This is page numbers 753 - 787 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 development.

Topics

Committee Motion 31-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 10, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 769

The Chair Brian Lewis

Thank you, Mr. Arvaluk. Mr. Todd.

Committee Motion 31-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 10, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 769

John Todd Keewatin Central

No, there is no deliberate strategy to market Coral Harbour caribou versus the Qamanirjuaq herd or Whale Cove. I think we had a unique opportunity, and I hope we will continue to be able to harvest a great deal of caribou in the particular area with the cooperation of Renewable Resources and the hunters' and trappers' association in Coral Harbour. Financially, what it amounts to, that's where the focus is. We're still utilizing some caribou, for example, out of Baker Lake and out of Whale Cove and, I believe, even Rankin. But, the fact that we had, I believe it was somewhere in the range of 2,000, it was a unique opportunity because the herd had, in the eyes of Renewable Resources, increased to the point where it was endangering the quality of the herd. So that's how this came about. Thank you.

Committee Motion 31-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 10, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 769

The Chair Brian Lewis

Thank you, Mr. Todd. Mr. Arvaluk.

Committee Motion 31-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 10, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 769

James Arvaluk Aivilik

My final question would be, why has the market not been driven? Is that politically motivated so that the other regions could participate in that thing, or is it scientific?

Committee Motion 31-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 10, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 769

The Chair Brian Lewis

Mr. Todd.

Committee Motion 31-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 10, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 769

John Todd Keewatin Central

It's in a spirit of fairness more than anything else. I think we have to give the same opportunity for the Baker Lake herd there for the hunters and trappers of Chesterfield Inlet, Whale Cove, et cetera. Again, I say to you that we have a unique situation which we're very fortunate in having, in Coral Harbour. That's why there is a large number of animals coming out of there, versus Arviat or Chesterfield or Baker Lake. Thank you.

Committee Motion 31-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 10, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 769

The Chair Brian Lewis

Thank you, Mr. Todd. Mr. Arvaluk.

Committee Motion 31-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 10, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 769

James Arvaluk Aivilik

Mr. Chairman, I cannot believe this. A fair opportunity to economic reasons, if we would have noticed that...And we can only look at last year's capital budget of how many millions of dollars spent in Rankin Inlet and hardly anything anywhere else in the Keewatin. Now we are talking about fair opportunity for all the communities. Let's not be hypocritical.

Mr. Chairman, I'm just trying to understand that Renewable Resources is stating that unless you start killing 2,000 caribou on Southampton Island, you are going to run out of food for the caribou and, in turn, a disaster is going to be repeated that happened on Coats Island. It's a scientific fact. Why did Renewable Resources and Economic Development jointly try to match that need to kill 2,000 caribou and market it because it's one of the healthiest caribou in the NWT, and absolutely marketable because the fat is never less than an inch or inch and a half, even in the wintertime? I want to know that, Mr. Chairman.

Committee Motion 31-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 10, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 769

The Chair Brian Lewis

Thanks, Mr. Arvaluk. Mr. Todd. Madam Premier, what is the issue that you're raising?

Committee Motion 31-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 10, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

I have a concern regarding the issue of the Member calling the Minister hypocritical. I think it would be only fair to ask him to withdraw the comment.

Committee Motion 31-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 10, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 769

The Chair Brian Lewis

My recollection of the comment was let us not be hypocritical. Those were the words that were used, but I will check Hansard tomorrow and see if that was, in fact, the case. Mr. Todd.

Committee Motion 31-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 10, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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John Todd Keewatin Central

Well I've been called many things in my life but hypocrite isn't one of them. Anyway, I don't know what the Member is trying to get at. We are already accessing 2,000 caribou out of the Coral Harbour area. I think we're meeting the needs of his community. What I was saying was, we're just utilizing some caribou from -- I believe it's 50 we took from the hunters and trappers in Whale Cove, 75 from Baker Lake. It has no serious impact on our ability to take the caribou in Coral Harbour. We take all the meat we can get because I'm told we have an excellent product and it's doing very well in the marketplace. So, I want to assure the honourable Member that we will take all the caribou we can get out of Coral Harbour. That's the important issue here. Thank you.

Committee Motion 31-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 10, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 769

The Chair Brian Lewis

Thank you, Mr. Todd. Mr. Arvaluk, have you finished?

Committee Motion 31-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 10, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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James Arvaluk Aivilik

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for correcting me. I was not calling Mr. Todd anything. I was talking about this responsible Legislative Assembly regarding the fair distribution of economic opportunities. Thank you.

Committee Motion 31-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 10, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 769

The Chair Brian Lewis

I said I will check it tomorrow. Okay, anybody else then on this item, policy and planning, 17-13? Mr. Antoine.

Committee Motion 31-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 10, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. On this activity, on policy and planning, there is a numbered section in there and it has to do with human resources, and this planning function administers the affirmative action for the department as well as the in-service training program. The Standing Committee on Finance position that I read in the beginning of this session was that, with regard to added authority and lending authority to superintendents in the regions, we stressed the fact that these people need additional training to carry out the work at the same time as additional resources. The Minister had indicated in earlier questioning that there are going to be additional resources going into the regions. I would like to ask him what type of in-service training does the department plan to provide to the superintendents because of their added responsibilities and authorities? Thank you.

Committee Motion 31-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 10, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 769

The Chair Brian Lewis

Thank you, Mr. Antoine. Mr. Todd.

Committee Motion 31-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 10, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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John Todd Keewatin Central

If I may, Mr. Chairman, I would like to ask Mr. Bailey -- I know some of the steps that have taken place, but he knows all the steps that have taken place with respect to the increased resources and the training that is required, so, if I may, I would like to pass it to Mr. Bailey.

Committee Motion 31-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 10, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 770

The Chair Brian Lewis

Thank you, Mr. Todd. Mr. Bailey.

Committee Motion 31-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 10, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Bailey

With respect to the reorganization and the training requirements that we recognized that we would need, there were some immediate needs that we recognized, and we are in the process right now, for example, of developing, with FBDB, a new credit manual for all of our officers. The superintendents are the primary contact in the regions so they will be handling most of that.

With respect to our whole human resource need, we are in the process of developing a human resource strategy because, in the past, the superintendents undertook what headquarters told them to do, and we are in the process now of identifying the training needs of all of our staff, starting at the EDO level and going all the way through to my position. We are going to make sure that we fast-track that, and it's on stream now so we hope to have it off this spring so that we can start putting the superintendents, credit officers and all of the regional staff into programs where they are fully aware of what skills they need and we get the skills that they require so that they can do the job that they have to do.

Committee Motion 31-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 10, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 770

The Chair Brian Lewis

Thank you, Mr. Bailey. Mr. Antoine.

Committee Motion 31-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 10, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 770

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

I understand that the added authority to the superintendents just happened recently, since January or maybe February, so it is just fairly new. I think it is a good move. I think that they required that authority many years ago, but, unfortunately, it is only now that it has come about. We know that some of the superintendents need additional training and additional authority because of their added responsibility, and I think that it has to be done immediately and before he gets bogged down between now and the time the training takes place. I would like to ask the Minister if the added authority is in place now, and if it is, have the superintendents used that added authority at this point? Thank you.

Committee Motion 31-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 10, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 770

The Chair Brian Lewis

Thank you, Mr. Antoine. Mr. Todd.

Committee Motion 31-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 10, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 770

John Todd Keewatin Central

I know this is a concern of a number of the Members. I think, when you give people increased responsibilities, you also increase the risks, so let's say that up front. I personally feel that we have to take some risk. If we are not prepared to take some risk then there will be a tendency for us not to make decisions. I recognize what the Member is saying. It is important. We are trying to fast-track and bring up to speed, if you want, the superintendents in particular at this time. I am hopeful that the superintendents will then take their responsibility, which we gave to them in late December or early January, and move forward on it in meeting the needs of the constituency.

I was asked this question in the House, I believe, last week. I have only personally spoken to two superintendents - the one in my own riding, Mr. Olah, and Ms. Trumper in Baffin Island. I am told by both of them, because it is an important initiative for me that this thing work, that it is working and that they are making the decisions with the authority that we have given them. I can't speak for the other regions personally, but perhaps Mr. Bailey could.

Committee Motion 31-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 10, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 770

The Chair Brian Lewis

Okay, Mr. Bailey.