This is page numbers 461 - 501 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 ---agreed.

Topics

Supplementary To Question 242-12(5): Premier's Discussion With Prime Minister Re Cruise Missile Testing
Question 242-12(5): Premier's Discussion With Prime Minister Re Cruise Missile Testing
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 467

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Yes, thank you, Madam Speaker. I wonder if the Premier has had an opportunity, or if any of her Ministers have had the opportunity, to directly convey our concerns to the Minister of National Defence on this same issue. Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 242-12(5): Premier's Discussion With Prime Minister Re Cruise Missile Testing
Question 242-12(5): Premier's Discussion With Prime Minister Re Cruise Missile Testing
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 467

The Speaker

Madam Premier.

Further Return To Question 242-12(5): Premier's Discussion With Prime Minister Re Cruise Missile Testing
Question 242-12(5): Premier's Discussion With Prime Minister Re Cruise Missile Testing
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 467

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Madam Speaker, other than the letter that was written to the Honourable David Collenette, Minister of National Defence, I have not personally spoken to the gentleman or made contact with him. As for the other Ministers, I am not aware of any contact with regard to this specific issue. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 242-12(5): Premier's Discussion With Prime Minister Re Cruise Missile Testing
Question 242-12(5): Premier's Discussion With Prime Minister Re Cruise Missile Testing
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 467

The Speaker

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Antoine.

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. My question is to the Premier with regard to the cruise missile testing, as well. I mentioned, in my earlier statement, that the majority of the NWT residents have always been opposed to cruise missile testing in the Arctic and they continue to be opposed to it. What action has been taken by this government since the Liberal government was elected to inform the federal government of this ongoing opposition? Thank you.

The Speaker

Thank you. Madam Premier.

Return To Question 243-12(5): Actions Taken With Liberal Government Re Cruise Missile Testing
Question 243-12(5): Actions Taken With Liberal Government Re Cruise Missile Testing
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 467

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Madam Speaker, the first time that we had an opportunity to bring this topic up was when the Honourable Jean Chretien visited the Legislative Assembly soon after he was elected. Among the other topics that were discussed, the issue of the cruise missile was brought up at that time. Subsequently, when he made the announcement in Ottawa in the campaign that they were not going to be supportive of cruise missile testing in the Northwest Territories, he didn't feel that it was an issue and that he was going to stand behind his commitment. But, subsequently, I believe, there are agreements that were undertaken by the previous government that he felt that he couldn't walk around. Subsequently, on February 14, I did write to the Minister of National Defence expressing our concern and asking to be consulted and to set up some meetings and discussions about that issue. Thank you.

Return To Question 243-12(5): Actions Taken With Liberal Government Re Cruise Missile Testing
Question 243-12(5): Actions Taken With Liberal Government Re Cruise Missile Testing
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 467

The Speaker

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Antoine.

Supplementary To Question 243-12(5): Actions Taken With Liberal Government Re Cruise Missile Testing
Question 243-12(5): Actions Taken With Liberal Government Re Cruise Missile Testing
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 467

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. The latest action was to write a letter to the Department of Defence, I take it. Has there been any reply to this letter? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 243-12(5): Actions Taken With Liberal Government Re Cruise Missile Testing
Question 243-12(5): Actions Taken With Liberal Government Re Cruise Missile Testing
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 467

The Speaker

Thank you. Madam Premier.

Further Return To Question 243-12(5): Actions Taken With Liberal Government Re Cruise Missile Testing
Question 243-12(5): Actions Taken With Liberal Government Re Cruise Missile Testing
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 467

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Madam Speaker, as I indicated before, there was not a reply to the letter. I am aware that the Minister is aware that it is an outstanding issue. I have also discussed the issue with the Inuit Tapirisat of Canada president and suggested that this problem continues, and they are trying to take an active role, as well. I know that the concerns that are raised by Members here are being heard, but at this point in time, there has not been any action to respond to how we are going to be consulted or if we are going to be consulted. It has also been stated by the Government of Canada that they are rethinking their whole involvement with the cruise missile testing, and they were going to have a series of meetings. We have requested to be involved in those meetings or the consultative meetings. So, I believe that the reason they were not able to live up to their initial commitment was because

there were agreements in place that they couldn't walk around. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 243-12(5): Actions Taken With Liberal Government Re Cruise Missile Testing
Question 243-12(5): Actions Taken With Liberal Government Re Cruise Missile Testing
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 468

The Speaker

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Antoine.

Supplementary To Question 243-12(5): Actions Taken With Liberal Government Re Cruise Missile Testing
Question 243-12(5): Actions Taken With Liberal Government Re Cruise Missile Testing
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 468

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. Supplementary to the Premier. Although there is no reply to the letter asking for consultation, is there an indication of any kind from the federal government that the Government of the Northwest Territories will be involved in any type of discussion of a consultative nature with regard to nuclear missile testing?

Supplementary To Question 243-12(5): Actions Taken With Liberal Government Re Cruise Missile Testing
Question 243-12(5): Actions Taken With Liberal Government Re Cruise Missile Testing
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 468

The Speaker

Thank you. Madam Premier.

Further Return To Question 243-12(5): Actions Taken With Liberal Government Re Cruise Missile Testing
Question 243-12(5): Actions Taken With Liberal Government Re Cruise Missile Testing
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 468

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Madam Speaker, I'm not aware that the Special Committee on Defence has set a schedule yet. They are aware that we want to be involved and I've told them that the involvement is very broad-based in terms of people's interest. They haven't set the timetable to date. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 243-12(5): Actions Taken With Liberal Government Re Cruise Missile Testing
Question 243-12(5): Actions Taken With Liberal Government Re Cruise Missile Testing
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 468

The Speaker

Item 5,oral questions. The honourable Member for High Arctic, Mr. Pudluk.

Ludy Pudluk High Arctic

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would like to follow up my colleagues' questions to Madam Premier. Given that this House has passed six motions opposing cruise missile testing and these motions followed lengthy debate opposing cruise missile testing, why did the government not pursue this issue more vigorously with the federal government? Thank you.

The Speaker

Thank you. Madam Premier.

Return To Question 244-12(5): Lack Of GNWT Efforts To Pursue Cruise Missile Testing With Federal Government
Question 244-12(5): Lack Of GNWT Efforts To Pursue Cruise Missile Testing With Federal Government
Item 5: Oral Questions

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Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Madam Speaker, I take from the question that the Member is not happy with the amount of effort that has been put into this. I've already explained to the House the steps we've taken to express our concerns and relay the concerns of the Legislative Assembly to the Minister of National Defence and the Prime Minister at every opportunity. Unless there is something else that I'm missing or should be doing, if any other direction comes forward or if you feel that we can more aggressively pursue this, I am willing to use any support that can be given in this area.

---Applause

Return To Question 244-12(5): Lack Of GNWT Efforts To Pursue Cruise Missile Testing With Federal Government
Question 244-12(5): Lack Of GNWT Efforts To Pursue Cruise Missile Testing With Federal Government
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 468

The Speaker

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. The honourable Member for Aivilik, Mr. Arvaluk.

James Arvaluk Aivilik

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My question is to the Minister of MACA, in his capacity for being responsible for Sports and Recreation. I know, Madam Speaker, that he must be getting tired of my question, but I have not been repeating any of them. I am still not sure from his return to oral question that any of my original questions have been answered yet, other than the general process that the Arctic Games follows. But, I'm still not sure what actually happened during the past month.

I'm very, very happy that the South Slave, who came in eighth place, managed to get five players.

---Applause

I wish we could do the same thing in the Keewatin, coming in second place. My question is, what exactly was the selection process of the players for the NWT open men's hockey team in 1994?

The Speaker

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

Return To Question 245-12(5): Selection Process For Senior Men's Hockey Team For Awg
Question 245-12(5): Selection Process For Senior Men's Hockey Team For Awg
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 468

Silas Arngna'naaq Kivallivik

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I'm not familiar with the details but, the way I understand it, the process used by the organization was to hire on two team coaches and the two coaches made the decision during the territorial trials held in January. They selected the all-star team that is to go. Thank you.

Return To Question 245-12(5): Selection Process For Senior Men's Hockey Team For Awg
Question 245-12(5): Selection Process For Senior Men's Hockey Team For Awg
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 468

The Speaker

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Arvaluk.

Supplementary To Question 245-12(5): Selection Process For Senior Men's Hockey Team For Awg
Question 245-12(5): Selection Process For Senior Men's Hockey Team For Awg
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 468

James Arvaluk Aivilik

Madam Speaker, I guess my expectations are a little bit high because I've been at this for over a week now. Can the Minister tell me, then, who was present and directly involved in this? I'm told that Coral Harbour did not have a coach. I wonder if that is the reason why they weren't selected. My actual question, Madam Speaker, is who was present and directly involved?