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

Members Present

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

---Prayer

Item 1: Prayer
Item 1: Prayer

Page 399

The Speaker

Good afternoon. Item 2, Ministers' statements. The honourable Member for Hay River, Mr. Pollard.

John Pollard Hay River

Madam Speaker, the Premier will be absent from the House today and part of tomorrow to attend the aboriginal achievement awards in Toronto.

The Honourable Richard Nerysoo will be absent from the House today to attend a Council of Ministers of Education meeting and tomorrow to attend a meeting of Labour Market Ministers in Toronto.

The Honourable John Todd will be absent from the House today on personal business.

The Speaker

Thank you. Item 2, Minister's statements. The honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Kakfwi.

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Madam Speaker, a special ceremony will be held in Ottawa tonight to honour 12 Canadians chosen to receive a national aboriginal achievement award. Premier Cournoyea, along with five other northerners, will be receiving an award. Other northern recipients are Rosemarie Kuptana, Bill Lyall, Cindy Kenny-Gilday and Susan Aglukark.

The concept of a national aboriginal achievement award was initiated by the Canadian Native Arts Foundation last year to honour the outstanding achievements of aboriginal people. A ceremony to present the awards will be held in the National Arts Centre. I understand the event will be packaged by the CBC into a 60 minute television special to be broadcast nationally on March 3.

Madam Speaker, I'm sure Members will want to join me in congratulating the award winners.

---Applause

The Speaker

Thank you. Item 2, Ministers' statements. The honourable Member for Kivallivik, Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Silas Arngna'naaq Kivallivik

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would like to take this opportunity to remind Members that a ceremony for the official unveiling of the team NWT Arctic Winter Games clothing will take place tomorrow at 12:00 noon in the lobby of the Legislative Assembly. All Members are welcome to attend and join me in showing appreciation for the fine work produced by several of our Northwest Territories clothing manufacturers.

---Applause

The Speaker

Thank you. Item 2, Ministers' statements. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Morin.

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Recently there was an announcement about a new communications system for schools. It said that all NWT schools would be able to use computers to send messages to each other. This announcement reminded me again of the problems of those seven communities without phone services. Schools in those communities can't use this latest technology.

When the CRTC held hearings last summer, I spoke about the great need for full telephone services in all NWT communities. Mr. Kakfwi also spoke at those hearings on behalf of people in Colville Lake.

As I reported to you by letter, the CRTC's decision in December requires NorthwesTel to file a plan for providing full services in the unserved communities. This plan is due by June 20. In January, I wrote to the president of NorthwesTel. I said that we looked forward to their renewed efforts to extend services to all communities as soon as possible. It is important for us to keep this issue in front of the public. I will continue to encourage NorthwesTel to fulfil their commitments.

The Speaker

Thank you. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Item 3, Member's statements. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Mr. Dent.

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I rise today on behalf of the Ordinary Members' Caucus to express concern to the government over the actions of the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Madam Speaker, last Thursday and Friday in this House we discussed the budget of Education, Culture and Employment and we were under the impression on Friday that Mr. Nerysoo would be here on Monday. As a result, we left that department in the middle of the review. Actually, we had only started general comments.

Madam Speaker, we only learned this morning that Minister Nerysoo would be away for part of this week. Now in committee of the whole we are faced with the decision as to whether to proceed with the departmental review of that budget or to stand the budget down.

Madam Speaker, our understanding is that the Council of Ministers of Education meeting and the Labour Market Ministers meeting in Toronto were not planned at the last minute. The Minister should have been aware of the fact that these meetings were on.

During the mid-term review, it was pointed out to the Minister in the ordinary Members' report card, that Members particularly felt that Mr. Nerysoo needed to make more of an effort to "treat Members with respect." Madam Speaker, leaving in the middle of the budget process without advising this House that he was about to do so or advising Members that he was going to have to be away before we started consideration of his budget, we don't think, shows respect for the Members or the process.

Madam Speaker, we are concerned that this demonstrates, once again, an example of his cavalier attitude that we commented on following the mid-term review. We would hope, Madam Speaker, that the government will, in future, make sure that Members of this House are advised when Ministers will not be present so that we can plan properly to deal with their budgets in committee of the whole without having to go through the process of standing departments down and skipping around. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

---Applause

The Speaker

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

Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot

Thank you, Madam Speaker. During the week of February 14-18, the Kitikmeot Inuit Association held their 1993-94 annual general meeting in Cambridge Bay. There were a total of over 40 delegates representing all hamlet councils, all hunters' and trappers' associations in Kitikmeot, the Arctic Cooperatives Limited, the Kitikmeot Regional Council, Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, Inuit Tapirisat of Canada and, of course, all the executive and directors of the Kitikmeot Inuit Association.

During the annual general meeting, delegates had presentations from Metall Canada, Northern Transportation Company Ltd, community economic development organizations, Echo Bay Mines, Canadian Coastguard, NTI, KRC and the honourable Member for Natilikmiot and I, as MLAs for the region. The honourable Don Morin, Minister of Public Works and Services and the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation, also answered questions for many of the delegates. On behalf of KIA, I thank him for taking up the invitation to attend the annual general meeting and dealing directly with the concerns of the delegates.

Madam Speaker, the delegates of the annual general meeting passed 12 resolutions, of which eight resolutions dealt with non-internal matters which affect the majority of residents in Kitikmeot. These resolutions included cooperative sectoral funding for community economic development organizations, a code of conduct for Kitikmeot leaders, lowering the cost of gasoline and heating oil prices in the region, NTCL employment training programs for the Kitikmeot, holding a Kitikmeot leadership conference, reaffirmation of support to establish credit unions, the improvement from DIAND of funds and program delivery levels to CEDOs through the CAEDS strategy, and restoration of federal funding for social housing.

Madam Speaker, the ever-increasing importance of the Kitikmeot Inuit Association is evident from the large turn-out of delegates attending and making presentations at the conference. Members of the KIA are to be commended for their hard work and the resulting success of their 1993-94 annual general meeting. Thank you.

---Applause

The Speaker

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Deh Cho, Mr. Gargan.

Samuel Gargan Deh Cho

Thank you, Madam Speaker. On November 3, 1993, I watched a documentary on CBC which disturbed me. The title of the documentary was A Place Called Dixie. The whole purpose of this documentary were Canadian immigration laws and the situation in Somalia. The title of the documentary refers to an apartment building. Madam Speaker, in recent years, the Dixie apartments have had an influx of Somalian refugees moving into the building. These people, due to economic conditions, crowded more than one family into an apartment.

Madam Speaker, this led to concerns on the part of the landlord and other tenants about the conditions of overcrowding in the building. The tenants say that their opposition to the Somalians in the building is built on the issue of safety, the number of people in an apartment and that rent should be charged on the basis of how many people are living in the apartments. Although the people interviewed said that their opposition was not racially motivated, Madam Speaker, I believe that their opposition was partly motivated by racial intolerance.

The major problem I had with the entire documentary was with a Somalian girl who made the following statement: "Canada is a multicultural country. Nobody owns it." This implies, Madam Speaker, that the country had no history before immigration from Europe began. This is an injustice to all aboriginal people in Canada. What must be done, Madam Speaker, is an education program for new immigrants to Canada. They must be made aware of the rich history of Canada before the Europeans. Just as they are encouraged to maintain their culture in Canada, so should they be made aware of Canada's original people. Mahsi cho.

---Applause

The Speaker

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Yellowknife South, Mr. Whitford.

Success Of Cnib Third Annual Bachelor Auction
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 401

Tony Whitford

Tony Whitford Yellowknife South

Thank you, Madam Speaker. This weekend I had the pleasure of helping out at the third annual bachelor auction sponsored by the local office of the Canadian National Institute for the Blind. The auction raised over $5,000 for program work and operational costs. A good time was had by all.

Madam Speaker, in an economic climate such as we are experiencing, it becomes much more difficult for voluntary groups and agencies to raise the necessary portion of money needed to keep programs operating and we, in Yellowknife, are fortunate to have had the generous input and support that we get.

Special thanks must go to the Explorer Hotel, Sounds Sensations and the many restaurants that contributed facilities, entertainment and door prizes for this event. But it was through the generosity of the good people at Clark Bowler who matched, dollar for dollar, some of the bids, that our objectives were reached.

CNIB regional director, Lydia Bardak, her staff and volunteers, including our own Ms. MacPherson and Ms. Harris, had to have done a wonderful job of rounding up a good slate of eligible bachelors who promised lots of fun and good times for their successful bidders. Events such as these ensure that the necessary and important work of CNIB can continue. Thank you.

---Applause

Success Of Cnib Third Annual Bachelor Auction
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 401

The Speaker

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for North Slave, Mr. Zoe.

Reinventing Parliament Conference
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 401

Henry Zoe

Henry Zoe North Slave

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. I rise today to inform the House of the very worthwhile conference I attended on the weekend on behalf of my colleagues on the Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and Privileges.

Madam Speaker, the reinventing Parliament conference brought together Canadians from across the country to discuss alternatives for the meaningful renewal of Canada's Parliament, provincial and territorial legislatures and the electoral process.

It was sponsored by the Campbell West Foundation and hosted by the University of Lethbridge.

Madam Speaker, in recent years there have been numerous calls advocating parliamentary changes outside of the constitutional process. Clearly, Canadians remain disappointed with the way their governments work in Canada. The purpose of this conference was to bring academics, political practitioners and students together to assess the need for changing Canada's institution of government, reflect on available options and to set forth an agenda for action.

Madam Speaker, Brian Lewis, our Deputy Speaker, an alternate Member of the Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and Privileges, accompanied me to this conference. We both actively participated in workshop discussions and considered issues such as free votes, private Members' bills, legislative committees, the role of individual MPs and MLAs, changes to the rules governing confidence motions, direct participation by the public as an alternative to strict party discipline and the steadily increasing power of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Madam Speaker, our northern experiences regarding consensus government was very helpful and added a unique perspective to the examination of these issues.

Madam Speaker, I will be presenting more detailed information to my colleagues on the Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and Privileges in the very near future and look forward to a more in-depth discussion in that forum as we attempt to make our system of self-government more responsible and responsive to those whom we serve. Thank you.

---Applause

Reinventing Parliament Conference
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 401

The Speaker

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

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Last week I had the privilege of attending several sessions of the tenth annual general assembly of Pauktuutit, the Inuit women's association, held in Iqaluit and bringing greetings from this Assembly along with my colleague, the Honourable Rebecca Mike.

As Nunatsiaq News put it so aptly in an editorial published last week, in describing this large group of leaders from Nunavut, Nunavik and Labrador, "Though most of them don't hold any formal elected political positions, it is a group of leaders who are growing in power and influence. They are leaders in the true sense of the word, community leaders, role models, family leaders, youth leaders, leaders of the people. We will be hearing the strong voices of Inuit women in Iqaluit," the editorial concluded, "We will be listening to and learning from those voices for many years to come."

Madam Speaker, I was one of a number of male political leaders who had the privilege of addressing the meeting. To me it was a mark of the coming of age of Pauktuutit that these strong political leaders, including James Eetoolook, John Amagoalik, Jack Anawak, Senator Willie Adams, among others, spoke frankly and often emotionally about the need for men to support and understand the point of view of women and children.

Madam Speaker, it was a marvellous meeting. I am pleased that it was so well covered in the media. I can do no better than again quote from Nunatsiaq News. The story in Friday's paper summed up the spirit of the meeting quite well. "Spare chairs were few, the coffee ran low and people lined the walls around the square meeting tables to watch Pauktuutit's tenth anniversary meeting, which proved to be one of the most successful Pauktuutit has ever had. Women shed tears, shared smiles and embraced during breaks, updating each other on what has happened in their communities since they last gathered a year ago. Around the table they supported each other as well during emotional speeches where men and women revealed painful life stories." As the article pointed out, it was much more than a business meeting, it was a mixture of healing, support and business. A dynamic new board of directors was elected. There was a fabulous fashion show interrupted in dramatic fashion by the NWT Power Corporation.

Madam Speaker, I would like to interrupt my concluding remarks to request unanimous consent to conclude. Thank you.

The Speaker

The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Please proceed, Mr. Patterson.

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Thank you, Madam Speaker and honourable Members. I was pleased that time was taken out by Pauktuutit on the instance of the Honourable Rebecca Mike and with her assistance to honour the founding president of Pauktuutit, Ms. Jeela Moss-Davis. Pauktuutit has come a long way in those ten years. The wise women of Pauktuutit are being heard. They have, in many ways, become what Pauktuutit president Martha Flaherty has described as our conscience.

I would like to thank the Inuit women's association, Pauktuutit, for honouring my constituents by choosing Iqaluit as the location for this very important assembly. I would also like to thank Mary Wilman and her very hard working, local organizing community, including corporate sponsors, for the good work they did in preparing a very warm welcome and full slate of activities for the delegates. Thank you.

---Applause

The Speaker

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. The honourable Member for Baffin Central, Ms. Mike.