This is page numbers 205 - 225 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 ---agreed.

Return To Question 121-12(7): Interim Measures For Crime Situation In Yellowknife
Question 121-12(7): Interim Measures For Crime Situation In Yellowknife
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 208

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is part of our ongoing discussions with the RCMP that we have regular briefings here in Yellowknife about the situation, particularly because of the high profile given to recent incidents of vandalism, robberies, other crimes and some news reports. It is expected that, with the proposed increases in funding to the policing budget this year, the RCMP are currently proposing to reallocate additional positions throughout the Northwest Territories and I believe they may be considering that for Yellowknife as well. Thank you.

Return To Question 121-12(7): Interim Measures For Crime Situation In Yellowknife
Question 121-12(7): Interim Measures For Crime Situation In Yellowknife
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 208

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Supplementary, Mr. Ballantyne.

Supplementary To Question 121-12(7): Interim Measures For Crime Situation In Yellowknife
Question 121-12(7): Interim Measures For Crime Situation In Yellowknife
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 208

Michael Ballantyne Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think there is a lot of support in this Legislative Assembly for community-based policing programs. I know there are pilot projects going on right now. I wonder though, it seems that the pilot projects are in smaller communities and it also seems that we need a closer partnership between the police, the territorial government and the municipal governments in the larger communities. My question to the Minister is, is he giving any thought to establishing some cooperative programs in larger tax-based municipalities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary To Question 121-12(7): Interim Measures For Crime Situation In Yellowknife
Question 121-12(7): Interim Measures For Crime Situation In Yellowknife
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 208

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Kakfwi.

Further Return To Question 121-12(7): Interim Measures For Crime Situation In Yellowknife
Question 121-12(7): Interim Measures For Crime Situation In Yellowknife
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 208

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Mr. Speaker, at this time, we don't have any specific suggestions to make in that regard, although we are having some discussions at this time to develop a framework that would allow community-based policing projects to proceed. But we haven't finalized a general framework yet that would allow us to proceed on specific cases. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 121-12(7): Interim Measures For Crime Situation In Yellowknife
Question 121-12(7): Interim Measures For Crime Situation In Yellowknife
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 209

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Ballantyne.

Supplementary To Question 121-12(7): Interim Measures For Crime Situation In Yellowknife
Question 121-12(7): Interim Measures For Crime Situation In Yellowknife
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 209

Michael Ballantyne Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think we're all cognizant of the fact that although having more policemen will help, it's not going to ultimately be the solution to the problem. The solution to the problem is total community involvement. My question to the Minister is if the Yellowknife MLAs got together a meeting with the mayor of the city of Yellowknife, would the Minister be prepared to sit down and discuss some possible community approaches that would be taken in the city of Yellowknife. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary To Question 121-12(7): Interim Measures For Crime Situation In Yellowknife
Question 121-12(7): Interim Measures For Crime Situation In Yellowknife
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 209

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Kakfwi.

Further Return To Question 121-12(7): Interim Measures For Crime Situation In Yellowknife
Question 121-12(7): Interim Measures For Crime Situation In Yellowknife
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 209

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Yes, Mr. Speaker, I would be prepared to do that.

Further Return To Question 121-12(7): Interim Measures For Crime Situation In Yellowknife
Question 121-12(7): Interim Measures For Crime Situation In Yellowknife
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 209

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Ms. Mike.

Rebecca Mike Baffin Central

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Premier concerning the GLOs. I do realize that in the smaller communities it is the common practice of GLOs to do some Social Services work when the social worker in the community has quit or before recruitment is made. This is usually because there are no qualified human resource persons or no interested persons in the small community who are available to fill in as a casual worker. My question to the Premier is, who will do the work for Social Services when GLOs go on half time? Thank you.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Madam Premier.

Return To Question 122-12(7): Social Services Replacement Workers
Question 122-12(7): Social Services Replacement Workers
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 209

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Mr. Speaker, the issue of who does the health or the Social Service work is one that would have to be looked at and identified according to the workload and how we're going to move in continuing to provide the service. So each circumstance will be evaluated and dealt with, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Return To Question 122-12(7): Social Services Replacement Workers
Question 122-12(7): Social Services Replacement Workers
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 209

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Ms. Mike.

Supplementary To Question 122-12(7): Social Services Replacement Workers
Question 122-12(7): Social Services Replacement Workers
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 209

Rebecca Mike Baffin Central

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With a population of less than 1,000 in a community, human resources are nearly all employed by the GNWT and by local business people; but, in a small community where the population is less than 600, it has been that GLOs do fill in for government positions at times because in the communities sometimes it takes three, four or five months to do any recruitment. I have a concern when these GLOs go on half time in the smaller communities, because they do come in as help is needed for this particular government. They have been doing some work for social services until such a time as recruitment is made. My question to the Minister is, is she aware that in the smaller communities GLOs do social service work? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 122-12(7): Social Services Replacement Workers
Question 122-12(7): Social Services Replacement Workers
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 209

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Madam Premier.

Further Return To Question 122-12(7): Social Services Replacement Workers
Question 122-12(7): Social Services Replacement Workers
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 209

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Mr. Speaker, yes, I am aware.

Further Return To Question 122-12(7): Social Services Replacement Workers
Question 122-12(7): Social Services Replacement Workers
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 209

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

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

Tony Whitford

Tony Whitford Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good afternoon. Mr. Speaker, I would like to direct a question to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment; it's a follow-up to one that Mr. Koe had raised a few moments ago concerning the diamond industry and other industries in the north. Like any other industry, they need a skilled workforce, and often you can't find those in the community because we react too late. After the business gets going, it's a little too late to start looking for skilled, trained people. The oil industry experienced that a few years ago, but they took action. They went ahead and recruited and trained people in anticipation that something was going to happen. I would like to ask the Minister a question in that vein. He did mention in his reply about a strategy that was under way or going to be under way. I would like to find out what's the timetable for that strategy. When does this strategy kick in, Mr. Speaker?

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Nerysoo.

Return To Question 123-12(7): Status Of Human Resources Strategy For Diamond Industry
Question 123-12(7): Status Of Human Resources Strategy For Diamond Industry
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 209

Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In fact, Mr. Speaker, I think the credit should go to Mr. Ballantyne. He was the individual asking the question. However, just to respond to the honourable Member -- and I believe it was part of a question that was asked also by Mr. Ballantyne, but I appreciate the honourable Member raising the matter again -- the department is developing a strategy which is planned to be completed by April 1995 which addresses the matter of the government and the people of the north maximizing northern employment in the mining industry. To be more specific, I want to advise the honourable Member that Human Resources Development Canada and the North Slave Economic Development and Tourism group are funding partners in this initiative, because they feel that it's an important component in order for us, as a government to respond and for them to identify the individuals who could participate in the mining industry.

Return To Question 123-12(7): Status Of Human Resources Strategy For Diamond Industry
Question 123-12(7): Status Of Human Resources Strategy For Diamond Industry
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 209

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Whitford.

Supplementary To Question 123-12(7): Status Of Human Resources Strategy For Diamond Industry
Question 123-12(7): Status Of Human Resources Strategy For Diamond Industry
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 210

Tony Whitford

Tony Whitford Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My apologies to Mr. Koe and to Mr. Ballantyne. From over here, without my glasses...Mr. Speaker, I think you would probably be aware that some time ago the oil industry was endeavouring to recruit people in the territories to work in the industry. They called on northerners to put together an inventory of potential employees; that is, go almost community to community to see who was available and what particular skills they had in that area or any skills they had in the oil and gas industry, electrical, plumbing, this kind of thing. They put this together, along with their names. I want to ask the Minister whether or not such an inventory exists today, or have you given any thought, if it isn't there, to establishing something like that.

Supplementary To Question 123-12(7): Status Of Human Resources Strategy For Diamond Industry
Question 123-12(7): Status Of Human Resources Strategy For Diamond Industry
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 210

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Nerysoo.

Further Return To Question 123-12(7): Status Of Human Resources Strategy For Diamond Industry
Question 123-12(7): Status Of Human Resources Strategy For Diamond Industry
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 210

Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I again appreciate the questions that are being asked. I think what was required -- and it was a point that was raised and, again, a comment made by the honourable Member for Yellowknife North, and was an issue of concern to the honourable Member who raised the question...The issue initially was that we didn't identify the jobs that were available, or the numbers of jobs that could be made available. Once that is done, we then have the ability to identify the potential training opportunities that could be made available to people in Yellowknife or the surrounding region, in the Kitikmeot or in the North Slave area. Hopefully, we can expand the information to include the Keewatin. Once we've done that, it is much easier for us than to talk to the communities to advise them of the potential and to identify the individuals for training. I think that's an important component.

I do want to say again that it's been very fortunate for us to have gone through the Izok Lake assessment because the Kitikmeot was involved. They've identified some of the issues. The Treaty 8 group has been involved. The Dogrib communities have been involved. The Honourable John Todd has been involved in discussions with the city of Yellowknife and other partners in this region, including the Chamber of Mines and the Chamber of Commerce. The consultant will be researching existing documentation consulting with stakeholders and to have a strategy, hopefully, done by April of 1995. The suggestion of an information catalogue system of potential individuals, I think, is a very good one and should be considered in the strategy.