This is page numbers 1207 - 1227 of the Hansard for the 12th Assembly, 3rd 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 facility.

Members Present

Mr. Antoine, Mr. Arngna'naaq, Mr. Dent, Mr. Gargan, Hon. Stephen Kakfwi, Mr. Koe, Mr. Lewis, Mrs. Marie-Jewell, Hon. Rebecca Mike, Hon. Don Morin, Hon. Richard Nerysoo, Mr. Ningark, Mr. Patterson, Hon. John Pollard, Mr. Pudlat, Mr. Pudluk, Mr. Whitford

---Prayer

Item 1: Prayer
Item 1: Prayer

Page 1207

The Deputy Speaker Ludy Pudluk

This House will come to order. Before I begin with the Ministers' statements, I would like to recognize in the gallery, a group of 20 rotary club students from the around the world, South Africa, Australia, Brazil, Vietnam and India, as well as Canadian students from British Columbia and Alberta. These students are being sponsored by the Alberta Rotary Club. The rotary club from Yellowknife is hosting a program called "northern experiences." The students are in town for five days and will take part in the Caribou Carnival activities this weekend. We hope they enjoy their visit to our territory.

---Applause

Welcome to the Northwest Territories. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. Member for Thebacha.

Refuting Previous Comments By Honourable Stephen Kakfwi Re River Ridge Facility
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1207

Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on Wednesday, March 24, 1993, the Honourable Stephen Kakfwi stated, and I quote from page 3157 of the unedited Hansard, "The homework which should be done should be with Members who are sometimes using information which is not correct because it impacts on statements which are made, for instance, by members of the union. When there is no attempt to correct some of the misinformation, then it becomes a problem for good factual debate in this House." Mr. Speaker, the statement made by Mr. Kakfwi was in response to my questioning the Minister on legal implications flowing from the Department of Justice's decision to designate the River Ridge facility as a secure facility. Mr. Speaker, I take strong exception to the honourable Member's statement.

The Minister is aware that I have tabled several legal documents which deal with the proper and improper designation of young offenders' facilities. The Minister, himself, acknowledges the relevance by these decisions when he stated and I quote from page 3156 from unedited Hansard, "The court cases which the Member tabled are court cases which the Department of Justice is fully aware of. They were reviewed a few months ago when this plan was being considered on a tentative basis." Given that the Minister's staff have reviewed these cases, how can he suggest that Members are not doing their homework and that Members are presenting misinformation? Mr. Speaker, the case is tabled and the thrust of my questions to the Minister have focused on whether the designation is appropriate and in keeping with the law. It may well be that the designation is appropriate and legal if the Department of Justice takes certain steps to establish programs appropriate to young offenders in an open custody facility, or if the staff are trained to deal with open custody offenders or if certain structural modifications are made. Those are the issues.

Refuting Previous Comments By Honourable Stephen Kakfwi Re River Ridge Facility
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1207

The Deputy Speaker Ludy Pudluk

Member for Thebacha, your allotted time has expired. Member for Thebacha.

Refuting Previous Comments By Honourable Stephen Kakfwi Re River Ridge Facility
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1207

Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha

Thank you. I seek unanimous consent to continue.

Refuting Previous Comments By Honourable Stephen Kakfwi Re River Ridge Facility
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1207

The Deputy Speaker Ludy Pudluk

The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Please proceed, Member for Thebacha.

Refuting Previous Comments By Honourable Stephen Kakfwi Re River Ridge Facility
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1207

Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Those are the issues, Mr. Speaker. They are legitimate issues of concern to me and to my constituents. The Minister has not taken the time to deal with these issues in this House in a thorough and thoughtful manner, which is responsive to legitimate concerns. On the contrary, the Minister has dismissed my concerns with an off-the-cuff comment about failure to do homework and presenting misinformation to this House.

Further to this, Mr. Speaker, he also knows I tabled a letter this week from the union, which the last paragraph reads and I quote, "Therefore, I would suggest that your statement 'that as far as you know everyone is in agreement, except for the union' is completely inaccurate as I believe you knew it was at the time you made these remarks." That is signed by Keith Dowling who is the regional vice-president of the union in Fort Smith. It makes me wonder, Mr. Speaker, who is presenting misinformation in this House. Mr. Speaker, the issue will not go away. I will continue to question the Minister until I am satisfied that the interest of the young offenders in the Northwest Territories and the concerns of my constituents are addressed. Thank you.

Refuting Previous Comments By Honourable Stephen Kakfwi Re River Ridge Facility
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1207

The Deputy Speaker Ludy Pudluk

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Dent.

39th Annual Caribou Carnival In Yellowknife
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1207

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I had not realized I had joined the postal code team. Mr. Speaker, this weekend the city of Yellowknife is celebrating its 39th annual Caribou Carnival. For almost 40 years now, Yellowknifers have been

participating in a wide variety of carnival events such as the Caribou Capers show, the ice sculpting contests, Tree of Peace talent show and various sporting competitions. Although the Caribou Carnival cops have already been making arrests for the past few days, the carnival does not officially kick-off until noon today.

Caribou Carnival is a unique northern event which provides Yellowknifers with an entertaining break towards the end of our long winters. The carnival is enjoyed by visitors outside the city as well.

39th Annual Caribou Carnival In Yellowknife
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1208

An Hon. Member

Hear, hear.

39th Annual Caribou Carnival In Yellowknife
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1208

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

In the past couple of years, carnival organizers have focused on making Caribou Carnival more of a tourist attraction. This week, the city of Yellowknife hosted the winter cities forum 1993, which saw many international and national delegates travelling to Yellowknife to attend this conference. The presence of national and international visitors at this year's carnival will hopefully attract greater numbers of tourists in future years. We can hope that our rotary visitors will spread the word about Yellowknife, so we will see more rotary exchange students back next year.

Mr. Speaker, the highlight of the Caribou Carnival is always the Canadian championship dog derby. Earlier in the House this week, the Member from Yellowknife South explained the particulars of this race, it requires a special strength and endurance from derby competitors. I would like to extend my best wishes to all those competing in the dog derby this weekend.

The city of Yellowknife is also privileged to be hosting the 1993 western Canadian cross-country skiing championships. Again, I would like to wish the best of luck to all skiing competitors.

Mr. Speaker, with the number of visitors in town and the extra events taking place, this year's carnival promises to be a great success. I encourage all out of town Members to join in the weekend's festivities. I would like to recognize members of the Caribou Carnival Association and all the carnival volunteers in their efforts in organizing this year's events. I am sure it has been a particularly busy year for them.

Finally, I wish all Yellowknifers and visitors to the city, a fun-filled Caribou Carnival, 1993. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

39th Annual Caribou Carnival In Yellowknife
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1208

The Deputy Speaker Ludy Pudluk

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Patterson.

Causes Of Frequent Power Outages In Iqaluit
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1208

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday, March 2, 1993, I asked the Honourable Nellie Cournoyea, Minister responsible for the NWT Power Corporation, about causes of frequent power outages at the plant in Iqaluit. The Minister stated in her responses to my questions that the problems could be a result of human error. I then went on to ask the Minister, among other things, whether there were gremlins loose in the Iqaluit power plant.

Mr. Speaker, these statements caused some great concern to the dedicated staff in the Iqaluit plant. I have since looked into the situation and I have learned that an exhaustive analysis of the problems at the power plant by the corporation has concluded there was no human error. The problems were technical and, as I understand it, a result mainly of problems connecting new equipment with very old equipment and exchanges. There was no sabotage.

I understand the new unit is on-line and seems to be working well. I wish to apologize for any offence my questions may have given to dedicated staff, who were doing their professional best in difficult circumstances. Thank you.

Causes Of Frequent Power Outages In Iqaluit
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1208

The Deputy Speaker Ludy Pudluk

Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Lewis.

Implications Of Tax Measures Proposed By GNWT
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1208

Brian Lewis Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I listened with interest to the budget speech from the Yukon this week. In that jurisdiction they found it necessary to raise taxes and, like our government, they are favoured because they do not have a huge deficit to worry about. Whenever you deliver government programs, the money has to come from somewhere. People have to get the idea that anything they ask for has to be paid for and it is their money that pays for it through the tax regime.

We have faced the same kind of problem here, but we do not have a party system, we have consensus government, which means that any individual here who does not want to vote for something because it will make him or her unpopular, will not do so. It puts our own government at a tremendous disadvantage compared to other governments. It is very difficult to get unpopular legislation through any assembly. For example, in my constituency, by voting for a tax measure, I will automatically be considered to be out of sync with the people I represent.

The tax we have in front of us to deal with very soon is a payroll tax and for many of the people I represent it seems rather "cute." An attempt to get us to pay taxes by pretending to tax people who live somewhere else. My own guess is if we were more straightforward with the public and say if they want service someone has to pay for it, we would just simply make an adjustment so the tax which we impose on people is very clearly designed to provide the level of service people are asking for. Thank you.

Implications Of Tax Measures Proposed By GNWT
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1208

The Deputy Speaker Ludy Pudluk

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Mr. Kakfwi.

Return To Question 490-12(3): Eligibility Criteria For Legal Aid On Appeals
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

Page 1208

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Mr. Speaker, I have two returns to oral questions. The first is a response to a question asked by Mrs. Marie-Jewell on March 15, 1993, regarding the eligibility criteria for legal aid on appeals.

Procedures concerning decisions about the funding of appeals by the Legal Services Board are set out in the legal services regulations. As the honourable Member indicated in her question, the funding application must be accompanied by the opinion of the lawyer who conducted the case at the trial level, as to the advisability of commencing or defending an appeal. Before an appeal is funded, the case is examined by the executive director, who must determine if the appeal is reasonable. The regulations provide that the executive director, in determining whether an appeal is reasonable, must take into account the possibility of success of the appeal. The regulations also direct that the executive director must weigh the merits of the case and arrive at a decision in the same manner as a private lawyer would if asked to advise an ordinary person who was able to afford the cost of an appeal. If the executive director considers the appeal reasonable he or she will approve the funding.

The department will forward the question of the honourable Member to the Legal Services Board with a request that it be seriously considered in the context of the recommendations of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, the Strength at Two Levels report, the task force on legal aid, and the federal/territorial cost-sharing agreement requirements. Thank you.

Return To Question 494-12(3): Determination Of Retailer For Inmate Wood Cutting Program
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

Page 1208

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

I have a return to an oral question asked by Mr. Lewis on March 15, 1993, regarding the determination of retailer for inmate wood cutting program.

Mr. Speaker, the South Mackenzie Correctional Centre has determined that the following purchasers were retailers because they paid for wood with corporate cheques: Everett's Upholstery, Quality Furniture, Great Northern Lumber, Garry Johnson, Co-op, Overlander Sports, McKiel, Robertson's Trucking, Great Slave Sledging, and Central Mechanical. Thank you.

Return To Question 494-12(3): Determination Of Retailer For Inmate Wood Cutting Program
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

Page 1209

The Deputy Speaker Ludy Pudluk

Thank you. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Mr. Pollard.

Further Return To Question 425-12(3): Status Of Research On Malikjuaq Park
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

Page 1209

John Pollard Hay River

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a response to a question asked by Mr. Pudlat on March 5, 1993, regarding the status of research on Malikjuaq Park.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, in response to the question from Mr. Pudlat on the status of Malikjuaq Park, I would like to report the following progress.

During the summer of 1992, the department contracted Mr. Doug Stenton to carry out archaeological work at the park. This work continued from preliminary investigations undertaken during 1991. Four Cape Dorset students were trained by Mr. Stenton and assisted him in the field.

Mr. Stenton has provided the Department of Economic Development and Tourism with a report summarizing his activities and finds, and a draft text for a brochure to be produced this coming year. Copies of this material will be provided to the Member from the department's Iqaluit office.

John Liard and Associates of Yellowknife, was hired during 1992-93 to develop plans and brochures for interpretive walking trails in the park and surrounding the community of Cape Dorset.

In the 1992-93 fiscal year the department provided the community of Lake Harbour with $20,000 for a season hosting program and $12,000 for an oral history project. Stories and legends taken from the oral history project are planned to be used in upcoming tourist pamphlets, park signs and brochures.

For the 1993 fiscal year we have set aside $75,000 in our capital plan for continued development of the park. This would include producing brochures, posters, signs, laying out trails and completing archaeological investigations. The local park advisory committee, made up of Kananginak Pootoogook, Maioni Ashoona and Doug Workman, has also been successful in securing funds from the Department of Education, Culture and Employment Programs for identifying traditional place names in and around the park.

Finally, Mr. Speaker, as a means of promoting visitation to the park, a section on Malikjuaq Park has been included in the recently produced Baffin handbook. This book will be on sale at many retail outlets throughout Canada and at northern visitor centres. It will provide visitors to the north with greater exposure to the many attractions in the Baffin region including Malikjuaq Park. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Further Return To Question 425-12(3): Status Of Research On Malikjuaq Park
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

Page 1209

The Deputy Speaker Ludy Pudluk

Thank you. Mr. Pollard.

Further Return To Question 541-12(3): Renegotiation Of Agreement With Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

Page 1209

John Pollard Hay River

Mr. Speaker, I have a return to a question asked by Ms. Marie-Jewell on March 19, 1993. It concerns the review of the freshwater fish marketing agreement.

Mr. Speaker, further to the response given to the Member for Thebacha by the Premier on March 19, the Department of Economic Development and Tourism will be requesting the Department of Justice to review the agreement between the Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation and the Government of the Northwest Territories respecting the marketing of freshwater fish. Specifically, the review will focus on the prospects for, and implications of the Northwest Territories getting out of that agreement. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Further Return To Question 541-12(3): Renegotiation Of Agreement With Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

Page 1209

The Deputy Speaker Ludy Pudluk

Thank you. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Mr. Nerysoo.

Return To Question 440-12(3): Assault In Arviat High School
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

Page 1209

Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a return to an oral question asked by Mr. Arngna'naaq on March 8, 1993, with regard to an assault in Arviat high school.

On February 17, 1993, an adult approached two students who were standing outside Qitiqliq High School during the afternoon recess, and assaulted one of them. The school called the RCMP, and the student who was assaulted gave the officer a statement but did not want to press charges.

The school and the community education council investigated the possibility of laying charges under the Criminal Code, and the RCMP officer advised them not to proceed. A teacher, the school, or the community education council can report any incidents to the RCMP and encourage the laying of charges. However, in the end the police officer makes the decision to lay a charge.

School authorities are responsible for the supervision and general protection of students. The school and the community education council did report the assault, and did encourage the policy officer to lay charges under the Criminal Code. The school contacted the Northwest Territories Teachers' Association and the association has written the RCMP about this incident, and are awaiting an answer.

There are also other actions school authorities can taken to try to protect the students. The Education Act allows a teacher to exclude any person who has created a disturbance from school premises. The Northwest Territories Teachers' Association and the Department responsible for Education, Culture and Employment Programs are continuing to look into what took place following the assault in Arviat, and are working to ensure that school authorities have the information and advice they need to do their part to protect students in school and on school premises. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Return To Question 440-12(3): Assault In Arviat High School
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

Page 1210

The Deputy Speaker Ludy Pudluk

Thank you. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Mr. Pollard.

Return To Question 543-12(3): Circumstances Leading To The Fisheries Decline
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

Page 1210

John Pollard Hay River

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is a return to a question asked by Mr. Lewis on March 19, 1993, and it concerns the Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, the problem on the lake is twofold, declining process for the catch and debt load. The Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation (FFMC) extends credit to fishermen in its jurisdictions, and those are advances on future catches. This is to assist the fishermen in getting out onto the lake and catching more fish. The corporation has allowed debts to accumulate. The accumulation of a large debt load and constantly declining prices for whitefish have made it difficult for even the best fishermen to make a living.

At one point, the FFMC was taking 40 per cent off the gross price received by some of the operators, for fish delivered, and that was just to service the debt. This policy crippled the operations of some fishermen and threatened the long-term viability of others. The corporation finally assigned a full-time credit manager to the Great Slave Lake fishery to restructure the credit policy for the lake and advise fishermen on financial operations.

All large operators with excessive debt were offered credit programs tailored to their operations. Some chose not to participate. For those who did, this new policy combined with a very good price for winter whitefish and high catch rates this winter have resulted in a considerable decrease in the debt load accumulated in the fishery. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Return To Question 543-12(3): Circumstances Leading To The Fisheries Decline
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

Page 1210

The Deputy Speaker Ludy Pudluk

Thank you. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Ms. Mike.

Return To Question 488-12(3): Implications Of Regional Hospital In Keewatin
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

Page 1210

Rebecca Mike Baffin Central

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a response to an oral question asked by Mr. Pudlat on March 15, 1993, regarding the implications of a regional hospital in Keewatin.

Mr. Speaker, in response to a question asked by the Member for Baffin South on March 15, 1993, I wish to advise this House that the Keewatin regional health board and a steering committee are currently determining the health service needs of the region, and completing a role study for a regional health facility.

Mr. Speaker, the concerns of Sanikiluaq residents are being considered during this review which I expect to have completed by May 1, 1993. At that time I will contact the Member for Baffin South to work with him on the issue of health services for Sanikiluaq residents. Thank you.

Return To Question 488-12(3): Implications Of Regional Hospital In Keewatin
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

Page 1210

The Deputy Speaker Ludy Pudluk

Thank you. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Mr. Pollard.

Return To Question 597-12(3): Economic Development Officer For Pelly Bay
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

Page 1210

John Pollard Hay River

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a return to an oral question asked by Mr. Ningark on March 25, 1993, concerning the EDO at Pelly Bay.

Mr. Speaker, the screening is completed and we are ready to conduct the interviews along with the community. There is no housing available at the present time until the house is renovated. We made some arrangements, other than housing them in Pelly Bay until such time as the house is renovated. The process is well under way, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Return To Question 597-12(3): Economic Development Officer For Pelly Bay
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

Page 1210

The Deputy Speaker Ludy Pudluk

Thank you. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Mr. Pollard.

Return To Question 580-12(3): Official Opening Of Katannilik Park
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

Page 1210

John Pollard Hay River

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a return to an oral question, asked by Mr. Pudlat on March 24, 1993, concerning the Katannilik Park opening.

The land which the new territorial park near Lake Harbour sits on has to be transferred. The formal request for transfer of land to the territorial government is now being processed by the federal government. Once the land is transferred we will sit down, with the help of the community, and plan an official opening of the park. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Return To Question 580-12(3): Official Opening Of Katannilik Park
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

Page 1211

The Deputy Speaker Ludy Pudluk

Item 4, returns to oral questions. Mr. Pollard.

Return To Question 547-12(3): Feasibility Study Re Wood Pellet Plant
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

Page 1211

John Pollard Hay River

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a return to an oral question asked by Mrs. Marie-Jewell on March 19, 1993, concerning the feasibility study of the wood pellet plant.

Mr. Speaker, the study was completed in mid-December and the result of the study was that the operation of a pellet mill in the Northwest Territories could generally be economically viable assuming it was located in proximity to a viable feeder stock. It also had to be in close proximity to a transportation system and an adequate and economic electricity supply. The size of the facility for break even was estimated at 40,000 tons per annum. This assumes that a market for the pellets could be found.

At present, there is not a sufficient number of pellet stoves in the Northwest Territories to use even five per cent of the production. The cost of phase I of the study was shared 50/50 each by the Northwest Territories Development Corporation and the Science Institute. Phase II of the study involves finding a market for the product. Phase II will study the feasibility of a gasification system which would provide a stable market for a significant portion of the pellets. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Return To Question 547-12(3): Feasibility Study Re Wood Pellet Plant
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

Page 1211

The Deputy Speaker Ludy Pudluk

Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Patterson.

Question 601-12(3): Minister's Comments Re "inaccurate Statements"
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1211

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On Wednesday, this week, the Minister of Justice seemed to suggest Members were using information that was not accurate in questions which were asked of him. I wonder if the Minister could explain what he meant by those comments? Thank you.

Question 601-12(3): Minister's Comments Re "inaccurate Statements"
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1211

The Deputy Speaker Ludy Pudluk

Thank you. Mr. Kakfwi.

Return To Question 601-12(3): Minister's Comments Re "inaccurate Statements"
Question 601-12(3): Minister's Comments Re "inaccurate Statements"
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1211

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Mr. Speaker, I wish to apologize to the Members of the House for implying that all of them do not do their homework and that they all use information which is not factually accurate. However, I wish to point out an example of the reason for my concern.

There have been letters tabled from the union regarding the River Ridge issue. There have been letters from the chief of the Metis local of Fort Smith which have also been tabled. There have been statements recorded in Hansard, there are certain definitions which are used by the Member for Thebacha. For instance, she said at one point in her Member's statement on March 16, that there is such an institution as a maximum secure facility. The Member used it more than five times in her Member's statement. She went on to say later that there are three levels of facilities for housing young offenders, maximum secure facilities, secure facilities and open custody placements. At no time was the Member corrected, although in my responses I indicated there were only two. There is open custody and there is closed custody. I point to this because a member of the union from Fort Smith wrote a letter in the Fort Smith newspaper and uses some of this information, I feel, to perhaps mislead himself. For instance, he talks about a semi-secure facility. Again, there is no such facility or such classification. He also mentions that we are re-designating a facility. What we are doing, in fact, is giving it a triple designation.

That was the reason I raised this because we are starting to table letters from the union and people in the public who depend on the Hansard and statements made in this House to inform themselves and then raise concerns.

For instance, on March 18, the Member for Thebacha went on to say that, "It has always been my understanding that there are three categories of young offenders according to the Corrections Act." Again, the Corrections Act does not deal with young offenders. It is the Young Offenders Act which deals with them. I have had some concern about it and I do not know that there have been any corrections made of these statements.

Return To Question 601-12(3): Minister's Comments Re "inaccurate Statements"
Question 601-12(3): Minister's Comments Re "inaccurate Statements"
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1211

The Deputy Speaker Ludy Pudluk

Point of order, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Return To Question 601-12(3): Minister's Comments Re "inaccurate Statements"
Question 601-12(3): Minister's Comments Re "inaccurate Statements"
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1211

Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I do not believe the Minister is aware, and I do not appreciate the suggestion of not knowing the acts. Mr. Speaker, under the Criminal Code of Canada which looks after young offenders, under the Criminal Code which is not territorial, the Young Offenders Act looks after both open custody and secure custody under the Criminal Code of Canada. Thank you.

Return To Question 601-12(3): Minister's Comments Re "inaccurate Statements"
Question 601-12(3): Minister's Comments Re "inaccurate Statements"
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1211

The Deputy Speaker Ludy Pudluk

That is a point of debate, not a point of order. Mr. Kakfwi.

Return To Question 601-12(3): Minister's Comments Re "inaccurate Statements"
Question 601-12(3): Minister's Comments Re "inaccurate Statements"
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1211

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

In response to the question from the Member for Iqaluit, I would like to apologize to the House for the statement which I made on that day.

Return To Question 601-12(3): Minister's Comments Re "inaccurate Statements"
Question 601-12(3): Minister's Comments Re "inaccurate Statements"
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1211

The Deputy Speaker Ludy Pudluk

Item 5, oral questions. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Question 602-12(3): Reference In Scof Books To "maximum Secure Facility"
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1211

Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha

Mr. Speaker, I was just trying to obtain a copy of the capital budget to get clarification. I know as a Member of the Standing Committee on Finance, when we go through the budget, we review the different tasks in the details of the budget. In the details of the budget, and I pose this question to the Minister of Justice, there is one page specifically for the young offenders' facility in Fort Smith that states "maximum secure facility." Why does he have the detail of that budget designated as a maximum secure facility, when now he is saying it is not a secure facility? Thank you.

Question 602-12(3): Reference In Scof Books To "maximum Secure Facility"
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1211

The Deputy Speaker Ludy Pudluk

Thank you. Mr. Kakfwi.

Return To Question 602-12(3): Reference In Scof Books To "maximum Secure Facility"
Question 602-12(3): Reference In Scof Books To "maximum Secure Facility"
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1212

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Mr. Speaker, I do not know what the page in the budget book says, I just know in legislation there are two classifications for facilities that deal with young offenders. There is open custody and closed custody.

Return To Question 602-12(3): Reference In Scof Books To "maximum Secure Facility"
Question 602-12(3): Reference In Scof Books To "maximum Secure Facility"
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1212

The Deputy Speaker Ludy Pudluk

Supplementary, Member for Thebacha.

Supplementary To Question 602-12(3): Reference In Scof Books To "maximum Secure Facility"
Question 602-12(3): Reference In Scof Books To "maximum Secure Facility"
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1212

Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha

Mr. Speaker, I am not asking about the legislation. I am asking the Minister why that particular page in the budget is designated for funds to be approved in this House as a maximum secure facility, when he is now saying to us that he has no secure facilities or no obligation to look at only secure facilities? That is misleading to this House, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister, since he does not know what is in his budget, would he review his budget book to see what he is asking Members to approve in this House? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 602-12(3): Reference In Scof Books To "maximum Secure Facility"
Question 602-12(3): Reference In Scof Books To "maximum Secure Facility"
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1212

The Deputy Speaker Ludy Pudluk

Thank you. Mr. Kakfwi.

Further Return To Question 602-12(3): Reference In Scof Books To "maximum Secure Facility"
Question 602-12(3): Reference In Scof Books To "maximum Secure Facility"
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1212

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Yes, I would be very happy to do that. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 602-12(3): Reference In Scof Books To "maximum Secure Facility"
Question 602-12(3): Reference In Scof Books To "maximum Secure Facility"
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1212

The Deputy Speaker Ludy Pudluk

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Gargan.

Question 603-12(3): Lease Arrangements For Social Worker On Hay River Reserve
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1212

Samuel Gargan Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to direct my question to the Minister of Social Services. Mr. Speaker, about three weeks ago I asked a question to the Minister with regard to the lease of office space, which was arranged by the former Minister, on the Hay River reserve. I received a letter on Monday and the reserve has indicated that there has not been any arrangements of any kind with regard to that lease. I would like to ask the Minister if she has had the opportunity to review the arrangement. Thank you.

Question 603-12(3): Lease Arrangements For Social Worker On Hay River Reserve
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1212

The Deputy Speaker Ludy Pudluk

Thank you. Member for Baffin Central.

Return To Question 603-12(3): Lease Arrangements For Social Worker On Hay River Reserve
Question 603-12(3): Lease Arrangements For Social Worker On Hay River Reserve
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1212

Rebecca Mike Baffin Central

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The lease is done through DPW, so I would ask Mr. Morin to respond to your question. Thank you.

Return To Question 603-12(3): Lease Arrangements For Social Worker On Hay River Reserve
Question 603-12(3): Lease Arrangements For Social Worker On Hay River Reserve
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1212

The Deputy Speaker Ludy Pudluk

Before I recognize the Minister for DPW, Mr. Gargan, you have to repeat your question to another Minister. Mr. Gargan.

Question 604-12(3): Lease Arrangements For Social Worker On Hay River Reserve
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1212

Samuel Gargan Deh Cho

Mr. Speaker, I would like to direct my question to the Minister of DPW, Mr. Morin. Mr. Morin is aware that an arrangement for leasing space was made between the Hay River reserve and the Department of Social Services. A letter of commitment was already sent before Christmas with regard to that arrangement. At that time, the letter indicated that the arrangement is referred to DPW for them to assess the space and cost and to finalize the agreement. I would like to ask the Minister if his department has consulted with the reserve on that lease. Thank you.

Question 604-12(3): Lease Arrangements For Social Worker On Hay River Reserve
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1212

The Deputy Speaker Ludy Pudluk

Thank you. Mr. Morin.

Question 604-12(3): Lease Arrangements For Social Worker On Hay River Reserve
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1212

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I do not know if my department has consulted with the reserve on this lease. The normal procedures is, once we are requested by the department to supply a lease, we consult with the people who would be supplying the building. Thank you.

Question 604-12(3): Lease Arrangements For Social Worker On Hay River Reserve
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1212

The Deputy Speaker Ludy Pudluk

Supplementary, Mr. Gargan.

Question 604-12(3): Lease Arrangements For Social Worker On Hay River Reserve
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1212

Samuel Gargan Deh Cho

Is the Minister taking the question as notice?

Question 604-12(3): Lease Arrangements For Social Worker On Hay River Reserve
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1212

The Deputy Speaker Ludy Pudluk

Mr. Morin.

Question 604-12(3): Lease Arrangements For Social Worker On Hay River Reserve
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1212

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you. Okay, yes.

Question 604-12(3): Lease Arrangements For Social Worker On Hay River Reserve
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1212

The Deputy Speaker Ludy Pudluk

Thank you. The Minister is taking the question as notice. Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Gargan, new question.

Question 605-12(3): Emergency Measures Equipment For Hay River Reserve
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1212

Samuel Gargan Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have been going over all the questions I have asked and my intention is to bring them up every Friday, when they have not been responded to. My other question is to the Deputy Government Leader, Mr. Pollard, and it is with regard to emergency communication equipment for the reserve. I raised that question two weeks ago and I would like to ask the Minister whether arrangements have been made for the reserve to obtain that equipment in the event of a flood. Thank you.

Question 605-12(3): Emergency Measures Equipment For Hay River Reserve
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1212

The Deputy Speaker Ludy Pudluk

Thank you. Member for Hay River.

Return To Question 605-12(3): Emergency Measures Equipment For Hay River Reserve
Question 605-12(3): Emergency Measures Equipment For Hay River Reserve
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1212

John Pollard Hay River

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think the question is: Will the reserve have equipment for emergency communications during the spring break-up? The answer to that is, yes, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in previous years, there has been equipment loaned to the reserve from the emergency measures people in Yellowknife with the Government of the Northwest Territories. At times, there has been some leasing of radios so the reserve could have communication. What has been happening is that the government and the reserve have been working together under the JEPP program to access federal funds so the reserve would have ownership of some communication equipment.

Yes, they will have communication equipment, whether or not the funding has come through from the federal government with regard to buying their own, I do not know. Thank you.

Return To Question 605-12(3): Emergency Measures Equipment For Hay River Reserve
Question 605-12(3): Emergency Measures Equipment For Hay River Reserve
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1213

The Deputy Speaker Ludy Pudluk

Thank you. Mr. Dent.

Question 606-12(3): Tendering Practices Of Municipalities
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1213

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister responsible for Government Services. I am interested in the tendering practices being used by hamlets across the Northwest Territories. There are indications they may be inconsistent and, perhaps, not providing the best value for money in the expenditure of government funds. Does the department review tender specifications for major capital purchases by hamlets?

Question 606-12(3): Tendering Practices Of Municipalities
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1213

The Deputy Speaker Ludy Pudluk

Thank you. Mr. Morin.

Return To Question 606-12(3): Tendering Practices Of Municipalities
Question 606-12(3): Tendering Practices Of Municipalities
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1213

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. No, we do not review the contracts. Thank you.

Return To Question 606-12(3): Tendering Practices Of Municipalities
Question 606-12(3): Tendering Practices Of Municipalities
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1213

The Deputy Speaker Ludy Pudluk

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Dent.

Supplementary To Question 606-12(3): Tendering Practices Of Municipalities
Question 606-12(3): Tendering Practices Of Municipalities
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1213

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. For clarification, is the Minister saying that the department does not monitor the tendering process at all, to ensure capital items purchased are with GNWT funds, or that the purchases are appropriate, adequate and represent the best value for money spent?

Supplementary To Question 606-12(3): Tendering Practices Of Municipalities
Question 606-12(3): Tendering Practices Of Municipalities
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1213

The Deputy Speaker Ludy Pudluk

Thank you. Mr. Morin.

Further Return To Question 606-12(3): Tendering Practices Of Municipalities
Question 606-12(3): Tendering Practices Of Municipalities
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1213

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I said we do not review the tendering. We do not review the actual tender with hamlets, but we do monitor them. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 606-12(3): Tendering Practices Of Municipalities
Question 606-12(3): Tendering Practices Of Municipalities
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1213

The Deputy Speaker Ludy Pudluk

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Dent.

Supplementary To Question 606-12(3): Tendering Practices Of Municipalities
Question 606-12(3): Tendering Practices Of Municipalities
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1213

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister just indicated that the department does monitor the tender awards. Perhaps he could outline how this monitoring takes place to ensure that funds expended by non tax-based municipalities are, indeed, administered fairly.

Supplementary To Question 606-12(3): Tendering Practices Of Municipalities
Question 606-12(3): Tendering Practices Of Municipalities
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1213

The Deputy Speaker Ludy Pudluk

Thank you. Mr. Morin.

Further Return To Question 606-12(3): Tendering Practices Of Municipalities
Question 606-12(3): Tendering Practices Of Municipalities
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1213

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The monitoring is done by the contracts division of the Department of Government Services and Public Works. Contracts let by hamlets are supposed to be used in the business incentive policy. My understanding is, Cabinet direction was that anyone receiving $.51 on a dollar from this government will use the business incentive policy. In the communication with the hamlets, through MACA, instead of the word "will," it says "may." There is some discretion that has to be cleared up. It will be cleared up in a very short period of time. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 606-12(3): Tendering Practices Of Municipalities
Question 606-12(3): Tendering Practices Of Municipalities
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1213

The Deputy Speaker Ludy Pudluk

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Dent.

Supplementary To Question 606-12(3): Tendering Practices Of Municipalities
Question 606-12(3): Tendering Practices Of Municipalities
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1213

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Is there a process in place for the department to review the items which are purchased by non tax-based municipalities? For instance, if a municipality does not have the expertise to notice that a water truck, which they specified should have a stainless steel tank, is delivered with a steel tank, is there a process in place to ensure that kind of inspection takes place so municipalities are not being stuck with inferior products which will have to be then replaced much more quickly?

Supplementary To Question 606-12(3): Tendering Practices Of Municipalities
Question 606-12(3): Tendering Practices Of Municipalities
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1213

The Deputy Speaker Ludy Pudluk

Thank you. Mr. Morin.

Supplementary To Question 606-12(3): Tendering Practices Of Municipalities
Question 606-12(3): Tendering Practices Of Municipalities
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1213

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I do not know the exact process of how that is handled, so I will take that as notice and get back to the Member.

Supplementary To Question 606-12(3): Tendering Practices Of Municipalities
Question 606-12(3): Tendering Practices Of Municipalities
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1213

The Deputy Speaker Ludy Pudluk

The question has been taken as notice. Item 5, oral questions. Member for Thebacha.

Question 607-12(3): Assistance To Fort Smith Elder To Publish Book
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1213

Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Culture and Communications. An elder in my constituency has completed a book. I have been trying to find out how she can receive assistance in getting this book published. It is a native elderly women who is trying to get this book published. Is there any type of program or funding assistance, through his department, that would assist the native woman to public this book? Thank you.

Question 607-12(3): Assistance To Fort Smith Elder To Publish Book
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1213

The Deputy Speaker Ludy Pudluk

Thank you. Mr. Nerysoo.

Return To Question 607-12(3): Assistance To Fort Smith Elder To Publish Book
Question 607-12(3): Assistance To Fort Smith Elder To Publish Book
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1213

Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe there might be some financial resources which could be accessed. However, if I could ask the honourable Member to give me the details and the person who we could contact to assist that individual to access, not only territorial government money, but federal financing as well.

Return To Question 607-12(3): Assistance To Fort Smith Elder To Publish Book
Question 607-12(3): Assistance To Fort Smith Elder To Publish Book
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1214

The Deputy Speaker Ludy Pudluk

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. Member for Thebacha.

Question 608-12(3): Feasibility Of A Gasification System - Wood Pellet Project
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1214

Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am very grateful for that reply. It is unfortunate, sometimes, that we cannot get the same type of reply from other Ministers, but, Mr. Speaker, I have a question to another Minister, the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism. I thank the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism for replying with regard to the concerns expressed on the pellet plant, the feasibility study. He indicated they are going into phase II of the study, which involves finding a market for the product and the feasibility of a gasification system. Would the Minister know the purpose of the feasibility of a gasification system with regard to providing a stable market for these significant portions of the pellets? Thank you.

Question 608-12(3): Feasibility Of A Gasification System - Wood Pellet Project
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1214

The Deputy Speaker Ludy Pudluk

Thank you. Mr. Pollard.

Return To Question 608-12(3): Feasibility Of A Gasification System - Wood Pellet Project
Question 608-12(3): Feasibility Of A Gasification System - Wood Pellet Project
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1214

John Pollard Hay River

Mr. Speaker, it is a question of volume. If there was a gasification plant, it would use considerable amounts of these pellets, which would take up a great deal of the volume of the production by a plant. Break even for a facility would be 40,000 tons per annum. If there was a gasification plant, it would eat up a great deal of that 40,000 tons and make the project viable. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Return To Question 608-12(3): Feasibility Of A Gasification System - Wood Pellet Project
Question 608-12(3): Feasibility Of A Gasification System - Wood Pellet Project
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1214

The Deputy Speaker Ludy Pudluk

Thank you. Supplementary, Member for Thebacha.

Supplementary To Question 608-12(3): Feasibility Of A Gasification System - Wood Pellet Project
Question 608-12(3): Feasibility Of A Gasification System - Wood Pellet Project
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1214

Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I see that it is connected to the electricity part of production. Reading further on his reply to oral questions, I recognize that he indicated that. Does the Minister know when the phase II portion of the study will be started and when it will be completed? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 608-12(3): Feasibility Of A Gasification System - Wood Pellet Project
Question 608-12(3): Feasibility Of A Gasification System - Wood Pellet Project
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1214

The Deputy Speaker Ludy Pudluk

Thank you. Mr. Pollard.

Further Return To Question 608-12(3): Feasibility Of A Gasification System - Wood Pellet Project
Question 608-12(3): Feasibility Of A Gasification System - Wood Pellet Project
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1214

John Pollard Hay River

Mr. Speaker, I do not know the exact dates, but I would certainly like to see the second part of that feasibility finished by the end of this summer. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Further Return To Question 608-12(3): Feasibility Of A Gasification System - Wood Pellet Project
Question 608-12(3): Feasibility Of A Gasification System - Wood Pellet Project
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1214

The Deputy Speaker Ludy Pudluk

Thank you. Supplementary, Member for Thebacha.

Supplementary To Question 608-12(3): Feasibility Of A Gasification System - Wood Pellet Project
Question 608-12(3): Feasibility Of A Gasification System - Wood Pellet Project
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1214

Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I received a letter of support with respect to this pellet plant concept. The town of Fort Smith has certainly supported the idea of it to be considered and to even be located in Fort Smith, because of the inexpensive power rates we are privileged to have. The proximity with regard to the viability of having access to the many trees within our area would also be of significant benefit. Has there been any indication by the department or the government as to the location for this particular pellet plant? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 608-12(3): Feasibility Of A Gasification System - Wood Pellet Project
Question 608-12(3): Feasibility Of A Gasification System - Wood Pellet Project
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1214

The Deputy Speaker Ludy Pudluk

Thank you. Mr. Pollard.

Further Return To Question 608-12(3): Feasibility Of A Gasification System - Wood Pellet Project
Question 608-12(3): Feasibility Of A Gasification System - Wood Pellet Project
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1214

John Pollard Hay River

No, Mr. Speaker, there has not, although, I am aware that Fort Smith, since the outset of this study, has been following it very closely. They have made it known to me on many occasions that they are extremely interested in this particular plant. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Further Return To Question 608-12(3): Feasibility Of A Gasification System - Wood Pellet Project
Question 608-12(3): Feasibility Of A Gasification System - Wood Pellet Project
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1214

The Deputy Speaker Ludy Pudluk

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. Member for Thebacha.

Question 609-12(3): Consultation With Fort Smith Groups Re River Ridge Facility
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1214

Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister of Justice a further question with respect to the change on the young offenders' facility. The Minister of Justice has indicated many times in this House that he has made many public statements about working closely with aboriginal organizations. The Minister is aware that I tabled a letter in this House jointly signed by the president of the Metis Nation and the chief of the Fort Smith band. This joint correspondence was, in my view, fairly critical of the Minister's plan to change the designation of the young offenders' facility change by his department. When the Minister made the statement that everyone agrees with this young offenders' facility plan, how does he justify making such a statement when there are concerns from the aboriginal organizations of the community, the town council and the union with regard to this change? Thank you.

Question 609-12(3): Consultation With Fort Smith Groups Re River Ridge Facility
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1214

The Deputy Speaker Ludy Pudluk

Thank you, Mr. Kakfwi.

Return To Question 609-12(3): Consultation With Fort Smith Groups Re River Ridge Facility
Question 609-12(3): Consultation With Fort Smith Groups Re River Ridge Facility
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1214

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Mr. Speaker, it was my impression when the management talked with the staff at River Ridge that there was some initial concern, but that they have since come to view it as a challenge and are taking a positive approach to meeting the challenge. For instance, they have asked that we arrange for the staff of River Ridge to attend a young offenders' facility in Strathmore, Alberta that is considered a triple designated facility, to meet with the staff and to see how a facility which has a triple designation operates. They would actually see one that is working. It is my view that the union member who attended the meeting in the presence of my staff

and the staff at River Ridge was of the view that this was the proper course to go to ensure there is stability for the employees at River Ridge, that there is good utilization of the staff there and that the government's attempt to maximize the use of the facility and staff there is a good objective. That was the impression I had, but people, in taking a public stance, at times do not always say what they say privately. So, it is my view that if the members carried on a good discussion with the staff and the union that many of these letters would take on a different tone altogether. Thank you.

Return To Question 609-12(3): Consultation With Fort Smith Groups Re River Ridge Facility
Question 609-12(3): Consultation With Fort Smith Groups Re River Ridge Facility
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1215

The Deputy Speaker Ludy Pudluk

Thank you. Before I recognize the Member for Thebacha, I would like to recognize in the gallery, a former Member of Parliament and also a former Member of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly, Dave Nickerson.

---Applause

Supplementary, Member for Thebacha.

Supplementary To Question 609-12(3): Consultation With Fort Smith Groups Re River Ridge Facility
Question 609-12(3): Consultation With Fort Smith Groups Re River Ridge Facility
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1215

Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Whether the Minister is aware of it or not, I did meet with the staff on the past two Sundays in Fort Smith; once with the union in presence and once without. There is no doubt that the staff has direction to make the best of a decision, but I know they are not pleased with having to, what they call, de-program themselves to look after young offenders who have committed serious crimes in the communities. They have to train themselves and take every security precaution with other young offenders they are now being directed to look after who have open custody and less security, and trying to mix the two programs in one facility. I asked the Minister a question not concerning the staff. I told him the town council is concerned, the band is concerned, the Metis local is concerned, as far as I know even the chamber of commerce is concerned and the union is concerned. The Minister can come in this House and say, "Everyone agrees with that, everyone agrees with the concept of me moving the facility from a secure to an open custody." How does he justify making that statement after recognizing the type of letters which have been tabled in this House? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 609-12(3): Consultation With Fort Smith Groups Re River Ridge Facility
Question 609-12(3): Consultation With Fort Smith Groups Re River Ridge Facility
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1215

The Deputy Speaker Ludy Pudluk

Thank you. Mr. Kakfwi.

Further Return To Question 609-12(3): Consultation With Fort Smith Groups Re River Ridge Facility
Question 609-12(3): Consultation With Fort Smith Groups Re River Ridge Facility
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1215

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Mr. Speaker, I need to correct the Member again for now moving the facility from one type of facility to another. We are giving it a triple designation which allows us the flexibility to use it, in large part, either as a secure facility or as an open custody facility.

The letters she mentioned, for instance one that was signed by the president of the Fort Smith Metis local and the Fort Smith native band, contain some inaccurate information. For instance, they say, "We are told that because the facility in Hay River requires some upgrading, and since there is no need for two facilities in the South Slave region, the department proposed to spend thousands of dollars by taking out all the secure facilities at River Ridge in Fort Smith and converting it into an open facility. It would then spend much more taxpayer's dollars and convert a semi-secure facility in Hay River into a secure facility." Again, I say there is no such thing as a semi-secure facility and there is no statement by this government that suggests we are going to spend thousands of dollars converting facilities. Somebody told these people that, and based on that information -- and if I was told that I would also be concerned.

My point simply is that I do not think these people have had the benefit of accurate information, at least if they have they have chosen to ignore it and would rather get on the bandwagon and raise concerns which are not based on factual information. They suggest that as a government we are not trying to spend taxpayer's money wisely, and that we have no interest in using the staff wisely.

I submit that we are very concerned about the number of empty beds in our facilities. With respect to the taxpayers, we have said to maximize the use of the facilities, we are concerned that the staff, which number 19 at the River Ridge facility, are not being taxed to the level they should because of the low number of inmates. That is not their fault, but we have an obligation to have staff working as fully and efficiently as possible and this initiative we have taken addresses both those things exactly in the interests of the taxpayer. We are not spending any money on renovations. We are taking existing staff and giving them some security by making sure all of them are going to be working to the full capacity which I am sure they are interested in doing, and that the facility is being used to the full capacity in which it should. Those are the interests of the taxpayer. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 609-12(3): Consultation With Fort Smith Groups Re River Ridge Facility
Question 609-12(3): Consultation With Fort Smith Groups Re River Ridge Facility
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1215

The Deputy Speaker Ludy Pudluk

Thank you. Supplementary, Member for Thebacha.

Supplementary To Question 609-12(3): Consultation With Fort Smith Groups Re River Ridge Facility
Question 609-12(3): Consultation With Fort Smith Groups Re River Ridge Facility
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1215

Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha

Mr. Speaker, the Minister has indicated they are trying to justify the use of the facility with the low number of beds to try to make it more flexible, and I recognize that. However, at the same time the Minister must recognize that under the Young Offenders Act, it is questionable whether he is following that particular legislation, not only under territorial legislation but under federal legislation with the Canada Corrections Act which looks after young offenders who commit serious crimes, such as murders. The territorial Young Offenders Act looks after minor crimes, break and enters and liquor offence crimes. I do not know whether the spirit and intent of trying to utilize a facility, mixing these two types of young offenders, who have committed two very serious types of crimes together under one facility, is doing justice to the young offenders.

Mr. Speaker, the Minister has stated there would be no extra funds for renovations. Can he commit, in this House, that he as the Minister will ensure there will be no supplementary funding requests, no additional funding to renovate that secure facility to house young offenders under open custody? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 609-12(3): Consultation With Fort Smith Groups Re River Ridge Facility
Question 609-12(3): Consultation With Fort Smith Groups Re River Ridge Facility
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1215

The Deputy Speaker Ludy Pudluk

Thank you. Mr. Kakfwi.

Further Return To Question 609-12(3): Consultation With Fort Smith Groups Re River Ridge Facility
Question 609-12(3): Consultation With Fort Smith Groups Re River Ridge Facility
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1216

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Mr. Speaker, I have said we are not going to spend money. The Member continues to interrupt and I think her constituents would probably ask her to be polite and listen when she asks a question so she can get a good response. I would suggest that she try to pick up a good habit. It is a good habit to pick up, she should practice it.

Further Return To Question 609-12(3): Consultation With Fort Smith Groups Re River Ridge Facility
Question 609-12(3): Consultation With Fort Smith Groups Re River Ridge Facility
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1216

The Deputy Speaker Ludy Pudluk

Mr. Kakfwi, could you stick to answering the question. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 609-12(3): Consultation With Fort Smith Groups Re River Ridge Facility
Question 609-12(3): Consultation With Fort Smith Groups Re River Ridge Facility
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1216

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Mr. Speaker, I do not mind answering questions. However, I do not like to be interrupted and hassled by the Member for Thebacha. She asks me a question and then she does not listen.

In response to the question, the department has no intention to spend money to take those physical characteristics of the River Ridge facility which make it a closed custody facility and convert it to an open custody facility. The government has designated River Ridge as a facility which can also be used as an open custody facility. We also keep the designation as a closed custody facility with River Ridge. So, in response to the Member's concerns and those of her chief and Metis leader in Fort Smith, there is no intention to do away with the secure facility in River Ridge. We are simply saying that along with being an open custody facility there is a secure facility, and we will also use it as an open custody facility. The facility can be used as an open custody facility. The staff have and will have the training capabilities of giving us that flexibility. There is no intention on my part to spend money to diminish the capabilities of that facility or the one in Hay River. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 609-12(3): Consultation With Fort Smith Groups Re River Ridge Facility
Question 609-12(3): Consultation With Fort Smith Groups Re River Ridge Facility
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1216

The Deputy Speaker Ludy Pudluk

Thank you. Final supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Supplementary To Question 609-12(3): Consultation With Fort Smith Groups Re River Ridge Facility
Question 609-12(3): Consultation With Fort Smith Groups Re River Ridge Facility
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1216

Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha

Mr. Speaker, if anyone does not listen in this House it is the Minister. When Members bring up concerns he goes all around the question, he never answers the question. I will ask him again. Since the Minister indicated in this House that he said, there will be no structural changes, there will be no additional money, and awhile ago he said he has to retrain the staff, so therefore, there is additional money. However, he said there would be no additional funding requested to make a structural change of that building to house young offenders in an open custody setting because now it looks after young offenders in a secure custody. Can the Minister assure this House that he will ask for no supplementary dollars in the budget in the future, he will ask for no additional funding in any way whether it is through special warrant, supplementary or interactivity transfers in the budget to ensure that he modifies that facility to accommodate the spirit and intent of legislation to look after open custody? Will he make that commitment? It is a simple yes or no, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 609-12(3): Consultation With Fort Smith Groups Re River Ridge Facility
Question 609-12(3): Consultation With Fort Smith Groups Re River Ridge Facility
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1216

The Deputy Speaker Ludy Pudluk

Thank you. Mr. Kakfwi.

Further Return To Question 609-12(3): Consultation With Fort Smith Groups Re River Ridge Facility
Question 609-12(3): Consultation With Fort Smith Groups Re River Ridge Facility
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1216

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Mr. Speaker, I cannot determine what my needs are going to be over the course of the next year. She is asking me to make a commitment not to do something when I have no intentions of making such a suggestion in the first place. It is kind of an awkward question. As I have said, I have no intention of spending capital money to make the secure facility in Fort Smith, to take the physical characteristics and change them so that it could be then seen, at least visually, as an open custody facility. It is still a secure facility. It will stay a secure facility. We have also designated it as a facility which can be used for open custody. That is the point I think the Member is missing. Because of that, the question becomes irrelevant.

Further Return To Question 609-12(3): Consultation With Fort Smith Groups Re River Ridge Facility
Question 609-12(3): Consultation With Fort Smith Groups Re River Ridge Facility
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1216

The Deputy Speaker Ludy Pudluk

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Lewis.

Question 610-12(3): Purpose Of Visit To Yakutsk And Moscow
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1216

Brian Lewis Yellowknife Centre

Mr. Speaker, to turn to a broader concern, I have a question for the Minister responsible for Public Works. I understand the Minister will be travelling to Russia and Yakutsk next month. Would the Minister like to inform us of the purpose of this visit?

Question 610-12(3): Purpose Of Visit To Yakutsk And Moscow
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1216

The Deputy Speaker Ludy Pudluk

Mr. Morin.

Return To Question 610-12(3): Purpose Of Visit To Yakutsk And Moscow
Question 610-12(3): Purpose Of Visit To Yakutsk And Moscow
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1216

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The intention is to go to Yakutsk and then to Moscow. I have not decided whether I am going. I am supposed to go and I am supposed to leave around April 20. I have not confirmed that yet. The reason for going there is to meet with Minister Turov and the Russian delegation to continue to assist the northern companies who are working over there. The people from Yakutsk have an exchange with our government. They were here last week and now it is our turn to go over there. Thank you.

Return To Question 610-12(3): Purpose Of Visit To Yakutsk And Moscow
Question 610-12(3): Purpose Of Visit To Yakutsk And Moscow
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1216

The Deputy Speaker Ludy Pudluk

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Lewis.

Supplementary To Question 610-12(3): Purpose Of Visit To Yakutsk And Moscow
Question 610-12(3): Purpose Of Visit To Yakutsk And Moscow
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1216

Brian Lewis Yellowknife Centre

The Minister said he is uncertain yet about his plan. However, something like this is usually planned ahead and you are able to work out the details. He is a brave man, he has been in business, he is a risk taker, I know he goes on the big lake with his boat and he has even been known to go up the Ingraham Trail.

---Laughter

I would like to ask the Minister, what size of delegation will he be taking with him to Yakutsk and Moscow?

Supplementary To Question 610-12(3): Purpose Of Visit To Yakutsk And Moscow
Question 610-12(3): Purpose Of Visit To Yakutsk And Moscow
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1216

The Deputy Speaker Ludy Pudluk

Thank you. Mr. Morin.

Further Return To Question 610-12(3): Purpose Of Visit To Yakutsk And Moscow
Question 610-12(3): Purpose Of Visit To Yakutsk And Moscow
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1217

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will leave my guns at home. I am not sure of the size of the delegation. I am not sure how many people we will take. I am not sure where we will go, when we will be there, all I know is that I have blocked out from April 20 to 30 as a time I am available to travel. I am waiting word from Yakutsk. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 610-12(3): Purpose Of Visit To Yakutsk And Moscow
Question 610-12(3): Purpose Of Visit To Yakutsk And Moscow
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1217

The Deputy Speaker Ludy Pudluk

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Lewis.

Supplementary To Question 610-12(3): Purpose Of Visit To Yakutsk And Moscow
Question 610-12(3): Purpose Of Visit To Yakutsk And Moscow
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1217

Brian Lewis Yellowknife Centre

I have had two vague answers to the first questions I have asked, Mr. Speaker. I am assuming that this will go ahead and that it must have been part of the planning when this was first put together. What would be the benefits to the people of the Northwest Territories from undertaking such a trip? The Minister mentioned there were several companies doing business in the old Soviet Union. I would like to ask him to give us a bit more detail about who they are and what kind of help he can give them.

Supplementary To Question 610-12(3): Purpose Of Visit To Yakutsk And Moscow
Question 610-12(3): Purpose Of Visit To Yakutsk And Moscow
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1217

The Deputy Speaker Ludy Pudluk

Thank you. Mr. Morin.

Return To Question 610-12(3): Purpose Of Visit To Yakutsk And Moscow
Question 610-12(3): Purpose Of Visit To Yakutsk And Moscow
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1217

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The benefits to the north would be jobs. Ferguson Simek Clark is working over there. They are the ones who designed the village. Also, Clark-Bowler is working over there, there are other subcontractors from the north, as well, but I do not know the names of them all. I know there is an electrical company from Yellowknife that is working over there. My understanding is when you deal with these people that they prefer to deal between government and government, and that is why we are involved in it. Thank you.

Return To Question 610-12(3): Purpose Of Visit To Yakutsk And Moscow
Question 610-12(3): Purpose Of Visit To Yakutsk And Moscow
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1217

The Deputy Speaker Ludy Pudluk

Final supplementary, Mr. Lewis.

Supplementary To Question 610-12(3): Purpose Of Visit To Yakutsk And Moscow
Question 610-12(3): Purpose Of Visit To Yakutsk And Moscow
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1217

Brian Lewis Yellowknife Centre

Since this Minister takes his job seriously and since he has indicated that to do business in the Soviet Union, it is absolutely essential that the government play the role in putting together some kind of cooperative venture between companies, will the Minister give this House his assurance that he will take his job seriously, and play the role that the people in the part of the world where we are doing business expect him to undertake as a lead Minister in this government?

Supplementary To Question 610-12(3): Purpose Of Visit To Yakutsk And Moscow
Question 610-12(3): Purpose Of Visit To Yakutsk And Moscow
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1217

The Deputy Speaker Ludy Pudluk

Thank you. Mr. Morin.

Further Return To Question 610-12(3): Purpose Of Visit To Yakutsk And Moscow
Question 610-12(3): Purpose Of Visit To Yakutsk And Moscow
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1217

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will take my job seriously.

Further Return To Question 610-12(3): Purpose Of Visit To Yakutsk And Moscow
Question 610-12(3): Purpose Of Visit To Yakutsk And Moscow
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1217

The Deputy Speaker Ludy Pudluk

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Patterson.

Question 611-12(3): Financial Benefit Of NWT Contractors Operating In Ussr
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1217

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am not sure if my honourable college for Yellowknife Centre was asking the previous questions tongue in cheek because it is a Friday. However, since he seemed to be questioning the value of economic relations with Yakutsk, which companies resident in his constituency are largely benefitting from, I would like to ask the Minister of Public Works if he could tell this House the approximate value in American dollars of the contracts secured by Ferguson Simek Clark to build a small village near the city of Yakutsk. Thank you.

Question 611-12(3): Financial Benefit Of NWT Contractors Operating In Ussr
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1217

The Deputy Speaker Ludy Pudluk

Thank you. Mr. Morin.

Return To Question 611-12(3): Financial Benefit Of Nwt Contractors Operating In Ussr
Question 611-12(3): Financial Benefit Of NWT Contractors Operating In Ussr
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1217

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With the assistance of this government, the Department of Public Works and the Government Leader's office, Ferguson Simek Clark managed to get a contract in US dollars for $25 million to build that village. Thank you.

Return To Question 611-12(3): Financial Benefit Of Nwt Contractors Operating In Ussr
Question 611-12(3): Financial Benefit Of NWT Contractors Operating In Ussr
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1217

The Deputy Speaker Ludy Pudluk

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Supplementary To Question 611-12(3): Financial Benefit Of Nwt Contractors Operating In Ussr
Question 611-12(3): Financial Benefit Of NWT Contractors Operating In Ussr
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1217

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Would the honourable Minister inform this House whether there may be other contracts of that magnitude being let by the Republic of Sakha in the future? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 611-12(3): Financial Benefit Of Nwt Contractors Operating In Ussr
Question 611-12(3): Financial Benefit Of NWT Contractors Operating In Ussr
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1217

The Deputy Speaker Ludy Pudluk

Thank you. Mr. Morin.

Further Return To Question 611-12(3): Financial Benefit Of Nwt Contractors Operating In Ussr
Question 611-12(3): Financial Benefit Of NWT Contractors Operating In Ussr
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1217

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My understanding is that right now Ferguson Simek Clark is the low bid on other work over there. As well, there is potential for more villages, hospitals, schools, nursing stations and recreation facilities. People from Yakutsk are coming here and using Canadian contractors and Northwest Territories contractors because of the technology developed in the north over the past 20 years in construction. They are very impressed with it and they want to continue to use it. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 611-12(3): Financial Benefit Of Nwt Contractors Operating In Ussr
Question 611-12(3): Financial Benefit Of NWT Contractors Operating In Ussr
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1217

The Deputy Speaker Ludy Pudluk

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. Member for Thebacha.

Question 612-12(3): Supplementary Funding For Changes To River Ridge
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1217

Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha

Mr. Speaker, I have a question for the Minister of Finance. The Minister of Justice has indicated to this House that there will be no structural changes to the young

offenders' facilities, whether they be in Hay River or Fort Smith. Knowing there will be no structural changes and the cost will not be any more, can I ask the Minister of Finance to assure this House that there will be no supplementary estimates and no special warrants in regard to additional funding expended for structural changes required to accommodate both secure and open custody? Thank you.

Question 612-12(3): Supplementary Funding For Changes To River Ridge
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1218

The Deputy Speaker Ludy Pudluk

Thank you. Mr. Pollard.

Return To Question 612-12(3): Supplementary Funding For Changes To River Ridge
Question 612-12(3): Supplementary Funding For Changes To River Ridge
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1218

John Pollard Hay River

Mr. Speaker, I have not seen any requests for any supplementary funding from the Department of Justice in that regard. Whether there will be any, I do not know. Mr. Speaker, although I may be the Minister of Finance, I do not have the ability to block submissions to the Financial Management Board, which ultimately make financial decisions for Cabinet. I have not seen any at the present time. If they come forward, Mr. Speaker, to be honest with you, if they fit within the criteria that the board establishes, my job will be to pass them on to the board for consideration. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Return To Question 612-12(3): Supplementary Funding For Changes To River Ridge
Question 612-12(3): Supplementary Funding For Changes To River Ridge
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1218

The Deputy Speaker Ludy Pudluk

Thank you. Supplementary, Member for Thebacha.

Supplementary To Question 612-12(3): Supplementary Funding For Changes To River Ridge
Question 612-12(3): Supplementary Funding For Changes To River Ridge
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1218

Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha

I recognize that the Minister chairs the Financial Management Board, however there have been some fairly significant statements in this House by Ministers who have said there will be no additional funding spent. I know the Minister of Finance is trying to keep a balanced budget. The concern of many people in Fort Smith is the additional cost to try to get the flexibility out of this building. The Minister is fairly adamant that he will not spend any more money on it. The Minister of Finance is the person who takes the Financial Management Board submissions to the House requesting supplementary funding through the Standing Committee on Finance and presents them to this House for consideration. Will the Minister of Finance assure this House when these requests come through the system, that he will remind the Minister and his department of their commitment not to spend extra taxpayer's dollars to address these changes? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 612-12(3): Supplementary Funding For Changes To River Ridge
Question 612-12(3): Supplementary Funding For Changes To River Ridge
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1218

The Deputy Speaker Ludy Pudluk

Thank you. Mr. Pollard.

Further Return To Question 612-12(3): Supplementary Funding For Changes To River Ridge
Question 612-12(3): Supplementary Funding For Changes To River Ridge
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1218

John Pollard Hay River

Mr. Speaker, Mr. Kakfwi at times accuses me of not ever getting excited, but I was fairly excited when he was saying he was not going to spend any more money. I like to hear that from Ministers and I would like the House to know, Mr. Speaker, that when Ministers make commitments in this House to do things or not to do things those commitments are taken notice of by Cabinet and by FMB. Certainly, I would be uncomfortable bringing forward a supplementary appropriation to this House which contained appropriations that a Minister in this House had said they had not required, unless they said there were excellent reasons for it, Mr. Speaker. The answer to the question is yes, I will remind Ministers they have made commitments in this House if they do come forward with financial submissions. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 612-12(3): Supplementary Funding For Changes To River Ridge
Question 612-12(3): Supplementary Funding For Changes To River Ridge
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1218

The Deputy Speaker Ludy Pudluk

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Lewis.

Question 613-12(3): Personal Participation In Minister's Travel To The Ussr
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1218

Brian Lewis Yellowknife Centre

I would like to ask the Minister of the Department of Public Works, will he make a commitment in this House today that he will, in fact, go to the former Soviet Union as part of a delegation to show some leadership so the very valued contacts we have there and the business connections we have made will be sustained in a way that the people who live there expect they will be sustained by political leadership?

Question 613-12(3): Personal Participation In Minister's Travel To The Ussr
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1218

The Deputy Speaker Ludy Pudluk

Thank you. Mr. Morin.

Return To Question 613-12(3): Personal Participation In Minister's Travel To The Ussr
Question 613-12(3): Personal Participation In Minister's Travel To The Ussr
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1218

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I do not know what is going to happen on April 20, so I cannot make that commitment.

Return To Question 613-12(3): Personal Participation In Minister's Travel To The Ussr
Question 613-12(3): Personal Participation In Minister's Travel To The Ussr
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1218

The Deputy Speaker Ludy Pudluk

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Gargan.

Question 614-12(3): GNWT Programs For Summer Students
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1218

Samuel Gargan Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Education. Mr. Speaker, summer is coming and spring is just around the corner. Will you provide programs for students in school who are going to be out of school both here in the Northwest Territories and also south in universities and colleges? What kinds of programs does this government have with regard to students looking for jobs in the summer?

Question 614-12(3): GNWT Programs For Summer Students
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1218

The Deputy Speaker Ludy Pudluk

Thank you. Mr. Nerysoo.

Return To Question 614-12(3): GNWT Programs For Summer Students
Question 614-12(3): GNWT Programs For Summer Students
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1218

Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I cannot indicate there is any particular program except to suggest to the honourable Member that, historically, we have advised students who are in post-secondary institutions that we would like them to indicate to us whether they are interested in working with the Government of the Northwest Territories for the summer. Letters were sent to all post-secondary students asking them to indicate their interest. Once we receive their replies we will, in fact, work with the departments to ensure we recruit those individuals for the summer.

Return To Question 614-12(3): GNWT Programs For Summer Students
Question 614-12(3): GNWT Programs For Summer Students
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1218

The Deputy Speaker Ludy Pudluk

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Gargan.

Supplementary To Question 614-12(3): GNWT Programs For Summer Students
Question 614-12(3): GNWT Programs For Summer Students
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1219

Samuel Gargan Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Do we have any kinds of programs for high school students in the north, who are going to school and residing at Akaitcho Hall?

Supplementary To Question 614-12(3): GNWT Programs For Summer Students
Question 614-12(3): GNWT Programs For Summer Students
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1219

The Deputy Speaker Ludy Pudluk

Thank you. Mr. Nerysoo.

Further Return To Question 614-12(3): GNWT Programs For Summer Students
Question 614-12(3): GNWT Programs For Summer Students
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1219

Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

I am not completely certain, Mr. Speaker, if we have a program, but our basic interest right now is to make sure those individuals who have graduated and are looking to go to post-secondary institutions receive at least some commitment on the part of our government to be employed for the summer so they do not run into the financial problems they will run into if they do not have a job. That is our first commitment. On other commitments, I will have to clarify that in a letter to my honourable colleague and to all other Members so it is clear what we intend to do for students this summer. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Further Return To Question 614-12(3): GNWT Programs For Summer Students
Question 614-12(3): GNWT Programs For Summer Students
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1219

The Deputy Speaker Ludy Pudluk

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Patterson.

Question 615-12(3): Employment Programs For Iqaluit Students
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1219

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I was pleased to hear the Minister of Education say that students who wish summer jobs could be referred to the department. For students in my constituency in Iqaluit, where would such a student contact the department? At headquarters or in the region? Thank you.

Question 615-12(3): Employment Programs For Iqaluit Students
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1219

The Deputy Speaker Ludy Pudluk

Thank you. Mr. Nerysoo.

Return To Question 615-12(3): Employment Programs For Iqaluit Students
Question 615-12(3): Employment Programs For Iqaluit Students
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1219

Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We are asking all students to contact headquarters so they can, in fact, get on with contacting the region to identify positions which students can fill once they return to the regions so we can accommodate them. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Return To Question 615-12(3): Employment Programs For Iqaluit Students
Question 615-12(3): Employment Programs For Iqaluit Students
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1219

The Deputy Speaker Ludy Pudluk

Thank you. The time for question period has expired. Before we go on to item 6, written questions, let us take a 15 minute break so some people can go to the bank before it is closed. Thank you.

---SHORT RECESS

Return To Question 615-12(3): Employment Programs For Iqaluit Students
Question 615-12(3): Employment Programs For Iqaluit Students
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 1219

The Deputy Speaker Ludy Pudluk

I will call this House back to order. Item 6, written questions. Item 7, returns to written questions. Item 8, replies to opening address. Item 9, petitions. Item 10, reports of standing and special committees. Item 11, reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 12, tabling of documents. Item 13, notices of motion. Item 14, notices of motions for first reading of bills. Item 15, motions. Item 16, first reading of bills. Item 17, second reading of bills. Item 18, consideration in committee of the whole of bills and other matters: Tabled Document 2-12(3), The Justice House - Report of the Special Advisor on Gender Equality; Tabled Document 19-12(3), 1992 Master Plan for Corrections Service Division; Tabled Document 91-12(3), Northwest Territories AIDS Project -Review; Tabled Document 92-12(3), HIV and AIDS in the NWT in 1993; Bill 5, An Act to Amend the Social Assistance Act; Bill 17, Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1993-94; Bill 18, An Act to Amend the Public Printing Act; Bill 19, An Act to Amend the Student Financial Assistance Act; Bill 20, Loan Authorization Act, 1993-94; Bill 21, An Act to Amend the Reciprocal Enforcement of Judgments Act; Bill 22, An Act to Amend the Mining Safety Act; Bill 23, Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 4, 1992-93; Bill 24, Write-off of Debts Act, 1993; Committee Report 10-12(3), Report on Tabled Document 21-12(3): Payroll Tax Act; Committee Report 11-12(3), Report on the Review of the 1993-94 Main Estimates; Committee Report 15-12(3), TD 33-12(2): Government Accountability: A Legislative Action Paper on Access to Government; Committee Report 17-12(3), Report on Television Guidelines, with Mr. Ningark in the chair.

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

Page 1219

The Chair John Ningark

The committee will now come to order. When we concluded yesterday, we were dealing with Tabled Document 91-12(3), Northwest Territories AIDS Project -Review; and, Tabled Document 92-12(3), HIV and AIDS in the NWT in 1993. What is the wish of the committee? Mr. Dent.

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

Page 1219

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to recommend that the committee continue consideration of Tabled Documents 91-12(3) and 92-12(3).

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

Page 1219

The Chair John Ningark

Thank you. Does the committee agree we will be dealing with Tabled Documents 91-12(3) and 92-12(3)?

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

Page 1219

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

---Agreed

Tabled Document 91-12(3): Northwest Territories Aids Project - Review, And Tabled Document 92-12(3): Hiv And Aids In The NWT In 1993
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1219

The Chair John Ningark

Thank you. Ms. Mike, do you wish to bring in the witnesses in case we get into detailed discussion?

Tabled Document 91-12(3): Northwest Territories Aids Project - Review, And Tabled Document 92-12(3): Hiv And Aids In The NWT In 1993
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1219

Rebecca Mike Baffin Central

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yes.

Tabled Document 91-12(3): Northwest Territories Aids Project - Review, And Tabled Document 92-12(3): Hiv And Aids In The NWT In 1993
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1219

The Chair John Ningark

Proceed, please. Sergeant-at-Arms, escort the witness or witnesses in.

Thank you. Madam Minister, would you introduce the witnesses, for the record, please?

Tabled Document 91-12(3): Northwest Territories Aids Project - Review, And Tabled Document 92-12(3): Hiv And Aids In The NWT In 1993
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1219

Rebecca Mike Baffin Central

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. On my right is my assistant deputy minister, Elaine Berthelet, and on my left is Dr. Gilchrist.

Tabled Document 91-12(3): Northwest Territories Aids Project - Review, And Tabled Document 92-12(3): Hiv And Aids In The NWT In 1993
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1219

The Chair John Ningark

Thank you. We will resume the general discussion on Tabled Documents 91-12(3) and 92-12(3). Are there any general comments? Mr. Koe.

General Comments

Tabled Document 91-12(3): Northwest Territories Aids Project - Review, And Tabled Document 92-12(3): Hiv And Aids In The NWT In 1993
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1220

Fred Koe Inuvik

Thank you. One of the issues that was alluded to or mentioned yesterday was the awareness and concern of known cases of people with the HIV virus and the concern about making the public aware of who and where these known cases are. Why is the system not allowed, at this stage, to disclose names of infected persons in communities or regions? Is there some law or act which prevents the department from doing this?

Tabled Document 91-12(3): Northwest Territories Aids Project - Review, And Tabled Document 92-12(3): Hiv And Aids In The NWT In 1993
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1220

The Chair John Ningark

Thank you. Madam Minister.

Tabled Document 91-12(3): Northwest Territories Aids Project - Review, And Tabled Document 92-12(3): Hiv And Aids In The NWT In 1993
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1220

Rebecca Mike Baffin Central

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I will let Dr. Gilchrist respond to that.

Tabled Document 91-12(3): Northwest Territories Aids Project - Review, And Tabled Document 92-12(3): Hiv And Aids In The NWT In 1993
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1220

The Chair John Ningark

Dr. Gilchrist.

Tabled Document 91-12(3): Northwest Territories Aids Project - Review, And Tabled Document 92-12(3): Hiv And Aids In The NWT In 1993
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1220

Gilchrist

In response, Mr. Chairman, to Mr. Koe's question, there are probably two or three different reasons for not proceeding with the usual disclosure of the names of infected people. The first one relates to legislation, which prohibits the identification of people with venereal diseases and sexually transmitted diseases. Secondly, is with regard to professional ethics, that professional nurses, doctors and physicians are, in theory, ethically bound not to discuss their patients' conditions or give their patients' identification to anyone else. A third reason is, with regard to AIDS and HIV, it has been difficult to get a handle on the real number of infected people. One of the concerns has been, and it has been demonstrated in many other places, that people are afraid to be identified. They do not, therefore, often come forward quickly for fear they will be identified. If one proceeds to identification, or even if people perceive there is a possibility of identification, it tends to make, in experience elsewhere, people not prepared to come for testing. That means we end up with a situation where we know less than we know now.

A further reason is that up until the present, certainly in terms of the people who we know about having this infection, their behaviour has been, by and large with one or two exceptions, superb. They have certainly put no one else at risk. So, to identify them would be very damaging, or could be very damaging, without any protection being provided. Thank you.

Tabled Document 91-12(3): Northwest Territories Aids Project - Review, And Tabled Document 92-12(3): Hiv And Aids In The NWT In 1993
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1220

The Chair John Ningark

Thank you. General comments. Mr. Gargan.

Tabled Document 91-12(3): Northwest Territories Aids Project - Review, And Tabled Document 92-12(3): Hiv And Aids In The NWT In 1993
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1220

Samuel Gargan Deh Cho

Mr. Chairman, those were the four reasons why people's names should not be disclosed. Are there any programs right now -- I know we pass laws for compulsory education, for example. Is it possible to have compulsory testing? Can we initiate something like this up here? We have 52,000 people, we are not talking about millions of people. I wonder if that possibility it there.

Tabled Document 91-12(3): Northwest Territories Aids Project - Review, And Tabled Document 92-12(3): Hiv And Aids In The NWT In 1993
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1220

The Chair John Ningark

Thank you. Madam Minister.

Tabled Document 91-12(3): Northwest Territories Aids Project - Review, And Tabled Document 92-12(3): Hiv And Aids In The NWT In 1993
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1220

Rebecca Mike Baffin Central

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I will let Dr. Gilchrist respond to that.

Tabled Document 91-12(3): Northwest Territories Aids Project - Review, And Tabled Document 92-12(3): Hiv And Aids In The NWT In 1993
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1220

The Chair John Ningark

Dr. Gilchrist.

Tabled Document 91-12(3): Northwest Territories Aids Project - Review, And Tabled Document 92-12(3): Hiv And Aids In The NWT In 1993
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1220

Dr. Gilchrist

There are a number of different reasons why compulsory testing can take place and does take place. In other words, if one is aware of someone who may be infected, who appears to be infected, and there is some reason to expect is infected, and has not been tested, then that person could be compelled to go for testing. To test everyone presents a number of problems. One is that the test, even though it is a fairly good test, does not become positive immediately after the person is infected. There are, in fact, some people who have been known to go for more than a year without their test turning positive even though they were infected. So, the test is weak in that sense.

Another problem with testing is that if you test someone today and find out they are negative, that does not mean they will not become positive tomorrow. I am not sure then, how often one would go for testing. That is certainly a problem, you have to look at the frequency in which that would need to be done.

Another problem related to that is the cost. It is not a very costly test, but it is running $17 or $18 for the first test, and if you repeat the test the price goes up. How often would you need to repeat the test?

Another reason is once you have determined that someone is infected, then what do you do? They can remain infected for 20 years. Probably many of the cases of illness we are seeing now are people who were infected a long time ago. Knowing someone is infected does not really help you to do anything with that person because they are going to be around for such a long time.

Another problem with testing is that, even though the results which are going to be wrong are small, it can be fairly devastating. The more tests you do, the higher the possibility of an occasional bad test. You can, therefore, expect that people who are, in fact, negative will sometimes have a positive test. Those people, of course, will have a disaster in their lives.

Another reason for the problem with testing is simply the movement of our people. People go back and forth, people come from the south, so many people move around that even if you were to test everyone who is here today, we know the population tomorrow is going to be different.

I think in purely practical terms, testing is not an answer to this infection. There is probably also a bit of a negative in the sense that when people know someone is infected they seem to want to concentrate on being careful with that person, but not with the other people. That also is, of course, a big risk. There are circumstances under which testing can and should be done, but to do compulsory testing for everyone seems to have a great many difficulties as a possibility.

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The Chair John Ningark

Thank you. The honourable Member for Deh Cho.

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Samuel Gargan Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have been listening for a while yesterday and today with regard to this whole issue of AIDS. However, I have not heard anything positive with regard to why this discussion is taking place. What is the purpose of it? If it is to make public aware? The public is listening to this kind of conversation with no direction. I do not know what the purpose of it is.

On the other hand, you talked about professional ethnics. I would also like to touch a bit on human ethnics too. We have a situation in which this sickness is multiplying. As you suggested yesterday, we may have 11, but it could be very well that we have 211. Possibly by the year 2010 we will have eliminated ourselves from the face of the earth if we continue to hide and protect the people who have AIDS, and not let the other people who are not infected be protected. I do not know where to go from here, Mr. Chairman. With no answers, I do not know how we can address it.

The other thing too is that we have done things like put condoms in the bathrooms in the schools and possibly even sending strong messages to the students that sex is all right as long as you practice safe sex. There is a moral issue, which I think even clergymen should be addressing.

When I was growing up, I grew up with strict parents. Residential schools were strict with regard to boys and girls. Even the dress code reflected that. I came to Yellowknife in 1963 when they had a flood in Fort Simpson. The girls had dresses down to their ankles, twisting away.

We have not addressed that at all. We have not sent anything to the young people regarding the moral issue. I do not know if we require stricter ways of dealing with the young people, but if we keep talking about AIDS as a symptom and do not address it as human behaviour, we are not doing any justice to anyone by discussing it. There has not been any positive responses I have received from the witnesses or the Minister with regard to this issue. Everything looks bleak, blank and grey. I feel hopeless sitting here trying to find an answer, and I am sure the witnesses are doing the same thing. I think we should do a bit more than just discuss it, I think we should be doing something with regard to human ethics, too.

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The Chair John Ningark

Thank you. Madam Minister, you can delegate your responses to your staff. It is your discretion.

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Rebecca Mike Baffin Central

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. These are the kinds of comments which our department is seeking from this Assembly, such as moral issues, et cetera. We make sure we are not promoting sex. AIDS is a disease for which there is no cure. If we are going to try to make an attempt to deal with the disease, then I think it is important that the leaders get involved in the discussions, even if we do not have immediate solutions at hand. One of the things which could be done is to target the schools and provide sex counsellors for high school students. It was available at the residential school I attended, but I do not know if it was available at the residential school you attended, Mr. Gargan. These are a few ideas which we can throw back and forth. That would help the department in addressing this problem. It has only been a few years that this Assembly has been informed about AIDS. If you compare it to the campaign for smoke-free work places, it took ten years for some people to quit smoking. We are targeting to try to change peoples' habits, but we are not going to see any immediate changes, as with smokers. However, I am seeking ideas and suggestions from Members because we need to make the public aware that this disease is increasing among our population. Thank you.

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The Chair John Ningark

Thank you. Mr. Gargan.

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Samuel Gargan Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate the response the Minister has given me with respect to counsellors. To suggest that we have counsellors in the schools, suggests that we are promoting sex, and that these counsellors should counsel the young people before they get into it. I am not looking for patch-up answers. I am looking for something beyond that. It has to be done in the open. It cannot be done behind closed doors, one on one. It has to be something which we, even as Members, should be addressing to the schools. To do it as an individual department will not work. It has to be done with the people who are on the Executive, also. Everyone of us have responsibilities as politicians.

Mr. Chairman, a couple of weeks ago, under Statistics Canada, there was a survey done with regard to how many people get married in the Northwest Territories. On the national average the Northwest Territories is rock bottom. People are not getting married. Why is that? Are we sending the wrong kind of messages to our young people? Those are the kinds of questions we should be asking ourselves and how we might be able to address it. Perhaps AIDS will then take care of itself.

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The Chair John Ningark

Thank you. Madam Minister.

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Rebecca Mike Baffin Central

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. To clarify myself with regard to providing sex education in schools, I did not mean we should promote sex. Sex education consists of films on diseases which are sexually transmitted. That could open a person eyes that they are at risk if they are active. That is what I meant with regard to sex education. It is not promotion. It is making the young people aware that there are diseases which are sexually transmitted. Many of these children do not know that there is such a thing. Thank you.

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The Chair John Ningark

Thank you. Mr. Gargan.

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Samuel Gargan Deh Cho

I misunderstood the Minister. I thought the Minister indicated that we should have sex counsellors in the schools. That was what I thought. Thank you.

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The Chair John Ningark

Thank you. Are there any general comments on Tabled Document 91-12(3), Northwest Territories AIDS Project - Review? Mr. Lewis.

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Brian Lewis Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It is unfortunate we do not have more Members in the House today. In order to respond to some of the issues which other Members have raised, it is my understanding that we have decided to spend some time on this item because it was one identified by the department that was causing them some difficulty and some frustration. They needed to find some way of giving a better focus to the problem, trying to find ways in which perhaps more policy direction could be developed, and to involve more people in the problem than simply the officials and the care givers. That is why we decided to spend some time discussing these two documents. It would be my expectation that, maybe not today, but next week in formal session after having listened to the discussion and read the papers, that we will come up with a formal motion in the House which will, at least, give some idea of how we think the condition could be improved in dealing with people who have HIV.

Mr. Chairman, the information which we have been given gives us some cause for alarm. I would like to ask a few questions.

With regard to the information we were provided with, about 1,000 NWT residents did, in fact, contract a sexually transmittable disease. This indicates that those 1,000, who were infected, were at risk also of being infected with HIV, and that 1,000 may be a small number of the total population who, because of whatever conduct they engage in, were also at risk. Out of 57,000 people, 1,000 people have either contracted gonorrhoea or chlamydia, a fairly significant statistic. Is this more or less consistent with the general population of the country?

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The Chair John Ningark

Thank you. Madam Minister.

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Rebecca Mike Baffin Central

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I will ask Dr. Gilchrist to respond to that question.

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The Chair John Ningark

Dr. Gilchrist.

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Dr. Gilchrist

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The levels of sexually transmitted diseases in the NWT have, over the past many years, been much higher than the national levels. At some stages it is, approximately, ten times the levels. Those figures are a little bit deceptive in the sense that they are not age adjusted. In other words, if we were to compare our population in terms of age to a southern population probably the difference would not be as great. Nevertheless, even if you do conduct an age adjustment on the figures, our rates have always been higher than they have been in southern Canada. The 1,000 figure which Mr. Lewis is referring to is a drop of approximately 200. The number of the previous years was approximately 1,200, so, it is down that much, but it remains considerably higher than the rates which one would see in southern Canada.

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The Chair John Ningark

Thank you. Mr. Lewis.

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Brian Lewis Yellowknife Centre

We have been told that one of the problems we face is that there seems to be an absence of frank discussion on the nature of the problem because these kinds of subjects tend to be taboo and people tend to want to handle them in a very careful manner. I suppose, by forcing us to discuss this in the Assembly, we are in a sense, being asked to deal with one of these taboo subjects in a way that is perhaps more blunt and forthright than usual. On the basis of the statistics that we have gathered, it seems the population of the Northwest Territories has always been at greater risk with regard to sexually transmitted diseases than the general population of the country. Is that what we are saying? For some reason, because of the way we behave, our population is somehow different to the general population of Canada. Is that what you are saying?

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The Chair John Ningark

Thank you. Madam Minister.

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Rebecca Mike Baffin Central

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I will let Dr. Gilchrist respond to that.

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Dr. Gilchrist

I think that, Mr. Chairman, the answer is clearly, for whatever reason, our NWT people are generally at greater risk and have been for quite some time. We talked about differences yesterday in terms of the way HIV is transmitted. In the NWT, it is largely by male to female, female to male transmission as compared to southern Canada. That was a difference. I would say that, yes, Mr. Lewis, it looks to me like there are differences which indicate that the risk of picking up an STD in the NWT is higher than it is in the rest of Canada.

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The Chair John Ningark

Thank you. Mr. Lewis.

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Brian Lewis Yellowknife Centre

We were given a paper by the department, Tabled Document 92-12(3), HIV and AIDS in the NWT in 1993, which provides us with a profile and a great deal of information in just four pages. The movement toward a solution you have given is summed up in three phrases. It says, "Still, HIV can easily be stopped if people stay with one sex partner, always use a condom and do not use injection needles." Are you saying that part of the solution would be if people were to be, to some degree, monogamous? In other words, once they agree they have chosen a partner, that will be one way of preventing the spread of this sickness. Does it also mean that partner also has to use condoms, even when you decided that you are going to stick with one partner? Do you always do that?

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The Chair John Ningark

Thank you. Madam Minister.

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Rebecca Mike Baffin Central

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I will let Dr. Gilchrist respond to that.

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Dr. Gilchrist

Mr. Chairman, we are touching on an area where morality blends in with issues of sexual health and other issues. I guess the answer is, it takes two to tango. In other words, there are two partners involved. If both partners are absolutely faithful to their spouse, neither partner is at risk of picking up this infection. If one partner is faithful and the other is not, clearly one introduces a risk for both partners. The situation, in terms of behaviour across Canada, is that some studies have shown, on average, adults in Canada have an average of eight sexual partners in their lifetime. If that is the case, and we do not know if that is the case in the NWT, my feeling is that, in order to be absolutely sure, both partners need to accept the obligation to have safe sex, to either limit themselves only to their one partner, or to use the appropriate precautions, or both. I do not know if that answers the question, Mr. Chairman.

Tabled Document 91-12(3): Northwest Territories Aids Project - Review, And Tabled Document 92-12(3): Hiv And Aids In The NWT In 1993
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The Chair John Ningark

Thank you. Mr. Lewis.

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Brian Lewis Yellowknife Centre

From many people I have talked to about this, there seems to be a general feeling that the problem could be solved if you knew who to avoid. This comes up time and time again. If only we could find the threat and we avoided that threat, we would be safe. The fact that people's behaviour would only be somewhat modified leads me to believe that simply having that information provides you with a sense of false security because, really, just by knowing that one or two people definitely have the HIV infection, is no guarantee that two or three other people you may be involved with do not have it. It is simply that you know for sure these two or three people who are infected should be avoided and then you would be safe, in the sense, at least you are not being infected by those two or three people. There is no guarantee you would not get it from someone else. I am convinced that we are going up the wrong path, if we think we can solve the problem just by knowing who to avoid.

My question is, from your knowledge -- and I have lived in several small communities -- is it not likely that in those communities that most people would know who the problem cases are? Even though we have confidentiality and all the ethical considerations looked after, it is very difficult in my experience in a small community to hide anything. It is almost impossible. In reality, in communities where there are people who are HIV infected, what is the judgement of the department? Do people locally know who is infected, or is it a secret which is kept so carefully and closely guarded it would be impossible for the community to find out?

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The Chair John Ningark

Qujannamiik. Honourable Minister.

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Rebecca Mike Baffin Central

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I will let Dr. Gilchrist respond to that.

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Dr. Gilchrist

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Of the 24 infections which we know about and that we have looked at as carefully as we can, some of the people who are infected seem to have had the misfortune to become infected after, perhaps, one exposure. These people then would not be seen by their neighbours, friends or families as being promiscuous, they would not be seen as people who were at special risk. Several of the 24 have been people who are not ordinarily inclined to abuse alcohol. They do not get drunk on a regular basis, and my expectation is that most people would not think that they were likely to be infected. Of the 24, I believe that probably less than one quarter would ordinarily be suspected by their friends, neighbours or family.

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The Chair John Ningark

Thank you. Mr. Patterson.

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Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am very glad we are having this debate. The previous Assembly had a very good debate in committee of the whole on this issue when the AIDS crises was developing. I would like to think that it helped lead to the so-called AIDS project, which I think did some very good work over three years in alerting our population to this staggering problem.

Mr. Chairman, I think the information we have been given should tell us that there is still a great cause for alarm. As I understand it, the random blood sampling which was done showed much higher rates of HIV infection than the national average, although I understand it was a limited sample and therefore may not be statistically as valid as if it would have been a larger sample. I also noted we have a higher proportion of heterosexual infection in the Northwest Territories than in the rest of Canada. These are very alarming indicators, Mr. Chairman, and I think it means that the problem should be treated as a matter of the most urgent priority by the Minister and the Department of Health.

Mr. Chairman, Tabled Document 91-12(3), which is a review of the so-called AIDS project, is a very useful document. I would like to note, in my view, it contains some excellent recommendations. Some of those recommendations touch on the issues Members have raised this morning. I would like to touch on a few of them. One of the recommendations on page v, suggests there should be discussion promoted in the Legislative Assembly which will bring AIDS and the need for a new campaign to the forefront. We are doing that and I am happy that we are doing that now.

Mr. Chairman, another recommendation I noted is that there should be funding secured to provide each regional health board with a person year for a health promotion officer whose main responsibility will be AIDS education. I understand the philosophy of the department has been that responsibility should take place, should be given to deliver these programs at the regional and community level because each region is different and these boards do have the capability to reach into the communities. I think this makes sense, but I also think they need the resources and materials to do the job. So, it seems to me that even in these times of scarce funds, the recommendation of having health promotion officers dedicated to this issue available in each region will be a critical response to public concern or the Members' concern about this.

On the moral issue that Mr. Gargan and others have discussed, I note that recommendation 24, and there are many recommendations about media and television, suggests that elders could participate in a video to discuss life-style issues, such as spirituality, values, choices, personal and community growth. Life-styles that have a positive image as role models could be presented. I think this, too, would be very helpful. We have this fantastic tool for communication in Television Northern Canada in aboriginal languages. It is an existing, very expensive system. It is there, all we have to do produce the material and we can have access, and it goes to every home whether you are a cable subscriber or not. This is a fantastic opportunity to do mass education awareness.

It has also been suggested that there be a comprehensive sexual practices survey, recommendation 31, to examine cultural mores surrounding sexual practices in the Northwest Territories. We need to know more about our people, when and how they engage in sexual activities. I suspect we will find that most of the dangerous unprotected sex occurs in the context of alcohol use. If that is the case, then perhaps this is where we should target our distribution of condoms and our education programs.

In general comments, Mr. Chairman, I would like to say that I believe the perception is that after an intense activity, where people went door to door, there were a great deal of promotional materials, there seems to have been less emphasis on this issue. There is a bit of a perception growing that perhaps the problem is reduced and perhaps everything is all right. The information we have got this morning from the Minister and her officials is that it is not all right, there are some very alarming indicators and perhaps we need to revive the issue through this discussion and through other initiatives.

In closing, I would like to ask the Minister whether, and I know this was recommended by the Standing Committee on Finance which she was a Member of, there should be a targeted priority on AIDS and whether, in fact, the department has a strategy and will make it a priority to respond to, at least, some of the recommendations in this evaluation. I think it has many sensible recommendations. Will it be the Minister's priority to respond to this report with a plan and with dedicated resources? Thank you.

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The Chair John Ningark

Thank you. Madam Minister.

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Rebecca Mike Baffin Central

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. With AIDS being a serious disease, it would be very negligent of the department if they did not implement the recommendations which are stated in the review. It remains to be the priority of the department because of the nature of the disease. I will encourage the department to work on the recommendations and have some responses made and perhaps have a strategy developed from those recommendations. Thank you.

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The Chair John Ningark

Thank you. Mr. Patterson.

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Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am very pleased to hear that. I will say again that a simple and fast thing would be to have more accessibility to free condoms. I think that could be done relatively quickly. Mr. Chairman, I would like to ask one other question relating to policy on disclosure. The information provided by Dr. Gilchrist indicates that cases are now wide spread in the regions of the Northwest Territories. I fully respect the sensitivity of any suggestion that will disclose names. I think we want to encourage people to come forward to be tested knowing that they will not be risking exposure by name. However, I would like to ask the Minister, now that the epidemic, or disease, is spreading and seems to be present in many regions of the territories, I wonder whether consideration should be given to change the disclosure policy -- that would be disclosure of cases by region, not names.

The reason I suggest this, Mr. Chairman, is we had a very brave woman from Iqaluit who came forward, talked about her disease, went to schools and did her very best in the last month of her life to warn others about this terrible disease. She talked about the dangers of unprotected sex and how drunkenness can lead to carelessness. I believe this had a big impact in our region and, perhaps, in other regions. I believe, and I talked to people about it even in the bars, they started thinking about the issue as being a real issue because this brave young woman identified herself.

I think there are other regions where the penny may not yet have dropped. If the Minister of Health was to consider amending the policy to state that we have around 34 cases of AIDS/HIV in the territories and they are located in the following regions, for instance, the Inuvik region has a case or several cases. I think people, who may be pretending that everything is all right in their region and that it is just the Baffin or Iqaluit, may start to think it is closer to home than they might otherwise think. This may require Cabinet consideration, but I would like to ask the Minister if consideration could be given to regionally revealing case numbers statistics, but, of course, not names. I think this was something the Baffin health board had taken upon themselves to do a number of years ago. At that time, it was felt premature, perhaps because there were so few cases and it was felt it might possibly lead to identification of individuals in that region, but those days are over. From what I have heard, there is enough of a proliferation throughout the territories, that it may be timely and may help the public become aware if the policy was reviewed in that direction. Can the Minister at least entertain that idea? Thank you.

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The Chair John Ningark

Madam Minister.

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Rebecca Mike Baffin Central

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. On disclosing the numbers by region, the pros and cons can be discussed with departmental staff and perhaps with the Cabinet. One thing we have to get across is, it is at our doorstep, it is no longer a matter of one region diseased. It is a disease across the north, nationally and internationally. We have to make the public aware of that. Thank you.

Tabled Document 91-12(3): Northwest Territories Aids Project - Review, And Tabled Document 92-12(3): Hiv And Aids In The NWT In 1993
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair John Ningark

Thank you. Are there any general comments? Mr. Lewis.

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

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Brian Lewis Yellowknife Centre

If no one else has a general comment to make, Mr. Chairman, we may be coming close to the end of our discussion. I am sorry. I think Mr. Nerysoo has not spoken yet, Mr. Chairman.

Tabled Document 91-12(3): Northwest Territories Aids Project - Review, And Tabled Document 92-12(3): Hiv And Aids In The NWT In 1993
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The Chair John Ningark

Thank you. Mr. Nerysoo.

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

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Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you. I am going to speak on this issue, but not as a Cabinet Member. I want it to be clear. I know people will probably recognize me as being a Member, but I want to pursue a matter that is, in my view, important for people to appreciate. I do not think people do here. Perhaps my experience in having raised this issue on a number of occasions, people do not understand the seriousness of this matter.

My colleague, Mr. Patterson, was Minister of Health, when a significant issue arose in my particular region. It was interesting, Mr. Chairman, to note the last individual to know about a case of AIDS or an individual who had AIDS residing in the community was a medical official. I think that is wrong, irrespective of what the Department of Health might say. I think there has to be a better way of educating the people of the Northwest Territories, including the medical practitioners. There is, in fact, a need to treat these individuals. We cannot always chase them out of the Northwest Territories. We have a responsibility to deliver services to them as well.

I do not like the suggestion by anyone, no matter which side of this House I sit, that somehow our best solution of treating people are through medical professionals in southern Canada. It is our responsibility to keep our people in the Northwest Territories. A person, such as the individual Mr. Patterson talked about, can only help our situation to improve the education within our communities. We have to assume responsibility for those people. We cannot make the assumption that they are forever, in this Assembly and in every community, going to ask individuals to leave the Northwest Territories to be treated in other jurisdictions. It is not good enough to suggest that.

Perhaps, with my involvement in Cabinet or my involvement somewhere, and hopefully with the assistance of Members, we can develop a better policy as to how we deal with people in the communities, not only from advising the people in the communities and providing information to regions but also advising the best way to our medical practitioners in the communities. You have to appreciate that the people who deliver medical services in the communities are not doctors, they are nurses.

If you are not prepared, as a government, an Assembly or the department, to protect medical professionals in the community, then say so. It is important to advise them. I think they are at greater risk than we are because they have to provide that service on a daily basis. They are ones who are providing medical attention every day. If they do not know what we are telling them, that we do not care what happens to them, that we are not prepared to advise them so they can assume responsibility for providing medical attention, I think that is wrong. I think our policy is going to have to be changed to reflect that sensitivity we have to our medical professionals in our communities, irrespective of whether or not they are medical doctors.

I do not think doctors have the sole responsibility for delivering services, nor do they have the right to refuse to provide information to those who are providing services in the communities. They are not the front line workers. You have to deal with the front line workers. I do not think we are doing that right now. We certainly did not do it in Tuktoyaktuk.

Tabled Document 91-12(3): Northwest Territories Aids Project - Review, And Tabled Document 92-12(3): Hiv And Aids In The NWT In 1993
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1225

The Chair John Ningark

Thank you. Are there any general comments? Mr. Lewis.

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

Page 1225

The Chair John Ningark

Thank you. General comments. Mr. Lewis, you had your hand up earlier.

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

Page 1225

Brian Lewis Yellowknife Centre

Thanks, Mr. Chairman. I know the intention of the department is to start another campaign or to try to put some new life, I suppose, in this battle against AIDS.

One of the things I should remark on is that when the first indication of the connection between smoking and cancer was made, I believe it was an article in the British medical journal around 1961 or 1962, it was identified as the killer. We had to find ways of stopping people from smoking because it was felt that would reduce the number of fatalities. There were all kinds of different strategies worked out. One of the things that seems to have characterized the first 20 years anyway of the attempt to get people to stop smoking, was the campaign. The campaign, usually, is something which is of short duration, with a tremendous amount of energy and high profile. The problem with campaigns is that they do all those things for that short period of time, but it may temporarily halt people smoking or it may have minor impact. In other words, you can achieve something which is measurable. However, you have used up so much energy and so much of your capital, in a sense, by making this a high profile issue, that it is very difficult then to sustain it. Then you have to wait for a few years to bring it back again and the problem still exists. I think what we have learned from the anti-smoking campaign is that it really has to be a long range strategy. We cannot depend upon the bells and whistles where we go at it for a year and everyone gets excited about it and gives it high profile, because the problem will still exist. Perhaps to a slightly smaller degree, but the problem will still exist. What we have learned from the anti-smoking campaign that began in the mid 1960s was that we have to think through all the kinds of things that we could do. You cannot just say, "Let us come up with a package and go at it for three years," but to stretch it out over a long period of time so you have something sustainable. I am thinking about the demand that manufacturers put warnings on packages of cigarettes, that took a long time because it was planned a long time ago. However, it took quite some time for the manufacturers to do it. Things of that nature, where you have it continually in front of the public as an issue, not banging them in the eye, but it is subliminal almost, are never effective. Eventually you even have children coming home from school and seeing adults smoking and breaking them up in front of their eyes. They may get spanked for it, but at least they have made their point and it has been very effective.

My suggestion would be instead of only looking at a campaign which will last two or three years during the life of this Assembly, we should try to develop a strategy about how this whole thing should be dealt with over a much longer time frame because I believe it would be much more effective than just simply a campaign.

Tabled Document 91-12(3): Northwest Territories Aids Project - Review, And Tabled Document 92-12(3): Hiv And Aids In The NWT In 1993
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1225

The Chair John Ningark

Thank you. General comments. Mr. Gargan.

Tabled Document 91-12(3): Northwest Territories Aids Project - Review, And Tabled Document 92-12(3): Hiv And Aids In The NWT In 1993
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Page 1225

Samuel Gargan Deh Cho

Mr. Chairman, I move we report progress.

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Page 1226

The Chair John Ningark

Thank you, Mr. Gargan. There is a motion to report progress and the motion is not... Mr. Lewis. Did you withdraw your motion, Mr. Gargan?

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Samuel Gargan Deh Cho

Yes.

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

Page 1226

The Chair John Ningark

Mr. Lewis.

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

Page 1226

Brian Lewis Yellowknife Centre

Thanks, Mr. Chairman. I should have done this, it was a mistake on my part. It seemed to me that everyone who wanted to speak on this issue had done so, and it was my suggestion that perhaps we should take this longer view of how we should deal with it. We might propose that next week we come up with a formal motion in the House, Mr. Chairman. Having learned from our witnesses today and having had a presentation in Caucus, I would like to move that this item be concluded today.

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Page 1226

The Chair John Ningark

Thank you. Does the committee agree that this item is concluded?

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Page 1226

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

---Agreed

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Page 1226

The Chair John Ningark

Thank you. What is the wish of the committee? Mr. Gargan.

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Page 1226

Samuel Gargan Deh Cho

Mr. Chairman, I move we report progress.

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Page 1226

The Chair John Ningark

You are not going to withdraw the motion this time? Just kidding. There is a motion to report progress. The motion is not debatable. Do we need a quorum? We need a quorum. Ring the bell, please.

There is a motion to report progress and it is not debatable. All those in favour of the motion? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

I will rise and report progress.

Tabled Document 91-12(3): Northwest Territories Aids Project - Review, And Tabled Document 92-12(3): Hiv And Aids In The NWT In 1993
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1226

The Deputy Speaker Ludy Pudluk

Item 19, report of committee of the whole. Mr. Chairman.

Item 19: Report Of Committee Of The Whole
Item 19: Report Of Committee Of The Whole

Page 1226

John Ningark Natilikmiot

Mr. Speaker, your committee has been considering Tabled Document 91-12(3), Northwest Territories AIDS Project - Review; and, Tabled Document 91-12(3), Northwest Territories AIDS Project - Review, and would like to report progress in that, Tabled Documents 91-12(3) and 92-12(3) are concluded. Mr. Speaker, I move that the report of committee of the whole be concurred with. Thank you.

Item 19: Report Of Committee Of The Whole
Item 19: Report Of Committee Of The Whole

Page 1226

The Deputy Speaker Ludy Pudluk

Seconder, Mr. Koe. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Member for Thebacha.

Item 19: Report Of Committee Of The Whole
Item 19: Report Of Committee Of The Whole

Page 1226

Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to go back to Members' statements.

Item 19: Report Of Committee Of The Whole
Item 19: Report Of Committee Of The Whole

Page 1226

The Deputy Speaker Ludy Pudluk

The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent to go back to Members' statements. Are there any nays? There are no nays. You have already made a Member's statement earlier today, so you have to seek unanimous consent to make another statement. Member for Thebacha.

Item 19: Report Of Committee Of The Whole
Item 19: Report Of Committee Of The Whole

Page 1226

Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to waive the rules of the House to allow me to make another Member's statement. Thank you.

Item 19: Report Of Committee Of The Whole
Item 19: Report Of Committee Of The Whole

Page 1226

The Deputy Speaker Ludy Pudluk

The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent to make another statement. Are there any nays? There is one nay. That is good enough. Item 20, third reading of bills. Item 21, orders of the day. Mr. Clerk.

Item 21: Orders Of The Day
Item 21: Orders Of The Day

Page 1226

Clerk Of The House Mr. David Hamilton

Mr. Speaker, there is a meeting on Monday morning at 9:00 am of the Standing Committee on Finance, and at 10:30 am, there is a meeting of the ordinary Members' caucus. Orders of the day for Monday, March 29, 1993.

1. Prayer

2. Ministers' Statements

3. Members' Statements

4. Returns to Oral Questions

5. Oral Questions

6. Written Questions

7. Returns to Written Questions

8. Replies to Opening Address

9. Petitions

10. Reports of Standing and Special Committees

11. Reports of Committees on the Review of Bills

12. Tabling of Documents

13. Notices of Motion

14. Notices of Motions for First Reading of Bills

15. Motions

16. First Reading of Bills

17. Second Reading of Bills

- Bill 8, Payroll Tax Act 18. Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

- Tabled Document 2-12(3), The Justice House - Report of the Special Advisor on Gender Equality

- Tabled Document 19-12(3), 1992 Master Plan for Corrections Service Division

- Bill 5, An Act to Amend the Social Assistance Act

- Bill 17, Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1993-94

- Bill 18, An Act to Amend the Public Printing Act

- Bill 19, An Act to Amend the Student Financial Assistance Act

- Bill 20, Loan Authorization Act, 1993-94

- Bill 21, an Act to Amend the Reciprocal Enforcement of Judgments Act

- Bill 22, An Act to Amend the Mining Safety Act

- Bill 23, Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 4, 1992-93

- Bill 24, Write-off of Debts Act, 1993

- Committee Report 10-12(3), Report on Tabled Document 21-12(3): Payroll Tax Act

- Committee Report 11-12(3), Report on the Review of the 1993-94 Main Estimates

- Committee Report 15-12(3), TD 33-12(2): Government Accountability: A Legislative Action Paper on Access to Government

- Committee Report 17-12(3), Report on Television Guidelines

19. Report of Committee of the Whole

20. Third Reading of Bills

21. Orders of the Day

Item 21: Orders Of The Day
Item 21: Orders Of The Day

Page 1227

The Deputy Speaker Ludy Pudluk

This House stands adjourned until 1:30 pm, Monday, March 29, 1993.

---ADJOURNMENT