This is page numbers 609 - 640 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 corporation.

Topics

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 7, written questions. Item 8, returns to written questions. Mr. Clerk.

Clerk Of The House Mr. David Hamilton

Madam Speaker, return to Written Question 2-12(6) asked by Mr. Ng to the Minister of Health and Social Services concerning elders' residences operated by the Government of the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Ng requested information about the locations of elders' residences owned and operated by the GNWT and the levels of care provided in these residences. In addition, information was requested about bed spaces and vacancies. This information has taken some time to compile and is very comprehensive. It has been prepared in table form. I have written directly to the Member to provide the detailed information he requested.

Clerk Of The House Mr. David Hamilton

Would the Minister responsible for Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources advise this House of the added cost to Royal Oak Mine and Miramar Con Mine of this proposed rate increase?

The corporation's proposal for a 22 per cent interim refundable rate rider, based on the total amount billed, applies to all customers of the Snare system, which include Royal Oak and Miramar Con Mines.

Clerk Of The House Mr. David Hamilton

The percentage of women in the age group 50 to 69 years who had mammograms done in the fiscal years 1991-92, 1992-93 and 1993-94 is as follows: 1990, 156 or 7.0 per cent; 1991, 192 or 8.7 per cent; 1992, 222 or 10.0 per cent; and, 1993, 196 or 8.9 per cent.

Although these may seem to be small numbers, they compare quite well with the actual percentages being achieved by the provinces. For example, in 1992, even though several provinces set screening targets at 70 to 80 per cent of their at-risk populations, in actual fact few of these came even close to those numbers: British Columbia, 13.3 per cent with a target of 70 per cent; Alberta, 16.9 per cent with a target of 80 per cent; Saskatchewan, 37.1 per cent with a target of 70 per cent; Ontario, 8.7 per cent with a target of 70 per cent; and, Nova Scotia, 5.7 per cent with a target of 70 per cent.

Statistics on the number of women in the age group 50 to 69 years who had mammograms in the south are not available at this time. If southern mammograms are considered, the NWT percentages probably are even a little higher than the nine to 10 per cent shown, and although that may not be outstanding, it is favourable compared to places like Ontario.

For 1994 in the NWT, numbers ought to reach 11 to 12 per cent of women in the 50 to 69 age group.

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 9, replies to opening address. Item 10, petitions. The honourable Member for Iqaluit, Mr. Patterson.

Item 10: Petitions
Item 10: Petitions

October 30th, 1994

Page 623

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I have Petition No. 4-12(6), signed by 16 constituents, which states, "We, the undersigned, do hereby declare that the government's proposed changes to the public sector pay and benefits will do

nothing other than destroy the fragile economy of the Baffin. We strongly urge the government to reconsider." Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Item 10: Petitions
Item 10: Petitions

Page 624

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 10, petitions. Item 11, reports of standing and special committees. The honourable Member for Inuvik, Mr. Koe.

Committee Report 15-12(6): Report On The Northwest Territories Arts Council
Item 11: Reports Of Standing And Special Committees

Page 624

Fred Koe Inuvik

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. I have a report from the Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commissions. The report is on the Northwest Territories Arts Council.

Introduction

Early in the term of the 12th Assembly, the Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commissions selected the Northwest Territories Arts Council as one of the government agencies to be reviewed by the committee.

The standing committee supports the work done by the NWT Arts Council. By guiding the government in providing financial assistance to northern artists, they play an important role in the development of the arts in the Northwest Territories.

The standing committee considered this matter in meetings in Yellowknife from April 25 to 29, 1994. The Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, the Honourable Richard Nerysoo, appeared before the committee on April 26th, and the chair of the NWT Arts Council, Ms. Susan Rose, appeared on April 25th.

The standing committee wishes to acknowledge the input of the witnesses and thank them for their appearance at the public hearings.

Control And Distribution Of Funding

Contributions to artists are actually made by the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment (ECE) and are included in the budget of the department. The council does not distribute the funds themselves; rather, they make recommendations to the Minister, who distributes the funds. As well, all funds come from the government, and there is no provision, as there is in many other jurisdictions, for soliciting funds from third parties.

Committee Members are of the opinion that non-departmental agencies should generally be in an arm's-length relationship with the government. This is also true of the Northwest Territories Arts Council. While the Ministers responsible for this program have seldom overruled recommendations of the council, the possible advantages of an arm's length relationship should still be examined.

Since the committee's hearings, the committee has studied the issues of sources of funding for the arts council and control over the distribution of that funding. The committee considered a number of options and came to the following conclusions:

-The Department of Education, Culture and Employment should continue to provide administrative services to the NWT Arts Council. The additional cost of having a separate administrative structure would overwhelm the limited amount of money available for actual grants to artists;

-The present method of distributing government funds as appropriate. That is, the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment should continue to have final authority to distribute government funds to artists, based on recommendations from the arts council.

-The NWT Arts Council should have the authority to solicit funds from third parties (such as corporations or foundations). The arts council should then have the final authority to distribute those funds.

Recommendation 1

Therefore, the committee makes the following recommendation. The Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commissions recommends that the government grant the NWT Arts Council authority to establish a trust fund through which the council could solicit donations. These donations would then be distributed by the council according to their existing guidelines.

Policy Recommendations By The Council

The council also has a mandate to provide recommendations to the Minister "on issues and policies associated with the arts and artists." But members of the council have difficulty meeting this part of their mandate. Their current practice is to meet for about four days a year (two two-day sessions). This is usually only enough time to review the applications for grants. The council has been able to devote a small amount of time to policy recommendations, but not as much as council members would like.

To allow the council to fulfil this part of its mandate, they would have to meet longer or more often; and this would result in additional exposure to the department. The department should seriously consider the trade-off between spending a little more to allow the council to meet longer or more often and the possible value of policy recommendations which may then be made by the council.

Council Membership

At present, the council has six members. Traditionally, three members have represented the eastern Arctic and three have represented the western Arctic. However, it has been suggested that the council's membership be increased to seven: one member representing Yellowknife, three from the rest of the western Arctic and three from the eastern Arctic. The standing committee agrees with the council and the Minister that this would provide improved regional representation on the council.

Recommendation 2

The Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commissions recommends that the NWT Arts Council policy be amended to provide for a total membership of seven on the arts council.

Coordination With Other Agencies

The grants distributed by the Minister on the council's recommendations are not the only funds budgeted by the Government for the development of the arts. In 1993-94, over $7 million was distributed on arts and crafts related programs through the Department of Economic Development and Tourism, the economic development agreement (EDA), and the Northwest Territories Development Corporation (Development Corporation). (Much of those funds, however, do not go to individual artists, but rather to businesses such as Ivalu Clothing or Fort McPherson Tent and Canvas.)

The standing committee appreciates that these bodies and the NWT Arts Council have different mandates: the arts council promotes the arts, while ED&T, the EDA and the Development Corporation promote economic development and employment. The distinction between "art for art's sake" and "marketability" is a useful one; however, the result is that artists may be confused by the two separate sources of funding. Committee Members would like to see the arts council and the Department of Education, Culture and Employment work more closely with Economic Development and Tourism and the Development Corporation to ensure that eligible artists have every opportunity to access sources of funding.

There appears to be a lack of coordination and communication between the arts council, Economic Development and Tourism and northern artists. Committee Members feel that it is important for artists to be aware of all resources available to them. We suggest that the departments of Education, Culture and Employment and Economic Development and Tourism find a way to coordinate their efforts in order to better inform artists about the various funds available to them to aid their development.

Recommendation 3

The Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commissions recommends that, in accordance with rule 93(5), the Executive Council table a comprehensive response to recommendations contained in this report within 120 days of the presentation of this report in the House.

Madam Speaker, that concludes the report of the Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commissions on its review of the NWT Arts Council.

Motion To Receive Committee Report 15-12(6) And Move To Committee Of The Whole, Carried

Therefore, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, that the report be received by the Assembly and moved into committee of the whole. Mahsi.

Committee Report 15-12(6): Report On The Northwest Territories Arts Council
Item 11: Reports Of Standing And Special Committees

Page 625

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Committee Report 15-12(6): Report On The Northwest Territories Arts Council
Item 11: Reports Of Standing And Special Committees

Page 625

An Hon. Member

Question.

Committee Report 15-12(6): Report On The Northwest Territories Arts Council
Item 11: Reports Of Standing And Special Committees

Page 625

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Item 11, reports of standing and special committees. Item 12, reports of committees on the review of bills. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Lewis.

Item 11: Reports Of Committees On The Review Of Bills
Item 11: Reports Of Committees On The Review Of Bills

Page 625

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Report On Bills 13 And 14

Item 11: Reports Of Committees On The Review Of Bills
Item 11: Reports Of Committees On The Review Of Bills

Page 625

Brian Lewis Yellowknife Centre

Madam Speaker, I wish to report to the Assembly that the Standing Committee on Legislation has reviewed Bill 13, An Act to Amend the Motor Vehicles Act and Bill 14, An Act to Repeal the Public Service Vehicles Act. I wish to report that bills 13 and 14 are now ready for committee of the whole.

Item 11: Reports Of Committees On The Review Of Bills
Item 11: Reports Of Committees On The Review Of Bills

Page 625

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 11, reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 13, tabling of documents. Madam Premier.

Item 13: Tabling Of Documents
Item 13: Tabling Of Documents

Page 625

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Madam Speaker, I wish to table Tabled Document 48-12(6), Northwest Territories Power Corporation Annual Report for the Year Ended March 31, 1994.

Item 13: Tabling Of Documents
Item 13: Tabling Of Documents

Page 625

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 13, tabling of documents. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Morin.

Item 13: Tabling Of Documents
Item 13: Tabling Of Documents

Page 625

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I wish to table Tabled Document 49-12(6), NWT Housing Corporation Summary of Comments from the 1994 district consultation meetings on housing.

Item 13: Tabling Of Documents
Item 13: Tabling Of Documents

Page 625

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 13, tabling of documents. The honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Kakfwi.

Item 13: Tabling Of Documents
Item 13: Tabling Of Documents

Page 625

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Madam Speaker, I wish to table Tabled Document 50-12(6), Cape Dorset Community Transfer Agreement Update, September 1994.

Item 13: Tabling Of Documents
Item 13: Tabling Of Documents

Page 625

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 13, tabling of documents. Item 14, notices of motion. Item 15, notices of motions for first reading of bills. Item 16, motions. Item 17, first reading of bills. The honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Kakfwi.

Bill 21: An Act To Amend The Fair Practices Act
Item 17: First Reading Of Bills

Page 625

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Madam Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, that Bill 21, An Act to Amend the Fair Practices Act, be read for the first time.

Bill 21: An Act To Amend The Fair Practices Act
Item 17: First Reading Of Bills

Page 625

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Your motions is in order. To the motion.

Bill 21: An Act To Amend The Fair Practices Act
Item 17: First Reading Of Bills

Page 625

An Hon. Member

Question.

Bill 21: An Act To Amend The Fair Practices Act
Item 17: First Reading Of Bills

Page 626

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Question is being called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Bill 21 has had first reading. Item 17, first reading of bills. The honourable Member for Hay River, Mr. Pollard.

John Pollard Hay River

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Nunakput, that Bill 16, An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, No. 2. be read for the first time.