This is page numbers 1 - 29 of the Hansard for the 12th Assembly, 6th 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 housing.

Topics

Election Of Iqaluit Municipal Council
Item 4: Members' Statements

Page 6

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Please proceed, Mr. Patterson.

Election Of Iqaluit Municipal Council
Item 4: Members' Statements

Page 6

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Madam Speaker, no, the letter did not go on to say my time is up.

---Laughter

The letter went on to say, "The institutions of local government are revered as the very foundation of democracy. The absence of an elected body in Iqaluit is viewed by the NWT Association of Municipalities board of directors as a deprivation of democratic rights to all citizens of Iqaluit, plus has dire consequences on the orderly economic development of the town. Further, this situation is setting an undemocratic precedent within the Northwest Territories. The board of the association has strong concerns with municipalities being subjected to authoritarian government rulings without a foreseeable or preset conclusion to the situation. The NWT Association of Municipalities requests that the Government of the Northwest Territories permit re-establishment of an elected local government, without delay. Further, that the GNWT dissolve the present advisory committee upon the election of the new council in Iqaluit." Thank you, Madam Speaker, and Members for sharing these two encouraging developments. Qujannamiik.

---Applause

Election Of Iqaluit Municipal Council
Item 4: Members' Statements

Page 6

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. The Speaker would like to recognize students from the Inuvik Grollier Hall and their chaperons. Welcome to our Assembly.

---Applause

Item 4, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Frame Lake, Mr. Dent.

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, later today I will table resolutions from two or three organizations which are currently working to promote international air routes in the circumpolar east/west corridor. These three organizations include one made up of 50 aviation experts from the US, Canada, China, Korea, Japan and what was formally Russia. It is known as the east/west air routes consortium.

Another group is called the international association of mayors of northern cities. A third one is called the northern forum, which is an organization of leaders of northern and Arctic regions of the world. Madam Speaker, all three groups have as their goal the encouragement of northern governments to improve air links to promote trade and commerce, joint business ventures, scientific and technical endeavours, tourism, cultural exchanges and cooperative joint ventures between airlines.

As most Members know, there is already new business between contractors here and between regional governments, in what was formerly Russia, which has created a need for reliable and convenient air services between Canada and those regions.

Madam Speaker, currently to go to eastern Russia, it means that you have to travel through Moscow via Montreal or through Anchorage by way of Salt Lake City or Seattle.

An Hon. Member

By charter.

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Or charter, that is true. There is no direct Canadian link between Canada and eastern Russia, although this could easily be accomplished with an air route negotiated by Canada, US and Russia.

In the interests of trade and commerce, this would allow access through Edmonton, Winnipeg and Vancouver to the circumpolar world. Madam Speaker, these three organizations would like to encourage governments to lift unreasonable restrictions on air commerce and negotiate multi-lateral air agreements between circumpolar countries.

The feeling is that if the northern circumpolar world is to come together in the import and export of skills and industry, the sooner these multi-lateral agreements can be reached, the sooner more jobs will be created. Madam Speaker, I hope this government will support these initiatives. Thank you.

---Applause

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 4, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Nerysoo.

Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I wish to speak on the matter of the Arctic Winter Games. Madam Speaker, the initial purpose of the Arctic Winter Games was to provide northern sporting and cultural events that would bring together the northern communities in Alaska, Yukon and Northwest Territories. It was intended to provide an opportunity for northern athletes and cultural performers to compete and allow for an interchange of cultural performances from each of the three Arctic jurisdictions in North America.

Madam Speaker, the Arctic Winter Games was established as an Arctic event. It was established for northern athletes and performers. It was established to provide athletic events for our northern athletes who do not always get opportunities to participate in international, national or provincial athletic events. It was established to give all of our athletes and performers, both young and old, male and female, opportunities to look forward to and maintain their participation as athletes in any sport that was approved for the Arctic Winter Games.

I want to state, Madam Speaker, that I support this concept and feel the Arctic Winter Games should maintain its original concept and abide by the principles originally adopted when the Arctic Winter Games was first launched.

Madam Speaker, the Arctic Winter Games must retain the principle of including all ages of athletes, both men and women. It must retain the idea that sports and cultural events should be supported in which we can achieve representation from each northern jurisdiction. We should not support sporting events that simply satisfy only one or two jurisdictions, but rather we must ensure that all partners participate in any athletic or cultural event in the Arctic Winter Games.

Madam Speaker, I have had the opportunity to participate in the Arctic Winter Games trials and games both as a junior and senior athlete. I have seen some in this House participate as athletes or spectators and some have indicated their support of the Arctic Winter Games. All I believe support the original principles and objectives of these games. All recognized the comparability of our northern athletes.

Madam Speaker, I wish to seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Please proceed, Mr. Nerysoo.

Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Madam Speaker. All recognized that northern communities need an event that will showcase our athletes and cultural performers. The Arctic Winter Games has allowed for participation of all athletes and performers, from ten years old to 80 years old. Madam Speaker, I hope we do not lose sight of this achievement. I hope we do not lose sight of the commitment to our young and old athletes to continue to participate in good healthy living. I hope we recognize, Madam Speaker, that these are Arctic Winter Games, not simply northern athletic games.

Madam Speaker, the Northwest Territories, as we all know, spends the largest amount of dollars in preparing and allowing for participation in the Arctic Winter Games. It is important that we remember that Alberta has other events or, for that matter any other province, such as their own winter and summer games.

We owe a commitment to all of our athletes, not to simply promoting diplomatic gestures to satisfy other jurisdictions. The Northwest Territories, Yukon and Alaska athletes and performers look forward every two years to the Arctic Winter Games. The Northwest Territories directors who represent us on the Arctic Winter Games board should reflect seriously on these priorities and their priorities.

Madam Speaker, jurisdictions have the right to choose to participate in the Arctic Winter Games. I, for one, support the Arctic Winter Games based on the original concept and principles adopted in 1967 by Alaska, Yukon and the Northwest Territories. We should remember we had Arctic Quebec participating in past Arctic Winter Games and we should remember that they chose to withdraw after we participated in Schefferville, Quebec. Let history be our lesson. As soon as the costs for provinces is an issue, they will either try to influence the games to satisfy their expenditures or to reclassify the participants of Arctic Winter Games.

Madam Speaker, I ask all Members to support the Arctic Winter Games so that all our athletes, young and old, men and women, have an opportunity show their athletic prowess while parading our Arctic cultural richness.

I have heard, Madam Speaker, that some jurisdictions are pressing for the removal of senior events. I say no to this suggestion, and I would ask the Minister to promote and support all ages of athletes and cultural performers within the Arctic Winter Games. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

An Hon. Member

Hear, hear.

---Applause

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 4, Members' statements. Item 5, oral questions. The honourable Member for Inuvik, Mr. Koe.

Fred Koe Inuvik

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Transportation, but since he's not here I will direct it to the Premier. On November 29, 1993, the Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commissions presented its final report on the proposed elimination of the Highway Transport Board. The report requested a comprehensive response to our recommendations which, according to our rules, was due on March 29, 1994. My question to the Premier is when might the standing committee expect to receive a response on this report?

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Madam Premier.

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Madam Speaker, I will take the question as notice and provide an answer tomorrow. Thank you.

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Item 5, oral questions. The honourable Member for Deh Cho, Mr. Gargan.

Question 2-12(6): Distribution Of Work-load For Ministers
Item 5: Oral Questions

April 5th, 1994

Page 8

Samuel Gargan Deh Cho

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, last week I made a Member's statement with regard to the work-load of the Executive Members. One of the things that I find right now is that, Madam Speaker, even within the next six months, I've consulted with several Ministers about their possibility of travelling into my constituency, and also to find out whether there could be a commitment made to do that. Even that is very difficult. Some of it I could realize why, and I think it's because they've taken on more responsibilities. I would like to ask the Premier if she would advise us as to whether she would, in the very near future, make an announcement to equally distribute the work-load among all the Cabinet Ministers?

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Madam Premier.

Return To Question 2-12(6): Distribution Of Work-load For Ministers
Question 2-12(6): Distribution Of Work-load For Ministers
Item 5: Oral Questions

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Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Madam Speaker, it's my intention to make a number of changes to portfolio responsibilities, probably at the end of April. Thank you.

Return To Question 2-12(6): Distribution Of Work-load For Ministers
Question 2-12(6): Distribution Of Work-load For Ministers
Item 5: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. The honourable Member for Yellowknife South, Mr. Whitford.

Tony Whitford

Tony Whitford Yellowknife South

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would like to direct a question to the Minister responsible for safety. During the last weekend we had a tragedy in the Northwest Territories on the ice road. It dealt with an individual receiving some very serious injuries, causing death as a result of an exploding tire. We have a lot of equipment in the Northwest Territories that is imported from other places and, consequently does break down. I wonder if the Minister has instructed his staff to investigate this fatality to ensure that this type of thing is not going to occur with other construction firms that use that type of equipment.

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Minister of Safety and Public Services, Mr. Nerysoo.

Return To Question 3-12(6): Investigation Into Mine Vehicle Accident
Question 3-12(6): Investigation Into Mine Vehicle Accident
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 8

Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Just to indicate to the honourable Member, the matter of the incident that he speaks of is presently under investigation by staff of occupational safety and health within the safety division. They have not provided the details of the investigation yet, and will probably take several days to complete that particular investigation.

Return To Question 3-12(6): Investigation Into Mine Vehicle Accident
Question 3-12(6): Investigation Into Mine Vehicle Accident
Item 5: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Whitford.

Supplementary To Question 3-12(6): Investigation Into Mine Vehicle Accident
Question 3-12(6): Investigation Into Mine Vehicle Accident
Item 5: Oral Questions

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Tony Whitford

Tony Whitford Yellowknife South

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The House probably will be adjourned by the time this information gets back. I would like to ask the Minister if he will provide myself, at least, and other Members who are interested in this incident, with copies of this report so that we can provide our constituents -- which many of us do who have construction firms of this type -- with the information so that they can also take precautions. Will the Minister provide that information to me after the House is sitting?