This is page numbers 365 - 396 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 chairman.

Topics

Members Present

Mr. Allooloo, Mr. Antoine, Hon. Silas Arngna'naaq, Mr. Arvaluk, Mr. Ballantyne, Hon. Nellie Cournoyea, Mr. Dent, Mr. Gargan, Hon. Stephen Kakfwi, Mr. Koe, Mr. Lewis, Hon. Jeannie Marie-Jewell, Hon. Rebecca Mike, Hon. Don Morin, Hon. Richard Nerysoo, Mr. Ng, Mr. Ningark, Mr. Patterson, Hon. John Pollard, Mr. Pudlat, Mr. Pudluk, Hon. John Todd, Mr. Whitford, Mr. Zoe

---Prayer

Item 1: Prayer
Item 1: Prayer

Page 365

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Good afternoon. Welcome back, Mr. Lewis. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Frame Lake, Mr. Dent.

Zero Tolerance Towards Violence
Item 3: Members' Statements

October 18th, 1994

Page 365

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, this Legislative Assembly took a very big and a very important step when it adopted a policy of zero tolerance towards violence. People of the Northwest Territories are now looking to us to provide such leadership. They want more than words or policies. They want to see concrete action.

Family violence is a very real problem in the Northwest Territories, one we must deal with as a priority in any strategy towards zero tolerance towards violence. Key in dealing with this problem are the workers in the 12 family violence prevention projects across the Northwest Territories. About 94 full and part-time staff are employed in these projects and in 1993 they offered shelter and support services to 2,541 people.

Madam Speaker, given the importance of the work of family violence workers and the stress of the job, it would reasonable to assume that these workers would be very well paid. Sadly, this is not the case. Many of these dedicated individuals are earning as little as half of what comparable staff in government positions earn. On top of that, few have any housing or settlement allowances.

Madam Speaker, I understand that there has been no increase in funding for agencies such as the women's shelter in Yellowknife, the Alison McAteer House, since the program started in 1986-87. This means that, in order to allow for inflationary staff increments, just to keep salaries comparable to the insufficient level they've started at, cuts have had to be made to programs.

In other centres across the territories, shelters are having trouble meeting their rent obligations or purchasing groceries. If stopping violence in our communities is truly a priority, we must ensure front-line workers are compensated in a way which is consistent with their skills and the important service they bring to communities. We need continuity and workers who are committed to working against violence, rather than being tempted to move on to better paying government jobs.

Madam Speaker, I urge the government and the Minister of Health and Social Services to find a way to address this salary and benefits concern as part of the government's response to the family violence problem. In March, representatives from every family violence prevention project will be meeting in Yellowknife. I hope before then, Madam Speaker, the concern about wages for these workers will be dealt with...

Zero Tolerance Towards Violence
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 365

An Hon. Member

Hear, hear.

Zero Tolerance Towards Violence
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 365

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

So these workers will be able to focus their energies on strategies for dealing with family violence...

Zero Tolerance Towards Violence
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 365

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Sorry, your time is up.

Zero Tolerance Towards Violence
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 365

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Madam Speaker, I request unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

Zero Tolerance Towards Violence
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 365

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. Dent.

Zero Tolerance Towards Violence
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 365

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Thank you, honourable Members. As I was saying, Madam Speaker, I hope that before the meetings in March the concern about wages for these workers will be dealt with so that they will be able to focus their energies on strategies for dealing with family violence, rather than how to retain staff at low wages. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

---Applause

Zero Tolerance Towards Violence
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 365

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Inuvik, Mr. Koe.

Cdsc's First Constitutional Conference
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 365

Fred Koe Inuvik

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I rise today in my capacity as chairman of the Constitutional Development Steering Committee to provide an update to this House on constitutional development for the new western territory. The acronym for the Constitutional Development Steering Committee is CDSC. I will be using that quite a bit.

CDSC members have agreed to postpone the first constitutional conference by two months, holding the conference in Yellowknife on January 19 to 22, 1995, instead of in late November. That will allow for better preparation for community information meetings and briefing of participants who will attend the conference. As many of you will have heard, the CDSC is honoured that the Right Honourable Joe Clark has agreed to chair the conference. Northern leaders who saw Mr. Clark in action during the Charlottetown accord talks, came to respect his ability to quickly grasp and fairly represent the divergent views, both aboriginal and non-aboriginal around the table.

He will bring great skill to the process of developing a consensus on a new form of government for a new western territory. The CDSC is now well on its way with planning and preparation for the conference. Approximately 150 leaders and public participants will discuss the themes and issues that have emerged from the public consultation to date and from further research.

They will compare viewpoints and see where there is common ground, where there are differences and where there is more work to be done. Their major task will be to make recommendations on principles and options for a new constitution and structure of government, and on how the remaining stages of the constitutional process should be completed.

I expect to announce the formula for selecting conference participants by the end of this month. A significant portion must be from the general public, so there is public ownership and involvement in the process. Madam Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to complete my statement.

Cdsc's First Constitutional Conference
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 366

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

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

Cdsc's First Constitutional Conference
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 366

Fred Koe Inuvik

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. There must also be balanced representation of men and women, aboriginal and non-aboriginal people and involvement of youth and elders. In the next few weeks, the CDSC will conduct a round of public information meetings in 34 communities. At these meetings, CDSC members will provide information about the constitutional development process, the purpose of the first constitutional conference and the themes and issues that will be discussed.

We want people to understand the incredible opportunity we have to create a new system of government, which truly reflects the needs and aspirations of all our people. I encourage the western Members of this House to help provide a territory-wide perspective by attending as many of the public information meetings as possible, not just in your own constituencies, but in other regions as well. Mahsi cho. Qujannamiik.

---Applause

Cdsc's First Constitutional Conference
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 366

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Aivilik, Mr. Arvaluk.

Federal Funding Cuts To Language Programs
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 366

James Arvaluk Aivilik

(Translation) I am deeply concerned about the impending cuts to our language programs through our funding agreements with the federal government. I am very disappointed that this government has not been able to

convince the federal government that more money is needed in this area, not less.

What bothers me also is the fact that the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment appears to be trying to shift part of the responsibility of the cuts to the NWT Languages Commission. I quote from his remarks to the Keewatin Divisional Board of Education last September, "A lot of it came as a result of criticism from our Languages Commissioner, who appeared before the Assembly and said we were not spending our money."

Several questions come to mind about this whole issue. For example, if, as the Minister says, the federal government used the Languages Commissioner's report to argue for cut; what was happening to the annual accounting of languages money that was supposed to be submitted to the federal government? If this accounting occurred, wouldn't the federal government already have been aware that some funds were being lapsed?

If it is the position of this government...Madam Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to proceed with my statement.

Federal Funding Cuts To Language Programs
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 366

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

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

Federal Funding Cuts To Language Programs
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 366

James Arvaluk Aivilik

(Translation) Thank you, Madam Speaker. Thank you, Members. If it is the position of this government that the office that is supposed to protect language rights and services is actually negatively affecting it, what further action are they considering?

As I said before, Madam Speaker, I am worried about our language funding. I hope that the previous funding levels may, at some point, be restored. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Federal Funding Cuts To Language Programs
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 366

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Antoine.

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. It is with great pleasure I rise in the House today to thank the Department of Transportation and Minister John Todd for their accomplishments, on behalf of my constituents in Nahendeh.

On June 11th, the communities of Fort Simpson and Wrigley celebrated the ribbon-cutting ceremony at both the ferry at Ndulee crossing and the opening of the longest bridge in the Northwest Territories over Willowlake River.

An Hon. Member

(Microphone turned off)

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

The ferry operation is a joint venture run by the Liidli Koe First Nation of Fort Simpson and the Pehdzeh Ki First Nation of Wrigley on behalf of the territorial Department of Transportation. It was with great pleasure that myself, Chief Gabe Hardisty of Wrigley, Chief Herb Norwegian of Fort Simpson and I am sure the Minister of Transportation, the Honourable John Todd, watched as elders Ed Hardisty of Wrigley and Batiste Salteaux of Fort Simpson cut the ribbon to

officially signify the start of the ferry operation across the Deh Cho, also known as the Mackenzie River.

Later that same day, Madam Speaker, we travelled to the new bridge over Willowlake River and watched as George Boots, the elder from Willowlake River representing the elders, and Nicole Hardisty, representing the youth, cut the ribbon to officially open the bridge to traffic.

Later that night, we had the pleasure of going to Wrigley for the pleasure of feasting and dancing well into the night to celebrate the new link to the rest of Deh Cho for the residents of Wrigley. I would like to thank the community for their fantastic hospitality.

I don't see the completion of this highway to Wrigley, Madam Speaker, as the end of the highway. In fact, I see it as a continuation of a highway up the Mackenzie River as far as Inuvik, perhaps. Even if we have to do it a few kilometres a year, that would be appreciated.

I think, Madam Speaker, that the elder, George Boots, expressed the sentiments of the people quite well during the ceremony at the bridge opening when he said, "I thank the government for building this highway. I thank the Creator. I ask him to look after everyone who travels this road. We have to pray to the Creator, respect the Creator, respect this road and we have to respect the river." Mahsi, Madam Speaker.

---Applause

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you, Mr. Antoine. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Iqaluit, Mr. Patterson.

Tununirmiut Hotel In Iqaluit
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 367

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Thank you, Madam Speaker. More good news from Iqaluit today.

---Laughter

---Applause

Madam Speaker, this being National Co-op Week, I wish to rise to congratulate the Toonoonik Sahoonik Co-op of Pond Inlet on their acquisition of a hotel in Iqaluit, formerly the Bayshore Hotel, which is now known as the Tununirmiut Hotel. I'm very pleased that this hotel is now owned in the north by a co-op which already opened a retail store in Iqaluit earlier last year.

The new owners have invested in renovations and improvements in service and the new hotel has already proved to be a popular family eating and meeting place. I understand that the co-op has plans to expand this facility in the future and I was very pleased to learn that they're open to some equity of participation by a new and rejuvenated Iqaluit co-op, which I would like to see formed.

I was also very pleased to have attended the official opening of this new venture earlier this year, along with my colleague, Mr. Titus Allooloo, MLA for Amittuq, and Mr. James Atagotak, chair of the board, and certain directors.

Madam Speaker, this is the kind of mutually-beneficial cooperation of which we are proud in the Baffin. I am delighted that the co-op movement and particularly this very progressive co-op from Pond Inlet has such a strong presence in my constituency. Qujannamiik.

---Applause

Tununirmiut Hotel In Iqaluit
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 367

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Yellowknife South, Mr. Whitford.