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

Mr. Allooloo, Mr. Antoine, Hon. Silas Arngna'naaq, Mr. Ballantyne, Hon. Nellie Cournoyea, Mr. Dent, Mr. Gargan, Hon. Stephen Kakfwi, Mr. Koe, Mr. Lewis, Hon. Jeannie Marie-Jewell, Hon. Rebecca Mike, Hon. Don Morin, Hon. Richard Nerysoo, Mr. Ng, Mr. Ningark, Mr. Patterson, Hon. John Pollard, Mr. Pudlat, Mr. Pudluk, Mr. Whitford, Mr. Zoe

---Prayer

Item 1: Prayer
Item 1: Prayer

Page 30

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Good

afternoon. Just before we proceed to Ministers' statements, I want to advise the House that I've given permission for the filming of our proceedings today which will be used in the development of a video for a Legislative Assembly education program that will be introduced into the schools across the territories later this fall. Thank you.

---Applause

Item 2, Ministers' statements. Madam Premier.

Minister's Statement 5-12(6): Power Corporation
Item 2: Ministers' Statements

Page 30

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Madam Speaker, later today I will be tabling a report that deals with the government's proposal to turn the Northwest Territories Power Corporation into an investor-owned utility.

Madam Speaker, the document provides objective information based on two studies by Mr. Fred Abbott and a team of utilities experts. It is designed to stimulate public discussion and debate on the privatization initiative.

Madam Speaker, making this document public is the next step in a process that began over five years ago when the Northwest Territories assumed ownership of the Power Corporation. At that time the government set out to developing the corporation into a self-supporting business and to examine the idea of privatization.

Madam Speaker, the Power Corporation is now operating in a business-like fashion. And a feasibility study on privatization and a subsequent report on how an investor-owned utility could be formed has been completed.

It is time to give wide circulation to information relating to this initiative in order to receive input from the public and the various organizations that represent them. This input will be helpful to the government and the Legislative Assembly when it deals with the initiative in the fall. Thank you.

Minister's Statement 5-12(6): Power Corporation
Item 2: Ministers' Statements

Page 30

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Item 2, Ministers' statements. The honourable Member for Baffin Central, Ms. Mike.

Rebecca Mike Baffin Central

Madam Speaker, during the past session, I agreed to conduct an independent investigation into the decision of the Department of Social Services to terminate the group home contract in Hay River with Greenway Holdings Ltd. I mentioned that the investigation would be complete within a month and that the terms of reference were being developed.

I will be tabling the terms of reference for the investigation later today. I am also pleased to announce that I have appointed an investigator, Mr. Bill Zarchikoff, who is a principal in a private firm in Yellowknife. Mr. Zarchikoff is a registered social worker with over 20 years of related experience, and is as well a business man. He has worked in juvenile homes and taught in the community college system. For the past ten years he has been in the private sector completing a variety of consulting projects in the social services field.

His report will be submitted directly to me. I expect the report by April 25, 1994. I will inform the Members of the results shortly after the investigation is complete. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 2, Ministers' statements. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Nerysoo.

Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, in 1990 the Department of Education, Culture and Employment started the consultation necessary to guide the redrafting of the Education Act. Various partners in education and the general public were consulted, and the department produced a document called, Help Improve the Education Act, which helped focus discussion.

On reviewing the results of this round of consultation, as well as direction provided by the Special Committee on Education in 1982, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and current educational research, the department has developed a final public consultation document called Voices: Direction for Improving the Education Act.

It summarizes the recommendations received from the first round of consultations, and makes proposals to change and reorganize the Education Act. A questionnaire has also been developed to confirm or amend the changes being proposed.

Many of the specific changes and additions reflect the directions in Towards a Strategy to 2010: A Discussion Paper.

A revised schedule of the new act has now been approved by Cabinet. With the recommendations received through consultation, my department will work with the Department of Justice to prepare a new act which will be tabled for further discussion in the Legislative Assembly next fall, and introduced for debate in the spring of 1995.

Madam Speaker, at the appropriate time I will be tabling the document entitled Voices: Direction for Improving the Education Act. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 2, Ministers' statements. The honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Kakfwi.

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to be here to share some good news with you. When I tabled the community transfer initiative implementation plan in November of 1992, I said that I hoped the first major transfer would take place on April 1, 1994. I believe that we've met the target date.

We are about to implement two very important...

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Sorry, Mr. Kakfwi. I've just been advised by the Clerk that your Minister's statement has not been filed with the House. It would have to be in the form of an emergency statement, therefore you will have to consider whether you want to seek unanimous consent to proceed with it. Honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Kakfwi.

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

It was filed on March 31. I seek unanimous consent to make an emergency statement.

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Mr. Kakfwi, your statement was filed on March 31. That was during the last session and it died on the order paper. According to this session, your Minister's statement is not filed and the only other way is the process that I have advised you on. The honourable Member for Sahtu.

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

I seek unanimous consent, Madam Speaker, to make a ministerial statement.

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

The honourable Minister is seeking unanimous consent to proceed with his Minister's statement. Are there any nays?

An Hon. Member

Nay.

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

There is a nay. Item 2, Ministers' statements. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta.

Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Madam Speaker, the Science Institute of the Northwest Territories, with the support of Arctic College, has established three new programs to increase northern involvement in research. These programs are the research assistance support program, the research fellowship program and the research associate program. Each of these programs is structured to support a different aspect of northern involvement in research activities.

The research associate program will offer ten to 15 researchers, who have associate status, office space and basic administrative support in return for a commitment to work closely with the Science Institute and college on science, technology or educational matters. The total fund for this program is $10,000. These new programs will begin immediately. Program information is now being distributed to the research community in northern and southern Canada.

The research assistant support, research fellowship and research associate programs will help us link post-secondary programs in the north with the scientific community. They will promote understanding of scientific research and projects, and will provide northerners, including college students and staff, with the opportunity to become effectively involved in science. Thank you.

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Madam Premier.

Minister's Statement 9-12(6): Ministers' Absences From The House
Item 2: Ministers' Statements

April 6th, 1994

Page 31

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Madam Speaker, I wish to advise Members that the Honourable Stephen Kakfwi will be absent from the House tomorrow to attend an urgent meeting of the town council in Norman Wells. The Honourable Don Morin will also be absent tomorrow to attend a funeral in Hay River. Thank you.

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Item 2, Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Natilikmiot, Mr. Ningark.

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

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John Ningark Natilikmiot

Thank you, Madam Premier. Madam Premier, I rise today on behalf of the Ordinary Members' Caucus. Madam Speaker, pardon me. In December, following the mid-term review, the Ordinary Members' Caucus gave a report on the performance of Ministers. One Minister, Rebecca Mike, was placed on probation. We advised, Madam Speaker, that "Members are expecting a dramatic improvement in her performance by the time this House reconvenes for the budget session a few months from now. If that improvement is not

evident, Members will consider removing Ms. Mike from the Cabinet at that time."

Throughout the session, ordinary Members have discussed Ms. Mike's performance since the review. Although there has been some limited improvement in her performance, Members remain unconvinced that she is demonstrating the level of competence expected of Cabinet Ministers in the House. Members have also expressed concern about the distribution of work-load among Ministers. It appears that Ms. Mike carries a very light work-load compared to other Ministers.

The Premier has said that she assigned portfolios based upon what each Minister can handle without being overwhelmed. As ordinary Members have noted in this House, there are Ministers carrying very large portfolios. Members are pleased with their effort and performance in handling the extra work. However, although some Ministers are carrying very heavy work-loads, the Premier has indicated to the Ordinary Members' Caucus that she is unwilling to give Ms. Mike any additional responsibilities.

Members are not satisfied with this response. Members believe that Ministers should be equal partners and, if they wish to remain on Cabinet, should carry their fair share. 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...

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

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The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Excuse me, Mr. Ningark, your time for Member's statements has lapsed. The honourable Member for Natilikmiot, Mr. Ningark.

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

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John Ningark Natilikmiot

Thank you, Madam Premier. I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

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

Page 32

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

I trust you're addressing Madam Speaker. The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent to continue with his statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Please proceed, Mr. Ningark.