This is page numbers 397 - 428 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 community.

Topics

Samuel Gargan Deh Cho

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I would like to direct my question to the Minister of Aboriginal Rights and Constitutional Development. Madam Speaker, Allan Rock was here, from the federal department, to promote the gun control laws for the country. I'm not too concerned about hand guns, and I know that the largest lobbying groups are not aboriginal people, but I do have a concern about the new gun laws that are going to be implemented across the country, regardless. I would like to ask if the Minister of Justice has consulted with the federal Minister regarding the effect the new gun laws will have on the aboriginal people.

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Minister of Justice, Mr. Kakfwi.

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Question 208-12(6): Effect Of Gun Control Legislation On Aboriginal People
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Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Madam Speaker, the federal Minister, since coming into office a year ago, has indicated some eagerness on moving on campaign promises to toughen gun laws and legislation governing firearms in this country. It has been my initiative to meet with him, once last March, to indicate to him that the proposed program to implement national firearms safety programs and requirements for

acquiring firearms acquisition certificate was not acceptable in the Northwest Territories, and explained to him the reasons for it; many of which are issues related to the use of firearms by aboriginal people pursuing traditional pursuits of hunting and trapping. In any case, as the Member knows, those particular programs have been implemented in all parts of the country except here in the Northwest Territories, and the Minister has agreed to defer that.

We're presently looking at a two-tier program that all people in the Northwest Territories should take. There is no disagreement on the element of safety. Whether you're an aboriginal person or not, there is agreement that the requirement for providing safety courses and to find some mechanism to ensure that all people practise and know how to take safety precautions in using and acquiring and storing firearms, to make sure we don't become law breakers in our own land because of laws that are not relevant and are not applicable here in the Northwest Territories.

So the answer to the question is yes, we have taken it, but mostly in view of recognizing that there are a growing number of people using guns across Canada. There is also growing concern about how well people handle firearms, even here in the Northwest Territories. We want to make sure that if there are measures being taken, they complement our concerns as aboriginal people, as leaders in government to make sure they promote the interest of the safety of people out in the public. Thank you.

Return To Question 208-12(6): Effect Of Gun Control Legislation On Aboriginal People
Question 208-12(6): Effect Of Gun Control Legislation On Aboriginal People
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The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 6, oral question. The honourable Member for Kitikmeot, Mr. Ng.

Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Justice and it relates to protection of by-law officers. Under the Criminal Code, currently, peace officers such as policemen and correctional facilities workers, sheriffs, et cetera, are afforded extra protection from assault by individuals when they're carrying out their duties. I would like to clarify what protection by-law officers have within our municipalities. Do they have the same rights and recognition as peace officers, or are there other protections for these individuals? Thank you.

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

I just have a problem with regard to directing your question to the Minister of Justice because, from my knowledge, I believe by-law officers are the responsibility of Municipal and Community Affairs, through the hamlets, settlements and towns. So I would request the Minister of MACA to reply to your question. Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Ms. Mike.

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Rebecca Mike Baffin Central

Thank you, Madam Speaker. No, they are not the same.

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The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Point of order, Mr. Ng.

Point Of Order

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Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot

Madam Speaker, wouldn't the protection of the by-law officers be a legal jurisdiction? That's why I directed the question to the Minister of Justice, because I would think it would be within his realm as it pertains to the Department of Justice.

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The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Mr. Ng, I'll take your point of order under advisement and advise you tomorrow as to where the question should be directed, once I review Hansard. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Deh Cho, Mr. Gargan.

Question 210-12(6): Lead Role In New Aboriginal Correctional Institute
Item 6: Oral Questions

October 19th, 1994

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Samuel Gargan Deh Cho

Thank you. I have another question to the Minister of Justice. Madam Speaker, last year, the Minister had an opportunity to visit my constituency, in which we were looking at the possibility of the creation of an aboriginal corrections facility near Fort Providence. I had a phone call today, Madam Speaker, from the community that said that the South Mackenzie Correctional Centre would be taking the lead role in the implementation if this is to happen. I would like to ask the Minister whether this South Mackenzie Correctional Institute is going to take the lead role with regard to the development, planning and construction, or is the community still going to be the ones who are going to determine how and where the facility will take place.

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Minister of Justice, Mr. Kakfwi.

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Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Thank you, Madam Speaker. It's our intention, at this time, that should we be successful in allocating successful resources in the area of corrections, one of the main priorities over the next few years would be to build a number of community correctional centres which would be characterized by a number of things. One, that they would be community-based or based in proximity to a community; that is, they could be land-based. They would be characterized by the fact that perhaps it would be mandatory, if not a high priority, for us to see that it is managed and staffed by the community. It would also be characterized by the fact that it would be more of a minimal security facility for those types of offenders who would not be considered dangerous and would be considered more open to doing work of reconciliation; to try to restore peace in the community with the people whose lives and whose peace they have disrupted.

That is the intent. If the Member has heard anything else, then it may be people thinking openly about where the support from the Department of Justice, corrections division, would come from; whether it comes from the Department of Justice here, from staff within the Yellowknife Correctional Centre, or from the South Mackenzie Correctional Centre. Thank you.

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The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Gargan.

Supplementary To Question 210-12(6): Lead Role In New Aboriginal Correctional Institute
Question 210-12(6): Lead Role In New Aboriginal Correctional Institute
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Samuel Gargan Deh Cho

Thank you. Just to get a clarification. The Minister is indicating that no decision has been made as to who would be taking a lead role if there were to be a facility built in Fort Providence at this time, then?

Supplementary To Question 210-12(6): Lead Role In New Aboriginal Correctional Institute
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The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Minister of Justice, Mr. Kakfwi.

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Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Madam Speaker, I must say that we haven't consolidated our approach to this. It may very well be that we will request a number of staff people from the different communities and from different institutions, to spearhead a team approach and to work with communities -- perhaps like Fort Providence -- to develop a proposal for a facility to be run and managed by the community. Thank you.

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The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Amittuq, Mr. Allooloo.

Titus Allooloo Amittuq

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Again, I would like to direct a question to the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. Does land administration include the part of the survey that MACA does to assist communities? Thank you.

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Ms. Mike.

Return To Question 211-12(6): Devolution Of Survey Section Of Land Administration
Question 211-12(6): Devolution Of Survey Section Of Land Administration
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Rebecca Mike Baffin Central

Madam Speaker, the land transfer will include municipal lands. The department has begun assisting municipalities to survey the lands that haven't been surveyed. I don't know what he means by "part of the survey that MACA does." There could also be areas that aren't considered municipal lands, Madam Speaker. I seek clarification. Thank you.

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The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Supplementary, Mr. Allooloo.

Supplementary To Question 211-12(6): Devolution Of Survey Section Of Land Administration
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Titus Allooloo Amittuq

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My supplementary. In the land section of the department, there must be groups or people who do surveys. Is that part of the land administration that is going to be devolved to the communities?

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The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Ms. Mike.

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Question 211-12(6): Devolution Of Survey Section Of Land Administration
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Rebecca Mike Baffin Central

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I don't think so, but I'll check and get back to the Member. Thank you.