This is page numbers 825 - 862 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 chairman.

Topics

John Todd Keewatin Central

Madam Speaker, I will take the question as notice.

---Laughter

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Yellowknife North, Mr. Ballantyne.

Michael Ballantyne Yellowknife North

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I have a question for the Minister of Justice. Madam Speaker, I think everyone in the House is aware that over the past few months, I have been increasingly concerned about whether or not the resources of the RCMP are being stretched to the limit in the face of very rapidly increasing crime rates and crimes of violence in the Northwest Territories.

I know, Madam Speaker, that the Minister is working on some quite imaginative aspects of community policing and he is aware, as anybody, of the problems we face. We had a very good briefing this morning by the police, which reinforced my concerns. My question then to the Minister is, could the Minister give us a time line of when he will be able to deal with what is an ominous lack of resources for the RCMP? Will the Minister be able to deal with the situation between now and the budget session, Madam Speaker?

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Minister of Justice, Mr. Kakfwi.

Return To Question 383-12(6): Time Frame To Address Lack Of Rcmp Resources
Question 383-12(6): Time Frame To Address Lack Of Rcmp Resources
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Madam Speaker, for those who were in attendance at the briefing this morning, the message from the RCMP was that throwing money and more resources at the problem at this time is not the only answer, and that we have to look at other avenues to address why we need policing in the first place and the root causes of why we are called on to look at even more policing across the north at this time.

There is no time line, per se. We hope that the winter O and M budget will see a correction in the funding deficiency that the RCMP have been working under for the last few years, that we will finally resolve that. We hope that in the next month or two, we will be able to see the RCMP bill paid for the Giant Mine strike, which at this time the RCMP are having to absorb. It is becoming increasingly difficult for them to operate with that bill unpaid. And, there are surely other suggestions that are going to be made by communities on alternative policing mechanisms, and at this time they have not been made. Thank you.

Return To Question 383-12(6): Time Frame To Address Lack Of Rcmp Resources
Question 383-12(6): Time Frame To Address Lack Of Rcmp Resources
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Ballantyne.

Supplementary To Question 383-12(6): Time Frame To Address Lack Of Rcmp Resources
Question 383-12(6): Time Frame To Address Lack Of Rcmp Resources
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Michael Ballantyne Yellowknife North

Thank you. I was at the meeting and the Minister is right, the police said that throwing money at the situation is not the only part of the solution but there was doubt in my mind that they are going to need some money to deal with this problem. So my question is, to handle the vacancy problem, at the very least, that the police have talked about, will the Minister be able to, between now and the budget session, handle those parts of the problem that can be addressed by more manpower? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Supplementary To Question 383-12(6): Time Frame To Address Lack Of Rcmp Resources
Question 383-12(6): Time Frame To Address Lack Of Rcmp Resources
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Minister of Justice, Mr. Kakfwi.

Further Return To Question 383-12(6): Time Frame To Address Lack Of Rcmp Resources
Question 383-12(6): Time Frame To Address Lack Of Rcmp Resources
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Madam Speaker, I am committed, as I said in the Legislature last week. I asked the RCMP, when I first started, to tell me, in no uncertain terms, that if they find that there are major problems in carrying out police services as a result of under-funding by this government and if they are unable to carry out their duties as outlined in the policing agreement with us, then I want to know. The RCMP have written to me and we have indicated to them that we are planning to address the deficiencies through the O and M budget. That has been communicated to the RCMP. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 383-12(6): Time Frame To Address Lack Of Rcmp Resources
Question 383-12(6): Time Frame To Address Lack Of Rcmp Resources
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

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

Supplementary To Question 383-12(6): Time Frame To Address Lack Of Rcmp Resources
Question 383-12(6): Time Frame To Address Lack Of Rcmp Resources
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Michael Ballantyne Yellowknife North

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I will support any initiative that the Minister makes to improve the capability and capacity of the RCMP to deal with the Northwest Territories in the 1990s. As I said, I think there is going to be a need for some resources very quickly. But, on the other hand, the Minister is right, there are other, less costly approaches that also have to be considered, in concert with some direct resources. One of those is an auxiliary police force. I would like to ask the Minister, has the Minister looked into that option? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Supplementary To Question 383-12(6): Time Frame To Address Lack Of Rcmp Resources
Question 383-12(6): Time Frame To Address Lack Of Rcmp Resources
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Minister of Justice, Mr. Kakfwi.

Further Return To Question 383-12(6): Time Frame To Address Lack Of Rcmp Resources
Question 383-12(6): Time Frame To Address Lack Of Rcmp Resources
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Madam Speaker, the RCMP are conducting a study, as I said last week, about the challenge of policing in the Northwest Territories, with division in 1999 and with continued cutbacks from the federal government. One of the concerns that was introduced to Members in Caucus this

morning was the escalating concern of the RCMP in the Northwest Territories about the health and safety of their members. The number of violent incidents directed at members of the RCMP and their families in the north have escalated in the last few years and, as a result, the RCMP are conducting a study. The RCMP may find it imperative to suggest that there be no more one-man detachments if they find that they cannot ensure an adequate level of safety for their members, as a result of growing violence directed at members in the communities.

It is difficult to respond to specific suggestions like an auxiliary police force at this time, since there are no specific suggestions made by communities at this time. There are always associated costs and I'm not certain that it would be any more economical to do. But, having said that, there is no implication that such a suggestion, if made, will be ruled out. We are simply not looking at such a suggestion at this time. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 383-12(6): Time Frame To Address Lack Of Rcmp Resources
Question 383-12(6): Time Frame To Address Lack Of Rcmp Resources
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Final supplementary, Mr. Ballantyne.

Supplementary To Question 383-12(6): Time Frame To Address Lack Of Rcmp Resources
Question 383-12(6): Time Frame To Address Lack Of Rcmp Resources
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Michael Ballantyne Yellowknife North

Final supplementary. I appreciate the steps the Minister is taking and I think the study is important. Unfortunately, I think the situation, as it stands right now, is quite serious and I really think the Minister should look at some short-term responses to a worsening situation and then wait for the big picture once he has the report from the RCMP. So, I would ask the Minister if he's prepared to sit down with the RCMP between now and the budget session and see what short-term solutions he is prepared to address to deal with the situation, stabilize the situation, until such time as we can address the larger picture. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Supplementary To Question 383-12(6): Time Frame To Address Lack Of Rcmp Resources
Question 383-12(6): Time Frame To Address Lack Of Rcmp Resources
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Minister of Justice, Mr. Kakfwi.

Further Return To Question 383-12(6): Time Frame To Address Lack Of Rcmp Resources
Question 383-12(6): Time Frame To Address Lack Of Rcmp Resources
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Madam Speaker, we have quite regular meetings with the RCMP. I told Members I was meeting with the RCMP Commissioner as late as just a week ago in Edmonton, to bring ourselves up to speed on our dealings with one another on the issue of policing, the concerns of the RCMP in the north about their job and their relationship with us. The meetings here with Chief Superintendent Brian Watt have always been good, productive meetings.

It was through suggestions made by the chief superintendent and myself that paved the way for his briefing of Members of Caucus this morning. I hope that such appearances can be made on a regular basis so Members are not only aware of the situation in their respective constituencies, but can get a panoramic snapshot of the situation that the police find themselves in right across the Northwest Territories. These updates ensure that all of us are aware, first-hand, of the challenges that the RCMP face on a daily basis across the Northwest Territories in our respective communities and also to hear, first-hand, about specific remedies they want to make, to which we could respond. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 383-12(6): Time Frame To Address Lack Of Rcmp Resources
Question 383-12(6): Time Frame To Address Lack Of Rcmp Resources
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Time frame for oral questions has lapsed. Item 7, written questions. Item 8, returns to written questions. Mr. Clerk.

Return To Written Question 11-12(6): Request For Housing Allocation Statistics
Item 8: Returns To Written Questions

November 7th, 1994

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Clerk Of The House Mr. David Hamilton

Madam Speaker, Return to Written Question 11-12(6), asked by Mr. Gargan to the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation concerning request for housing allocation statistics.

On October 20, 1994, the honourable Member for Deh Cho asked a question regarding the allocations made by the Housing Corporation.

I have provided Mr. Gargan, and all MLAs, the following information under covering letter:

1. The number of social housing units allocated in the NWT -- both public housing units and rent supplement units -- on a community-by-community basis for the fiscal years 1990-91 to 1994-95.

2. The number of home ownership assistance program, HAP, units allocated in the NWT, on a community-by-community basis, for the fiscal years 1990-91 to 1992-93.

3. The number of home ownership units -- ACCESS -- allocated in the NWT, on a community-by-community basis, for the fiscal years 1993-94 to 1994-95.

Clerk Of The House Mr. David Hamilton

Madam Speaker, Return to Written Question 22-12(6) asked by Mr. Koe to the Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation, concerning arrears owed to the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation.

On October 27, 1994, the honourable Member for Inuvik asked a question regarding the amount of arrears owed to the corporation on a community-by-community basis as of March 31, 1994.

Madam Speaker, the total arrears owed to the corporation as of March 31, 1994 were $6,907,978. I have provided the Member the amount of arrears on a community-by-community basis under covering letter.

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 9, replies to opening address. Item 10, petitions. Item 11, reports of standing and special committees. Item 12, reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 13, tabling of documents. The honourable Member for Kitikmeot, Mr. Ng.

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

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Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I wish to table Tabled Document 58-12(6), illegal activities policy passed by the Cambridge Bay Housing Association on November 2nd.

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

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The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 13, tabling of documents. Item 14, notices of motion. Item 15, notices of motion for first reading of bills. Item 16, motions. Item 17, first reading of bills. Item 18, second reading of bills. Item 19, consideration in committee of the whole of bills and other matters: Tabled Document 14-12(6), "Open for Business" - Privatizing the Northwest Territories Power Corporation; Tabled Document 23-12(6), Report of the 1993-94 Electoral District Boundaries Commission Northwest Territories; Tabled Document 36-12(6), "Action Plan - Consolidation - Health and Social Services"; Minister's Statement 11-12(6), Return to Session; Committee Report 10-12(6), Report on the Review of the 1995-96 Capital Estimates; Committee Report 16-12(6), Toward an Economic Development Strategy; Bill 1, Appropriation Act, No. 1, 1995-96; Bill 16, An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, No. 2; Bill 18, Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 4, 1993-94; and, Bill 19, Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 1, 1994-95, with Mr. Lewis in the chair.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair Brian Lewis

I would like to call the committee to order. What is the wish of the committee? Mr. Dent.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to recommend that the committee consider Tabled Document 23-12(6) first, then Bill 16, followed by Bill 18, and then perhaps Committee Report 16-12(6).