This is page numbers 853 - 869 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.

Kenoayoak Pudlat Baffin South

(Translation) Thank you, Madam Speaker. Last week, under tabled documents, I tabled a few documents. One was the response the Minister of Renewable Resources gave to Joe Ikkidluak. There was a meeting in Iqaluit during the Baffin leaders' summit. At that meeting, the Baffin Regional Hunters' and Trappers' Committee chairman gave a presentation. I believe you have copies of the minutes. During the Baffin regional leaders' summit, there was a motion, motion 15, with regard to the shortage of funds they get. They have estimated that the Tunngavik will contribute $100,000. Looking at the size of the Baffin region, I wonder, Madam Speaker, if the Minister of Renewable Resources' response was inadequate. I am just wondering if he fully understands the request Joe Ikkidluak made to him. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Minister of Renewable Resources, Mr. Kakfwi.

Return To Question 384-12(5): Request For Funds By Baffin Hunters' And Trappers' Associations
Question 384-12(5): Request For Funds By Baffin Hunters' And Trappers' Associations
Item 5: Oral Questions

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Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Thank you, Madam Speaker. There is a suggestion that we have sent to the Inuit regional hunters' and trappers' association that because the original basis on which funding was given to these regional hunters' and trappers' organizations was not rationalized on a territorial-wide basis, but rather on a case-by-case basis, it is difficult for us and perhaps very late, at this stage, to try to rationalize a basis for funding only from the government side. We have claims institutions being set up such as the Nunavut wildlife body. I believe that the wildlife management board being set up for Nunavut should have a major say in the way that funding is handled and how it should be provided. So we have asked for this question to be dealt with by the wildlife board and to advise the government on what should be done. As I said, there is funding going to this board from different groups. We think, in keeping with the intent of the claims agreement, this new body should have a major say in the way that existing resources are allocated. Thank you.

Return To Question 384-12(5): Request For Funds By Baffin Hunters' And Trappers' Associations
Question 384-12(5): Request For Funds By Baffin Hunters' And Trappers' Associations
Item 5: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Pudlat.

Supplementary To Question 384-12(5): Request For Funds By Baffin Hunters' And Trappers' Associations
Question 384-12(5): Request For Funds By Baffin Hunters' And Trappers' Associations
Item 5: Oral Questions

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Kenoayoak Pudlat Baffin South

(Translation) Thank you, Madam Speaker. In the Baffin region, in answer to the request they made, he indicated that it will be up to the wildlife board. I fully understand that. Even though it might be up to the wildlife board, I wonder if the Baffin regional hunters and trappers can expect more if their proposal is better? Would they then get more adequate funding? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Supplementary To Question 384-12(5): Request For Funds By Baffin Hunters' And Trappers' Associations
Question 384-12(5): Request For Funds By Baffin Hunters' And Trappers' Associations
Item 5: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Minister of Renewable Resources, Mr. Kakfwi.

Further Return To Question 384-12(5): Request For Funds By Baffin Hunters' And Trappers'
Question 384-12(5): Request For Funds By Baffin Hunters' And Trappers' Associations
Item 5: Oral Questions

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Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would gather that the advice may very well be that the wildlife management board will suggest that, as a government, we should review all funding in this area to hunters and trappers, to the community and regional organizations, in light of the new set up under the claims agreement. If that is the case, we will do that. If, in fact, there is a suggestion that we do this together, we would be very happy to work with the Nunavut wildlife board to look at this question. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 384-12(5): Request For Funds By Baffin Hunters' And Trappers'
Question 384-12(5): Request For Funds By Baffin Hunters' And Trappers' Associations
Item 5: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. The honourable Member for Yellowknife North, Mr. Ballantyne.

Michael Ballantyne Yellowknife North

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Justice. The Minister of Justice has just returned from a federal/provincial/territorial conference. The conference was dealing with changes to the Young Offenders Act. The Minister is very aware of the fact that the Young Offenders Act hasn't worked the way the original designers of the act wanted it to work and there has been a lot of pressure to change it over the years. What is the government's position on changes to the Young Offenders Act?

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Minister of Justice, Mr. Kakfwi.

Return To Question 385-12(5): Government's Position On Changes To The Young Offenders Act
Question 385-12(5): Government's Position On Changes To The Young Offenders Act
Item 5: Oral Questions

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Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The new Government of Canada, the Liberal government, has a red book that spells out the many commitments and promises that were made in the course of the political campaign. Some of those commitments include changes that they are going to make to the Young Offenders Act. Those are spelled out. There was a discussion with the other Ministers at the Justice Ministers' meeting in Ottawa. I know that we have a range of opinions from the province of Manitoba that agrees with all the suggested changes by the Liberal government, plus they added a few more that they thought should be made to deal with the question of young offenders. On the other hand, we have Quebec, that says they do not agree and would like to have more extensive discussions and work done before any

changes are made. In between those two positions are all the rest of the provinces and territories.

It has been my view that we should put the question of changes to the Young Offenders Act to a meeting of those people who are most directly concerned and affected by this work over the course of the next few months. Perhaps a conference could be arranged where we could have agencies that deal with youth, community leaders who are concerned with it, and women's groups who are concerned with it, to deal with the question of what we do with young offenders. The federal government seems intent on moving ahead with the commitments in the red book.

I can't say those commitments are going to be rationalized. There was a discussion suggesting that perhaps we should hold off on the short term, deal with everything as a big package, and put off changes to the Young Offenders Act as federal legislation until a more comprehensive review of the question is done. At this time, I would say that it appears the federal government is intent on fulfilling its commitments as laid out.

Return To Question 385-12(5): Government's Position On Changes To The Young Offenders Act
Question 385-12(5): Government's Position On Changes To The Young Offenders Act
Item 5: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Ballantyne.

Supplementary To Question 385-12(5): Government's Position On Changes To The Young Offenders Act
Question 385-12(5): Government's Position On Changes To The Young Offenders Act
Item 5: Oral Questions

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Michael Ballantyne Yellowknife North

Thank you. There's been a lot of review and extensive discussions over the last seven years. At one point, the ten provinces and two territories unanimously agreed to an approach and made a presentation to the federal government. They still didn't act on it. The Minister hasn't answered my specific question, what is our government's specific position on various aspects of the changes? If the Minister has a paper, would the Minister make that available to Members?

Supplementary To Question 385-12(5): Government's Position On Changes To The Young Offenders Act
Question 385-12(5): Government's Position On Changes To The Young Offenders Act
Item 5: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Minister of Justice, Mr. Kakfwi.

Further Return To Question 385-12(5): Government's Position On Changes To The Young Offenders Act
Question 385-12(5): Government's Position On Changes To The Young Offenders Act
Item 5: Oral Questions

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Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Thank you. Madam Speaker, the government does not have a specific position with regard to the proposed changes of the federal government, as outlined in their red book. We are involved in discussions about them, but have not yet come to a clear, firm position on the proposed changes.

Further Return To Question 385-12(5): Government's Position On Changes To The Young Offenders Act
Question 385-12(5): Government's Position On Changes To The Young Offenders Act
Item 5: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Ballantyne.

Supplementary To Question 385-12(5): Government's Position On Changes To The Young Offenders Act
Question 385-12(5): Government's Position On Changes To The Young Offenders Act
Item 5: Oral Questions

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Michael Ballantyne Yellowknife North

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I think it is important that the government does get a position, because the Young Offenders Act has some significant impact in the Northwest Territories. It has caused us a lot of problems. Could I ask the Minister if the Minister can get a position paper through Cabinet so that when the Minister goes down to these meetings, he is coming from a position that has been agreed to, by at least the Cabinet?

Supplementary To Question 385-12(5): Government's Position On Changes To The Young Offenders Act
Question 385-12(5): Government's Position On Changes To The Young Offenders Act
Item 5: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Minister of Justice, Mr. Kakfwi.

Further Return To Question 385-12(5): Government's Position On Changes To The Young Offenders Act
Question 385-12(5): Government's Position On Changes To The Young Offenders Act
Item 5: Oral Questions

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Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Thank you, Madam Speaker. That's good advice to take. I also want to remain open to positions being suggested by community groups and organizations that also have concerns about the issue of young offenders. I think the federal government is going to go ahead with the specific commitments laid out in the red book in any case, regardless of our position. But we will try to come up with a firm position in the next month or so. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 385-12(5): Government's Position On Changes To The Young Offenders Act
Question 385-12(5): Government's Position On Changes To The Young Offenders Act
Item 5: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Item 5, oral questions. The honourable Member for Kitikmeot, Mr. Ng.

Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My question is directed to Madam Premier. Yesterday, I spoke on the need for the government to refocus on privatization to reduce costs and to provide private sector business opportunities. I would like to ask Madam Premier if it is still an initiative of this government to pursue privatization initiatives? Thank you.

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Madam Premier.

Return To Question 386-12(5): Government's Position On Privatization Initiatives
Question 386-12(5): Government's Position On Privatization Initiatives
Item 5: Oral Questions

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Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Madam Speaker, yes.

Return To Question 386-12(5): Government's Position On Privatization Initiatives
Question 386-12(5): Government's Position On Privatization Initiatives
Item 5: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Supplementary, Mr. Ng.

Supplementary To Question 386-12(5): Government's Position On Privatization Initiatives
Question 386-12(5): Government's Position On Privatization Initiatives
Item 5: Oral Questions

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Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot

Thank you. Does the government have a privatization plan which identified privatization initiatives they can pursue? Thank you.