This is page numbers 309 - 336 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 development.

Revert To Item 14: Tabling Of Documents
Revert To Item 14: Tabling Of Documents

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Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a number of documents to table, if I may. I wish to table Tabled Document 28-12(7), Peat Marwick Stevenson and Kellogg project report on the evaluation of appropriateness of the current fire suppression methodology, study eight.

I have Tabled Document 29-12(7), a copy of an opinion column, "Firefighting Aircraft Plans Expensive and Ill-conceived."

I wish to table Tabled Document 30-12(7), a copy of a letter addressed to myself from the former Minister of DPW, dated September 7, 1994.

I wish to table Tabled Document 31-12(7), a copy of the records of decision for the Executive Council dated August 10, 1994, with a copy of statement of requirements attached.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table Tabled Document 32-12(7), a letter to Mr. Doherty dated October 5th from the Dene-Metis Holdings with an attachment.

I wish to table Tabled Document 34-12(7), a copy of a letter to Mr. Morin, Minister of Public Works and Services, from the Dene-Metis dated October 17th.

I wish to table Tabled Document 36-12(7), a letter to the former Minister of DPW from the Dene-Metis Holdings dated October 31, 1994.

Finally, I wish to table Tabled Document 37-12(7), a copy of a press released dated August 18, 1994. Thank you.

Revert To Item 14: Tabling Of Documents
Revert To Item 14: Tabling Of Documents

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Item 14, tabling of documents. Item 15, notices of motion. Item 16, notices of motions for first

reading of bills. Item 17, motions; Motion 10-12(7), Impact of Federal Gun Control Legislation. Mr. Ningark.

John Ningark Natilikmiot

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

WHEREAS a significant number of Northwest Territories residents possess firearms for the purpose of hunting, trapping and pursuing a traditional lifestyle;

AND WHEREAS the federal government introduced Bill C-68, An Act Respecting Firearms and Other Weapons, on February 14, 1995;

AND WHEREAS this proposed legislation would have a significant negative impact on many northern residents;

AND WHEREAS the concerns of the NWT residents were raised with the federal Minister of Justice, the Honourable Allan Rock, but ignored in the drafting of the proposed legislation;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for North Slave, that the Legislative Assembly prepare a presentation to be made to the federal Standing Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs, chaired by the Honourable Warren Allmand, regarding the negative impact that Bill C-68 would have on the citizens of the NWT;

AND FURTHER, that the presentation be made to the Standing Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs when it holds hearings in Ottawa. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you, Mr. Ningark. Your motion is in order. To the motion.

John Ningark Natilikmiot

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, most of the aboriginal people who are now Members of the Legislative Assembly know that when we were growing up, we were taught how to use firearms as soon as we were old enough to go out hunting with our parents, uncles, grandfathers and so on.

Mr. Speaker, over the past 10 years now, the animal rights activists have almost reduced our lifestyle to next to nothing. The federal government has done very little to help our native population in Canada. Mr. Speaker, it seems that the federal government is powerless to help us when it comes to protecting the interest of the native people against the animal rights activists.

Mr. Speaker, regulation upon regulation, in our jurisdiction, have been imposed upon the rights of the native people of the country. It is hard for native people to go out after the polar bear, muskox, narwhals and walruses without having to be restricted by regulations, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, our livelihood has been threatened by a number of endless regulations. This part of the country has been polluted from the pollution coming from the south. Now the federal government is threatening our lifestyle by putting more restrictions on our firearms we use as a tool. Thank you.

---Applause

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you, Mr. Ningark. Seconder, Mr. Zoe.

Henry Zoe

Henry Zoe North Slave

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I would like to speak in support of this particular motion. There are several areas of the proposed gun control legislation that I have problems with. This bill, Mr. Speaker, interferes with the northern way of life. Northerners share what they have with each other and work together as communities. This also extends to our firearms. Shotguns and rifles are often lent from friend to friend, from family member to family member. Mr. Speaker, this bill will turn this simple gesture of friendship into a potential criminal act. In the north, people have close ties to the land. Many people from an early age learn about firearms and begin to use them often as part of hunting and trapping. It is part of their lifestyle, Mr. Speaker. This legislation is restrictive on young people using firearms. We will break the law teaching our young family members to hunt with us if this legislation gets passed.

Mr. Speaker, the legislation does not recognize the vast size and scattering of communities which make up the Northwest Territories. Rather than a made-in-the-north safety training program which recognizes the uniqueness of the Northwest Territories, this legislation lumps us in with the rest of Canada. The concept of trying to deliver a southern-style safety package across the north seems very expensive and next to impossible.

Fees, Mr. Speaker, will be required for both registration of all firearms and for individual licensing. Those in the north who live a traditional lifestyle and are likely to have a number of firearms usually don't have a great deal of disposable income available for paying fees. This is a concern which needs to be addressed in the setting of the fees.

One good economic opportunity in the north is outfitting, Mr. Speaker. Much of the business comes from other countries. This legislation even threatens to negatively impact on this industry, as there are increased restrictions on the transportation of firearms and ammunition. In fact, Mr. Speaker, ammunition in general is going to cause a lot of problems. In smaller communities when constituents call me, I go to the store here in Yellowknife and purchase ammunition and send it back out to them. With the proposed legislation, that will be a criminal act and I can be prosecuted for it.

Mr. Speaker, the penalties included in this legislation are very severe. While we all want to have penalties which discourage criminals, the scope of this legislation ensures that many innocent northerners will become potential criminals and subject to these penalties. This legislation has sections which will impact on the thousands of firearm owners in this country. I cannot even begin to imagine the bureaucracy which will be required for just licensing, registering and monitoring compliance. In this age of deficit slashing, it seems to be a huge potential expense we cannot afford.

When the federal Minister of Justice, Mr. Allan Rock, was here in the fall, Mr. Speaker, we all stressed that our concerns about gun control be adhered to. We raised a number of concerns, Mr. Speaker. I don't believe that he listened to our concerns. None of the issues we've addressed as being important to northerners have been addressed in this legislation. During our meeting with Mr. Rock, it was suggested that for the key areas of concern in the north, there be exemptions for Northwest Territories residents. This would simplify the administration of the act in the Northwest Territories for both the federal government and the residents. I again, Mr. Speaker, repeat the need for exemptions on key clauses of this bill for northerners and I hope that it is one of the messages we take to the committee reviewing this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I strongly support this motion. I hope it will help send our message to the federal government and that, this time, they will listen. Mahsi cho.

---Applause

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you, Mr. Zoe. To the motion.

An Hon. Member

Question.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Question has been called.

Henry Zoe

Henry Zoe North Slave

Recorded vote.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Zoe is requesting a recorded vote. Mr. Clerk. All those in favour, please stand.

Recorded Vote

Clerk Of The House Mr. David Hamilton

Mr. Ningark, Mr. Pudlat, Mr. Dent, Mr. Ballantyne, Mrs. Marie-Jewell, Mr. Zoe, Mr. Koe, Mr. Antoine, Mr. Pudluk, Mr. Allooloo, Ms. Cournoyea, Mr. Kakfwi, Mr. Morin, Mr. Todd, Mr. Nerysoo, Mr. Whitford.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

All those opposed? The motion is carried unanimously.

---Carried

---Applause

Item 17, motions. Item 18, first reading of bills. Item 19, second reading of bills. Mr. Kakfwi.

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, that Bill 16, an Act to Amend the Retirement Plan Beneficiaries Act, be read for the second time.

This bill amends the Retirement Plan Beneficiaries Act to clarify that it applies to retirement savings plans and to provide that it also applies to retirement income funds. Thank you.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. The motion is in order. To the principle of the bill.

An Hon. Member

Question.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Motion is carried.

---Carried

Bill 16 has had second reading. Item 19, second reading of bills. Ms. Cournoyea.

Bill 17: An Act To Amend The Nursing Profession Act
Item 19: Second Reading Of Bills

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Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Sahtu, that Bill 17, an Act to Amend the Nursing Profession Act, be read for the second time.

Mr. Speaker, this bill amends the Nursing Profession Act to provide for the establishment of an educational advisory committee of the board of directors of the Northwest Territories Registered Nurses' Association. The education advisory committee will review nursing education programs and the Minister may approve such programs to allow a graduate of a nursing education program in the territories to be registered as a member of the association, without having to first be registered in another Canadian jurisdiction. This bill also provides for the establishment of membership examinations to be administered to applicants for registration. Thank you.

Bill 17: An Act To Amend The Nursing Profession Act
Item 19: Second Reading Of Bills

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. The motion is in order. To the principle of the bill.

Bill 17: An Act To Amend The Nursing Profession Act
Item 19: Second Reading Of Bills

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An Hon. Member

Question.

Bill 17: An Act To Amend The Nursing Profession Act
Item 19: Second Reading Of Bills

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Motion is carried.

---Carried

Bills 16 and 17 have had second reading and, accordingly, the bills stand referred to a committee. Item 19, second reading of bills.

Item 20, consideration in committee of the whole of bills and other matters: Bill 1, Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1995-96; Committee Report 2-12(7), Report on the Legislative Action Paper on the Office of Ombudsman for the Northwest Territories; Committee Report 3-12(7), Report on the Review of the Legislative Action Paper Proposing New Heritage Legislation for the Northwest Territories; and, Committee Report 4-12(7), Report on the Review of the 1995-96 Main Estimates, with Mr. Ningark in the chair.

Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair John Ningark

Thank you. The committee will come to order. What is the wish of the committee? Mr. Dent.

Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Mr. Chairman, I would like to recommend that the committee continue consideration of Committee Report 4-12(7) and Bill 1, specifically to consider the budget of the Department of Economic Development and Tourism.

Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Do we have the concurrence of the committee that we shall deal with Committee Report 4-12(7), Report on the Review of the 1995-96 Main Estimates; and, Bill 1, Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1995-96. Do we agree?