This is page numbers 909 - 930 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

Return To Question 413-12(5): Extent Of Fire Damage To Print Shop In Pangnirtung
Question 413-12(5): Extent Of Fire Damage To Print Shop In Pangnirtung
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 920

Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would just indicate that the fire at the Pangnirtung print shop occurred approximately at 12:30 pm today. The call was

The building, as we all know, is owned by the local arts and crafts cooperative, but is insured solely by the Government of the Northwest Territories. The fire department response was apparently very good. However, although the building is still standing, it is what you might say a total write-off. The preliminary estimates of losses are in the half a million dollar range. As we are advised that the loss includes the originals of every print ever made at the shop, it is possible that final losses may be much, much higher.

The print shop did not have a sprinkler system. The attached weave shop, a fairly new building, suffered only smoke damage and the assistant deputy fire marshal from Iqaluit, Ken Sheridan, will be flying into Pangnirtung on the first available scheduled flight, which is tomorrow morning. He will be coordinating the investigation, which will include the RCMP and a representative of the Government of the Northwest Territories risk management division from the Department of Finance. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Return To Question 413-12(5): Extent Of Fire Damage To Print Shop In Pangnirtung
Question 413-12(5): Extent Of Fire Damage To Print Shop In Pangnirtung
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 921

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Frame Lake, Mr. Dent.

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Health. In some provinces there have been suggestions for changes in policies about when mammograms are offered to women. For instance, some jurisdictions have suggested that only women over 40 or 45 need to have mammograms automatically. I was wondering if the Minister could advise us as to what the Department of Health in the Northwest Territories policy is on mammograms.

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Minister of Health, Mr. Pollard.

Return To Question 414-12(5): Department Of Health's Policy On Mammograms
Question 414-12(5): Department Of Health's Policy On Mammograms
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 921

John Pollard Hay River

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Good afternoon. Madam Speaker, we are aware of these reports that surface, not only in this particular area, but in other areas as well, suggesting that certain procedures that have been practised for many years don't need to be practised before a particular period in a lady's life or a man's life.

With regard to the issue on mammograms, I have asked the department to review the data that is becoming available and make a recommendation to myself with regard to what our policy should be in this regard. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Return To Question 414-12(5): Department Of Health's Policy On Mammograms
Question 414-12(5): Department Of Health's Policy On Mammograms
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 921

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Dent.

Supplementary To Question 414-12(5): Department Of Health's Policy On Mammograms
Question 414-12(5): Department Of Health's Policy On Mammograms
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 921

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Madam Speaker, supplementary. I thank the Minister for advising me about the process for considering changes to the policy or to the new policy. My question was, do we have a current policy? My supplementary was then going to be following up on that.

Supplementary To Question 414-12(5): Department Of Health's Policy On Mammograms
Question 414-12(5): Department Of Health's Policy On Mammograms
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 921

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Minister of Health, Mr. Pollard.

Further Return To Question 414-12(5): Department Of Health's Policy On Mammograms
Question 414-12(5): Department Of Health's Policy On Mammograms
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 921

John Pollard Hay River

Madam Speaker, I am not aware of any policy that restricts a female in the Northwest Territories from having a mammogram. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Further Return To Question 414-12(5): Department Of Health's Policy On Mammograms
Question 414-12(5): Department Of Health's Policy On Mammograms
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 921

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Dent.

Supplementary To Question 414-12(5): Department Of Health's Policy On Mammograms
Question 414-12(5): Department Of Health's Policy On Mammograms
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 921

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, if there is no policy that restricts a woman from obtaining a mammogram, does that mean, then, that a woman may go to a health centre and request a mammogram in any other community in the Northwest Territories?

Supplementary To Question 414-12(5): Department Of Health's Policy On Mammograms
Question 414-12(5): Department Of Health's Policy On Mammograms
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 921

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Minister of Health, Mr. Pollard.

Further Return To Question 414-12(5): Department Of Health's Policy On Mammograms
Question 414-12(5): Department Of Health's Policy On Mammograms
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 921

John Pollard Hay River

Madam Speaker, that procedure is between a lady and her physician or her health specialist in her particular community, and I can't second-guess a doctor or a nurse or somebody practising medicine in one of our communities as to when they would recommend and when they would not recommend that a lady have a mammogram. So I will look into the matter and see if I can get further information, but I think it varies with each practitioner and, of course, with each patient, as well. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Further Return To Question 414-12(5): Department Of Health's Policy On Mammograms
Question 414-12(5): Department Of Health's Policy On Mammograms
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 921

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Antoine.

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment on a statement on transfer of Sir John Franklin Territorial High School. He made a statement that the department and the public school board are discussing a negotiation to turn over the authority of the school on July 1. It says parents must have authority, that it is important that parents have the means to guide the education of their children throughout their school year and it says that part of the agreement is that the education district will hire any staff beginning their duties at the high

school this year. Does that mean that the department is turning over the hiring of the whole staff, including teachers, to this new arrangement? Thank you.

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

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

Return To Question 415-12(5): Hiring Authority Of Public School Board
Question 415-12(5): Hiring Authority Of Public School Board
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 922

Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Madam Speaker. For all the teachers and the staff that are in Sir John Franklin high school, the turnover will include the future hiring of those staff by the Yellowknife District No. 1.

Return To Question 415-12(5): Hiring Authority Of Public School Board
Question 415-12(5): Hiring Authority Of Public School Board
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 922

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Antoine.

Supplementary To Question 415-12(5): Hiring Authority Of Public School Board
Question 415-12(5): Hiring Authority Of Public School Board
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 922

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Parents in the communities under the divisional board authorities also want to have more authority over the guidance of the education of their children, including means to guide the education of their children throughout the school. This includes hiring of all staff, as well. I would like to ask the Minister, when is that type of responsibility going to be turned over to divisional boards of education, who have been in place longer than this new arrangement here that you have over at Sir John Franklin school? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 415-12(5): Hiring Authority Of Public School Board
Question 415-12(5): Hiring Authority Of Public School Board
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 922

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

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

Further Return To Question 415-12(5): Hiring Authority Of Public School Board
Question 415-12(5): Hiring Authority Of Public School Board
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 922

Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you. I believe that most of the staff who are hired by divisional boards are now the responsibility of divisional boards, in conjunction with the Department of Personnel. They, in fact, release the competitions and, in fact, receive the resumes of teachers who are interested in teaching in a particular divisional area, and they have the responsibility of making the decision as to who will be hired in their particular divisional board.

Just so that there is no confusion, generally speaking, every other board has had the responsibility from kindergarten to 12, and we are just moving a situation in Yellowknife where District No. 1 will have from kindergarten to grade 12. At the moment, it is generally kindergarten to grade nine, so we are just adding the three additional grades to their responsibility.

Further Return To Question 415-12(5): Hiring Authority Of Public School Board
Question 415-12(5): Hiring Authority Of Public School Board
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 922

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Time frame for oral questions has lapsed. Before I go on to written questions, I have received a letter from the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories dated March 29 addressed to me. It states:

"I wish to advise that I recommend to the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories the passage of Bill 21, An Act to Amend the Tobacco Tax Act, No. 2, during the Fifth Session of the 12th Legislative Assembly, Yours truly, D. L. Norris, Commissioner."

Item 6, written questions. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Lewis.

Brian Lewis Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I will take Mr. Nerysoo's advice, and my written question is to the Minister of Safety and Public Services:

1. Do mines isolated from communities which have fire fighting equipment have a responsibility to make adequate fire fighting provisions at the mine site; and,

2. Does the Department of Safety and Public Services have a responsibility to make sure that mine sites have adequate fire fighting capability? If so, why was work allowed to proceed on the Colomac mine site without adequate equipment to fight fires?

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 6, written questions. Item 7, returns to written questions. Item 8, replies to opening address. Item 9, petitions. Item 10, reports of standing and special committees. Item 11, reports of committees on the review of bills. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Antoine.

Item 11: Reports Of Committees On The Review Of Bills
Item 11: Reports Of Committees On The Review Of Bills

Page 922

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Report On Bills 10 And 18