This is page numbers 239 - 270 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 information.

Topics

Consultation Re Issuance Of Land Use Permits
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 244

Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, on August 23rd, a heavy equipment contractor in Cambridge Bay submitted a land use application to establish a sand quarry and for constructing a five to six-kilometre haul road to a site southwest of the community.

On September 8th, a land use permit was issued by DIAND's Inuvik office authorizing the work to proceed. This permit was issued without any type of consultative process regarding the land use development. The contractor started construction of an access road on September 9th. To date, they have completed approximately four kilometres. This access road starts in an area approximately 10 kilometres from town and runs parallel to an area which is a traditional summer camping area where local families net char and dry their fish and caribou. This area is also utilized for sport fishing, picnics and other recreational pursuits of community residents.

Madam Speaker, upon discovering that the development was proceeding, municipal councillors voiced objections for the lack of consultation. Although support for the development on council was mixed, they all agreed that due process by DIAND was not undertaken. Council had planned a public meeting on October 5th to discuss the development with community residents. The issuance of the land use permit and the initiation of road construction undermined council's efforts to formalize a position on the issue.

DIAND officials advised council that the land use application was for an area covered by a Department of National Defence land reserve. The contractor had received permission from the Department of National Defence to extract the sand and to build an access road to the quarry site. DIAND issued the land use permit based on DND permission.

Madam Speaker, the development has taken place at a time when a minimum number of community residents travel to the affected area. In fact, I believe most community residents aren't even aware of the development. The road and sand quarry development have raised a lot of questions which should have been addressed prior to any land use permit being granted. Questions such as why the need for a permanent road, what amount of resources are being extracted, over what period of time will activity take place, were there alternate sand quarry sites investigated, and, most importantly, what disruption and impact will the development have on traditional users of the area.

I find the whole process surrounding the access road for a sand quarry very distasteful. Madam Speaker, as my time is up, I ask for unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

Consultation Re Issuance Of Land Use Permits
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 244

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Please proceed, Mr. Ng.

Consultation Re Issuance Of Land Use Permits
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 244

Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot

Thank you, Madam Speaker, colleagues. Madam Speaker, I hope our government will convey in very strong terms to DIAND and the Government of Canada the need to undergo substantive consultation in communities where the issuance of land use permits may infringe upon traditional, recreational and historical uses of lands near our communities. Thank you.

---Applause

Consultation Re Issuance Of Land Use Permits
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 244

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Deh Cho, Mr. Gargan.

Treaty Day In Deh Cho
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 244

Samuel Gargan Deh Cho

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I rise today to speak on a matter of some concern to my constituents living in Kakisa and Fort Providence. During the last treaty day, which was held on July 27th, the representatives of DIAND could not make their scheduled appearance in Kakisa. It would have been nice, Madam Speaker, if someone could have informed the residents of Kakisa that the department would be unable to make it on that day.

That, in itself, doesn't really bother me. It was of minor concern to the residents and looked upon as an innocent oversight. Madam Speaker, what I am most concerned with is the lack of respect shown by the department when they were finally able to make it to Kakisa.

Madam Speaker, these treaties were signed 73 years ago as agreements between two sovereign nations and peoples. The Dene have come to look at these treaty payment days as an opportunity for our elders and leaders to give state of the union speeches to representatives of the Queen and the department, to have their concerns heard and possibly acted upon.

The lack of respect I refer to, Madam Speaker, is the fact that there are no senior members of the department present at any of these payment days. Surely, it is not too much to ask that a senior member of the department accommodate these parties as a sign of respect for our leaders and our elders, to listen to the people they are supposed to be working for.

In Fort Providence, I was in attendance for my local treaty day. As in the past, I had made it a practice to allow the chief and elders and, in fact, the entire community to receive their $5 before me. I figure, Madam Speaker, as an elected territorial politician making the kind of money that the press say I do, that I should allow the locals to go first. Besides, it gives me a good opportunity to visit with a majority of my constituents.

Madam Speaker, I did not get my $5. The departmental officials arrived somewhere around noon, so I assume they left Yellowknife at 8:00 in the morning and there were only two of us left standing in line...

Treaty Day In Deh Cho
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 245

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Sorry, Mr. Gargan. The honourable Member for Deh Cho, Mr. Gargan.

Treaty Day In Deh Cho
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 245

Samuel Gargan Deh Cho

Madam Speaker, I would like to seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

Treaty Day In Deh Cho
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 245

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent to continue. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Please proceed, Mr. Gargan.

Treaty Day In Deh Cho
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 245

Samuel Gargan Deh Cho

Thank you, Madam Speaker, honourable Members. Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I did not get my $5. I assume that, because the departmental officials arrived somewhere around noon, they left Yellowknife at 8:00 in the morning. There were only two of us left standing in line, but when 5:00 pm came, these conscientious government employees shut the place down faster than Eliot Ness could shut down a liquor still during prohibition in Chicago.

---Laughter

Madam Speaker, even the banks are not that rude, and let their line-ups run out before they shut down.

Treaty Day In Deh Cho
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 245

Some Hon. Members

Hear, hear.

Treaty Day In Deh Cho
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 245

Samuel Gargan Deh Cho

Madam Speaker, I don't think it would have cost any of the DIAND employees any undue hardship to remain open another five minutes to finish their job, to show respect for all the members of the community, even the politicians. Mahsi cho.

---Applause

Treaty Day In Deh Cho
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 245

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Lewis.

Future Economic Plans Of Mining Industry
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 245

Brian Lewis Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I have been interested in environmental matters for most of my life. As a Member of this Assembly for the last seven years, I have taken particular interest, especially as it relates to the mining industry.

Madam Speaker, we were all struck during the 1970s about how a threat of any great development suddenly brought warring factions together. We saw the Berger hearings bring all the environmental groups out right across the country. And battles waged all up the Mackenzie valley about what development was going to do. It was unproductive. It was an unproductive process in the sense that it caused two groups of people to fight, and they continued to fight until very recently.

Yesterday morning, I was pleased to hear Mr. Livingston, of the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, announce that for the north slave province here -- the geological province, one of the major mineral caps in the world -- all stakeholders will now develop an environmental management plan.

I am pleased to see the mining industry finally decide this is an area where they have to play a major leadership role. Instead of reacting to this group or that group, they recognize that this is something which will really determine the future of the mining industry, not only in Canada, but in the rest of the world. So, I applaud the mining industry for doing what they are doing and for the leadership that has been taken to make this a major incentive for those mines that really want to establish themselves here.

The second thing, Madam Speaker, is that if mines are going to succeed in the Northwest Territories, not only does there have to be an environmental plan -- such as that being proposed for the province -- but also, they have to look at the benefits. What are the benefits that are going to accrue to the people who live there? I see those two things, environmental management and benefits to the people who live in this part of the world, as being major ingredients in the future economic plans for the mining industry in the Northwest Territories. I congratulate the people who are leading this movement. Thank you.

Future Economic Plans Of Mining Industry
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 245

An Hon. Member

Hear, hear.

---Applause

Future Economic Plans Of Mining Industry
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 245

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. The honourable Member for Baffin Central, Ms. Mike.

Future Economic Plans Of Mining Industry
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 245

Rebecca Mike Baffin Central

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I wish to return to item 3, Members' statements. I don't think you saw my hand raised.

Future Economic Plans Of Mining Industry
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 245

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Sorry, I didn't see your hand go up. The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent to return to Members' statements. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Please proceed, Ms. Mike.

Mamiisaiyiit Group In Pangnirtung
Revert To Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 245

Rebecca Mike Baffin Central

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Today I would like to take a moment to share with you and the Members some information about an important group in my home community of Pangnirtung. That group is the Mamiisaiyiit group. Mamiisaiyiit is currently operating three support groups: an alcohol and drug dependency group; a healing group for survivors of sexual abuse; and, a support group for grieving families.

(Translation) In July of this year, the Mamiisaiyiit group also went hunting for one week with nine families and five individuals, including elders. For some of these elders, this was the first opportunity to hunt in many years. For various reasons they were unable to hunt alone or without help from others. From what I understand, the elders who went enjoyed themselves immensely. They successfully hunted caribou, seals and a beluga whale. The meat taken from this hunt was distributed to all elders in the community. If we are to learn from our elders, this kind of traditional event must be encouraged and supported. (Translation ends)

Madam Speaker, I am proud of my heritage and am happy to see that people in Pangnirtung are interested and willing to take steps to preserve our culture, and in doing so, help our elders.

I would like to congratulate the Mamiisaiyiit group for a successful hunt, and for showing elders that they are a much needed part of our society today. Thank you.

---Applause

Mamiisaiyiit Group In Pangnirtung
Revert To Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 245

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5,

recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Yellowknife South, Mr. Whitford.

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

October 12th, 1994

Page 246

Tony Whitford

Tony Whitford Yellowknife South

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Today I am pleased to introduce to the Members, Captain Phil Grandy of the Canadian Coast Guard service. He is also the commander of the ice breaker, the Louis St. Laurent. As I mentioned in my Member's statement, they had gone over the Arctic waters. And just a few minutes ago, I had the pleasure of introducing Captain Grandy to our Premier, where he presented a letter that was carried on the ship circumnavigating the Arctic waters. Captain Grandy is in the visitors' gallery.

---Applause

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 246

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Iqaluit, Mr. Patterson.

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

I'm going to save my venom for Mr. Morin, Madam Speaker. I'm anxious to ask the Minister responsible for the Public Utilities Board if he's had any response, following his commitment yesterday, to see if the chair of the Public Utilities Board would hold hearings outside Yellowknife on the general rate application in other affected regions of the territories. Thank you.

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Minister responsible for the Public Utilities Board, Mr. Todd.

Return To Question 114-12(6): Holding Pub Hearings Outside Of Yellowknife
Question 114-12(6): Holding Pub Hearings Outside Of Yellowknife
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 246

John Todd Keewatin Central

I know that yesterday I said I was hot, but I'm not that hot. I haven't had the opportunity at this time to discuss with the chairman of the Public Utilities Board the request by the Member for Iqaluit that hearings be held in the eastern Arctic. Thank you.

Return To Question 114-12(6): Holding Pub Hearings Outside Of Yellowknife
Question 114-12(6): Holding Pub Hearings Outside Of Yellowknife
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 246

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.