This is page numbers 581 - 607 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 units.

Topics

Mr. Kakfwi's Good Sense Of Humour
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 583

Michael Ballantyne Yellowknife North

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Today is Friday, and last Thursday Mr. Kakfwi made a very eloquent plea for a sincere compliment. I was going to try to give him one on Friday, but he wasn't here. So, today I thought I would make a sincere effort to show Mr. Kakfwi that I can give him a sincere compliment. What I wanted to say was that Mr. Kakfwi has a good sense of humour. Mr. Kakfwi is also a very proud and sensitive man. So, I wanted to say that he had a good sense of humour, but then I was afraid that he would want me to say that he has a great sense of humour. I might have said that he has a great sense of humour, but that is not as good as having the best sense of humour, and I was afraid that if I didn't say he had the best sense of humour, he would think I meant he had the worst sense of humour.

---Laughter So, I'm sorry for the complexity of trying to give Mr. Kakfwi a compliment, because I really do think he has a good sense of humour. But now Mr. Kakfwi would ask me if I am sincerely sorry. Well, I'm sort of sorry, but I am certainly not that sorry, though Mr. Kakfwi may not think that I am sorry. So, Mr. Kakfwi, in spite of popular opinion, I think you have a good sense of humour, and you demonstrated it yesterday, sort of. Thank you.

---Laughter

---Applause

Mr. Kakfwi's Good Sense Of Humour
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 584

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

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

The Potential Of Northern Culinary Products
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 584

Brian Lewis Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I rise today, Madam Speaker, to talk about spice. I would like to thank Madam Speaker, and I hope this won't be taken the wrong way, for putting spice into my life.

---Laughter

As Members will know, I have always been interested in projects of a modest nature that really do something for economy. I have always believed in renewable resources and what renewable resources means to the vast majority of our people. At my age, I appreciate spice and I would like to thank the Speaker for making us aware that there is a lady in Fort Smith who, for several decades, has been trying to develop a northern spice.

I was struck many years ago when I was in New Orleans that they had developed a distinctive cuisine and everywhere you went you could buy spice, all kinds of spice, that could accompany cajun cooking. These were the kinds of gifts that people bought when they were in New Orleans and they were looking for something for $5 to $10. They would take some spice home because this was a reasonably priced memento of their visit to that part of the world.

Very often over the last couple of decades, I have been interested in our northern environment. I have picked up lots of stuff from the bush, things like wild chives and wild sage. I've done all kinds of work myself to try to make food more interesting. I would like to compliment Madam D on a project called "Madam D's gold medal gourmet meat seasoning," which Members are aware of. This is the kind of project that, in my opinion -- if we were to look at it as a modest thing -- if developed, could have a massive impact. Northern cuisine and northern products like this have great potential, some of which can be collected from our own bush and developed into a distinctive northern product.

The Potential Of Northern Culinary Products
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 584

An Hon. Member

Hear, hear.

---Applause

The Potential Of Northern Culinary Products
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 584

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

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

Search And Rescue Program
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 584

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. I am pleased, Madam Speaker, with the announcement made by the Minister responsible for Municipal and Community Affairs yesterday with regard to the NWT search and rescue program. Unfortunately, she is not in the House today. I understand this program is a two-year training program for search and rescue on the ground and in the water. It is funded by the federal government and involves work with the RCMP.

Madam Speaker, I have been a volunteer in the past to search for people who went missing on the river in my constituency. I know what is required to do a search. It is very important that there be a quick response to emergencies with the proper equipment. These are the two areas where I have had concern in the past. In many cases, when rescue is required, there needs to be a coordinated, cooperative effort by people in the communities and, as well, to have the proper equipment available, especially if you have to go in the water.

The searches I have been involved with were coordinated effort, but I think the proper type of training and rescue management is what people in the communities have been asking for in the past. I just wanted to say that if there is such training, not only the municipal government but as well the band councils in the communities should be involved in this type of training.

I would like to ask the Minister questions, however she's not in the House so I'm going to have to wait until she gets back into the House. Mahsi.

---Applause

Search And Rescue Program
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 584

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

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

Policy For Trucks Watering NWT Roads
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 584

Samuel Gargan Deh Cho

Madam Speaker, as I'm sure all Members know, I'm one of the few MLAs who are fortunate enough to live close enough to their home communities to be able to drive home most weekends, when I'm not stuck in Yellowknife working. Today, in honour of Halloween, I'm going to tell a tale of monsters and government inefficiency.

I have spoken in the past, Madam Speaker, about the dangers of travelling on the highway between Yellowknife and Fort Providence. I have talked at length about the perils of buffaloes on the road, I have complained in turn about too many highway patrols and not enough highway patrols.

Madam Speaker, there are monsters on the highway; monsters with little sense, monsters that obviously run on government logic. With their headlights and beacons flashing, these monsters travel the gravel highways of the Northwest Territories. Madam Speaker, the monsters I refer to are the trucks that water the gravel roads.

Madam Speaker, as everyone knows, there are two types of water truck monsters: the first type is the one that is owned by the Department of Transportation; the second type of water truck monsters are privately owned and can be found in smaller communities along the gravel highways of the north.

Madam Speaker, that was the type I saw a few weeks ago when I made my way back to Yellowknife. I came across this private water truck monster from Fort Rae very early in the morning. I knew it was a private truck because it was very early in the morning. It was driving very slowly down the road dumping its water on the road. Unfortunately, Madam Speaker, it was drizzling and raining at that time. I really wondered, Madam Speaker, about the intelligence of these monsters, for this is not the first time I have observed this seemingly ridiculous performance. I thought to myself, how could the brain of this animal be so small. If it had any sense, wouldn't it just dump its load of water in a ditch...

Policy For Trucks Watering NWT Roads
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 585

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

The honourable Member for Deh Cho, Mr. Gargan.

Policy For Trucks Watering NWT Roads
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 585

Samuel Gargan Deh Cho

Madam Speaker, I would like to get unanimous consent to conclude by statement.

Policy For Trucks Watering NWT Roads
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 585

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent to continue. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Proceed.

Policy For Trucks Watering NWT Roads
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 585

Samuel Gargan Deh Cho

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I don't know when you cut me off but I'll just continue from where I left off.

Coming from a town where the road and its employment opportunities are appreciated, I understand the reasoning behind the watering of the roads: to reduce dust to help the grader operators in doing their jobs to make the roads safer for all travellers. So, in essence, Madam Speaker, the water truck monster is our friend. It is part of a plan that makes our highways safe. So I'm sure the Members can understand my confusion when I saw this friendly monster on the highway making a dangerous situation even more so.

Then, Madam Speaker, I thought about the nature of the beast. The monster may have sense enough not to water the road during the rain, but must for fear of riling the government policy monsters who I am sure everyone knows are much more dangerous than the friendly water truck monsters. This policy must read something like this: "Thou shall take said full water truck out onto said highway, then thou shall empty said contents on said highway. Thou shall give no concern to present weather patterns, thou shall show no common sense or thou shall lose your contract or be fired."

Madam Speaker, we must allow the water truck monsters to be free; free to make their own decisions on how much water must go on our highways. It is a simple matter of physics: one inch of mud is safer than four inches of mud. Besides which, Madam Speaker, having just kissed and made up with the highway patrol, I would not want to get a ticket for having a dirty licence plate. Thank you.

---Applause

Policy For Trucks Watering NWT Roads
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 585

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Nerysoo.

Return To Question 221-12(6): Funding For School Principals' Conference
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

Page 585

Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Madam Speaker. This is a return to an oral question that was asked by Mr. Ningark on October 21, 1994 regarding funding for a school principals' conference.

A principals' conference organized by the Kitikmeot Division Board of Education is scheduled to take place on Saturday, November 5th and Sunday, November 6th in Yellowknife. The conference is considered important by both the board and the principals to give them an opportunity for professional development, generally, and to discuss all operational issues together. The majority of the conference costs are being funded by the board, and the principals are contributing by paying for their own accommodation.

Prior to the 1994 school year, divisional boards of education were allocated specific funds through the NWT school funding formula for principals' meetings or conferences. This specific category of funds is no longer identified in the formula, and the boards are now funded for general administration. The amount of administration funding in the formula was reviewed last year through the school finance review, and a number of changes were made in the calculation for administration to provide funding more equitably to all boards.

In establishing its budget priorities for this year, the Kitikmeot divisional board executive committee identified funding for a principals' conference, but the amount did not cover the full cost of the conference planned by the principals. The principals approached the board and proposed that they pay for their own accommodation, and the board agreed with the proposal. I believe this is a good example of local decision-making, and I commend the board for its planning and the principals for their initiative and dedication. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Return To Question 221-12(6): Funding For School Principals' Conference
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

Page 585

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 4, returns to oral questions. The honourable Member for Hay River, Mr. Pollard.

Return To Question 101-12(6): Merit Increases For Excluded Employees
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

Page 585

John Pollard Hay River

Thank you, Madam Speaker, good afternoon. Good morning, I beg your pardon, I always get that wrong on Fridays, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker, I have a return to an oral question asked by Mr. Brian Lewis on October 12, 1994 concerning merit increases.

Zero per cent increases and not salary freezes were negotiated for the teachers and put in place for excluded employees. Madam Speaker, this means that current salary schedules will be maintained for these groups of employees. Merit increases will continue to be awarded as they have been in the past.

Madam Speaker, the average merit increase for government employees is 3.8 per cent. This is an important point which is often omitted when discussing zero per cent negotiated increases. Many other governments have imposed freezes to both salary schedules and merit increases.

I have a second return, Madam Speaker, if I might.

Return To Question 101-12(6): Merit Increases For Excluded Employees
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

Page 586

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Proceed.

Return To Question 213-12(6): Policy On Payment Of Salaries To Employees On Medical Leave
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

Page 586

John Pollard Hay River

Madam Speaker, this is a return to an oral question asked by Mr. Ludy Pudluk on October 21, 1994 with regard to the policy on payment of salaries to employees on medical leave.

Madam Speaker, employees who take time off for health reasons on a doctor's order are entitled to receive full salary based on the number of earned sick leave days they have available to be taken. If they have no earned sick leave days accumulated then they can be advanced up to 15 days on approval of their deputy minister.

If the employee has no sick leave days available, they will be put on sick leave without pay and paid allowances only. They may be eligible to collect unemployment insurance benefits for the period of sick leave without pay until they are approved and become eligible for disability insurance. If the employee is injured at work, they are eligible to receive full salary for up to 30 days for injury on duty. After the 30-day period, they may continue to receive benefits from Workers' Compensation. The amounts of money paid to an employee on disability or Workers' Compensation benefits would be approximately 70 per cent of their annual salary, plus settlement and accommodation allowance. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Return To Question 213-12(6): Policy On Payment Of Salaries To Employees On Medical Leave
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

Page 586

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

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

Question 273-12(6): Inventory Of Northern Rental Purchase Program
Item 6: Oral Questions

October 27th, 1994

Page 586

Fred Koe Inuvik

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, this morning I talked about the northern rental purchase program. I have a question for the Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation. Can the Minister give us an estimate of how many northern rental housing units are still on the inventory of the Housing Corporation?

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation, Mr. Morin.

Return To Question 273-12(6): Inventory Of Northern Rental Purchase Program
Question 273-12(6): Inventory Of Northern Rental Purchase Program
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 586

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Approximately 450 units.

Return To Question 273-12(6): Inventory Of Northern Rental Purchase Program
Question 273-12(6): Inventory Of Northern Rental Purchase Program
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 586

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Koe.

Supplementary To Question 273-12(6): Inventory Of Northern Rental Purchase Program
Question 273-12(6): Inventory Of Northern Rental Purchase Program
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 586

Fred Koe Inuvik

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. The northern rental purchase program was set up in such a way so that tenants could apply money paid in rent towards a purchase price. This was a credit that was accumulated and, in combination with other adjustments, would eventually reduce the purchase price of a unit. Since the late 1950s, early 1960s, tenants have been in these units and if they are still in these units, they must have accumulated a lot of credit.

Can the Minister indicate as to whether or not the Housing Corporation is still calculating and accumulating credits for tenants in northern rental units?

Supplementary To Question 273-12(6): Inventory Of Northern Rental Purchase Program
Question 273-12(6): Inventory Of Northern Rental Purchase Program
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 586

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation, Mr. Morin.