This is page numbers 93 - 113 of the Hansard for the 12th Assembly, 7th 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.

Topics

Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will take that question as notice.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. The question has been taken as notice. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Antoine.

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister of Justice a question today with regard to the federal Minister of Justice, Allan Rock who introduced gun control legislation yesterday in the House of Commons. I would like to ask the Minister if the concerns that were raised by Members of this House and members of the public in the north have been recognized and accepted in the new legislation proposed by the federal Justice Minister. Mahsi.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Kakfwi.

Return To Question 62-12(7): Federal Gun Control Legislation
Question 62-12(7): Federal Gun Control Legislation
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 110

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The legislation proposed by the federal Minister of Justice with regard to firearms legislation is presently being reviewed by our officials in the Department of Justice, and we will be preparing a statement in response to the question asked by the Member at the earliest date perhaps by tomorrow. Thank you.

Return To Question 62-12(7): Federal Gun Control Legislation
Question 62-12(7): Federal Gun Control Legislation
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 110

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Patterson.

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

My question is for the Premier, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the Premier, since we've heard from the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment that it may be possible that one of the options he is considering being forwarded -- and I presume soon -- to Cabinet, is that the so-called GLOs in communities might take on the responsibility for the Department of Education for delivering social assistance after April 1st. I would like to ask the Premier -- who, I understand, is giving lay-off notices to the GLOs this week that their positions will be cut in half on April 1st -- if she has discussed the possibilities of these additional duties being assumed by government liaison officers with the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Thank you.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Madam Premier.

Return To Question 63-12(7): Delivery Of Social Assistance By Glos
Question 63-12(7): Delivery Of Social Assistance By Glos
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 110

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Mr. Speaker, as the Member is aware, the initiative to change over won't be occurring until April 1st. The procedure of lay-off notices is a procedure we followed. In a number of communities the shared responsibility already takes place between the GLO and the Department of Social Services. The department pays for a percentage of their salary, according to the work they do, which is half time.

Since the lay-off notices have been given out, there have been two communities that have come forward and suggested that the GLO had been doing significant work for Social Services, and we are concluding an agreement where Social Services will be paying for that half-time position at that time. That decision has been made already. We will be dealing with each of the other GLO positions once we've evaluated what work they're doing and what the requirements are. As we speak, these arrangements are being looked into and we are attempting to accommodate those needs. The initiative is to make sure that the departments which need those people to work are the departments that are paying those people to work.

So, Mr. Speaker, these initiatives are presently taking place. I know that in the Baffin there seems to be a slowness in trying to address where some of the GLOs are expending their work, but I fully intend to deal with that, Mr. Speaker.

Return To Question 63-12(7): Delivery Of Social Assistance By Glos
Question 63-12(7): Delivery Of Social Assistance By Glos
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 111

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Supplementary To Question 63-12(7): Delivery Of Social Assistance By Glos
Question 63-12(7): Delivery Of Social Assistance By Glos
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 111

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

I think this is very encouraging, what the Premier has said, Mr. Speaker. I guess I would like to ask her, in light of this, when the GLOs were told earlier this week in the Baffin that their jobs were being cut in half and they had five days to decide whether they were going to accept a reduced position, if there was some indication given to the GLOs by the government that there might be the possibility of that job coming back as a full time position on the horizon. Were they told hang in there, we need you, you are experienced, valuable Inuit staff and we may be able to top it up again soon with other duties such as an enhanced role in delivering social assistance?

Was that assurance or possible hope given to the GLOs when they were hit with this notice out of the blue earlier this week? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 63-12(7): Delivery Of Social Assistance By Glos
Question 63-12(7): Delivery Of Social Assistance By Glos
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 111

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Madam Premier.

Further Return To Question 63-12(7): Delivery Of Social Assistance By Glos
Question 63-12(7): Delivery Of Social Assistance By Glos
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 111

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Mr. Speaker, I know in other regions that the problem doesn't seem to be as acute. I would have to take a look at what is happening in the Baffin as to why some of these possibilities were not given to the individuals who hold the GLO positions. My understanding is that even though the notice was given, the probability of the Executive offices needing a full-time person for the workload of the Executive office was not certain and there would probably be some changes.

However, as the Member is aware, most people don't take it seriously until such initiatives take place. I will make sure that the job functions are looked at and, where possible, these individuals are evaluated according to some of the services they have been providing in addition to the Executive office functions. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 63-12(7): Delivery Of Social Assistance By Glos
Question 63-12(7): Delivery Of Social Assistance By Glos
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 111

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Time for oral questions has lapsed. Item 7, written questions. Mr. Patterson.

Written Question 4-12(7): Nursing Training
Item 7: Written Questions

Page 111

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With your indulgence, I have a few. They are all for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

1. How many students are enrolled in the nursing training program now being offered by the Arctic College in conjunction with the Department of Health and Social Services and the Stanton Yellowknife Hospital?

2. How many of the students presently enrolled in this program are from the Nunavut regions of the Baffin, Keewatin and the Kitikmeot?

3. Are there any plans in place to provide opportunities for residents of Nunavut to obtain nursing training in Nunavut?

And, if I may, Mr. Speaker, on a different issue, but also to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment:

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

1. How many person years and what level of base funding is now in place in Arctic College East and Arctic College West for trades training?

2. How many person years and what level of base funding is now in place in Arctic College East and Arctic College West for environmental technology training?

3. How many person years and what level of base funding is now in place in Arctic College East and Arctic College West for student support services?

4. How many person years and what level of base funding is now in place in Arctic College East and Arctic College West for heavy equipment operator training and driver education training?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you, Mr. Patterson. Item 7, written questions. Item 8, returns to written questions. Mr. Clerk.

Clerk Of The House Mr. David Hamilton

Mr. Speaker, Return to Written Question 1-12(7), asked by Mr. Arvaluk and responded to by the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism, concerning Southampton Island caribou herd.

On November 14th, the Member for Aivilik asked the Premier if the Southampton herd would be reduced enough in the spring to deal with the conservation requirements for good herd management. The Department of Renewable Resources has advanced a plan for management of the Southampton caribou herd that would call for the harvesting of 4,500 animals per year, of which 1,000 would be for local subsistence over the next several years. The departments of Economic Development and Tourism and Renewable Resources are organizing a spring commercial hunt which will certainly alleviate some of the pressure being exerted by the herd.

Current plans call for 2,000 animals to be taken for commercial purposes this spring, commencing March 10th and continuing through to April 24th. Once the logistical challenges of an operation of this magnitude have been addressed, it is quite possible that some future harvest activities will be conducted in the fall, from early November through to the beginning of December, when there is sufficient snow cover.

The Department of Renewable Resources will be conducting herd surveys this summer, and information gained from these surveys will be used to further evaluate the necessary harvest numbers.

Clerk Of The House Mr. David Hamilton

Return to Written Question 2-12(7), asked by Mr. Arvaluk to the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism, concerning the distribution of caribou meat from Southampton herd.

On November 14th the Member for Aivilik asked the Premier if she would commit government departments to finding a way to get caribou meat from the Southampton herd reduction to those people and institutions who can use it.

The Southampton Island hunt is being undertaken as a developmental commercial hunt. The product will be harvested to federal standards and will be sold into the marketplace in southern Canada.

Clerk Of The House Mr. David Hamilton

Return to Written Question 3-12(7), asked by Mr. Pudluk to the Minister of Transportation, concerning the cost of the Inuvik/ Tuktoyaktuk winter ice road.

On Monday, November 14, 1994, the Member for High Arctic submitted a written question to the Minister of Transportation inquiring about the annual cost of operating the Inuvik/Tuktoyaktuk winter ice road.

1. For the 1994-95 winter road season, the Department of Transportation expects the operation of the Inuvik/Tuktoyaktuk ice road will cost $360,000.

2. Two highway transfer agreements with the federal government in 1984 and 1990 devolved responsibility for the existing territorial highway system to the territorial government. The residual responsibility for the construction of new roads in the Northwest Territories still remains with the federal government.

For the time being, there are no firm plans to extend an all-weather road from Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Item 9, replies to opening address. Item 10, petitions. Item 11, reports of standing and special committees. Item 12, reports of committees on the review of bills. Mr. Whitford.

Item 12: Reports Of Committees On The Review Of Bills
Item 12: Reports Of Committees On The Review Of Bills

February 14th, 1995

Page 112

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Report On Bills 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14 And 15

Item 12: Reports Of Committees On The Review Of Bills
Item 12: Reports Of Committees On The Review Of Bills

Page 112

Tony Whitford

Tony Whitford Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to report to the Assembly that the Standing Committee on Legislation has reviewed bills 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14 and 15 and wish to report that bills 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 14 and 15 are now ready for committee of the whole and, further, Mr. Speaker, that bills 6, 9, and 10 are now ready for committee of the whole, as amended and reprinted. Mr. Speaker, I am also requesting unanimous consent to have these bills ordered into committee of the whole for tomorrow.

Item 12: Reports Of Committees On The Review Of Bills
Item 12: Reports Of Committees On The Review Of Bills

Page 112

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. The Member is seeking unanimous consent. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Pursuant to rule 70(5) and on the order of the Assembly, bills 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14 and 15 are ordered into committee of the whole for tomorrow. Item 13, tabling of documents. Mr. Patterson.

Item 13: Tabling Of Documents
Item 13: Tabling Of Documents

Page 112

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table Tabled Document 12-12(7), the resolutions from the Nunavut education leaders' conference in Gjoa Haven. Thank you.