This is page numbers 679 - 714 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

Members Present

Mr. Allooloo, Mr. Antoine, Hon. Silas Arngna'naaq, Mr. Ballantyne, Hon. Nellie Cournoyea, Mr. Dent, Mr. Gargan, Hon. Stephen Kakfwi, Mr. Koe, Mr. Lewis, Hon. Jeannie Marie-Jewell, Hon. Rebecca Mike, Hon. Don Morin, Hon. Richard Nerysoo, Mr. Ng, Mr. Ningark, Mr. Patterson, Hon. John Pollard, Mr. Pudlat, Mr. Pudluk, Hon. John Todd

---Prayer

Item 1: Prayer
Item 1: Prayer

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The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

I would to express, on behalf of the Legislative Assembly, our heartfelt condolences to the families and many friends of the eight people who tragically lost their lives recently while travelling in the waters off Iqaluit. Our prayers are with you, and I would request that all Members remain standing for a minute of silence.

---Minute of silence

Item 2, Ministers' statements. Madam Premier.

Minister's Statement 48-12(6): Sympathies
Item 2: Ministers' Statements

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Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Madam Speaker, on behalf of Cabinet, I want to express my deepest sympathies to the families and friends of the eight people who drowned in the tragic boating accident near Iqaluit, and to the two survivors whose lives have been irreversibly altered by this experience.

Madam Speaker, there are no easy answers to help us understand why something like this happens, Madam Speaker, there are no easy words to help heal the wounds created by such a loss.

I just want to say that the hearts of all northern residents go out to the families and friends of those lost in this horrible tragedy. We offer to them our most profound condolences and our strongest support in their time of deep personal suffering. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Minister's Statement 48-12(6): Sympathies
Item 2: Ministers' Statements

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The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 2, Ministers' statements. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Nerysoo.

Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Madam Speaker. On August 24th, the governments of Canada and the Northwest Territories signed a Canada/NWT infrastructure program agreement. The program is intended to create short and long-term employment through investment in local communities, while meeting the need to enhance physical infrastructure in those communities.

Recognizing the unique situation in the NWT, the national infrastructure program and the aboriginal infrastructure program have been combined into a single program. Through the agreement, the federal government and the Government of the Northwest Territories will each provide $5.4 million over the next two years. A further potential contribution of up to $2 million from the tax-based communities will increase the total fund to approximately $12 million.

The infrastructure program follows the model of the successful NWT workers' training fund program, allowing communities to determine their own priorities and administer the projects. Communities may develop one major project or several smaller ones.

All communities in the NWT have been assigned a funding allocation, based on the number of working age people who are not employed. A maximum and minimum level of funding has been set to allow sufficient funds for small communities to develop projects of a reasonable size.

The Department of Education, Culture and Employment is responsible for implementing and delivering this program, with assistance from Municipal and Community Affairs. A management committee has been established to administer and manage the program, headed by Mr. Mark Cleveland, assistant deputy minister of culture and careers and Mr. Warren Johnson, NWT regional director of Indian and Northern Affairs for the federal government.

Madam Speaker, the NWT/Canada infrastructure program allows participants to undertake and invest in worthwhile infrastructure projects. The program assists the government in achieving its goal of increased control at the local level, while it helps my department reach its goal of providing increased training and work experience opportunities at the community level. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

---Applause

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 2, Ministers' statements. The honourable Member for Keewatin Central, Mr. Todd.

Minister's Statement 50-12(6): Community Access Roads
Item 2: Ministers' Statements

November 1st, 1994

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John Todd Keewatin Central

Madam Speaker, I would like to take a few minutes today to talk about some positive developments in the Department of Transportation's community access roads program. As Members are aware, the idea for a community access roads program came from the advice of Members of this House and, in particular, the honourable Member for Natilikmiot. If progress made this year is any indication, I am

pleased to say that it seems to have caught on. The intent of the program is to develop local roads to nearby areas of importance.

I want to emphasize that, from start to finish, community access roads are largely community initiatives. The Department of Transportation funds the projects through contribution agreements with the communities. The community gives the department a proposal and, from the proposal, the community and the department work out the material, financial and human resources they will jointly contribute to the project.

Madam Speaker, in Taloyoak, the hamlet and the department made a 50/50 cost sharing agreement to hire 18 students who repaired the ATV trails to Netsilik Lake and Redfish Lake. The community of Igloolik completed a two-year project to fix a five-kilometre trail to Igloolik Point. Cap Mountain Ventures of Wrigley improved a three-kilometre access road to the boots camp on the Willowlake River. In Arviat, the hamlet built two kilometres of road past Landing Lake towards the Maguse River. The hamlet of Resolute worked to improve the road to Sight Point. The community of Jean Marie River upgraded seven kilometres of winter road to all-weather quality. Baker Lake added two more kilometres to the Whitehills Lake Road. And, the material for a bridge over the Kuruluk River arrived in Broughton Island this summer. The community will move the pieces to the river by snowmobile and komatik and assemble the bridge by hand next spring.

As the Minister of Transportation, it is rewarding to see the effort and commitment that communities are willing to invest in their access roads. The contribution agreement is a flexible way to match community resources with the scope and scale of the project. I have said before that I wanted to see community access roads become a larger part of the transportation portfolio. As a goal, I imagined a program with an annual budget of $1 million. For next year, the Department of Transportation is already examining proposals worth $700,000 and it expects to receive as many as 10 more new proposals.

With the growing interest this year, I am pleased to say that the community access roads program is quickly becoming one of the Department of Transportation's most successful programs. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

---Applause

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Kitikmeot, Mr. Ng.

Phase-out Of Flight Support Services
Item 3: Members' Statements

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Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The Government of Canada, through their national airports policy, is significantly downgrading services to airports operated by Transport Canada throughout the country by disposing of federally-owned airports to regional and municipal airport authorities. Our government, through the Department of Transportation, is

actively involved in negotiating the transfer of the nine Arctic A airports from Transport Canada.

There are four communities targeted for closure in the 1995-96 fiscal year: Cambridge Bay, Hay River, Fort Simpson and Fort Smith. There will be a loss of approximately 24 full-time positions in these communities. The hamlet council of Cambridge Bay and I have been requesting the Honourable John Todd, Minister of Transportation, to establish a community aerodrome radio station known as CARS in lieu of eliminating the flight service stations.

The establishment of the CARS program will result in retaining some employment in the community but, most importantly, will provide a dependable human component to the aircraft advisory service that cannot be performed by an automated system. The airline industry is apprehensive about the establishment of a CAATS system in our northern environment where reliable, up-to-date weather and operating conditions are critical to their operations.

Although Cambridge Bay, Hay River, Fort Smith and Fort Simpson are planned for phase-out next year, when will the remaining communities with flight service stations be phased out? Our communities cannot afford to lose the staff positions or the air support services currently offered by Transport Canada. Our government must intervene to ensure that adequate levels of employment and flight support services are provided within communities currently designated for phase-out by Transport Canada.

Madam Speaker, once again, the government of Canada is arbitrarily cutting back services to the NWT which directly affects services to our constituents. Although it may be inevitable, given the fiscal situation in Canada, our government must interject now to minimize the disruption and impact in our communities. Thank you.

---Applause

Phase-out Of Flight Support Services
Item 3: Members' Statements

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The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Natilikmiot, Mr. Ningark.

John Ningark Natilikmiot

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I stand before this House offering my prayers and condolences to the families of hunters who were tragically lost at sea near Iqaluit. Madam Speaker, no pain is more painful than when one experiences the loss of life of a loved one. Madam Speaker, no heart is heavier than when one experiences the loss of life of loved ones.

Madam Speaker, but only God can offer relief and comfort to the families of those people who are lost. May God provide relief and comfort to the families of hunters who have passed on to a life of peace in eternity. Thank you.

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Baffin South, Mr. Pudlat.

Condolences To Families Of Lost Hunters
Item 3: Members' Statements

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Kenoayoak Pudlat Baffin South

(Translation) Thank you, Madam Speaker. I also would like to rise today to speak about the pain and suffering of the families who have been left behind. We are all are affected by this tragedy that occurred just recently. We can only look to God for comfort, and I pray that the people who are immediately affected by this tragedy are in the arms of the loving God.

All these people who have perished have many relatives across the territories and we send our sincerest condolences to the families. They are in our thoughts and prayers. Only God can give you relief and comfort and he knows exactly what is going on in the minds and hearts of those people who have been left behind. I'm sure he will keep them in his care and love.

On behalf of my constituents, we send our sincerest condolences and prayers to the families, relatives and friends. Although this tragedy has occurred, we have to look to God for comfort. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Condolences To Families Of Lost Hunters
Item 3: Members' Statements

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The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Amittuq, Mr. Allooloo.

Passing Of Mr. Simonie Alainga
Item 3: Members' Statements

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Titus Allooloo Amittuq

Thank you, Madam Speaker. (Translation) We're all concerned about the families who have been left behind in this tragedy, and they will be in our prayers, Madam Speaker. All the Yellowknife churches have been approached to help. (Translation ends)

...lost in that boating accident and his name was Simonie Alainga who was a community leader and a pillar of the community. When you went into his house in Iqaluit, you always saw Baffin people staying there because they felt comfortable, and they were also fed and there was always tea on the stove for anyone who came into Simonie's house.

I knew Simonie for a number of years as a colleague, when I was on the hamlet council and also mayor, and also at the Baffin regional councils. He was been a strong leader in the community. Within the last few years, he had been concentrating his efforts toward helping the young people to get better and also to go out hunting.

Madam Speaker, I sincerely would like to say we are sorry that we have lost a very strong Baffin leader. Thank you.

Passing Of Mr. Simonie Alainga
Item 3: Members' Statements

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The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Iqaluit, Mr. Patterson.

Tragic Hunting Accident In Frobisher Bay
Item 3: Members' Statements

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Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, the people of my constituency are in deep shock and mourning since they heard yesterday of the news of the loss of eight hunters in the waters of Frobisher Bay last weekend. This sad news came after days of increasing anxiety and concern. In the midst of this sorrow, Madam Speaker, there is also some joy.

Earlier this week, as the search continued with no news, I said that all we could do is pray for a miracle. And I know many of us did just that. Madam Speaker, it is nothing short of miraculous that Billy Kownirk and Pitseola Alainga, Simonie's son, managed to survive somehow in that weather and cold after what they had been through for two and a half days, and miraculous that they were seen by the dedicated searchers, clinging to the submerged remains of the vessel.

Madam Speaker, all these lost hunters are much beloved by their families and the community and their many relatives, not just in Iqaluit but other Baffin communities. However, I want to specifically pay tribute today to Simonie Alainga, their leader.

Simonie was the personification of caring and decency and humanity. This trip was typical of Simonie. He was bringing back walrus meat for the community, he had a crew of veteran dedicated hunters and young people with him. He was a friend to all, but especially to young people. He was a pillar of the Iqaluit community for his services to church and community. I wish to thank Members of this House and many others who have expressed their condolences.

I will be travelling to Iqaluit tomorrow, along with other Members of this House, to pay my respects, and I will take those wishes with me. Thank you.

Tragic Hunting Accident In Frobisher Bay
Item 3: Members' Statements

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The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Yellowknife North, Mr. Ballantyne.

Michael Ballantyne Yellowknife North

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, on behalf of my constituents of Yellowknife North and the residents of Yellowknife, I would like to express our deep condolences for the eight hunters who tragically were lost in the dangerous waters of Frobisher Bay. Our condolences go out to the families and friends of those who were taken from us.

We share the joy of the families and friends of the two hunters who were saved. I think it's moments like this that we should all forget our differences in the Northwest Territories. We all have to pull together. Iqaluit's loss is all of our loss. From my constituents, I extend our deepest condolences to the people of Iqaluit and the region.

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Madam Premier.

Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

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Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Madam Speaker, I have a number of returns to oral questions.

Return To Question 170-12(6): Treatment Of Dyslexia/fetal Alcohol Syndrome
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

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Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

A return to oral question that was asked by Mr. Sam Gargan on October 18th regarding the treatment of dyslexia/fetal alcohol syndrome.

Madam Speaker, the use of alcohol by a pregnant woman can cause many problems for the child. However, dyslexia is not necessarily caused by the mother's drinking.

Unfortunately, once a child has been damaged by alcohol, and has fetal alcohol syndrome or effects, or if something else has caused them to have dyslexia, it is not possible to provide treatment that will cure that problem. What can be done is to try to provide special school and family support services that can help the child to function better in spite of their handicap.

Alcohol causes permanent damage in the unborn child, and such children will then require help in coping throughout their lives. Teachers do have techniques to help people to read, even if they are dyslexic, but the dyslexia itself will always be there.

Further Return To Question 241-12(6): Status Of Mou With Health Boards
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

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Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Madam Speaker, I have a further return. Return to a question asked by Mr. Koe on October 25th in terms of the status of the status of the memorandum of understanding with the health boards.

Madam Speaker, the roles and responsibilities of the board, as a whole, will be specified in the memorandum of understanding. A job description/role description for an individual board trustee has not been requested by the boards and will not be included in the memorandum of understanding.

The role of the individual board trustee is currently described in the board by-laws, enacted by each board and approved by the Minister.

The trustee orientation manual, which is available to all board trustees, provides further information about roles and responsibilities. These resources provide the detailed information to new board trustees that helps them to adequately understanding their roles.

Return To Question 259-12(6): Proposal Call Re Study Of Financing Alternatives For Education
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

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Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Madam Speaker, I have a further return to an oral question which was asked by Mr. Lewis on Wednesday, October 26th. The question concerns a proposal call regarding a study of financing alternatives for education.

Madam Speaker, the study of options for financing local government is being undertaken by the Department of Finance in conjunction with the departments of Education, Culture and Employment, Municipal and Community Affairs and the Ministry of Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs. It is being carried out under the direction of a steering committee of deputy ministers from these departments and chaired by the deputy minister of Finance.

The review will examine the financing of education throughout the Northwest Territories, including local school boards. It will consider the effectiveness of the existing taxation system and provide recommendations on alternatives. In order that all residents have an opportunity for input into the study, there will be widespread consultation with municipalities, school boards and other stakeholders across the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Madam Speaker.