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

Member's Statement Re Performance Of Ministers
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 32

John Ningark Natilikmiot

Thank you, Madam Premier, Madam Speaker.

---Laughter

Pardon me.

Member's Statement Re Performance Of Ministers
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 32

Tony Whitford

Tony Whitford Yellowknife South

Do you know something we don't know?

Member's Statement Re Performance Of Ministers
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 32

John Ningark Natilikmiot

I think so. I'll start again from the second paragraph. For a number of years, Ministers have been required to give the Premier signed, but undated, resignation letters. This has given the Premier the ability to deal with any Minister whose performance is not satisfactory. In meeting with the Premier yesterday, ordinary Members were disturbed to learn that Ms. Mike has not provided an undated resignation letter to the Premier.

It is clear that it is the prerogative of the Premier to take action if she has any concern about the ability of any Minister to carry out his or her duties. Ordinary Members agreed that the Premier has these powers and she's in the best position to evaluate the performance of each Minister. The Ordinary Members' Caucus would support the Premier if she determined, on a fair basis, that action is required with a Minister.

Ms. Mike has not been asked to provide a signed, undated resignation letter. Therefore, she obviously has the support of the Premier and the Premier is satisfied with her performance as a Cabinet Minister. Members elected the Premier to provide leadership and ensure the best interests of the people of the NWT are being served.

In our report on the review, we stated Members were looking for the Government Leader to provide leadership within Cabinet. Madam Premier, Members expressed a concern that strong leadership, which would inspire all Cabinet Members to work together toward a common goal, is missing.

Madam Premier, ordinary Members remain concerned about Ms. Mike's performance and some Members feel a motion of non-confidence is warranted. Ordinary Members agree that the Premier should play a lead role in disciplining or dismissing unsatisfactory Ministers. Since 1987, the Premier has had the responsibility for monitoring the performance and accountability of the Ministers. This responsibility includes imposing appropriate discipline on Ministers who are not fulfilling their fair share of duties in a satisfactory way.

Over the final 20 months of this Assembly, the Ordinary Members' Caucus will continue to monitor the performance of the Premier and hold her accountable for the performance of all Cabinet Ministers. If the Premier is not willing to be accountable for the performance of her Cabinet and show leadership, then the Ordinary Members' Caucus will want to review just how that authority should be exercised. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

---Applause

Member's Statement Re Performance Of Ministers
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 32

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Lewis.

Lack Of Confidence In Wal-mart's Advertising
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 32

Brian Lewis Yellowknife Centre

Madam Speaker, on March 17, the local Woolco store became part of a mammoth North American chain called Wal-Mart. This chain can afford to outsell everyone because it sells so many goods to a huge population. One of the things it does is engage in massive advertising, especially the use of flyers. Members will note in their mailboxes they will see all of these flyers advertising goods at very low costs. It is very impressive. At noon hour today, I whipped out to Wal-Mart because I got one of these flyers in my mail last night. Being like every other citizen, I cannot resist a deal, especially when its an object that I have looked for in this city and haven't been able to find. When I get there I am told, we sell these all over North America, but the particular item you want, you cannot get here. So I went away mad because I made a special trip to Yellowknife South to visit a store to buy a product that had been advertised for sale.

This instills a complete lack of confidence on my part that when I go to a store, the advertising means anything. The more my mailbox gets crammed full, which at one time I use to get on a Friday in the local newspaper, which added to the revenue of that newspaper, I now find it is distributed in my mailbox. So there is no room for anything else of far more importance than advertising that doesn't mean anything. This chain is going to destroy, not only this city, but my confidence if it continues to mislead me in this fashion. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

---Applause

Lack Of Confidence In Wal-mart's Advertising
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 33

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Deh Cho, Mr. Gargan.

Outdated Legislation Of The Dental Mechanics Act
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 33

Samuel Gargan Deh Cho

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Members of this House will recall a previous statement in this House by Mr. Whitford and myself about an individual in the territories who specializes in making dentures. Madam Speaker, this person was not allowed to practice his profession and provide denture services to northern residents, largely because of an outdated Dental Mechanics Act.

The act, as it now stands, allows a registered denturist or dental mechanic to fit, contract or repair complete dentures only. The act is silent on partial plates or anything other than complete upper or lower dentures.

I raise this issue again, Madam Speaker, firstly because I feel it appalling that this situation has not been dealt with to ensure the health and comfort of the people we represent. Secondly, because denturists are qualified to provide these services and the Dental Mechanics Act does not specifically say that it cannot.

Madam Speaker, training for denturists has come a long way since the act was written in 1974. Denturists are now completely qualified to work with partial plates. In fact, it takes a minimum of three years of training to become a qualified denturist. By comparison, a dentist may only study the mechanics of denture making for three months.

My constituents, Madam Speaker, and I, and I am sure other Members' constituents, require these services. I am sure we have all suffered a toothache at one time or other, so we know the kind of pain that is being endured every day by many of our people. We must move forward quickly on whatever action is required to provide these services to our people.

There are people in our communities and settlements who are enduring needless pain and suffering for as long as six months waiting for ordered dentures to come in. This government can take the necessary steps to allow denturists to become established in the north and provide the service we need in a timely fashion. The time has come, Madam Speaker, for this government...

Outdated Legislation Of The Dental Mechanics Act
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 33

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Excuse me, Mr. Gargan.

Outdated Legislation Of The Dental Mechanics Act
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 33

Samuel Gargan Deh Cho

...and see to the needs of all people that we serve. Thank you, Madam Speaker. Is it on record?

Outdated Legislation Of The Dental Mechanics Act
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 33

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Your time was lapsed.

Outdated Legislation Of The Dental Mechanics Act
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 33

Samuel Gargan Deh Cho

Madam Speaker, I request unanimous consent to complete my statement.

Outdated Legislation Of The Dental Mechanics Act
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 33

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

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

Outdated Legislation Of The Dental Mechanics Act
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 33

Samuel Gargan Deh Cho

Thank you, Madam Speaker and honourable Members. For the record, Madam Speaker, the time has come for this government, dentists and denturists to put aside any differences they may have and see to the needs of the people we all serve. Mahsi cho.

Outdated Legislation Of The Dental Mechanics Act
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 33

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Yellowknife South, Mr. Whitford.

Concerns Re Passage Of Legislation In The House
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 33

Tony Whitford

Tony Whitford Yellowknife South

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, today I rise on an issue of very serious concern. I am referring to, Madam Speaker, the manner in which this government attempted to pass a number of bills through this House yesterday. Specifically, bills 9, 10, 11 and 12.

Madam Speaker, Members received copies of these bills in their binders just prior to sitting yesterday and in an effort to cooperate with this government, we agreed to give the bills first reading before reviewing them in detail. Members were then shocked to discover, Madam Speaker, that these bills contained a coming into force clause as of the first reading of the bill in this Assembly.

I am not sure why this was done, Madam Speaker. The results of this government's disregard for the process of this House has shaken the foundations of our unique consensus system of government. I am shocked by these events, Madam Speaker. There can be no excuse for such actions. Members of this House, whether they are Ministers or ordinary Members, have always tried to work together in an atmosphere of openness and mutual respect. Members trust the integrity of Cabinet in involving ordinary Members and, therefore, the public in all discussions that affect them.

We try to strive for and hope prior consultation takes place so Members are not surprised by the actions of the other party. I feel that this trust has been shaken. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

---Applause

Concerns Re Passage Of Legislation In The House
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 33

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for North Slave, Mr. Zoe.

Concerns Re New Legislative Process
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 33

Henry Zoe

Henry Zoe North Slave

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, in my capacity as Member for North Slave and also the chairman of the Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and Privileges, I am also concerned with our new legislative process whereby bills, after second reading, go to a standing committee. Madam Speaker, as you know this is a new

process which was adopted only two years ago. I feel after yesterday's events concerning first and second reading of bills, we have to look at our process for the passage of legislation.

Madam Speaker, although our rules do provide that bills, under certain circumstances, can be given notice, first and second reading on the same day, I feel that yesterday, whether it was the intention of the government to endeavour to ram bills through three stages in one day, causes me great concern as an infringement on my privileges as a Member.

Madam Speaker, the government's actions yesterday did not afford Members the opportunity to review bills after first reading so that a debate as to the principle of the bill could take place at the second reading stage. I feel, Madam Speaker, that although I nayed the progress of a bill yesterday, I am sure other Members would have supported me had they realized the implications of allowing the bill to go ahead.

Madam Speaker, I have serious concerns with yesterday's events, which I could have raised as a point of privilege. But I was fortunate enough to get support from my colleague for Inuvik to assist me in deferring yesterday's process. Madam Speaker, I have instructed our researcher for Rules, Privileges and Procedures to research this whole issue and report back to the committee, and I will be following it up at a later date. Thank you.

Concerns Re New Legislative Process
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 34

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Kitikmeot, Mr. Ng.

Notices Of Requests For Wolverine Carcasses
Item 3: Members' Statements

April 6th, 1994

Page 34

Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot

Thank you, Madam Speaker. On May 26, 1993, a constituent in Coppermine saw and shot a wolverine at his spring camp as he was aware that a reward was offered for its carcass by Renewable Resources. His awareness was a result of the public notices displayed on bulletin boards in the community by the department. The notices, which I will ask the Pages to distribute now, picture a wolverine with a caption "Attention wolverine hunters, Renewable Resources would like to buy the carcasses from all wolverines you take. The renewable resource officer in Coppermine will pay you $25 for each one."

The next day my constituent's son took the carcass into the local Renewable Resource's office and was given the $25 as shown in the notice. However, later on my constituent was given a ticket for shooting a wolverine out of season. Madam Speaker, upon receiving the ticket my constituent was upset as he thought he had been unjustly charged by the department. He disputed the ticket by hiring legal counsel to defend his case in court. My constituent spent thousands of dollars at personal expense to defend a $115 fine, due to his feeling that he was entrapped as the request for wolverine carcasses was posted in the off season, with no mention of the hunting season in the notice or, for that matter, posted anywhere else in town. There was evidence presented in court that confirmed that hunting seasons were not posted in any public place in Coppermine.

My constituent lost his case as the judge recognized the complexities of the wildlife regulations. And while sympathetic to my constituent's situation, the judge held that the notice for wolverine carcasses did not meet the technical requirements to prove entrapment. The judge further ruled that there was a duty upon the hunter to seek out the hunting regulations.

Madam Speaker, what bothers me in this situation is that although the Department of Renewable Resources did not entrap my constituent as was ruled by the judge in court, the department certainly created a misrepresentation by leaving the notice up even after the wolverine hunting season had closed. At the very least, the department should have posted notices to advise local resident hunters of the hunting seasons in which animals can be taken.

There are many wildlife regulations in the NWT which cover different species of animals, different areas and different seasons for the same animals.

Madam Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude by statement.

Notices Of Requests For Wolverine Carcasses
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 34

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent to continue. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Continue, Mr. Ng.

Notices Of Requests For Wolverine Carcasses
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 34

Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot

Thank you, colleagues, Madam Speaker. Many of our hunters may not know all the wildlife regulations which affect them. Certainly, some hunters may be confused as a result of renewable resource officers enforcing some regulations such as that of wolverine, and not enforcing others such as migratory bird regulations.

Madam Speaker, I believe it is long overdue for our government to ensure all hunters are fully aware of the wildlife regulations in their area, and more importantly to advise all hunters which regulations will be strictly enforced in order to minimize any possibility of misunderstandings which affect all hunters in our communities. The onus of responsibility for awareness of hunting seasons should rest with the Department of Renewable Resources and not on the individual hunter, as the department has the resources to ensure the hunting seasons are generally made known to all residents in each hunting area. Thank you.

Notices Of Requests For Wolverine Carcasses
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 34

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Iqaluit, Mr. Patterson.

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, between May 12 and 15 of this year the Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention will hold their annual conference.

Madam Speaker, I believe it is a tribute to the good work and the hard work done on suicide prevention in the Northwest Territories by the Government of the Northwest Territories, by this legislature and by many community groups that has resulted in this very important national association choosing the Northwest Territories to hold their annual conference. This is the first time they have ever held a meeting north of the 60th parallel. I would like to specifically give credit and congratulations to Kanatsiaqtut, the Baffin crisis line, which I believe is the first volunteer crisis line to be established in the Northwest Territories, which was instrumental in securing the invitation to the Canadian association to meet in the Northwest Territories, specifically in Baffin, and is in fact hosting this

conference along with assistance from the Department of Social Services.

Some 300 delegates from all across Canada are expected to attend this important conference, Madam Speaker. I would like to show Members a beautiful...Oh, I have the wrong poster.

---Laughter

It's a beautiful poster. I grabbed the wrong one, Madam Speaker. This is also a conference being held in Iqaluit this summer, but I picked out the wrong one, Madam Speaker.

However, I can say there is a beautiful poster that has been prepared advertising this important conference. I just want to say that I know that the Minister of Social Services has been invited to participate in a panel. I, myself, have been invited. And I believe MLAs have also been invited to attend this important conference. I know you would be welcome if you could find time in your busy schedules to participate in this worthwhile event.

Madam Speaker, I would like to congratulate the group, thank the government for committed and anticipated support, and there is a bit of a list...(Microphone turned off)

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Kakfwi.

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Madam Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to go back to Ministers' statements.