This is page numbers 227 - 260 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.

Topics

Further Return To Question 132-12(7): Status Of Resources For Earp
Question 132-12(7): Status Of Resources For Earp
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 234

Silas Arngna'naaq Kivallivik

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think that the panel that has been created has started work. I believe at the present time they have received the environmental impact statements and they are presently going into these scoping sessions which will identify the communities that could be affected by the project. The purpose of these scoping sessions will be to provide residents with an opportunity to learn about the project and the panel's work, and help to identify issues and receive public comments on the draft environmental impact statements or guidelines that have been created. I believe that the individuals who have been selected for the panel are going to be able to carry out their work without being pressured to go in whatever direction either the mining companies or the environmental groups or the governments would like to see them go in. I think they will be able to carry out their mandate in the period of time that that has been allotted, and will be able to give an objective report.

As far as the regional study is concerned, I believe the work that is going to be done by the regional study includes enough groups and organizations in the Northwest Territories and across Canada that they will be able to come up with information to assist any new development that will take place in the Slave geological province. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 132-12(7): Status Of Resources For Earp
Question 132-12(7): Status Of Resources For Earp
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 234

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

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

Question 133-12(7): Funding For Non-resident Students
Item 6: Oral Questions

February 21st, 1995

Page 234

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Mr. Speaker, an earlier question, which was answered by the Minister of Finance, really related to the study on alternatives to fund education because there is a concern in Yellowknife about equity of funding when it comes to education. Currently, only 75 per cent of the formula is allotted to the Yellowknife boards, so I'm hoping that issue will be addressed.

Another related issue, Mr. Speaker, is that Yellowknife gets no tax revenue for students who reside outside the city limits, which creates a really inequitable situation. So, in the interim, until the study that the Minister of Finance has said will be completed in September is done, will the Minister agree to ensure that both Yellowknife school boards get the full amount that the financing formula for schools would normally provide to the Yellowknife boards for those students who live outside city limits?

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

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

Return To Question 133-12(7): Funding For Non-resident Students
Question 133-12(7): Funding For Non-resident Students
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 234

Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can't agree that will happen. However, I will review the concern that the honourable Member has raised and see if we can deal fairly with the matter and try to respond to the concerns of the separate school board and Yellowknife District No. 1 as fairly as possible.

Return To Question 133-12(7): Funding For Non-resident Students
Question 133-12(7): Funding For Non-resident Students
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 234

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Dent.

Supplementary To Question 133-12(7): Funding For Non-resident Students
Question 133-12(7): Funding For Non-resident Students
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 234

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Supplementary to the same Minister. I appreciate the Minister's positive response. Could he give a commitment that he will make this a priority issue and deal with it within the next two weeks?

Supplementary To Question 133-12(7): Funding For Non-resident Students
Question 133-12(7): Funding For Non-resident Students
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 234

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Nerysoo.

Further Return To Question 133-12(7): Funding For Non-resident Students
Question 133-12(7): Funding For Non-resident Students
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 234

Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm not certain we can deal with it in the next two weeks. We will deal with it in the context of trying to respond to financial requirements for the upcoming school year. In that context, I'm not certain if we can resolve it in the next two weeks, but I will report back to the honourable Member about the issue. Again, I can't guarantee that there will be a satisfactory resolution but we will try to do the best we can in solving the concern the honourable Member has raised.

Further Return To Question 133-12(7): Funding For Non-resident Students
Question 133-12(7): Funding For Non-resident Students
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 235

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Dent.

Supplementary To Question 133-12(7): Funding For Non-resident Students
Question 133-12(7): Funding For Non-resident Students
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 235

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Supplementary to the same Minister. I'm a little bit concerned. The Minister has just indicated that he will deal with this issue in relation to the upcoming year. I think the citizens of Yellowknife have a concern that they've been funding this and hope that the Minister will also consider the current year and perhaps even what should have been granted in past years. We'll be expecting that there will be some consideration for that. Could I ask the Minister to advise whether or not he will take a look at the past situation?

Supplementary To Question 133-12(7): Funding For Non-resident Students
Question 133-12(7): Funding For Non-resident Students
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 235

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Nerysoo.

Further Return To Question 133-12(7): Funding For Non-resident Students
Question 133-12(7): Funding For Non-resident Students
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 235

Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I cannot commit to the honourable Member in terms of retroactivity. What I can commit to the honourable Member is that I will make sure that the ongoing financing situation is responsive to the educational program needs of the students in this community. As is the case in other circumstances, we have made changes to school financing across the Northwest Territories. We believe it is much fairer than it used to be. If there are specific circumstances, as the honourable Member has raised, then we can now deal more appropriately with those situations because we now have, I believe, a fairer system across the board.

In terms of retroactivity, I can tell the honourable Member that I cannot guarantee that that will be dealt with but what I will address is the issue of how to address students from outside the municipality and whether we can provide the necessary financing for those students. I do want to raise one concern that I think the honourable Member should be aware of and that is, what effect this will have in other situations across the north, if any. That, in my view, is something that has to be dealt with. We will try to deal with it as fairly as possible.

Further Return To Question 133-12(7): Funding For Non-resident Students
Question 133-12(7): Funding For Non-resident Students
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 235

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

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

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Justice. It is with regard to the Member's statement I made today where a Dene person was denied the use of his language in the justice system, in a preliminary inquiry. As a result, the Supreme Court ordered a new preliminary inquiry. What is the policy of the Department of Justice with regard to using aboriginal languages in courts? Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister of Justice if he could tell the House if aboriginal languages may be used in all court proceedings? Mahsi.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Minister of Justice, Mr. Kakfwi.

Return To Question 134-12(7): Policy On Use Of Aboriginal Languages In Court
Question 134-12(7): Policy On Use Of Aboriginal Languages In Court
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 235

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Mr. Speaker, it is my understanding that this government, including the courts, have a policy to provide for full use of aboriginal languages. It is the right of aboriginal people, and any people, to use any of the official languages in the court system here in the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

Return To Question 134-12(7): Policy On Use Of Aboriginal Languages In Court
Question 134-12(7): Policy On Use Of Aboriginal Languages In Court
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 235

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Mr. Antoine.

Supplementary To Question 134-12(7): Policy On Use Of Aboriginal Languages In Court
Question 134-12(7): Policy On Use Of Aboriginal Languages In Court
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 235

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In the case I mentioned, the point I raised is that the use of aboriginal languages is, as the Minister indicated, the right of aboriginal people in all government affairs and in the courts. Were there not court interpreters available at this court hearing? I guess the question is why did this happen? Was there not an interpreter available for this preliminary inquiry hearing? Mahsi.

Supplementary To Question 134-12(7): Policy On Use Of Aboriginal Languages In Court
Question 134-12(7): Policy On Use Of Aboriginal Languages In Court
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 235

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Minister of Justice, Mr. Kakfwi.

Supplementary To Question 134-12(7): Policy On Use Of Aboriginal Languages In Court
Question 134-12(7): Policy On Use Of Aboriginal Languages In Court
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 235

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Mr. Speaker, what I will do is take the question as notice in order to review the specific incident and also review the basis on which the decision of that particular judge was overturned. Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 134-12(7): Policy On Use Of Aboriginal Languages In Court
Question 134-12(7): Policy On Use Of Aboriginal Languages In Court
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 235

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Renewable Resources. Mr. Speaker, this morning I brought up the case of five live wood buffalo being exported by the Department of Renewable Resources down south for the purposes of auction. I would like to ask the Minister if his department was able to stop this export of live wood bison south? Thank you.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Minister of Renewable Resources, Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Return To Question 135-12(7): Export Of Bison South For Auction
Question 135-12(7): Export Of Bison South For Auction
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 235

Silas Arngna'naaq Kivallivik

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When I approached my deputy minister this morning, my staff were on their way to bring in some trailers which were to be used to bring the bison south. We will be putting a stop to the transporting of bison at the present time. Thank you.