's experience, then what other explanation can there be? The only other explanation I can think of is, after the debenture refinancing, perhaps the town of Iqaluit was not in a financial crisis after all. Mr. Speaker, if there was not a grave financial crisis after the debenture refinancing, then I ask Members of this House, what was the real reason for the dissolution of the mayor and council of the town of Iqaluit? Thank you.
---Applause
Miracle In Iqaluit
Item 3: Members' Statements
Page 522
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Thank you, Mr. Patterson. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Lewis.
Appreciation To Honourable M. Ballantyne
Item 3: Members' Statements
Page 522
Brian Lewis Yellowknife Centre
I know, Mr. Speaker, you have been just waiting for someone to get up and thank you for your service.
---Laughter
Having stood, Mr. Speaker, on an impulse, after hearing Mr. Patterson's passionate words about miracles, then I won't accuse you of ever having wrought any or performing any. But over the last two years I have appreciated your good humour and your attempt to keep everybody on the right track. I only became aware, yesterday what an incredible astute politician you really are, even though you are Speaker. It has taken me a long time, but yesterday I noticed that when you arrived in the Chamber you were wearing red socks that were perfectly colour coordinated with the poinsettias to your right and to your left, and that you have arranged to have a photographer in the gallery to capture this moment in history...
---Laughter
...when you were going to tell us that you were going to now fully represent the people who elected you.
It does leave me with one thought, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Pedersen had a similar kind of problem. When you take on this responsibility then you do, in fact, give up your right to speak and it poses tremendous problems for everybody. So, I suppose what I'm doing is to thank you for those years of self-sacrifice when you have in fact given up these rights in order to serve the rest of us to the best of your ability. Thank you very much.
---Applause
Appreciation To Honourable M. Ballantyne
Item 3: Members' Statements
Page 522
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Thank you, Mr. Lewis. The picture is for my mother.
---Laughter
The son she always wanted. Item 3, Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Mr. Kakfwi.
Return To Oral Question 173-12(4): Method Of Identifying Former Dumping Sites In The Arctic Ocean
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Page 522
Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu
Mr. Speaker, I have three returns. The first one is to Mr. Kelvin Ng. The question he asked on December 2 regarding method of identifying former dumping sites in the Arctic Ocean.
The recent discovery of electrical equipment in the marine waters off Cambridge Bay has confirmed what has been suspected for many years, that the Arctic Ocean has been used for the disposal of hazardous wastes by operators of Canada's DEW Line system.
The survey work completed near Cambridge Bay last spring was undertaken by the federal government to assist in developing an overall plan to identify sites which may have been used for this purpose in the past. The Department of Renewable Resources assisted this survey work by providing logistical support to the divers and research scientists who were on site at the time.
The Government of the Northwest Territories strongly objects to the past and present disposal of hazardous wastes into the Arctic Ocean. We have stated this position publicly and to Environment Canada on many recent occasions, including a meeting of Environment Ministers which took place last month. I am presently writing to the newly appointed federal Minister of the Environment, the Honourable Sheila Copps, confirming my concerns with this matter.
The regulatory control of ocean dumping activities remains the mandate of the federal Department of the Environment. Until devolution of this regulatory responsibility can be successfully negotiated with the Government of Canada, this department will continue to encourage and provide assistance to federal regulators where we can identify former dumping sites.
Return To Oral Question 197-12(4): Handling And Transportation Of Firearms
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Page 522
Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu
I have another return to an oral question asked by Mr. Gargan on December 6. It is response to a question asked regarding handling and transportation of firearms.
Mr. Gargan's question is whether, as an aboriginal person, it is illegal for him to keep his gun displayed on a gun rack in his vehicle.
The firearms safety provisions are prescribed by the federal government under the criminal code. The supporting regulations apply to all persons with no differentiation as to whether they are aboriginal or non-aboriginal.
There is a specific regulation on "storage, display, handling and transportation of firearms." Sections 4, 9 and 10 of this regulation set out the requirements on how firearms may be stored, displayed and transported. Firearms left in unattended vehicles must be unloaded, lock in the vehicle or in the truck or similar compartment if there is one, and not visible from the outside.
A copy of these regulations can be provided to all Members if they wish.
Further Return To Oral Question 188-12(4): Change Of Name Procedures
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Page 522
Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu
Lastly, I have a Return to Oral Question asked by Mr. Kelvin Ng on December 6, regarding change of name procedures.
On Monday, Mr. Ng brought up the matter of the difficulties involved in changing one's name. I'd like to thank him for raising this matter in the House. There was an excellent suggestion made that the procedure be simplified so people would no longer have to go to the expense of having to hire a lawyer to apply to court for an order to have their name changed.
The consumer and corporate affairs division of the Department of Safety and Public Services is just completing a study which documents the history of the collection of vital statistics in the Northwest Territories, and outlines many of the problems which Mr. Ng refers to in his statement. The proposal made by Mr. Ng is consistent with the study which would suggest that the Change of Name Act be amended to remove the process from the court system and permit applications for change of name to be directed to vital statistics as is done in many provinces.
I will be consulting with my Cabinet colleague responsible for the Department of Safety and Public Services. Our two departments will work closely together to conduct the necessary consultation on this matter, with a view of putting forward proposed changes in the new year. Thank you.
Further Return To Oral Question 188-12(4): Change Of Name Procedures
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Page 523
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Thank you, Mr. Kakfwi. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Mr. Todd.