This is page numbers 171 - 209 of the Hansard for the 12th Assembly, 6th 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 report.

Topics

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Minister of Renewable Resources, Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Silas Arngna'naaq Kivallivik

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would very much like to take responsibility of guide training, but I believe that is an area that Mr. Todd, the Minister of Economic Development is responsible for. Thank you.

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Minister of Economic Development and Tourism, Mr. Todd.

Return To Question 98-12(6): Minister's Support Of Level Ii Guide Training Program
Question 98-12(6): Minister's Support Of Level Ii Guide Training Program
Item 6: Oral Questions

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John Todd Keewatin Central

Well, I'd very much like to take responsibility of guide training as well, but I believe it's the Minister of Education.

---Laughter

No. I'm not aware of the specifics in relationship to the guide training, second level, with respect to Fort Providence, but I know that's an important initiative in the department. I'll look into it and get back to the honourable Member with the status of the level II guide training program in Fort Providence which is supposed to start in November. Thank you.

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Question 98-12(6): Minister's Support Of Level Ii Guide Training Program
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The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Just before we go on, there was an oversight on my part. The question should have been asked again by Mr. Gargan, directed to Mr. Todd. I just want to make Members aware that only the Premier can answer questions for other Ministers once it's directed to a specific Minister. If Members can remember that in the future, I'd appreciate it. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Iqaluit, Mr. Patterson.

Question 99-12(6): Authorization Of Housing Advertisement
Item 6: Oral Questions

October 10th, 1994

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Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I'd like to pursue the matter of advertorial purchases by the Government of the Northwest Territories. Madam Speaker, last week, when I asked the Minister of Housing about the glossy spread in Above and Beyond, he didn't seem to know about it. In fact, in response to a direct question to that Minister, "Did the Minister authorize this costly ad spread" and I'm quoting from an unedited Hansard, Madam Speaker. The Minister's answer was "I think the deputy minister has the authority to authorize that type of ad."

Now, Madam Speaker, a few minutes ago, the Premier said, in response to my earlier questions, that she fully supported Mr. Morin's decision to purchase the advertising. So I'd like to ask the Premier is she now saying that Mr. Morin and not his deputy minister authorized this advertisement? Thank you.

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Madam Premier.

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Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Madam Speaker, what I can say about the issue is that I was aware of the issue. I recall being aware of the issue because I did, upon receipt of a letter earlier, decide that I wanted to be a little cautious where we were putting our advertisements and Mr. Morin may have forgotten, but I believe he did authorize the expenditure for his deputy minister to move ahead with it, so it may be a technicality. I am aware of it. I was aware that he wanted to do it and if he instructed his deputy minister to do it, that's probably usual procedure. Thank you.

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The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

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Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Thank you for that response. Madam Speaker, earlier the Premier said the particular arrangement that Above and Beyond magazine was willing to make was quite satisfactory. Madam Speaker, I'm told that most responsible journalists refuse to allow any client to buy editorial copy without labelling it clearly as advertising or as an advertising supplemental. But Above and Beyond doesn't seem to have that policy. The 16 pages appeared as if it was editorial copy and not purchased by those three government departments or agencies.

I'd like to ask the Premier, Madam Speaker, is that the particular arrangement that the government finds satisfactory with Above and Beyond, that you can buy editorial copy and they'll camouflage it as if it was editorial copy and not advertising? Thank you.

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Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Madam Premier.

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Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Madam Speaker, I really don't know how to answer that question because it will be based on a lot of presumptions on my part, so if the Member could clarify what he really wants to know, I'd appreciate it. Thank you.

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Question 99-12(6): Authorization Of Housing Advertisement
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Mr. Patterson, do you want to attempt to clarify your question so it could be understood by the Premier? Thank you.

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Question 99-12(6): Authorization Of Housing Advertisement
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Well, I thought my question was pretty clear, Madam Speaker and I'll be unhappy if I have to use up a supplementary to give this explanation, but let me try to make it as clear as I can. I'm assuming, Madam Speaker, that the government paid for the 16-page glossy spread in Above and Beyond of the three departments I've referred to. I also assume that the Premier noted that the 16 pages of copy are not labelled, as one usually finds with an advertising supplement in a responsible journalistic publication's advertising supplement.

Therefore, my question to the Premier is since Above and Beyond apparently allows people to buy editorial copy without labelling it as advertising, is that the kind of particular arrangement that the Premier was referring to earlier in the House when she said that the particular arrangement they were willing to make was satisfactory to the government? Thank you.

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The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Madam Premier.

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Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Madam Speaker, I believe the arrangement I was talking about is that there was a certain number of Above and Beyond magazines that were published. As well, there were a number of the inserts that were also made available. Those are the kinds of arrangements I was talking about which I indicated earlier, that if you want exact details on how many issues and where they were sent, the

Minister would be quite pleased to provide that detailed information. Thank you.

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Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

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Item 6: Oral Questions

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Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I'd like to ask the Premier if she thinks it is appropriate that the Government of the Northwest Territories should be allowed to buy editorial copy in publications that disguise the fact that it's editorial copy and not advertising. Thank you.

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The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Madam Premier.

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Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Madam Speaker, I'd like to answer that question if it was put a little more clearly because the adjectives and the assumptions in there, if I answered it, would presume that I'm agreeing with him. My understanding is that the Government of the Northwest Territories has been encouraged to try to put a more positive face on itself in terms of the programs and services that it provides to its constituents in the Northwest Territories. As a result, this is one vehicle that was chosen to do so. Madam Speaker, the article in itself gives that picture of what is done in a positive approach. Thank you.

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The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Final supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

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Item 6: Oral Questions

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Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Thank you, Madam Speaker and maybe the horse is now beaten and dead, I don't know. But I would like to ask the Premier this one final supplementary. Madam Speaker, I understand that most responsible journalists refuse to allow anyone to buy advertising which is camouflaged as editorial copy. It's called "advertorial." The reason for that, Madam Speaker, is that it can be quite misleading to the public if say, a huge 16-page glossy story comes out lauding the Minister of Housing or the Government of the Northwest Territories, and it looks like it is an editorial story. It looks like it has been written by an independent journalist praising the wonderful work of the Minister of Housing.

Now, Madam Speaker, responsible journalists say that this is misleading because those 16 pages were bought and paid for. They weren't freely and independently written about the particular government department. In other words, it is propaganda. So, I would like to ask the Premier, and if she can't answer it today, I would like to ask her will she look into whether this is acceptable government policy, to purchase advertising from publications that are willing to camouflage it as editorial copy? Thank you.

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Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Madam Premier.

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Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Madam Speaker, I believe it is quite appropriate in this case for the Department of Housing to put forward a picture of what is being done in the Northwest Territories about housing. The issue is the article as it relates to housing. I cannot determine what newspapers and publications do and why they do it. We all have criticisms, but they carry out their functions in manners in which they see fit. This is not an unusual publication. There are many publications that do this type of work. I believe Above and Beyond did an excellent production of what the housing situation in the Northwest Territories is.

I don't think that should have gone unnoticed because the article talks about the very critical issues we have in trying to supply the housing and some of the issues this government wants to address as soon as possible, and some of the shortfalls. It is not only an article which gives a glowing profile of the Minister responsible, but it also deals with some of the very serious problems we have in the financing of a good housing program for Northwest Territories residents. Thank you.

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The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Item 7, written questions. The honourable Member for Inuvik, Mr. Koe.