This is page numbers 719 - 751 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

Mr. Allooloo, Hon. Silas Arngna'naaq, Mr. Arvaluk, Mr. Ballantyne, Hon. Nellie Cournoyea, Hon. Stephen Kakfwi, Mr. Lewis, Hon. Jeannie Marie-Jewell, Hon. Rebecca Mike, Hon. Don Morin, Hon. Richard Nerysoo, Mr. Ng, Mr. Ningark, Mr. Patterson, Hon. John Pollard, Mr. Pudlat, Hon. John Todd, Mr. Whitford, Mr. Zoe

---Prayer

Item 1: Prayer
Item 1: Prayer

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The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Good afternoon. Item 2, Ministers' statements. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Nerysoo.

Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to announced that this is Education Week in the Northwest Territories. This year's theme is "technology in the classroom."

We've all heard about the electronic super-highway and how it will shape communications in the coming years. The development of this highway has implications for education in the Northwest Territories and the world.

First, if the Northwest Territories is going to keep up with the rapid pace of technological change now and in the future, it is essential that our students learn how to use new technologies as they emerge.

Secondly, the electronic highway is potentially an excellent teaching tool, enabling Northwest Territories students to access information from a wide range of sources, and to communicate and collaborate on projects with other students in the rest of Canada and throughout the world.

For example, a few days ago students at Samuel Hearne School in Inuvik, Ecole St. Joseph School in Yellowknife and a school in Hillsboro, California were linked by computer to participate in a unique pilot project. They were testing the capabilities of communications technology for an international expedition which will take place next year. Students and staff in the three schools worked with computers, scanners and a computer tablet to learn more about the international Arctic project from the expedition team which was working out of Ecole St. Joseph School.

Next year, this team of international explorers and scientists will conduct a major expedition to increase understanding of the Arctic and its role in the global environment. They will use an international computer network to interact daily with students in grades four through 12 in classrooms around the world.

The team is currently on a practice expedition into the central Arctic, and their progress reports are posted regularly on the North of 60 electronic bulletin board system and internet.

Northwest Territories schools will follow this project on a daily basis through the bulletin board system, which my department established last year. Their participation in the international Arctic project teleconference was made possible through the cooperation of NorthwesTel, which contributed a good deal of the equipment and staff expertise.

To ensure all students in the Northwest Territories have access to the bulletin board system, Education, Culture and Employment has provided all schools with a computer and a high-speed modem. Schools in every community and the department can exchange messages, transfer files and access data banks and distance learning materials. During Education Week, schools will participate in a number of projects using the north of 60 system.

The department is also developing a distance education strategy which will provide communities in the Northwest Territories access to an electronic information and distance learning system.

All communities will be electronically linked and connected to national and international information networks. The department will provide programming for these networks using television, radio, libraries and computers.

Through consolidation of programs, a new information networks division was established in the department which brings together staff with expertise in this area. Information networks coordinates Government of the Northwest Territories participation in Television Northern Canada supports regional, community and private broadcasters; and, provides library services in partnership with communities, library boards and school boards. It also produces, acquires and distributes learning resources for school-based and distance education programs.

Madam Speaker, my department is already working in partnership with other government departments and agencies, aboriginal broadcasters and the private sector on the development and use of new communications networks.

To ensure that the distance education strategy is developed with input from all of these partners, as well as the residents of the Northwest Territories, the department has contracted the Inuit Broadcasting Corporation to plan a symposium on distance learning and new communications technologies. The symposium will be held this summer on TVNC, so it will be broadcast in communities from Labrador to Yukon. Presenters at the TVNC uplink sites in Yellowknife, Iqaluit and Whitehorse will facilitate discussions, while people from all communities will be able to phone in with comments and suggestions.

Madam Speaker, access to electronic sources of information will play an increasingly important role in the development of the Northwest Territories in the coming years. Education, Culture and Employment, with the cooperation of our partners, is developing an interactive networking system for the use and benefit of all residents of the Northwest Territories. I am pleased that the theme of Education Week reflects and promotes this innovative direction. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

---Applause

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Lewis.

Brian Lewis Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Madam Speaker. On the weekend, Madam Speaker, I attended a conference at the Yellowknife Inn which was sponsored by the Yellowknife Association of Community Living. This association attempts to find ways in which mentally handicapped adults can integrate themselves into our society, and there were people from all over Newfoundland, from Manitoulin Island, Toronto and various other places in southern Canada. But, more especially, there were very large delegations from northern communities. From Tuktoyaktuk there were half a dozen people who came, from Rae-Edzo there were at least half a dozen people, from Cambridge Bay, Fort Smith and many other communities right throughout the Northwest Territories to try to find ways in which people, in fact, who have handicaps, can find ways of living on their own independently, with their own small place and look after themselves, and also to help them to find ways in which they can provide some kind of satisfactory work, preferably, in the long run -- and this was part of the vision -- in the place that they would like to call home.

I would like to, on behalf of the association, thank, especially, the Department of Social Services that sponsored a banquet on Saturday night. The highlight of this banquet was the fact that people were forced to get together, but also to listen to some wonderful northern entertainers. I had not heard this young lady sing before, but there is a young lady in Yellowknife by the name of Amber Lemouel who I had heard a lot about. She is 15 years old and has a voice that will tear your heart out. For those people who are looking for a young singer who has obvious vocal talents, this is the person they should be looking to, I believe, as someone who has a good career in front of her. Thank you very much, Madam Speaker.

---Applause

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Amittuq, Mr. Allooloo.

Titus Allooloo Amittuq

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I rise today to speak on the lack of reasonable policy by the Department of Education in dealing with the issue of NWT students attending high school in the south.

In my constituency, there is one student whose parents decided was too advanced to take the general high school courses as offered in Pond Inlet. The only option given to this student to receive the advanced high school courses was for him to attend high school in Iqaluit. Madam Speaker, his parents did not want to send their son there because of all the social problems and the low rate of graduation by the aboriginal students.

Madam Speaker, this family has enrolled their son in a school in Ottawa at considerable expense to themselves. When they asked the Department of Education for help, they were told that there was no policy covering this, and ultimately it was the divisional board's responsibility to deal with this situation. The Baffin divisional board says that it is the Department of Education's responsibility to provide direction in this matter.

Madam Speaker, I'll be pursuing this matter during question period. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Baffin South, Mr. Pudlat.

Transportation Services For Special Needs Persons
Item 3: Members' Statements

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Kenoayoak Pudlat Baffin South

(Translation) I will be making a statement today regarding problems with transportation services for a person with special needs in my constituency. Concerns have been brought to my attention from both Cape Dorset and Sanikiluaq regarding this issue. In both of these communities, there are a number of young people with either physical or mental handicaps who require assistance while going to school or other places in the community. I have been asked to bring up this issue by both parents and care givers.

I understand that in Cape Dorset, there has been some effort to provide rides to people with wheelchairs in regular vehicles, but this has proven very cumbersome and impractical without a proper wheelchair lift. They would like assistance from the government for obtaining a properly equipped vehicle. Madam Speaker, I am also informed that in Sanikiluaq, there is no formal arrangement for providing transportation assistance for those with special needs in that community. Parents have to do their best by using snowmobiles in the winter or all-terrain vehicles in the summer, which causes a lot of hardship to them.

During question period today, I will be asking the government for information on what programs are presently available to help these people and to find out if we are, in fact, doing everything we can to assist those with special needs in improving their mobility. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Transportation Services For Special Needs Persons
Item 3: Members' Statements

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The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Yellowknife North, Mr. Ballantyne.

Kids' Help Phone Bowl-a-thon
Item 3: Members' Statements

March 20th, 1994

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Michael Ballantyne Yellowknife North

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I thought today I would bring Members up to date on the results of the Kids' Help Phone bowl-a-thon which took place on Friday night. Members will recall that Mr. Morin, Mr. Dent and myself canvassed Members for support for this particular event. The Kids' Help Phone bowl-a-thon was held in cooperation with the Yellowknife five pin bowler's association and the Bank of Montreal and they raised close to $25,000 for a national Kids' Help Phone line.

For the record, that phone number is 1-800-668-6868. I think it's a very important service that is being provided across the country to kids in trouble. Your MLA's team consisted of Captain Charles "Pinball" Dent, Donnie "Crash" Morin, my eight year old daughter Alexandra "Hawkeye" Ballantyne, and myself.

---Laughter

Kids' Help Phone Bowl-a-thon
Item 3: Members' Statements

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An Hon. Member

What was your score?

Kids' Help Phone Bowl-a-thon
Item 3: Members' Statements

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Michael Ballantyne Yellowknife North

Thanks to the generosity of Members, we raised over $1,000 for this cause.

---Applause

The actual details I can share with Members. My daughter's best game was 107. She did very well with an unorthodox two-handed technique. Charles Dent was really the star. He had the best score of anybody. He bowled 277 with five consecutive strikes, a cult hero among certain people in this town. Donnie and I went head to head and at the very end, due to bad luck on my part, Donnie won 204 to 200 when I missed the head pin in the last frame. But, we have a rematch for next year. I would, again, like to thank all Members, members of our staff and even the media who supported this very worthwhile cause. Thank you, very much.

---Applause

Kids' Help Phone Bowl-a-thon
Item 3: Members' Statements

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The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

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

Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot

Thank you, Madam Speaker. During the past year, my constituents have raised concerns regarding the possible privatization of the NWT Power Corporation. Madam Premier has stated that she intends to bring forward a proposal on privatization for discussion before the end of this session. Madam Speaker, I, along with many of my colleagues, have also raised and discussed many concerns which must be addressed by the government prior to any consideration of our support to sell off the Power Corporation.

Some of these concerns and issues include the status of the rate subsidy program, how a continuation of the program can be ensured, and the justification for disposition of the NWT Power Corporation, why it is necessary, besides generating a one-time revenue from the sale which will be used to offset other fiscal requirements of the government on a short-term basis. The current NWT Power Corporation operation is profitable, generating a positive return to our government which is used to finance a rate subsidy program to assist higher cost communities while also paying back the long-term debt.

Madam Speaker, if operated efficiently, this GNWT asset will be one worth holding on to, unlike other privatization initiatives undertaken to save our government money. The other issues which must be addressed as to what effect privatization of the Power Corporation will have include the status of the current employees, power rates as a result of the corporation becoming a taxable entity, affirmative action initiatives, buy north initiatives, and the current responsiveness and accountability of the Power Corporation to the public through the GNWT and the Legislative Assembly.

Madam Speaker, the government is aware of these issues. I certainly hope they will be addressed in the proposal coming forward for discussion. At this time, I will not even consider supporting privatization of the Power Corporation until I am assured that these issues are dealt with to my satisfaction, to that of my colleagues, and most importantly, to the satisfaction of my constituents and all northerners who will be directly affected by the initiative.

Madam Speaker, I believe that privatization of the Power Corporation is a government initiative that lacks any political support from Members of this Assembly. If this is the case, I hope it's demise will be quick in order that our government can focus on matters which our constituents fully support, such as providing housing, education, training, and developing employment and income-earning opportunities. Mahsi cho.

---Applause

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

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

Film Production Commencing In Iqaluit
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 721

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, this week two major made-for-TV film productions are commencing production in the Northwest Territories: Frostfire, in Yellowknife, which some Members know about, and The

Trial at Fortitude Bay, in Iqaluit. Madam Speaker, these productions, I'm sure Members appreciate, provide sizeable economic benefits to the communities in which they shoot.

The Trial at Fortitude Bay, like Map of the Human Heart and Agaguk and other recent productions filmed in Iqaluit and many others filmed there over the years, will employ Inuit as actors at generous wages, many more local people as extras, as set builders, people who rent their snowmobiles and Komatiks, their vehicles, provide caribou clothing and artifacts. This is a well established industry in the Northwest Territories. Madam Speaker, so is the Canadian film industry.

Most provinces, and even the Yukon Territory, have film development corporations or policies to provide the financial incentives these productions sometimes need to make the shoot viable in their jurisdiction. I believe a program of this kind is now even more important for the Northwest Territories, since other provinces, and even the Yukon, have programs to offer incentives. I know for example that Churchill, Manitoba, with the support of the Manitoba Film Development Corporation, was actively bidding with the production consortium of the Trial at Fortitude Bay for the opportunity to have the economic benefits of shooting outdoor scenes on location in Churchill.

I would like to thank the Honourable John Todd, his deputy and his regional superintendent for some financial assistance that was provided to help tip the balance so the Trial at Fortitude Bay could be filmed in Iqaluit and in the Northwest Territories. We need a proper policy, proper programs and a more orderly approach to attracting these important benefits to the north. Thank you.

---Applause

Film Production Commencing In Iqaluit
Item 3: Members' Statements

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The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Aivilik, Mr. Arvaluk.

Inaugural Youth Conference In Rankin Inlet
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 722

James Arvaluk Aivilik

(Translation) Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would like to inform the House of a meeting that will be held in Rankin Inlet from March 22 to March 24 this week. Starting tomorrow, the youth of the Keewatin region will assemble at the Nanuq Inn in Rankin in the first-ever youth conference of its kind to be held in the Keewatin region. For the information of Members and the public in the Northwest Territories, I will list out some of the topics to be discussed from the agenda: youth coordinator support; Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated code of conduct; youth, the forgotten beneficiaries; finding solutions for our future; elders' traditions; social issues such as peer pressure and self-esteem; suicide; drugs and alcohol; and, there are many other issues to be dealt with which I did not mention. Madam Speaker, the youth of today face great challenges and we, the adults of today, must remind ourselves constantly that whatever we do becomes our legacy and falls into the lap of the youth when they become adults, good or bad. (End of translation)

Madam Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

Inaugural Youth Conference In Rankin Inlet
Item 3: Members' Statements

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The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

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

Inaugural Youth Conference In Rankin Inlet
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 722

James Arvaluk Aivilik

Thank you, Madam Speaker and colleagues. (Translation) I would like to remind the participants of the Keewatin inaugural youth conference not to be overwhelmed by all the issues that they face. Although the issues before them are serious and may seem daunting, remember to enjoy yourselves. Madam Speaker, I would ask Members of this House to join me in congratulating and wishing the youth conference participants best wishes in the Keewatin region. Thank you.

---Applause

Inaugural Youth Conference In Rankin Inlet
Item 3: Members' Statements

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The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

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

Recognition Of Chief Joseph Judas
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 722

Henry Zoe

Henry Zoe North Slave

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would like to take this opportunity to recognize Chief Joseph Judas from Snare Lake in the gallery this afternoon.

---Applause

He is here observing the proceedings of the House today, but the leadership of the Dogrib nation is scheduled to meet tomorrow all day and I know they have a number of issues they are considering. I wish them the best for the meetings that are scheduled for tomorrow. Thank you.

---Applause

Recognition Of Chief Joseph Judas
Item 3: Members' Statements

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The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Natilikmiot, Mr. Ningark.