Debates of March 28th, 1994

This is page numbers 871 - 907 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
Item 1: Prayer
Minister Absent From The House
Northern Manufacturers
National Junior Curling Team
Meeting With Allan Rock
Congratulating Junior Curlers At National Championships
Tobacco Tax In The Nwt
Opening Of Facilities In Rankin Inlet
Kitikmeot Youth Conference
Member's Statement Re Child Sexual Abuse
Congratulating Junior Curlers And MLA And Media Hockey Teams
Congratulating Junior Curlers And Their Parents
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Gymnasium For School In Pelly Bay
Status Of GNWT's Response To Special Committee On Health And Social Services Report
Funding For Youth Initiatives In Nwt
Changes To Preliminary Inquiries In The Nwt
Safety Inspection Of Colomac Mine After Fire
Inspection Of Sprinkler System At Colomac Mine
Policy On Apprenticeship Programs
Status Of Social Services Human Resource Plan
Item 8: Replies To Opening Address
Item 9: Petitions
Item 11: Reports Of Committees On The Review Of Bills
Item 12: Tabling Of Documents
Appointments To The Advisory Committee On Social Housing
Bill 19: An Act To Amend The Tobacco Tax Act
Bill 20: An Act To Amend The Income Tax Act, No. 2
Bill 19: An Act To Amend The Tobacco Tax Act
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1994-95Committee Report 2-12(5): Review Of The 1994-95 Main Estimates
To Adopt Recommendation 30
Tabled Document 34-12(5): Tradition And Change, A Strategy For Renewable Resource Development In The Nwt, February 1994
Item 19: Report Of Committee Of The Whole
Bill 15: An Act To Amend The Income Tax Act
Bill 17: Loan Authorization Act, 1994-95
Item 21: Orders Of The Day

Tabled Document 34-12(5): Tradition And Change, A Strategy For Renewable Resource Development In The Nwt, February 1994
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 894

John Ningark Natilikmiot

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I have a middle-aged person in Taloyoak. His name is Adam Totalik. Again, for the Hansard, I will spell it, T-o-t-a-l-i-k. He is a very, very ambitious person when it comes to fishing and hunting and so on. He is very anxious to start a small fishery in his community. The idea he brought to my attention was that he wants to go out on the land, perhaps in an outpost camp, and do some commercial fishing. He not only wants to sell the fish that are gutted, but also dry meat.

I guess the honourable Member indicated to me, through you, Mr. Chairman, that the person has to talk to the economic development officer within the respective communities. I wonder if the honourable Minister would direct his regional staff, the regional superintendent of economic development to talk to the people I have mentioned, the person from Pelly Bay and the person from Taloyoak, formerly Spence Bay? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Tabled Document 34-12(5): Tradition And Change, A Strategy For Renewable Resource Development In The Nwt, February 1994
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 894

The Chair

The Chair Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Ningark. Minister Kakfwi.

Tabled Document 34-12(5): Tradition And Change, A Strategy For Renewable Resource Development In The Nwt, February 1994
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 894

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Yes, we will do that.

Tabled Document 34-12(5): Tradition And Change, A Strategy For Renewable Resource Development In The Nwt, February 1994
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 894

The Chair

The Chair Tony Whitford

General comments. Member for Inuvik, Mr. Koe.

Tabled Document 34-12(5): Tradition And Change, A Strategy For Renewable Resource Development In The Nwt, February 1994
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 894

Fred Koe Inuvik

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just have a few comments on the strategy for renewable resource development and how it ties in with the overall budget. In the Minister's opening remarks on the strategy, he talked about development of sector strategies. Looking at the document, Tradition and Change, I see pages of information and objectives on various sectors related to renewable resources and how to develop them.

But, I don't see in the strategy at this time -- and I would like to get some comment from the Minister on -- how the strategies are going to be developed? I know that two committees are going to be formed, two more government committees. I wonder how these strategies are going to be developed? What are the priorities, where are the dollars going to come from and what time frames are we looking at? Are each of these sectoral strategies going to be developed in isolation of everything else? I would hope they aren't, but somehow there has to be a big picture and a plan. There have to be some priorities and some dollars for this. I would like some comment from the Minister on the comments I just made.

Tabled Document 34-12(5): Tradition And Change, A Strategy For Renewable Resource Development In The Nwt, February 1994
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 894

The Chair

The Chair Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Koe. Minister Kakfwi.

Tabled Document 34-12(5): Tradition And Change, A Strategy For Renewable Resource Development In The Nwt, February 1994
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 894

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The strategy was developed, keeping in mind what has been going on in the communities for a number of years, the expressions of interest in getting beyond just management and conservation, and recognizing that harvesting is an integral part of the management and wise use of resources. In that aspect, it means local commercial and subsistence use and how that can be balanced.

An example is the fur market strategy. There we have outlined the broad approach we would like to take. The strategy is, by and large, supported by everybody. The first area we would work on is fur. Then, during the next while, we will develop some ideas on how we should approach it. There will be a more detailed strategy specifically for this sector. That will go out to communities, keeping in mind that we will use existing resources and we will ask communities how we can make better use of existing resources allocated in this sector.

It will also recognize that claimant groups, in Nunavut for instance, have available to them new resources and institutions as a result of their claims. We have to work out how these things will be used and implemented in cooperation with the government. That's how we plan to do it. It will be done in consultation with groups and the public, through release of draft documents.

Tabled Document 34-12(5): Tradition And Change, A Strategy For Renewable Resource Development In The Nwt, February 1994
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 895

The Chair

The Chair Tony Whitford

Thank you, Minister Kakfwi. Member for Inuvik, Mr. Koe.

Tabled Document 34-12(5): Tradition And Change, A Strategy For Renewable Resource Development In The Nwt, February 1994
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 895

Fred Koe Inuvik

Mahsi, Mr. Chairman. Just another comment. There is development of this three year strategy, but I don't see any reference to the strategy in the objectives and the new program for 1994-95. How does it tie in with the current budget?

Tabled Document 34-12(5): Tradition And Change, A Strategy For Renewable Resource Development In The Nwt, February 1994
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 895

The Chair

The Chair Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Koe. Minister Kakfwi.

Tabled Document 34-12(5): Tradition And Change, A Strategy For Renewable Resource Development In The Nwt, February 1994
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 895

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Thank you. The earliest this would impact on the budget would be this fall. It is my hope that we can provide some very clear indications of support to trappers before they head back out -- to encourage them to head back out -- on the land this fall by providing some certainty to the prices they can expect for their fur and the kind of support we will give them as trappers. This is going to be done using existing resources. Without having something definitive in mind, the budget is simply done using the conventional allocations, that is, the ones that we used before. That is the reason it is done the way it is.

Tabled Document 34-12(5): Tradition And Change, A Strategy For Renewable Resource Development In The Nwt, February 1994
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 895

The Chair

The Chair Tony Whitford

Thank you, Minister Kakfwi. General comments. Mr. Pudlat.

Tabled Document 34-12(5): Tradition And Change, A Strategy For Renewable Resource Development In The Nwt, February 1994
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 895

Kenoayoak Pudlat Baffin South

(Translation) Mr. Chairman, I have another question to the Minister of Renewable Resources regarding fisheries. In the past, we have talked about whaling and it might not be in the papers, but Pangnirtung, Lake Harbour, Cape Dorset and Iqaluit were discussing whaling. They met in Iqaluit. The group that was called Qulugiaq dealt with whaling with regard to the studies that are conducted in the communities. They have to share the quotas within those communities. After they have finished with the studies of the whales, will it be put into legislation? The Fisheries and Oceans department said that they have to follow the quotas. For a while, the hunters felt that they should kill over the quotas that they were given. When was the last study that was being conducted in Baffin South? What has transpired from this study that was being conducted? This study didn't go too smoothly. They were having problems with helicopters. After that, I would like to know if the study has been completed or has it improved? Thank you.

Tabled Document 34-12(5): Tradition And Change, A Strategy For Renewable Resource Development In The Nwt, February 1994
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 895

The Chair

The Chair Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Pudlat. Minister Kakfwi.

Tabled Document 34-12(5): Tradition And Change, A Strategy For Renewable Resource Development In The Nwt, February 1994
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 895

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The business with whales is all federal responsibility under Fisheries and Oceans. The quotas are, in many instances, set internationally. The federal government is responsible for managing its quota. I have no idea when the last study was done in this area with whales, but we can provide that information to the Member when we get hold of it. By and large, the best route to go is with the Nunavut wildlife management board when it is set up and running. It is probably the best forum for addressing these questions. Fisheries and Oceans and Indian and Northern Affairs will be represented on that body. That body will be primarily the body in the forum that is going to address all issues of wildlife and marine mammals in the Nunavut area. Thank you.

Tabled Document 34-12(5): Tradition And Change, A Strategy For Renewable Resource Development In The Nwt, February 1994
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

March 27th, 1994

Page 895

The Chair

The Chair Tony Whitford

Thank you, Minister Kakfwi. General comments. Mr. Ng.

Tabled Document 34-12(5): Tradition And Change, A Strategy For Renewable Resource Development In The Nwt, February 1994
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 895

Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. In the Renewable Resources development strategy, the Minister partly answered it in his response to Mr. Pudlat, on the use of renewable resources within our own institution. I know I have brought it up previously in a Member's statement and some questions to the Minister of Economic Development and he was pursuing the development of a renewable resource utilization policy that would encompass using the commercial quotas which we have out there. With the Minister's department being involved in that, is it the Economic Development and Tourism's lead role to develop this strategy, or is it within Renewable Resources, which has the mandate for renewable resources? Thank you.

Tabled Document 34-12(5): Tradition And Change, A Strategy For Renewable Resource Development In The Nwt, February 1994
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 895

The Chair John Ningark

Mr. Minister.

Tabled Document 34-12(5): Tradition And Change, A Strategy For Renewable Resource Development In The Nwt, February 1994
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 895

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

The Member is correct. The Minister of Economic Development and Tourism is taking the lead in developing that policy. Thank you.

Tabled Document 34-12(5): Tradition And Change, A Strategy For Renewable Resource Development In The Nwt, February 1994
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 895

The Chair John Ningark

Thank you. Mr. Ng.

Tabled Document 34-12(5): Tradition And Change, A Strategy For Renewable Resource Development In The Nwt, February 1994
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 895

Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Department of Renewable Resources is working in conjunction with the Department of Economic Development and Tourism. Is that correct?

Tabled Document 34-12(5): Tradition And Change, A Strategy For Renewable Resource Development In The Nwt, February 1994
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 895

The Chair John Ningark

Mr. Minister.

Tabled Document 34-12(5): Tradition And Change, A Strategy For Renewable Resource Development In The Nwt, February 1994
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 895

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Yes, we are working with Mr. Todd's department. Thank you.

Tabled Document 34-12(5): Tradition And Change, A Strategy For Renewable Resource Development In The Nwt, February 1994
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 895

The Chair John Ningark

Thank you. The honourable Member for Kitikmeot, Mr. Ng.

Tabled Document 34-12(5): Tradition And Change, A Strategy For Renewable Resource Development In The Nwt, February 1994
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 895

Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. As the Minister is also the Minister of Justice and the correctional facilities are one of the possible end users of many of these commercial quotas, will he be fully supporting, not only encouraging but directing, his departmental officials to support this policy once it is finalized for the utilization of commercial quotas of renewable resources, in his role as Minister of Justice? Thank you.