Debates of March 15th, 1994

This is page numbers 585 - 620 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.

Topics

Members Present
Item 1: Prayer
Outcome Of Meetings In Toronto And Ottawa
Northern Health Services Network
Workers' Training Fund Initiative
Search For Missing Hunters
Lack Of Morgues In Northern Communities
Lack Of Disciplinary Action Against Iqaluit Teacher
Maximization Of Benefits Accrued From Diamond Mining
Retirement Of Maureen Mcewan
K'amba Carnival
Strategy Against European Animal Rights Activists
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Status Of Fort Providence Fire Hall
Reason For Freezing Contractors' Payments
Comprehensive Package For Negotiation With Federal Government
Meetings With Mining Industry Re Provision Of Northern Employment
Report On Ottawa Meetings
Responsibility Of Environmental Protection In The Nwt
Hiring Policies Of Diamond Mining Companies
Western Solidarity On Tobacco Tax Issue
Strategy For Employment In Mining Industry
Criteria For Living In Outpost Camps
Cost Of Commercial Travel Versus Charters
Procedures For Tracking Imported Tobacco
Minister Todd's Vocabulary
Minister's Support For Economic Strategy In Taloyoak
Return To Written Question 9-12(5): Monitoring Of Big Game Hunting Outfitter Quotas
Return To Written Question 11-12(5): Dollars Spent As A Result Of Mineral DevelopmentReturn To Written Question 11-12(5) Asked By Mr. Ng To The Minister Of Economic Development And Tourism Concerning Dollars Spent As A Result Of Mineral Development.
Return To Written Question 12-12(5): Information On Meetings Held In EuropeReturn To Written Question 12-12(5) Asked By Mr. Allooloo To The Minister Of Renewable Resources Concerning Information On Meetings Held In Europe.
Return To Written Question 15-12(5): Negotiations On Fire Training Programs And Standards
Item 12: Tabling Of Documents
Setting Of Sitting Hours By Speaker
Item 14: Notices Of Motions
Bill 14: An Act To Amend The Borrowing Authorization Act
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1994-95Committee Report 2-12(5): Review Of The 1994-95 Main Estimates
To Adopt Recommendation 31
Item 19: Report Of Committee Of The Whole
Item 21: Orders Of The Day

Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1994-95Committee Report 2-12(5): Review Of The 1994-95 Main Estimates
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Tony Whitford

Thank you, Minister Nerysoo. Mr. Koe.

Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1994-95Committee Report 2-12(5): Review Of The 1994-95 Main Estimates
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Fred Koe Inuvik

I have two more questions. Under page 18-18, there is an item called labour pools. Is this money also what might be used for your new programs or is this a separate or another make-work program for communities? I would like some idea what this contribution plot is and what it is used for.

Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1994-95Committee Report 2-12(5): Review Of The 1994-95 Main Estimates
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Koe. Minister Nerysoo.

Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1994-95Committee Report 2-12(5): Review Of The 1994-95 Main Estimates
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Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yes, it is one of those other additional funding resources that we could access for the new investing in people for education and training.

Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1994-95Committee Report 2-12(5): Review Of The 1994-95 Main Estimates
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The Chair

The Chair Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Mr. Koe.

Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1994-95Committee Report 2-12(5): Review Of The 1994-95 Main Estimates
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Fred Koe Inuvik

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. My last question under this category is about education development on page 18-19. There are funds for native communications. Who does this $105,000 go to and what criteria is used to allocate the money?

Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1994-95Committee Report 2-12(5): Review Of The 1994-95 Main Estimates
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Koe. Mr. Minister.

Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1994-95Committee Report 2-12(5): Review Of The 1994-95 Main Estimates
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Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you. I believe you are referring to native communications. Inuit Broadcasting was given $35,000; Inuvialuit Communications, $35,000; and, Native Communications Society, $35,000.

Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1994-95Committee Report 2-12(5): Review Of The 1994-95 Main Estimates
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The Chair

The Chair Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Next on my list is Mr. Gargan.

Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1994-95Committee Report 2-12(5): Review Of The 1994-95 Main Estimates
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Samuel Gargan Deh Cho

Mr. Chairman, under northern performers again, I've been watching the northern arts festival on TV. Is this the category that is under? They are holding it in Inuvik this year. Is anybody who wants to participate assisted under this program?

Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1994-95Committee Report 2-12(5): Review Of The 1994-95 Main Estimates
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

March 14th, 1994

Page 609

The Chair

The Chair Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Gargan. Mr. Minister.

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Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

This would be the program that they would apply under to get financial assistance.

Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1994-95Committee Report 2-12(5): Review Of The 1994-95 Main Estimates
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Member for Deh Cho.

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Samuel Gargan Deh Cho

Presumably then, this grant is for artists right across the Northwest Territories. Do we have enough or are we looking at situations where we have to turn down a lot in order to stay within this limit?

Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1994-95Committee Report 2-12(5): Review Of The 1994-95 Main Estimates
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 609

The Chair

The Chair Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Gargan. Mr. Minister.

Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1994-95Committee Report 2-12(5): Review Of The 1994-95 Main Estimates
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Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

We have had to turn a few away, but it hasn't been that significant. In other words, we have

been able to fund most of the major events that are occurring at which performers have been requested to attend.

Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1994-95Committee Report 2-12(5): Review Of The 1994-95 Main Estimates
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The Chair

The Chair Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Member for Deh Cho.

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Samuel Gargan Deh Cho

I would like to ask the Minister about educational leave and classroom assistance. I realize we don't have anything for this, but what is happening now with regard to classroom assistance as they progress and develop their skills through the years? Or is it still covered under Arctic College and the classroom assistants just maintain their salaries?

Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1994-95Committee Report 2-12(5): Review Of The 1994-95 Main Estimates
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Gargan. Mr. Minister.

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Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thanks, Mr. Chairman. It depends, as they progress through the program, they could qualify as teachers. In fact, some of them are participating in our community teacher education program as well so, in that sense, we do have a situation where they are progressing up the ladder.

Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1994-95Committee Report 2-12(5): Review Of The 1994-95 Main Estimates
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The Chair

The Chair Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. The Member for Deh Cho, Mr. Gargan.

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Samuel Gargan Deh Cho

So that doesn't restrict the classroom assistants from progressing then. My other concern, Mr. Chairman, is with regard to school closures under education authority contributions. Last month, on February 16, a number of schools closed. A number of them closed due to different circumstances. It could have been cold temperatures or busses not running. Of course, it trickles down. It started off with the school closing in Fort Simpson and people in communities like Fort Providence asked, why are we not closed? I would like to ask, are you developing some kind of policy with regard to when schools should be closed or when they shouldn't? Or is this pretty well up to the communities?

I talked with the principal this afternoon on it and he said there should be a guideline about what constitutes school closures. If it is 35, 40 or 50 degrees below, or whatever the case might be, I would hope there would be some guidelines for schools closing. I'm sure it affects students.

Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1994-95Committee Report 2-12(5): Review Of The 1994-95 Main Estimates
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Tony Whitford

Thank you, Member for Deh Cho. Mr. Minister.

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Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you. Most boards are supposed to have those policies and criteria in place because, generally speaking, they manage the schools and they're responsible for dealing with those situations.

Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1994-95Committee Report 2-12(5): Review Of The 1994-95 Main Estimates
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 610

The Chair

The Chair Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Mr. Gargan.