This is page numbers 27 - 40 of the Hansard for the 13th Assembly, 1st 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 nunavut.

Iqaluit As Capital Of Nunavut
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 32

Edward Picco Iqaluit

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, fellow colleagues. I wish to congratulate and thank my friends and colleagues; Joe Kunuk, the mayor of Iqaluit; and, Jerry Ell, the president of the Baffin Region Chamber of Commerce, for their very hard work and able leadership, and also the many helpers who worked so hard. I also wish to congratulate the community of Rankin Inlet; their mayor, Keith Sharp;, and their supporters for a very good campaign and hard work.

Now that the capital vote is over, we must all work together to ensure that the federal Cabinet moves forward quickly to implement Nunavut on time and with adequate finances. Qujannamiik. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Iqaluit As Capital Of Nunavut
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 32

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you, Mr. Picco. Item 3, Members' statements. The Member for Natilikmiot, Mr. Ningark.

Congratulating Iqaluit As Nunavut Capital
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 32

John Ningark Natilikmiot

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as the chairperson of Nunavut Caucus, I would also like to congratulate the people of Iqaluit; the people of Baffin Island; the people from the Kitikmeot region; and, the people of the Keewatin, who, I am sure, also voted for Iqaluit. There are also people from the Baffin and Iqaluit who may have voted for Rankin Inlet.

Having said that, Mr. Speaker, there is no one leader in Nunavut. By making the reality of Nunavut one step closer, every Member and every person has won yesterday, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have lived in Repulse Bay in Keewatin and I have also lived in the Kitikmeot. I have travelled to Baffin Island. I have not visited any other communities other than Iqaluit in Baffin Island.

Mr. Speaker, the people of Nunavut are used to working together. That was our only means of surviving. Mr. Speaker, having said that, we can focus our energy to prepare for 1999, when Nunavut will be realized. Also, Mr. Speaker, we can work towards making the western government a reality in the future. Thank you.

---Applause

Congratulating Iqaluit As Nunavut Capital
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 32

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. The Member for Amittuq, Mr. Evaloarjuk.

Congratulating Iqaluit As Nunavut Capital
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 32

Mark Evaloarjuk Amittuq

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don't have a written statement for distribution, so my statement will be oral. I would also like to thank the MLAs who are within our Nunavut area. We all agreed when voting day came close that we would still remain united and support the end result of the vote, whichever way it ended. This was not an unhappy situation for me, personally, because in the early 1960s, we were against building a school in Iqaluit. Students still attend school in Iqaluit. I am happy to see those results because over time our ideas have changed. I am happy to see that continuing.

Also, the people who worked very hard from the Keewatin and the Baffin regions should be congratulated. I would also like to remind others that this will not be implemented or become a reality by tomorrow. I watched a TV program where people did a radio phone-in. The subject was that people expected the capital will happen overnight, but I wanted to tell people this will not be the case. That is my statement. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Congratulating Iqaluit As Nunavut Capital
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 32

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

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

Congratulating Iqaluit As Nunavut Capital
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 32

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements, the Member for North Slave, Mr. Rabesca.

Delay In Construction Of Rae Lakes Arena
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 32

James Rabesca North Slave

Mr. Speaker, I have been made aware of the fact that most recently the arena that was identified for Rae Lakes has been decommitted and withdrawn from the capital plan and now set back for two more years by the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs without any consultation with the community. The leaders in the community had already informed the people that they would be getting an arena based on the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs commitment to the project.

I have also been informed that the decision on the setback of the capital project for an additional two years was made during the election when there were no Ministers in place in the department. Mr. Speaker, I realize that the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs has only recently inherited his new portfolio, but I will be asking the Minister what she will be doing about this issue later today. Thank you.

Delay In Construction Of Rae Lakes Arena
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 32

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. Are there further Members' statements? Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Ningark.

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 32

John Ningark Natilikmiot

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize Thomas Suvissak and Michael Suvissak who came in today from Pelly Bay. They were very strong supporters of me during the election. Thank you.

---Applause

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Welcome to the Assembly. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Miltenberger.

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

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Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Northwest Territories victims services coordinators are meeting in Yellowknife this week. In the gallery, I would like to recognize Sandy Bell, coordinator from Yellowknife; Valerie McKay, coordinator from Fort Smith; Kate Simpson, coordinator from Cambridge Bay; Marie Sack, coordinator from Rankin Inlet; Shawna Millard, an outreach worker from Yellowknife; and, Kelly Winter, a support worker from Yellowknife. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Welcome to the Assembly. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The Member for Amittuq, Mr. Evaloarjuk.

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 33

Mark Evaloarjuk Amittuq

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize a former resident of Igloolik. His name is Hugh Lloyd. When I was younger, he used to be my best friend in Igloolik. I would like you to recognize him. He is married to a resident of Igloolik. Thank you.

---Applause

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Welcome to the Assembly. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Are there any further

recognitions? I would then like to take the opportunity to recognize a former colleague of ours, Mr. Whitford.

---Applause

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 33

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Rabesca.

James Rabesca North Slave

Mr. Speaker, Members have already heard about my serious concerns about the sudden decommitment of funds by the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs for the arena in Rae Lakes this year. This capital plan is now set back by two additional years. Is the Minister aware that the arena that was supposed to go to Rae Lakes as part of the department's capital plan was recently set back by an additional two years.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mrs. Thompson.

Return To Question 1-13(1): Delay In Construction Of Rae Lakes Arena
Question 1-13(1): Delay In Construction Of Rae Lakes Arena
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Manitok Thompson Aivilik

Yes, Mr. Speaker, I am aware of the Rae Lakes capital budget. I would just like to tell the Member, there are no decisions yet made for the department's 1996-97 capital budget. We will be discussing with communities ways of meeting our targets. There will be no guarantees about which projects will remain and which ones will be deferred. We all know that we will be reducing our budgets. With the input from MLAs and communities, we will be setting priorities that reflect the needs of all our communities over the next few years. Thank you.

Return To Question 1-13(1): Delay In Construction Of Rae Lakes Arena
Question 1-13(1): Delay In Construction Of Rae Lakes Arena
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Miltenberger. I am sorry, Mr. Miltenberger. Did you have a supplementary, Mr. Rabesca?

Return To Question 1-13(1): Delay In Construction Of Rae Lakes Arena
Question 1-13(1): Delay In Construction Of Rae Lakes Arena
Item 6: Oral Questions

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James Rabesca North Slave

Yes, it's supplementary but it's for the Department of Education, Culture and Employment.

Return To Question 1-13(1): Delay In Construction Of Rae Lakes Arena
Question 1-13(1): Delay In Construction Of Rae Lakes Arena
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 33

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

It is a new question then?

Return To Question 1-13(1): Delay In Construction Of Rae Lakes Arena
Question 1-13(1): Delay In Construction Of Rae Lakes Arena
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 33

James Rabesca North Slave

Yes.

Return To Question 1-13(1): Delay In Construction Of Rae Lakes Arena
Question 1-13(1): Delay In Construction Of Rae Lakes Arena
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

It is a new question. I have Mr. Miltenberger next.

Question 2-13(1): Policy For Participation In Arctic Winter Games
Item 6: Oral Questions

December 12th, 1995

Page 33

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. It is with regard to an issue involving Sport North and the 1996 Arctic Winter Games. I have a young constituent who is going to the University of Alberta who is a very good volleyball player but, unfortunately, there is no organized volleyball in Hay River or Fort Smith. He has been asked to play on the team from Yellowknife to help represent or possibly represent the Northwest Territories but has been told that because of the policy of the department or of Sport North that you have to play on teams within your region or your community, he will be unable to participate. My question to the Minister is, given the facts that she's aware of, given the fact that this is the yuletide season and a time for giving, understanding and compassion, would she be prepared to reconsider the position taken by her department on this particular issue?