This is page numbers 789 - 820 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 social.

Topics

Members Present

Mr. Allooloo, Mr. Antoine, Hon. Silas Arngna'naaq, Mr. Ballantyne, Hon. Nellie Cournoyea, Mr. Gargan, Mr. Lewis, Hon. Jeannie Marie-Jewell, Hon. Rebecca Mike, Hon. Don Morin, Hon. Richard Nerysoo, Mr. Ningark, 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. The Speaker recognizes that there is no quorum. Mr. Clerk, would you record the Members present.

Item 1: Prayer
Item 1: Prayer

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Clerk Of The House Mr. David Hamilton

Mr. Pudlat, Mr. Ballantyne, Mr. Gargan, Mr. Allooloo, Ms. Mike, Mr. Pollard, Ms. Cournoyea, Mr. Morin, Mr. Ningark, Mr. Lewis and Madam Speaker.

Item 1: Prayer
Item 1: Prayer

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The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

I notice that one Member has arrived since. Please record the rest of the Members, Mr. Clerk.

Item 1: Prayer
Item 1: Prayer

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Clerk Of The House Mr. David Hamilton

Mr. Zoe, Mr. Antoine, Mr. Arngna'naaq, Mr. Nerysoo and Mr. Whitford.

Item 1: Prayer
Item 1: Prayer

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The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

I recognize a quorum. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Baffin South, Mr. Pudlat.

The Need For A Nunavut Council For Disabled Persons
Item 3: Members' Statements

March 22nd, 1994

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Kenoayoak Pudlat Baffin South

(Translation) Thank you, Madam Speaker. Last month, a conference was held in Iqaluit, organized by the NWT Council for Disabled Persons. The name of the conference was Taking Back Our Lives and was attended by delegates from many of the communities in Nunavut. One of the things that came out of the meeting was the need for a Nunavut Council for Disabled Persons.

They have expressed concern about being able to properly fill their mandate. There is also a need for Nunavut disabled persons and care givers to have representation for their concerns closer to home, especially with division on the horizon. There is a movement now to form such an organization, but they require assistance and support to do so.

During this session, I will be pressuring the government to look into the matter and lend the required assistance and support. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

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

Absence Of Ordinary Members
Item 3: Members' Statements

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John Ningark Natilikmiot

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would like to inform the House about some of the ordinary Members who are not in the House today. Mr. Fred Koe is in Nova Scotia for a curling championship, accompanying his kids. Mr. Patterson is in Iqaluit, attending a trade show. Mr. Dent is still in Ottawa with his wife, helping out with the new-born baby. Mr. Kelvin Ng is in Cambridge Bay attending the Kitikmeot Youth Conference and Mr. Pudluk is still in Edmonton on medical leave. Thank you.

Absence Of Ordinary Members
Item 3: Members' Statements

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The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Baffin Central, Ms. Mike.

The Harvesting Of Seals In Pangnirtung
Item 3: Members' Statements

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Rebecca Mike Baffin Central

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I want to add to the comments made by the Member for Iqaluit yesterday when we were discussing the Department of Economic Development and Tourism in committee of the whole. In a question to Mr. Todd, the Member stated that there were a sizeable number of seal pelts being harvested in Pangnirtung for sale to Japan.

For the record, Madam Speaker, the primary reason for hunting seals in Pangnirtung and other areas of Nunavut, is for food. It is important to recognize this fact. I wouldn't want to leave the impression in the north or in other areas of the world that the seals are being taken primarily for economic reasons. Thank you.

The Harvesting Of Seals In Pangnirtung
Item 3: Members' Statements

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The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

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

Black Forest Caribou
Item 3: Members' Statements

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Brian Lewis Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Over the last several years, I've taken an interest in renewable resources, especially in northern products and ones you can eat. I recently acquired, through the good offices of Mr. Todd, a

product called black forest caribou, which is a product of the meat plant in Rankin Inlet. After several tests with visitors, it has been judged to be a superior product. One suggestion from someone who is an expert in the trade is that this particular kind of meat would make excellent pastrami, which is a wonderful, value-added product, which I'm sure will provide some extra source of income for the people involved in renewable resources. Thank you.

---Applause

Black Forest Caribou
Item 3: Members' Statements

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The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral question. Item 5, oral questions. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Antoine.

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. Yesterday, during committee of the whole when we were talking about Economic Development and Tourism, we were told that the department has developed subcommittees to deal with different sectors of the industry. I was particularly asking about the tourism subcommittee that was set up. I understand that in the west, the co-chair is John Sheehan. It is a subcommittee of superintendents, I guess.

I would like to ask the Minister, is this subcommittee another layer of bureaucracy that people in the communities have to go through before they get applications approved for seeking funding for tourism projects? Thank you.

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Minister of Economic Development and Tourism, Mr. Todd.

Return To Question 349-12(5): Role Of Tourism Subcommittee Under Ed&t
Question 349-12(5): Role Of Tourism Subcommittee Under Ed&t
Item 5: Oral Questions

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John Todd Keewatin Central

No, Madam Speaker. The subcommittee is an internal committee made up of superintendents who are -- as I stated earlier in the House -- part of the senior management team, when they are developing government policies as they relate to tourism. It is not a committee that deals with distribution of funds.

Return To Question 349-12(5): Role Of Tourism Subcommittee Under Ed&t
Question 349-12(5): Role Of Tourism Subcommittee Under Ed&t
Item 5: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Antoine.

Supplementary To Question 349-12(5): Role Of Tourism Subcommittee Under Ed&t
Question 349-12(5): Role Of Tourism Subcommittee Under Ed&t
Item 5: Oral Questions

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Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Supplementary to the same Minister. This subcommittee is not another layer of bureaucracy. The Minister just indicated that they don't have any dealings with the funding, but can the Minister explain to the House the role of this subcommittee in terms of a small community wanting to get involved in the tourism industry? How does this subcommittee work with this community to try to achieve the type of tourism development they may be seeking? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 349-12(5): Role Of Tourism Subcommittee Under Ed&t
Question 349-12(5): Role Of Tourism Subcommittee Under Ed&t
Item 5: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Minister of Economic Development and Tourism, Mr. Todd.

Further Return To Question 349-12(5): Role Of Tourism Subcommittee Under Ed&t
Question 349-12(5): Role Of Tourism Subcommittee Under Ed&t
Item 5: Oral Questions

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John Todd Keewatin Central

Thank you, Madam Speaker. When we reorganized the department and we took the steps to decentralize spending and lending authorities, it wasn't just within the Credit Corporation of the EDA, there is also a significant amount of dollars that are spent on tourism marketing and development. Each of these changes that took place and the internal changes, were driven by the superintendents and the senior management team made of the deputy and the assistant deputy minister. It is an internal committee that assists in developing policies that are, hopefully, more reflective of the needs of the regions. In the past, these policies were all developed within the centre with little or no regional input at a bureaucratic level. That is how this works. It is not a committee that deals with the implementation of policy, et cetera. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 349-12(5): Role Of Tourism Subcommittee Under Ed&t
Question 349-12(5): Role Of Tourism Subcommittee Under Ed&t
Item 5: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. The honourable Member for Amittuq, Mr. Allooloo.

Titus Allooloo Amittuq

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The other day, I made a Member's statement regarding a lack of policy for students who are attending school outside the Northwest Territories. I would like to ask a question to the Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment. As I stated in my Member's statement, there is no policy covering the reimbursement of money to parents who decide to send their children south for high school. Given that these parents contribute to the tax base, can the Minister tell me if he is willing to develop a policy to deal with this important issue? Thank you.

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment Programs, Mr. Nerysoo.