Debates of Dec. 9th, 1993

This is page numbers 565 - 633 of the Hansard for the 12th Assembly, 4th 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

Comic Book - Arctic Plei

Country Food

Canadian Council Of Catholic Bishops

Social Assistance Food Rates

Government Contractual Practices

Closure Of Akaitcho Hall

Return To Oral Question 239-12(4): Funds For Meeting Of Alcohol And Drug Board Of Management

Further Return To Oral Question 242-12(4): Stockpiles Transferred For Roads In Chesterfield Inlet

Return To Oral Question 235-12(4): Alcohol And Drug Board Of Management

Return To Oral Question 211-12(4): Canada/nwt Languages Agreement

Further Return To Oral Question 213-12(4): Canada/nwt Language Agreements

Further Return To Oral Question 225-12(4): Type Of Expertise Shared With Other Groups

Further Return To Oral Question 231-12(4): Division Secretariat Established By Cabinet

Further Return To Oral Question 226-12(4): Training Programs For Heavier Involvement In The Mining Industry

Return To Oral Question 94-12(4): Policy For Non-medical Escorts

Return To Oral Question 210-12(4): Consultation Prior To Non-native Adoptions

Further Return To Oral Question 193-12(4): Examine Guardianship Act In Detail

Return To Oral Question 200-12(4): Fire And Liability Insurance Carried On Government Units

Consultation With Other Jurisdictions Re Guardianship Trustee Act

Reductions In Food Allowances In Natilikmiot Communities

Review New Food Rates And Increase In Communities That Were Decreased

Food Allowance Rates

Responsibility For Snow Removal For Social Housing

Agency Responsible For Food Cost Surveys

Eligibility For Senior Citizens' Fuel Subsidy

Transfer Of Gravel To Hamlet Of Chesterfield Inlet

Cut-off Of Family Allowances For School Age Children

GNWT Takeover Of Federal Tank Farm

Monitoring Of Contracts To Ensure Local Labour Hired

Reasons For Increases In Food Allowances

Staff Housing Buy-back Policy

Revisions To Conflict Of Interest Guidelines Since 1988

NWT Birthrate For 1992

Tabling Of Strategic Planning Report

Review Of Policy For Mackenzie River Barging Contract

Number Of Custom Adoptions In 1992

Application Of Language Bonus

Counselling For Pregnant Teenagers

Commitment To Respond To Outstanding Questions

Status On Baffin Fishing Industry Quotas

Update Of Mine Safety Act

Transfer And Consolidation Of Responsibilities

Item 7: Returns To Written Questions

Return To Written Question 1-12(4): Government Of The Northwest Territories In Court As Defendant

Return To Written Question 4-12(4): Iqaluit Hot Water System Shutdown Costs

Return To Written Question 6-12(4): Details And Costs Of Government Repaired Houses

Return To Written Question 13-12(4): Hay Plan Status

Return To Written Question 17-12(4): Fort Smith Garage Purchases

Return To Written Question 20-12(4): Capital Contracts List

Return To Written Question 22-12(4): Public Works Contracts

Return To Written Question 26-12(4): Government Buildings Written Off After Fires

Item 8: Replies To Opening Address

Item 12: Tabling Of Documents

Independent Review Of Triple Designation Of River Ridge Facility

Road Construction Through Wood Buffalo National Park, Carried As Amended

Referral Of The Comprehensive Audit Of The Department Of Economic Development And Tourism To The Standing Committee On Public Accounts

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

Committee Report 10-12(4): Standing Committee On Agencies, Boards And Commissions Review Of The NWT Power Corporation

To Adopt Recommendation 1

To Adopt Recommendation 2

To Adopt Recommendation 3

To Adopt Recommendation 4

To Adopt Recommendation 5,

To Adopt Recommendation 6

To Adopt Recommendation 7

To Adopt Recommendation 8

To Adopt Recommendation 9

To Adopt Recommendation 10

To Adopt Recommendation 11

To Adopt Recommendation 12

To Adopt Recommendation 13

Item 20: Report Of Committee Of The Whole

Bill 1, Appropriation Act, No. 1, 1994-95

Bill 5, Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 5, 1992-93

Bill 6, Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1993-94

Assent To Bills

Question 262-12(4): Reasons For Increases In Food Allowances
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 575

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Social Services with regard to the social assistance food rates. When I received the information earlier this year, I couldn't figure out how anybody could do some of the things they did with regard to increasing. I agree that this food allowance should be increased. It is good for the people who really need it, but I find that some of the communities have been advanced in my constituency. The community of

Nahanni Butte is in scale number four, which remains the same. I feel it is power with some of the other communities, like Jean Marie River and Trout Lake, which have been advanced to scale eight and scale nine. Who came to the conclusion to do these advancements of these communities into higher scales?

Question 262-12(4): Reasons For Increases In Food Allowances
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 576

The Speaker

Minister Mike.

Return To Question 262-12(4): Reasons For Increases In Food Allowances
Question 262-12(4): Reasons For Increases In Food Allowances
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 576

Rebecca Mike Baffin Central

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The department officials increase or decrease the food rates according to the surveys that were carried out in 1991 by the Bureau of Statistics. Thank you.

Return To Question 262-12(4): Reasons For Increases In Food Allowances
Question 262-12(4): Reasons For Increases In Food Allowances
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 576

The Speaker

Item 5, oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Antoine.

Supplementary To Question 262-12(4): Reasons For Increases In Food Allowances
Question 262-12(4): Reasons For Increases In Food Allowances
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 576

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

There we go again. The departments make decisions based on numbers similar to the needs assessment on housing. Here we go again, with numbers from vital statistics. We represent the people in the communities. This government is responsible for providing the programs and services to these people. We are not providing programs and services to numbers and figures. I would like to know if any consideration was given to the people who are living in these communities, when this decision was made? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 262-12(4): Reasons For Increases In Food Allowances
Question 262-12(4): Reasons For Increases In Food Allowances
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 576

The Speaker

Minister Mike.

Further Return To Question 262-12(4): Reasons For Increases In Food Allowances
Question 262-12(4): Reasons For Increases In Food Allowances
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 576

Rebecca Mike Baffin Central

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Like I said before, when the increase occurred, I instructed the department to try and reflect the food cost in the communities. Having received that instruction, the department officials used food cost surveys that were done by the Bureau of Statistics; our department didn't do the survey on their own. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 262-12(4): Reasons For Increases In Food Allowances
Question 262-12(4): Reasons For Increases In Food Allowances
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 576

The Speaker

Supplementary, Mr. Antoine.

Supplementary To Question 262-12(4): Reasons For Increases In Food Allowances
Question 262-12(4): Reasons For Increases In Food Allowances
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 576

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Looking at the new increases, I find it difficult to...I thought Nahanni Butte was in the same category as communities like Jean Marie River or Trout Lake, but yet in the scale, they're separated by four different scales. They're all in the same category and I cannot understand how this could be done. I was wondering if the Minister has any intentions of revisiting this food scale to see if communities that are similar could be all in the same category? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 262-12(4): Reasons For Increases In Food Allowances
Question 262-12(4): Reasons For Increases In Food Allowances
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 576

The Speaker

Minister Mike.

Further Return To Question 262-12(4): Reasons For Increases In Food Allowances
Question 262-12(4): Reasons For Increases In Food Allowances
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 576

Rebecca Mike Baffin Central

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier, from other questions from the Members, I had already agreed that this will be reviewed. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 262-12(4): Reasons For Increases In Food Allowances
Question 262-12(4): Reasons For Increases In Food Allowances
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 576

The Speaker

Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Ng.