This is page numbers 399 - 427 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 community.

Topics

Return To Question 123-12(5): Funding For Family Violence Meetings
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

Page 402

Rebecca Mike Baffin Central

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I have a return to an oral question asked by Mr. Gargan on February 17, 1994 regarding family violence funding.

The federal government announced a new family initiative in February 1991. Over a four year period, a total of $22 million was available through the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs and $14 million through the medical services branch of Health Canada to combat family violence.

INAC's family violence initiative focused on community-based programs and services and is managed in each region in cooperation with First Nations' representatives. The medical services branch focuses on curriculum development and training for community workers.

Through a formula driven process, the Northwest Territories' portion of the $22 million available through INAC was determined as follows: 1991-92, $25,000; 1992-93, $50,000; 1993-94, $75,000; and, 1994-95, $75,000.

This amounted to a total of $225,000 over four years.

In 1992-93, the Northwest Territories Native Women's Association and the Pauktuutit Inuit Women's Association administered these family violence funds, each receiving $25,000. In 1993-94, each received $37,500.

These fund were to be directed to community groups for public education and awareness activities.

Madam Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories accessed a total of over $1 million out of Health Canada's $14 million. These funds have been used to develop and deliver family violence training for shelter workers in the Northwest Territories. The Department of Social Services has been carrying out this training through contribution agreements with Health Canada. The amounts available were determined by a funding formula. The following amounts are available over the four year period: 1991-92, $176,000; 1992-93, $291,000; 1993-94, 259,800; and, 1994-95, $319,800.

The training has been delivered to shelter workers throughout the Northwest Territories by the Northwest Territories Native Women's Association, under contribution agreements with the department. Thank you.

Return To Question 123-12(5): Funding For Family Violence Meetings
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

Page 402

The Speaker

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

Question 220-12(5): Delegated Authority In The Premier's Absence
Item 5: Oral Questions

February 27th, 1994

Page 402

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My question is for the Government House Leader. We've been told before, Madam Speaker, that the Premier has decided not to choose a Deputy Premier, but to devolve authority on a case-by-case basis when she needs to be out of town. I was wondering if the Government House Leader could advise us who is filling that position today. In other words, Madam Speaker, who is in charge?

The Speaker

Thank you. The honourable Member for Hay River, Mr. Pollard.

Return To Question 220-12(5): Delegated Authority In The Premier's Absence
Question 220-12(5): Delegated Authority In The Premier's Absence
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 403

John Pollard Hay River

Madam Speaker, Premier Cournoyea is still in charge, she is still in Canada. She is in contact with us. In the interim, if there is any signing to be done or any minor decisions to be made, meetings to be chaired, I am doing that kind of thing, Madam Speaker. Thank you.

Return To Question 220-12(5): Delegated Authority In The Premier's Absence
Question 220-12(5): Delegated Authority In The Premier's Absence
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 403

The Speaker

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Dent.

Supplementary To Question 220-12(5): Delegated Authority In The Premier's Absence
Question 220-12(5): Delegated Authority In The Premier's Absence
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 403

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Supplementary to the same Minister. In the past, there have been some problems on occasion with ministerial signing authority. The Minister has indicated that he has now authority for the Premier if that is needed. Have the Ministers who are also out of town right now delegated signing authority for their departmental responsibilities?

Supplementary To Question 220-12(5): Delegated Authority In The Premier's Absence
Question 220-12(5): Delegated Authority In The Premier's Absence
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 403

The Speaker

Thank you. Honourable Member for Hay River, Mr. Pollard.

Further Return To Question 220-12(5): Delegated Authority In The Premier's Absence
Question 220-12(5): Delegated Authority In The Premier's Absence
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 403

John Pollard Hay River

Madam Speaker, it's not normal for Ministers to delegate if they're going to be out of town for 24 or 48 hours. If it was going to be for a matter of days or weeks, then that would be different. At the present time, if there were any documents to be signed on behalf of any of the Ministers who are absent, that could be done by any one of the Ministers who are in the House at the present time. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Further Return To Question 220-12(5): Delegated Authority In The Premier's Absence
Question 220-12(5): Delegated Authority In The Premier's Absence
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 403

The Speaker

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. Item 6, written questions. The honourable Member for North Slave, Mr. Zoe.

Further Return To Question 220-12(5): Delegated Authority In The Premier's Absence
Question 220-12(5): Delegated Authority In The Premier's Absence
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 403

Henry Zoe

Henry Zoe North Slave

Madam Speaker, can I seek unanimous consent to return to oral questions?

Further Return To Question 220-12(5): Delegated Authority In The Premier's Absence
Question 220-12(5): Delegated Authority In The Premier's Absence
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 403

The Speaker

The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent to return to oral questions. Are there any nays? There are no nays, Mr. Zoe. Item 5, oral questions.

Henry Zoe

Henry Zoe North Slave

Thank you, Madam Speaker, and thank you, colleagues, for returning to oral questions. Madam Speaker, in October of 1993, the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs at the time wrote in a reply to the Northwest Territories Association of Municipalities that his department was working with the office of the fire marshal to develop a fire training strategy for community fire fighters. I would like to ask the Minister, Madam Speaker, can the current Minister tell us when these negotiations will be completed?

The Speaker

Thank you. The honourable Member for Kivallivik, Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Return To Question 221-12(5): Completion Date Of Fire Fighting Negotiations
Question 221-12(5): Completion Date Of Fire Fighting Negotiations
Revert Back To Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 403

Silas Arngna'naaq Kivallivik

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I don't know what stage the negotiations are at, at this point. I thank the Member for bringing that up and I will find out. Thank you.

Return To Question 221-12(5): Completion Date Of Fire Fighting Negotiations
Question 221-12(5): Completion Date Of Fire Fighting Negotiations
Revert Back To Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 403

The Speaker

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Zoe.

Supplementary To Question 221-12(5): Completion Date Of Fire Fighting Negotiations
Question 221-12(5): Completion Date Of Fire Fighting Negotiations
Revert Back To Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 403

Henry Zoe

Henry Zoe North Slave

Madam Speaker, in that same letter that the Minister wrote, he also indicated that his department supported cost-effective fire fighting training in all communities. However, Madam Speaker, funding for fire fighting training is generally lumped in with unconditional funding provided to communities, and it is not identified separately as requested by the resolution passed at the NWTAM. Can the Minister explain why specific funding for fire fighting training is not identified separately?

Supplementary To Question 221-12(5): Completion Date Of Fire Fighting Negotiations
Question 221-12(5): Completion Date Of Fire Fighting Negotiations
Revert Back To Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 403

The Speaker

Thank you. Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Further Return To Question 221-12(5): Completion Date Of Fire Fighting Negotiations
Question 221-12(5): Completion Date Of Fire Fighting Negotiations
Revert Back To Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 403

Silas Arngna'naaq Kivallivik

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The way I understand the transfers that are made to communities is through a funding formula, which are transferred to communities on an unconditional basis. The only conditions there are, are under water and sewage. It is up to the municipality or the community to decide how the funding will be dispersed in their particular community. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Further Return To Question 221-12(5): Completion Date Of Fire Fighting Negotiations
Question 221-12(5): Completion Date Of Fire Fighting Negotiations
Revert Back To Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 403

The Speaker

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Zoe.

Supplementary To Question 221-12(5): Completion Date Of Fire Fighting Negotiations
Question 221-12(5): Completion Date Of Fire Fighting Negotiations
Revert Back To Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 403

Henry Zoe

Henry Zoe North Slave

Madam Speaker, supplementary. Given that the funding for fire fighting training is not identified separately, can the Minister explain what measures are in place to require communities to develop an adequately trained fire fighting force?

Supplementary To Question 221-12(5): Completion Date Of Fire Fighting Negotiations
Question 221-12(5): Completion Date Of Fire Fighting Negotiations
Revert Back To Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 403

The Speaker

Thank you. Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Further Return To Question 221-12(5): Completion Date Of Fire Fighting Negotiations
Question 221-12(5): Completion Date Of Fire Fighting Negotiations
Revert Back To Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 403

Silas Arngna'naaq Kivallivik

Madam Speaker, I'm not certain how it is decided that funds should be distributed because it is a government to government relationship. We are not in a position to say that this is how your money should be spent, because they are a government and the governments

decide for themselves how their funding is to be spent. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Further Return To Question 221-12(5): Completion Date Of Fire Fighting Negotiations
Question 221-12(5): Completion Date Of Fire Fighting Negotiations
Revert Back To Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 404

The Speaker

Thank you. Final supplementary, Mr. Zoe.

Supplementary To Question 221-12(5): Completion Date Of Fire Fighting Negotiations
Question 221-12(5): Completion Date Of Fire Fighting Negotiations
Revert Back To Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 404

Henry Zoe

Henry Zoe North Slave

Supplementary, Madam Speaker. I think the Minister is getting confused. I'm primarily concentrating on the fire fighters at the community level, Madam Speaker, with particular regard to the training component. Can the Minister assure this House that he and his department will develop measures as soon as possible to ensure that every community has an adequately trained fire fighting force? As I understand, from the comments that I am receiving from the Minister, there are no measures in place. Thank you.