This is page numbers 25 - 51 of the Hansard for the 12th Assembly, 7th 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 communities.

Further Return To Question 17-12(7): Evaluation Of Programs Dealing With Violence
Question 17-12(7): Evaluation Of Current Programs Dealing With Violence
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Madam Speaker, I will try to be specific to help the Member. In the drug and alcohol programs, for instance, there are agreements between communities and this government which are signed agreements that point out what the goals and objectives of the programs are, and what the community agrees to do in carrying out their part of the deal. Those are written agreements and are monitored and evaluated on a yearly basis.

I think, generally, as with other programs such as family violence, victims' assistance, and victims' services programs, are all generally well-received by communities. They are seen as good, positive programs by this government and by the public. Where we have problems is with the amount of money and resources we can allocate to these programs and the flexibility we have in flipping money from one program to another. There is insufficient flexibility, as far as communities are concerned. They cannot, for instance, take money allocated for a mental health worker and easily flip it into a drug and alcohol program.

These are the types of problems we have. That is a major evaluation shared by everybody. Again, the strategy that we have set out to deliver to this Legislature this coming session is well aware that it is and is going to be due to a major demand on the part of the communities. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 17-12(7): Evaluation Of Programs Dealing With Violence
Question 17-12(7): Evaluation Of Current Programs Dealing With Violence
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for North Slave, Mr. Zoe.

Henry Zoe

Henry Zoe North Slave

Thank you, Madam Speaker. In the status report, the Minister of Justice indicates that community-based support is developing for programs for victims of crime. The shortage of government funds for new initiatives is noted as a limiting factor. Given the financial situation of our government and the federal government, it is highly unlikely that new money will be found. My question is directed to the Minister of Finance. I wonder if his department is investigating innovative ways of funding or supporting community-based programs to be part of the 1995-96 budget which he anticipates bringing forward in February? Thank you.

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Minister of Finance, Mr. Pollard.

Return To Question 18-12(7): Funding For Community-based Violence Programs
Question 18-12(7): Funding For Community-based Violence Programs
Item 6: Oral Questions

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John Pollard Hay River

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Good afternoon. Madam Speaker, the issues that have been raised by ordinary Members in this regard are well known to us. I think you have heard, on a number of occasions, the Minister of Health and Social Services talk about better uses of facilities for people who are already in the communities. We've talked about better coordination and addressing the problems that exist in communities at the community level.

Just about everybody is saying to me that we need more money, more money for education, more money to raise wages of alcohol and drug workers, more money for mental health specialists. Some of the concerns I have are, are those resources already there and are they being used in a cooperative kind of manner. Those are the kinds of things you are hearing from the Minister of Health and Social Services and the Minister of Justice. Can we do things differently at the community level? We've just heard the Minister of Justice say that sometimes there is not much flexibility in moving funds and resources around at the community level.

So, are we looking at those kinds of issues? Yes, Madam Speaker, we are. Will we be able to come up with new resources for them in a financial sense with the new budget? I can't say that to this House right now. We are under the gun. But, can we look at making better use of existing resources? Yes, I think we can do that. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Return To Question 18-12(7): Funding For Community-based Violence Programs
Question 18-12(7): Funding For Community-based Violence Programs
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Zoe.

Supplementary To Question 18-12(7): Funding For Community-based Violence Programs
Question 18-12(7): Funding For Community-based Violence Programs
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Henry Zoe

Henry Zoe North Slave

Thank you, Madam Speaker. On that last point the Minister made, I didn't quite catch if he did indicate that his department is...I understand they're looking all over. More specifically, is his department looking at new and innovative ways of getting funding or reallocating new funding and is it going to be part of the 1995-96 O and M budget? I didn't quite hear if the Minister said if it will be or won't be.

Supplementary To Question 18-12(7): Funding For Community-based Violence Programs
Question 18-12(7): Funding For Community-based Violence Programs
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. I'd like to ask the honourable Members to pay careful attention to the replies. I believe that many times some of the replies are given but Members are not listening. Therefore, Ministers are having to repeat some of their replies. The honourable Member for Hay River, Minister of Finance, Mr. Pollard.

Further Return To Question 18-12(7): Funding For Community-based Violence Programs
Question 18-12(7): Funding For Community-based Violence Programs
Item 6: Oral Questions

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John Pollard Hay River

Madam Speaker, to the question, is it going to be in the budget that will come down to the House next year? I can't say what's going to be in that budget at the present time, Madam Speaker. I will say that we've heard the concerns and we are looking at ways of trying to address those concerns. I can't say specifically that we are going to put more money into these programs but we are going to try and address those concerns by some means of efficiency or greater flexibility, Madam Speaker. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 18-12(7): Funding For Community-based Violence Programs
Question 18-12(7): Funding For Community-based Violence Programs
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Iqaluit, Mr. Patterson.

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. Madam Speaker, according to the status report on zero tolerance for violence, all municipal councils have been encouraged to adopt declarations of zero tolerance for violence. I'd like to ask the Minister, besides the city of Yellowknife, is the Minister aware of any other municipal councils which have adopted this type of declaration? Thank you.

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

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

Return To Question 19-12(7): Declarations On Zero Tolerance Adopted By Municipalities
Question 19-12(7): Declarations On Zero Tolerance Adopted By Municipalities
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Rebecca Mike Baffin Central

Thank you, Madam Speaker. When Mr. Kakfwi made the zero tolerance declaration, his message was very clear and strong that all NWT leaders were to be involved in promoting zero tolerance. At the last Baffin leaders meeting in Cape Dorset, Madam Speaker, I did indicate to the mayors this government's position on zero tolerance. Up to today, I am not aware of whether there are more municipalities that have adopted zero tolerance. I do know that in some communities in terms of alcohol being involved in dry communities, that there have been some movements made with resignations of mayors.

Return To Question 19-12(7): Declarations On Zero Tolerance Adopted By Municipalities
Question 19-12(7): Declarations On Zero Tolerance Adopted By Municipalities
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Supplementary To Question 19-12(7): Declarations On Zero Tolerance Adopted By Municipalities
Question 19-12(7): Declarations On Zero Tolerance Adopted By Municipalities
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I appreciate the Minister's answer and what she had done with the Baffin mayors. I guess what I would like to ask the Minister is whether she, as the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, is willing to take further action to encourage all municipal governments to consider making declarations of zero tolerance for violence? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 19-12(7): Declarations On Zero Tolerance Adopted By Municipalities
Question 19-12(7): Declarations On Zero Tolerance Adopted By Municipalities
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

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

Further Return To Question 19-12(7): Declarations On Zero Tolerance Adopted By Municipalities
Question 19-12(7): Declarations On Zero Tolerance Adopted By Municipalities
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Rebecca Mike Baffin Central

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My honourable colleague, Mr. Kakfwi, informs me that in a day or so he will be tabling a document with a list of municipalities and band councils and their status regarding zero tolerance that Mr. Patterson is asking about. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 19-12(7): Declarations On Zero Tolerance Adopted By Municipalities
Question 19-12(7): Declarations On Zero Tolerance Adopted By Municipalities
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Deh Cho, Mr. Gargan.

Samuel Gargan Deh Cho

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I'll direct my question to the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism. Madam Speaker, over 10 years ago now, a program started in Hay River on the reserve with regard to the egg quota. I think we met with the Minister last fall, or last spring, I think, when we were in Fort Smith. We flew down with Mr. Pollard, myself and Mr. Todd, and we met with the band on the Hay River Reserve regarding egg quotas. I know that the band itself, Madam Speaker, has spent up to now around $100,000 of their own resources to try to resolve this issue. The government has also put in $500,000 and so have a vested interest in the whole issue being resolved. I would like to ask the Minister, what is the status of the issue of egg quotas?

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Minister of Economic Development and Tourism, Mr. Todd.

John Todd Keewatin Central

Madam Speaker, I'll have to take that question as notice. Thank you.

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Natilikmiot, Mr. Ningark.

John Ningark Natilikmiot

Thank you. Madam Speaker, my question is directed to the honourable Minister of Justice. Violence against women and children is not acceptable, not only in a country or jurisdiction but also throughout the world, Madam Speaker. The document tabled by the Minister regarding zero tolerance for violence was entitled a status report. My question to the honourable Minister, Madam Speaker, is, does the Minister expect to bring additional information before this House during the winter sitting? Thank you.

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Minister of Justice, Mr. Kakfwi.

Return To Question 21-12(7): Provisions Of Updates On Zero Tolerance For Violence Strategy
Question 21-12(7): Provision Of Updates On Zero Tolerance For Violence Strategy
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Madam Speaker, it is our intent to work with the different groups -- community groups, women's groups, different advocate groups -- who are involved in this community wellness strategy and to have a paper that we can bring forward in April of the coming year, which we will share with the Members of this Legislature. It will lay out how we think the existing resources, the existing finances of this

government, can be best put to use. This will be developed in partnership with communities and will, hopefully, give the communities the hands-on approach that is so critical and necessary in order to come up with some real solutions to the problems that we've outlined in the initial documents. Thank you.