Debates of April 7th, 1994

This is page numbers 30 - 77 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 going.

Topics

Members Present

Item 1: Prayer

Power Corporation

Terms Of Reference - Hay River Group Home Contract

Voices: Direction For Improving The Education Act

New Research Support Programs Through The Science Institute

Ministers' Absences From The House

Member's Statement Re Performance Of Ministers

Lack Of Confidence In Wal-mart's Advertising

Outdated Legislation Of The Dental Mechanics Act

Concerns Re Passage Of Legislation In The House

Concerns Re New Legislative Process

Notices Of Requests For Wolverine Carcasses

Canadian Association For Suicide Prevention Annual Conference

Progress With The Community Transfer Initiative: Cape Dorset And Inuvik Transfers

Need For Children's Advocates In Nwt

Congratulating Minister On Community Transfer Initiatives

Congratulating Participating Groups In Community Transfer Initiatives

Concerns Re Privatization Of NWT Power Corporation

Member's Statement Re Concerns With Changes To Rent Scale

Water And Sewer Subsidy Policy

Extension Of Federal Food Mail Subsidy

Extension Of Time For Community Consultation Re New Rent Scale

Method Of Informing Public Of Hunting Seasons

Update On Military Activities In The High Arctic

Progress On Policy For Walk-in Freezers

Status Of Agreement With Federal Government Re National Infrastructure Program

Status Of Document For Resupplying Government Operations By Barge Along Mackenzie Valley

Written Information Supplied During Consultation Process On New Rent Scale

Stealing Considered Illegal In The Nwt

Review Issue Of Accountability Of Maca

Time Table For Updating Companies Act

Price Review Of Pol Products

Review Of Punishments For Shoplifting

Investigation Into Hunting Charge In Coppermine

Commercial Caribou Harvest

Level Of Funding For Western Arctic Leadership Program

Provision Of Financial Assistance For Mackenzie Times

Review Of Regional Councils

Purpose Of Funding For Research Support Programs

Item 8: Replies To Opening Address

Item 12: Tabling Of Documents

Motion To Move Minister's Statement 6-12(6): To Committee Of The Whole

Setting Of Sitting Hours By Speaker

Recommendation To Revoke Appointment Of Honourable Rebecca Mike To The Executive Council

Tabled Document 14-12(6) "open For Business" Privatizing The Northwest Territories Power Corporation

Tabled Document 6-12(6) "terms Of Reference For Independent Review Contract Termination - Hay River Group Home"

Item 15: Motions

Setting Of Sitting Hours By Speaker

Tabled Document 14-12(6) "open For Business" Privatizing The Northwest Territories Power Corporation

Tabled Document 6-12(6) "terms Of Reference For Independent Review Contract Termination - Hay River Group Home," Carried

Recommendation To Revoke Appointment Of Honourable Rebecca Mike To The Executive Council

Bill 2: Aboriginal Custom Adoption Recognition Act

Bill 3: Guardianship And Trusteeship Act

Bill 9: An Act To Amend The Charter Communities Act

Bill 10: An Act To Amend The Cities, Towns And Villages Act

Bill 11: An Act To Amend The Hamlets Act

Bill 12: An Act To Amend The Commissioner's Land Act

Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Terms Of Reference - Hay River Group Home ContractTabled Document 7-12(6): Terms Of Reference: Independent Review Of Contract Termination - Hay River Group Home

Tabled Document 2-12(6): New Social Housing Rent Scale

Item 19: Report Of Committee Of The Whole

Revert Back To Item 16: First Reading Of Bills

Bill 6: Access To Information And Protection Of Privacy Act

Revert Back To Item 17: Second Reading Of Bills

Bill 6: Access To Information And Protection Of Privacy Act

Extended Adjournment Of The House

Item 21: Orders Of The Day

Supplementary To Question 34-12(6): Written Information Supplied During Consultation Process On New Rent Scale
Question 34-12(6): Written Information Supplied During Consultation Process On New Rent Scale
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 41

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I appreciate your advice. Madam Speaker, my question, then, to the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation is, given that he's announced there will be a round of community consultations in May and June and given that changes in rent scales are not to be implemented until July -- according to his

statement in the House yesterday -- I would like to ask the Minister to state clearly to this House if he will be open to accepting constructive criticism and advice from communities and implementing worthwhile recommendations before July 1, if good advice comes out of the round of community consultations in May and June of this year? Thank you.

Page 42

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation, Mr. Morin.

Page 42

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Madam Speaker. It is his job to ask the questions and my job to answer them and I'll try my best.

Page 42

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

May I remind the honourable Minister that your reply is not to provoke debate, and that you are to reply to the questions the honourable Members have posed. Thank you.

---Applause

Further Return To Question 34-12(6): Written Information Supplied During Consultation Process On New Rent Scale
Question 34-12(6): Written Information Supplied During Consultation Process On New Rent Scale
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 42

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I'll try my best to answer his question. The next stage of community consultation is a regional consultation process to be done in May and June in all regions. And any good advice and recommendations from Member's constituents as well as anybody else's constituents out of the consultation process regarding any of the programs of the NWT Housing Corporation, including the new rent scale, will go to the Advisory Committee on Social Housing and they will address them. Thank you.

Page 42

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Lewis.

Question 35-12(6): Stealing Considered Illegal In The Nwt
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 42

Brian Lewis Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Justice. I was a little disappointed that he wasn't in the House in the two previous days because I had promised a local businessman on Monday that I would raise the issue of shoplifting with the Minister of Justice. I believe all retailers in the city here assume they are going to lose a little bit of money because of shoplifting. My question to the Minister is this -- it is a very simple question -- is stealing still against the law in the Northwest Territories?

Question 35-12(6): Stealing Considered Illegal In The Nwt
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 42

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Minister of Justice, Mr. Kakfwi.

Return To Question 35-12(6): Stealing Considered Illegal In The Nwt
Question 35-12(6): Stealing Considered Illegal In The Nwt
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 42

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Madam Speaker, stealing, as far as I know, is against the law all across Canada. Thank you.

Return To Question 35-12(6): Stealing Considered Illegal In The Nwt
Question 35-12(6): Stealing Considered Illegal In The Nwt
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 42

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Supplementary, Mr. Lewis.

Supplementary To Question 35-12(6): Stealing Considered Illegal In The Nwt
Question 35-12(6): Stealing Considered Illegal In The Nwt
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 42

Brian Lewis Yellowknife Centre

This one individual who asked me to raise this issue has found that shoplifting has reached epidemic proportions in his stores in the middle of the city. Even when people are caught red-handed, the police will not lay charges against any individual who is a juvenile. I would like to ask the Minister, does the law apply unequally in our system? That, if you're a certain age, you get charged, but if you're a juvenile, you don't get charged?

Supplementary To Question 35-12(6): Stealing Considered Illegal In The Nwt
Question 35-12(6): Stealing Considered Illegal In The Nwt
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 42

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Minister of Justice, Mr. Kakfwi.

Further Return To Question 35-12(6): Stealing Considered Illegal In The Nwt
Question 35-12(6): Stealing Considered Illegal In The Nwt
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 42

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Madam Speaker, I believe there is a need to do some public education in this regard because there is concern for the businesses that operate. As we know, the cost of all merchandise and goods that are shoplifted are passed on to the owners and subsequently to the public. At the same time, if we charged every accused person on the first instance, our court costs will be horrendous. There is a view that there is still an informal process to deal with offences, particularly first-time offenders. Often, in small communities, for instance, the parents resolve many matters themselves. In the time I was growing up, issues were often dealt with between families, without resorting to the RCMP and authorities. There is a view that many first-time offenders, when they are dealt with through the parents, are often brought to realize they were wrong and they do not commit offences after the first instance. A great public service is rendered, in such cases. I believe that we need to do some public education in this regard. We will be asking the department to consult with the RCMP and the business community to discuss what kind of a cooperative approach can be taken, keeping in mind the concerns of the business community, but also the situation with the young people. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 35-12(6): Stealing Considered Illegal In The Nwt
Question 35-12(6): Stealing Considered Illegal In The Nwt
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 42

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Lewis.

Supplementary To Question 35-12(6): Stealing Considered Illegal In The Nwt
Question 35-12(6): Stealing Considered Illegal In The Nwt
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 42

Brian Lewis Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Since the RCMP will not press charges against young people who have a lot to learn, at what stage then will the RCMP press charges? Is it after the first or second offence? When do they decide that they will take on the responsibility of law enforcement and not require the shopkeeper to press charges?

Supplementary To Question 35-12(6): Stealing Considered Illegal In The Nwt
Question 35-12(6): Stealing Considered Illegal In The Nwt
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 42

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Minister of Justice, Mr. Kakfwi.

Further Return To Question 35-12(6): Stealing Considered Illegal In The Nwt
Question 35-12(6): Stealing Considered Illegal In The Nwt
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 42

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Madam Speaker, I understand even though charges may not necessarily be laid, all incidents are kept on file as reported to the RCMP. We do keep a record so that generally after the first offence, then serious consideration is given thereafter to lay charges. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 35-12(6): Stealing Considered Illegal In The Nwt
Question 35-12(6): Stealing Considered Illegal In The Nwt
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 43

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Final supplementary, Mr. Lewis.

Supplementary To Question 35-12(6): Stealing Considered Illegal In The Nwt
Question 35-12(6): Stealing Considered Illegal In The Nwt
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 43

Brian Lewis Yellowknife Centre

Since the Minister has agreed that education is a very important part of this and if you find after the first offence, you don't get charged, and the second, you don't get charged, how is a young person going to learn if he or she finds that after more than one offence, no charges are laid by the RCMP and the onus is placed on the shopkeeper to do so?

How is this teaching young people that there is a consequence of continuing to break the law?

Supplementary To Question 35-12(6): Stealing Considered Illegal In The Nwt
Question 35-12(6): Stealing Considered Illegal In The Nwt
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 43

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Minister of Justice, Mr. Kakfwi.

Further Return To Question 35-12(6): Stealing Considered Illegal In The Nwt
Question 35-12(6): Stealing Considered Illegal In The Nwt
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 43

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Madam Speaker, as I have said, I will be asking the department to meet with the RCMP and consult with the local chamber of commerce to advise what is an acceptable approach to resolving these issues. We may find that perhaps a local justice committee may be one of the many mechanisms we can use to help deal with the issues without going too one-sided in protecting the interests of the business community. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 35-12(6): Stealing Considered Illegal In The Nwt
Question 35-12(6): Stealing Considered Illegal In The Nwt
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 43

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

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

Question 36-12(6): Review Issue Of Accountability Of Maca
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 43

Tony Whitford Yellowknife South

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I have a question I would like direct to the Minister responsible for Municipal and Community Affairs. The Minister will recall the issue I raised last session concerning the Inukshuk Housing Cooperative project. I was encouraged to receive a letter from the Minister's office advising me that a meeting has taken place with all the parties affected with the hopes that some resolutions would come out of it. I am still not quite satisfied and the constituents I represent are not satisfied that the principle of accountability has been properly addressed. Everyone agrees that a mistake had been made, but it cost my constituents $10,000 a year for three years as a result of that error. Will the Minister agree to review the issue of accountability of his department to ensure that citizens not be so adversely affected without proper compensation?

Question 36-12(6): Review Issue Of Accountability Of Maca
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 43

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Return To Question 36-12(6): Review Issue Of Accountability Of Maca
Question 36-12(6): Review Issue Of Accountability Of Maca
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 43

Silas Arngna'naaq Kivallivik

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Yes, I will agree to review the issue of accountability. Thank you.

Debates of April 7th, 1994

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