This is page numbers 243 - 273 of the Hansard for the 12th Assembly, 5th 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.

Constituents' Concerns Re Rental Increases
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 246

Kenoayoak Pudlat Baffin South

(Translation) Thank you, Madam Speaker. My statement today will be regarding the rental rate review for public housing in the NWT. Madam Speaker, my constituents, most of whom live in public housing units, are very concerned about possible rent increases. The housing association in Lake Harbour, for example, informed me that their tenants are extremely worried about how they will be able to afford their rent, along with the very high cost of living in that community. They have not been officially notified, but the general assumption is that the rents will be increased significantly.

They have instructed me to resist any such increases. The local housing associations are also under pressure from tenants not to increase rents. I am also very concerned with the very high cost of living, especially the high cost of food, and how increased rents would have a very negative impact on many of my people.

I am aware of the difficult position that the Minister of Housing has been put in by the CMHC, but the legitimate concerns of public housing tenants must be heard and responded to. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

---Applause

Constituents' Concerns Re Rental Increases
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 246

The Speaker

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, oral questions. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Frame Lake, Mr. Dent.

Question 152-12(5): Purpose Of Meetings Attended By Premier
Item 5: Oral Questions

February 20th, 1994

Page 246

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I understand that the Premier attended meetings over the weekend with the Minister of Indian Affairs and representatives of the Treaty 8 group. I wonder if the Premier could advise the House of the purpose of these meetings.

The Speaker

Thank you. Madam Premier.

Return To Question 152-12(5): Purpose Of Meetings Attended By Premier
Question 152-12(5): Purpose Of Meetings Attended By Premier
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 246

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The initial request for us to travel to Edmonton was from the Treaty 8 Nation, who asked us if we would go down in support of them at the beginning of their negotiations on their land entitlement. They also wished that a parallel negotiation process be put in place to discuss programs and services to Treaty 8 people in the Northwest Territories. The Minister of Indian Affairs, Mr. Irwin, was conducting a series of meetings with all Treaty 8 people across Alberta and had set up a generous amount of time to meet with the Treaty 8 of the Northwest Territories. They requested that we be there in support of getting their negotiations going.

While we were down there, we also asked to have a meeting with the Minister of Indian Affairs in relation to setting up a process to deal with our overall financial arrangements for the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

Return To Question 152-12(5): Purpose Of Meetings Attended By Premier
Question 152-12(5): Purpose Of Meetings Attended By Premier
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 246

The Speaker

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Dent.

Supplementary To Question 152-12(5): Purpose Of Meetings Attended By Premier
Question 152-12(5): Purpose Of Meetings Attended By Premier
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 246

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, the Premier just mentioned that the meetings were with the intent of setting up a parallel negotiating system with the territories and the federal government. Could the Premier advise this House whether she committed to that parallel process with Treaty 8 representatives?

Supplementary To Question 152-12(5): Purpose Of Meetings Attended By Premier
Question 152-12(5): Purpose Of Meetings Attended By Premier
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 246

The Speaker

Thank you. Madam Premier.

Further Return To Question 152-12(5): Purpose Of Meetings Attended By Premier
Question 152-12(5): Purpose Of Meetings Attended By Premier
Item 5: Oral Questions

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Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Thank you, Madam Speaker. There were many people at those meetings with Mr. Irwin, and he had gone through at least a month of steady sessions before he got to the meetings with Treaty 8. We are attempting to get the federal government to deal with that outstanding issue. We did commit that we would be willing to go on a working group if the process could be established. I would like to refer a further explanation of this question, Madam Speaker, if it is permissible, to the Minister responsible for Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs.

Further Return To Question 152-12(5): Purpose Of Meetings Attended By Premier
Question 152-12(5): Purpose Of Meetings Attended By Premier
Item 5: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

Unfortunately, I don't believe our rules allow for one question to be directed to two Ministers to answer. Unless Mr. Dent asks this question to the Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs Minister, our rules do not allow it. Supplementary, Mr. Dent.

Supplementary To Question 152-12(5): Purpose Of Meetings Attended By Premier
Question 152-12(5): Purpose Of Meetings Attended By Premier
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 246

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I may follow up with the Minister of Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs later. Could the Premier advise the House if she is aware of any commitments made by Mr. Irwin to Treaty 8, to get the process under way that Treaty 8 representatives were looking for?

Supplementary To Question 152-12(5): Purpose Of Meetings Attended By Premier
Question 152-12(5): Purpose Of Meetings Attended By Premier
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 247

The Speaker

Thank you. Madam Premier.

Further Return To Question 152-12(5): Purpose Of Meetings Attended By Premier
Question 152-12(5): Purpose Of Meetings Attended By Premier
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 247

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, it appears that the Minister wants to begin some type of process. I don't think it is quite clear from our discussion exactly what that process will be. The federal government of the day is committing to respective inherent rights and also aboriginal self-government. The suggestion was that perhaps Treaty 8 could be part of the overall review regarding the parameters of those two phrases, but that would take a whole year to do. The Minister did, without our provocation, state that he was interested in a one-window approach to deal with the treaty land entitlement and self-government. But I don't think it was very clear to us exactly how he was going to approach that, although he indicated that if we formed a working group, we could work toward what that process would be to allow Treaty 8 to proceed with their claim. I don't think I can clearly say to the honourable Member that there was a great deal of clarity. We did commit to support a process to try to deal with it and get it on the table. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 152-12(5): Purpose Of Meetings Attended By Premier
Question 152-12(5): Purpose Of Meetings Attended By Premier
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 247

The Speaker

Thank you. Final supplementary, Mr. Dent.

Supplementary To Question 152-12(5): Purpose Of Meetings Attended By Premier
Question 152-12(5): Purpose Of Meetings Attended By Premier
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 247

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Will the Premier commit to this House that she will keep the Constitutional Development Steering Committee in the West fully informed of all developments that may take place in terms of negotiations with Treaty 8 on behalf of the Government of the Northwest Territories?

Supplementary To Question 152-12(5): Purpose Of Meetings Attended By Premier
Question 152-12(5): Purpose Of Meetings Attended By Premier
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 247

The Speaker

Thank you. Madam Premier.

Further Return To Question 152-12(5): Purpose Of Meetings Attended By Premier
Question 152-12(5): Purpose Of Meetings Attended By Premier
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 247

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Madam Speaker, I think it would be in our very best interests to do so, yes.

Further Return To Question 152-12(5): Purpose Of Meetings Attended By Premier
Question 152-12(5): Purpose Of Meetings Attended By Premier
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 247

The Speaker

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions, the honourable Member for Inuvik, Mr. Koe.

Fred Koe Inuvik

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. In my Member's statement today I mentioned a concern raised by some people in the western Arctic about training provided by the Nechi Institute on Alcohol and Drugs. My question to the Minister is, has this issue been reviewed and what is Arctic College's position on the training program provided by the Nechi Institute for Alcohol and Drugs as compared to the program run by Arctic College? Mahsi.

The Speaker

Thank you. Minister of Education, Mr. Nerysoo.

Return To Question 153-12(5): Arctic College Position On Nechi Institute Training Program
Question 153-12(5): Arctic College Position On Nechi Institute Training Program
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 247

Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Madam Speaker. There has been no position taken by Arctic College, per se. They are a delivery agent for training on behalf of our government. They're not involved in the philosophical decisions of this government.

Return To Question 153-12(5): Arctic College Position On Nechi Institute Training Program
Question 153-12(5): Arctic College Position On Nechi Institute Training Program
Item 5: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Koe.

Supplementary To Question 153-12(5): Arctic College Position On Nechi Institute Training Program
Question 153-12(5): Arctic College Position On Nechi Institute Training Program
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 247

Fred Koe Inuvik

It is recognized though, that Arctic College does deliver a program to train alcohol and drug counsellors and I believe it's supposed to be standardized across the Northwest Territories. That is a government policy and philosophy. My question to the Minister is, does this government then recognize the training that people have taken through the Nechi Institute and the equivalency of those programs and training to the courses at Arctic College?

Supplementary To Question 153-12(5): Arctic College Position On Nechi Institute Training Program
Question 153-12(5): Arctic College Position On Nechi Institute Training Program
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 247

The Speaker

Thank you. Minister of Education, Mr. Nerysoo.

Further Return To Question 153-12(5): Arctic College Position On Nechi Institute Training Program
Question 153-12(5): Arctic College Position On Nechi Institute Training Program
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 247

Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Madam Speaker. There is an interpretation of how one recognizes a particular course. I want to inform the Members that there is only really one institution, I believe, at present -- I'm not aware of any others -- and that is the University of Alaska that makes recognition of the Nechi program. Our attempt to develop an alcohol and drug counselling program in the NWT, through Arctic College, is to associate it with other post-secondary institutions in Canada where you can continue in a program to receive a degree. That is where we're at, at this particular juncture.