Debates of Oct. 27th, 1994
This is page numbers 549 - 580 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 housing.
Topics
- Members Present
- Item 1: Prayer
- Minister's Statement 42-12(6): Appointment Of Ms. Mary Simon As Canada's First Circumpolar Ambassador
- Transfer Of Sir John Franklin High School
- Environmental Review Process
- Round-table On Economy And Environment
- Contamination Of Coppermine's Fresh Water Supply
- Future Location Of The Capital Of Nunavut
- Allocation Of Social Assistance
- Dangers Of Thin Ice
- Upgrading Road In Sanikiluaq
- Metis Voice Report Card
- Telecommunications In Small Communities
- Sexual Assault And Child Sexual Abuse
- Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
- Question 260-12(6): Problems With Coppermine's Water Supply
- Question 261-12(6): Notification Of Awg 1998 Site Selection
- Question 262-12(6): Agreement Re Sir John Franklin Transfer
- Question 263-12(6): Telecommunication Services For Unserviced Communities
- Question 264-12(6): Innovative Fund Raising For Stanton Hospital
- Question 265-12(6): Awg Selection Committee's Knowledge Of Inuvik Infrastructure
- Question 266-12(6): Rental Arrears Owed To Housing Associations
- Question 267-12(6): Assistance In Preparation Of Income Tax Returns
- Question 268-12(6): Maca's Involvement In Capital's Site Plan
- Question 269-12(6): Difficulties Cashing Social Assistance Cheques In Natilikmiot
- Question 270-12(6): Status Of Informatics Strategy
- Question 271-12(6): Cost Of Living Survey
- Question 272-12(6): Policy For Walk-in Freezers
- Written Question 22-12(6): Arrears Owed To The NWT Housing Corporation
- Written Question 23-12(6): Community Public Health Nurses
- Written Question 24-12(6): Provision Of Uhf Radios And Gps To Communities
- Written Question 25-12(6): Sexual Assault And Child Sexual Abuse
- Committee Report 13-12(6): Report On The Elimination Of The Alcohol And Drug Board Of Management
- Committee Report 14-12(6): Advisory Committee On Social Housing Report On Taloyoak Meetings, September 23 - 25, 1994
- Item 13: Tabling Of Documents
- Item 15: Notices Of Motions
- Bill 16: An Act To Amend The Legislative Assembly And Executive Council Act, No. 2
- Bill 21: An Act To Amend The Fair Practices Act
- Bill 19: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 1, 1994-95, Withdrawn
- Bill 20: An Act To Amend The Student Financial Assistance Act, Carried
- Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
- Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 1, 1995-96Committee Report 10-12(6): Report On The Review Of The 1995-96 Capital Estimates
- Committee Motion 39-12(6): To Adopt Recommendation 9, Carried
- Committee Motion 40-12(6): To Adopt Recommendation 10, Carried
- Item 20: Report Of Committee Of The Whole
- Return To Written Question 2-12(6): Elders' Residences Operated By The GNWT
- Item 22: Orders Of The Day
Dangers Of Thin Ice
Item 3: Members' Statements
Page 553
The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell
Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Baffin South, Mr. Pudlat.
Upgrading Road In Sanikiluaq
Item 3: Members' Statements
Page 553
Kenoayoak Pudlat Baffin South
(Translation) Thank you, Madam Speaker. I rise to express my concern in Sanikiluaq with regard to the road that takes the local people to the fishing spot. This road is not in very good condition; it has to be upgraded. It's the preferred road to be travelled, rather than going through the water they prefer to go through this road by three-wheel Honda or four-wheel Honda. I don't think it would be very much work to upgrade this road, and we would like to get support for upgrading this road. Thank you, Madam Speaker.
---Applause
Upgrading Road In Sanikiluaq
Item 3: Members' Statements
Page 553
The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell
Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Kakfwi.
Metis Voice Report Card
Item 3: Members' Statements
October 27th, 1994
Page 553

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu
Madam Speaker, following the tabling of the Metis Voice, yesterday, I wanted to rise to comment on the report that is contained within...
---Applause
...the Metis Voice. I got a B- in the report card...
Metis Voice Report Card
Item 3: Members' Statements
Page 553
Some Hon. Members
Nay, nay.
Metis Voice Report Card
Item 3: Members' Statements
Page 553

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu
...and I want to thank whoever wrote the report card for the mark.
I want to take issue with the report card that says I hate Billy. I don't always agree with the national chief of the Dene Nation, but actually he's not such a bad character. He sent me a calendar the other day, for instance, and this is something new for 1994. "Hate" in any way is a strong word to use in anybody's relationship. My relationship with the national chief of the Dene Nation has been rather rocky at the best of times over the years, and I would be the last one to deny it. But whoever said that political leaders have to love one another?
What I do take exception to even more is this slimy, low-life report card that ridicules good leaders like us who are working hard and trying hard to deliver on our political commitments.
Take my good friend, Mr. Nerysoo, for instance. I don't always agree with him either, but surely he doesn't deserve to be called "Slicky Ricky."
---Laughter
I think he has worked hard in the last few years trying to deliver in the area of education, which is very difficult.
The report card also says and calls me "stone face." Now, I find that a bit amusing, even though I don't smile when talking about it. Some people tell me I was born like that. Some friends who are liberals ask me if it is true that it is a childhood affliction, but my kids and my wife tell me it's slowly going away.
Metis Voice Report Card
Item 3: Members' Statements
Page 553
Some Hon. Members
Agreed, agreed.
Metis Voice Report Card
Item 3: Members' Statements
Page 553
Metis Voice Report Card
Item 3: Members' Statements
Page 553
The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell
The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent to continue with his statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Proceed, Mr. Kakfwi.
Metis Voice Report Card
Item 3: Members' Statements
Page 553

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu
Madam Speaker, when I was younger, I always thought that I smiled much too often and too frivolously. I thought, and I was totally convinced, that one should be very careful about how generous one becomes with such public displays of emotion. I'm always suspect as it is anyway, and when I begin smiling, people around me begin to enquire as to why the sudden change.
Madam Speaker, I will make a commitment that I will change, but I will have to try to phase it in. I want to tell you today of my new goal. No more stone face by 1999. Thank you.
---Laughter
---Applause
Metis Voice Report Card
Item 3: Members' Statements
Page 553
The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell
Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Antoine.
Telecommunications In Small Communities
Item 3: Members' Statements
Page 554
Jim Antoine Nahendeh
Mahsi, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I would like to talk about communications today. In this modern era today, we enjoy using telephones and cordless phones, and you can talk to anybody in any place in this world today, Madam Speaker. However, there are some of my constituents who are still in the dark ages in communication. These are the smaller communities that I have talked about before in the House. I would like to say again that these people have been in need of better telecommunications in the small communities of Jean Marie River, Nahanni Butte and Trout Lake. They only have one telephone which is a pay phone and it is on the FM channel, so there is a public poster in the community that says if you use the telephone, don't talk about anything personal or medical because there might be someone in the community who has you tuned in and will listen to everything that goes on in your conversation. So even though they have a telephone, it isn't a very private way of communicating. So they have very limited use of the telephone and it is very inconvenient.
There are people in the communities who have requested to have phones in their own homes. However, that isn't possible with the technology that is available to them in the smaller communities. There are band and community offices, schools and teachers who require better communications. They don't have the convenience of faxes available to them either.
Just the other day, the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment made an announcement about distance education that is available to people who have the technology. But this limits the people in these communities from not acquiring these services from the department. The communities, when they first got their telephone, modified it so they could use a cordless telephone. Madam Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement. Mahsi.
Telecommunications In Small Communities
Item 3: Members' Statements
Page 554
The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell
The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Please proceed, Mr. Antoine.
Telecommunications In Small Communities
Item 3: Members' Statements
Page 554
Jim Antoine Nahendeh
Thank you, Madam Speaker. The people in the communities, when the telephone first came into their area, were able to modify it on their own, so they could use cordless phones in the band offices. Then they wouldn't have to stand by the pay phone when they made business calls for the band office. NorthwesTel personnel squashed their little bit of communication freedom by remodifying the telephone so that cordless phones could no longer be used. This was very inconvenient for them. So what happens is when their business call comes in to the band manager, they have to go to the pay phone and conduct their business standing by the pay phone. In a lot of cases, it is in the porch of their public building.
In this case, it is very inconvenient and requires some changes and help from the government. I have made statements in the House requesting the Minister responsible for Public Works and Services to do something about this. Two years ago, I was organizing a trip, for the MLAs affected, to go to Whitehorse and meet with the president of NorthwesTel. But I was told to hold off, until the Minister could do something with
it. I am still waiting. I think it is about time that something be done about this. Mahsi, Madam Speaker.
---Applause
Telecommunications In Small Communities
Item 3: Members' Statements
Page 554
The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell
Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Yellowknife North, Mr. Ballantyne.
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