This is page numbers 677 - 710 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 chairman.

Topics

Negative Impact Of Low-water Surcharge
Revert To Item 3: Members' Statements

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Michael Ballantyne Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I want to talk about the negative impact of the low-water surcharge on one of my constituents, Mr. Albert Wilson, and his wife Mary Wilson. Mr. Wilson is 74 years old, his wife Mary is 75 years old. Mr. Wilson is totally disabled. He has to use oxygen equipment 24 hours a day.

Before the low-water surcharge, the highest he ever paid in his small house was $162 for power. He has paid this month, $184.50 for power. The cost of using his oxygen system is $50 a month. I and others have asked this government for support to give Mr. Wilson some assistance for the use of his oxygen equipment. It hasn't been forthcoming; I will ask again, I will follow up on this issue.

But, Mr. Speaker, the issue here is that many of these increases are hitting the people least able to afford them. I really hope that this government takes into consideration there are people out there who cannot afford to pay these exorbitant increases in power rates and need some assistance for legitimate medical problems. I hope that the government, who supported the increase, and supported the low-water surcharge at the same time that they supported those increases will also look to giving the necessary support to those people who cannot afford these increases. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

Negative Impact Of Low-water Surcharge
Revert To Item 3: Members' Statements

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. Back to Mr. Patterson.

Meeting Re Harbour Improvements In Iqaluit
Revert To Item 3: Members' Statements

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Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, two weeks ago, I attended a meeting with representatives from the town of Iqaluit and the Amarok HTA with government officials to discuss harbour improvements planned over the next three years in Iqaluit. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Honourable John Todd, Minister of Transportation, for making...

---Applause

...two of his very capable officials who are engineers available to assist the community in discussing the various options that are before them. I was pleased that at that meeting it was announced by those officials that increased authority over these community works would be transferred to the region, so that the projects could be managed closer to home, as it were. I have every confidence in the regional superintendent of the Department of Transportation in the Baffin, Mr. Methusalah Kunuk and his staff. I welcome he and his officials being given more responsibility to oversee this very important work.

I would also like to give credit to Coast Guard Canada, whose acting director of northern operations, Mr. Ian Marr attended the meeting, along with one of his officials. Mr. Marr gave the community an indication of changes that have taken place in Coast Guard Canada. One of the changes that we welcome is that there is now a one-window approach for northern operations for the Coast Guard. So the various functions that have been split throughout Coast Guard Canada and throughout several regions will now be dealt with under Mr. Marr's office, which is welcome.

We also had some useful discussions with Coast Guard Canada about improving local employment and possibly obtaining a harbour master in Iqaluit and encouraging a local person to obtain those qualifications.

So it was a good meeting, Mr. Speaker. We look forward to close cooperation with local people and government officials to make this project a success. Thank you very much.

Meeting Re Harbour Improvements In Iqaluit
Revert To Item 3: Members' Statements

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Whitford.

Removal Of Fire Crews From NWT Airports
Revert To Item 3: Members' Statements

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Tony Whitford

Tony Whitford Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good afternoon. Mr. Speaker, I am raising a concern of constituents on an issue that hasn't yet affected Yellowknife, but if the desires of Transport Canada are fulfilled, it will. By April 1st in some of the communities in the north, they are going to be without firefighters at the airports. They are pulling the firefighters out of the communities like Hay River, Fort Smith, Fort Simpson, Resolute Bay and Inuvik. The main reason for that is a change in technology as well as a cost-reduction measure. This is, Mr. Speaker, in many people's opinion, a dangerous move to make by Transport Canada. I know that we will be taking over these airports by a certain time and it is unfortunate that this is being done before we become more involved.

Many people feel that this is a bad and dangerous move that will result in the deaths or serious injuries of many people in the event of an air crash or a fire at an airport involving aircraft. It is probably one of the more dangerous places to be, given the numbers of planes in the area and the fuel in those areas. Like it or not, Mr. Speaker, it is a dangerous move to be making. It is like life insurance. You only need it once. You buy it for one reason and you only use it once. If we ever need fire crews in an area and it is used once to save lives, then I think the money is well spent and we should take time to encourage the federal Transportation board to reconsider these moves. Certainly, when our government takes over the airports, I would encourage them to reconsider the removal of firefighters from airports. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Removal Of Fire Crews From NWT Airports
Revert To Item 3: Members' Statements

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Some Hon. Members

Hear, hear.

Removal Of Fire Crews From NWT Airports
Revert To Item 3: Members' Statements

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Antoine.

Passing Of Fort Simpson Elder
Revert To Item 3: Members' Statements

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Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to rise in the House and pay my respects to elders in our communities. I say this because on Monday, we buried one of our elders in Fort Simpson, Albert Horesay. He was 83 years old. He was a very much respected elder in our community. He has a large family and there are many people who came from very far to attend this man's funeral.

I just wanted to say that our elders are a treasure to us. They hold history for our people in the north. They also hold our languages. As we lose our elders, we also lose a little bit of our history and tradition. As a Dene person, everything is oral: our language; our history; our stories; and, our legends. I know the government has provided some funding programs to try to get people in communities to capture some of our oral history and legends. However, as each of our elders passes on, we lose a little bit more. For that, I just wanted to say that we have to do more to try to retain our culture and our language.

In Fort Simpson, I was pleased to find out that the band, through the resource management group, are trying to recapture a lot of the oral history and traditional knowledge that exists there. In all the other communities, there is a lot of knowledge about the land, the history and how the north has evolved from the perspective of the Dene. I would just like to say that it is a little bit that the government is doing to help the people and I really appreciate that.

(Translation) One of our elders has died. Many people went there and prayed for him. We depend on them. We have to try to preserve our languages and our traditional way of living. Mr. Speaker, the time has run out for me.

Passing Of Fort Simpson Elder
Revert To Item 3: Members' Statements

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

(Translation) Jim wants more time. Are there any nays? Continue, Mr. Antoine.

Passing Of Fort Simpson Elder
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Jim Antoine Nahendeh

(Translation) Mahsi. What I am saying here is a very important person, our elders...A lot of children are speaking English, so they are losing a lot of the traditional ways. So we need to preserve our languages and our Dene way of living. We have to preserve how we have lived, our history. The government is helping us with money for this. That is why I am thankful. Maybe then a lot of people will learn the languages and preserve the traditional ways. When the elders talk, we learn from them. So we depend on them. I just wanted to say something about this elder who passed away. Thank you.

Passing Of Fort Simpson Elder
Revert To Item 3: Members' Statements

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you, Mr. Antoine. I also would like to apologize for using your first name rather than your last. Item 3, Members' statements. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

GNWT's Use Of Employees' Airline Travel Points
Revert To Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 680

Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this government and Legislative Assembly spends millions of dollars on travel, whether it's travel used for vacation travel allowance, medical travel or duty travel.

Mr. Speaker, the airline tickets purchased by this government allow for the ticket-holders to take advantage of receiving Canadian Plus points through Canadian Airlines, or Aeroplan points through Air Canada.

Mr. Speaker, currently, the federal government does not allow for such a perk, and many other governments across the country refrain from allowing individuals to take advantage of the access to travel points. Mr. Speaker, however, the federal government, I understand, allows each department to obtain a corporate card for their holder on behalf of the appropriate department which these funds come out of. Therefore, if points are claimed, they go back to the appropriate department. The theory is that when the department has enough points on their corporate account, they can save funds and obtain a ticket for purposes of duty travel which then results in a saving of spending unnecessary funds.

Mr. Speaker, this makes good fiscal and responsible financial spending on the federal government's part. However, the practice is not considered by our current government and a policy at this time is not even being developed; although, Mr. Speaker, I think it is time for this government to consider development of such a policy and also this Legislative Assembly. Mr. Speaker, we are at a time where our fiscal dollars must be used in the most efficient manner and this will result in a phenomenal savings which will be achieved by departments if a policy were developed to allow for creation of a corporate departmental account for travel purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I intend to bring forth a motion to address this issue so each department would be allowed to create a corporate departmental account for travel purposes which would be used as a measure for saving dollars for our government overall. Thank you.

GNWT's Use Of Employees' Airline Travel Points
Revert To Item 3: Members' Statements

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you, Mrs. Marie-Jewell. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Pudlat.

Construction Of Sanikiluaq Community Centre
Revert To Item 3: Members' Statements

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Kenoayoak Pudlat Baffin South

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a concern about the community centre in Sanikiluaq. As you are probably aware, the centre is currently shut down. We understand that it was over budget and was not able to be completed. I understand they are doing an investigation or a survey to see if they can continue construction of the centre. During oral question period, I will be posing a question to the Minister about the community centre in Sanikiluaq. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Construction Of Sanikiluaq Community Centre
Revert To Item 3: Members' Statements

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Pudluk.

Confusion Between Mr. Pudlat And Mr. Pudluk
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Ludy Pudluk High Arctic

(Translation) This issue I am about to raise is not a new one. It regards the error of the spelling of my last name and it concerns correspondence from communities. This error has occurred a number of times now. Due to the misspelling of my last name, I receive mail that doesn't belong to me. Recently, I received a letter from the government that did not come from my constituency whatsoever, it came from another MLA's constituency, but it was delivered to me.

In situations like this, the Executive Council should take note when signing their letters and check the addresses. My fellow colleague received confidential mail which was inadvertently directed to myself. This could be of a confidential nature and I'm not interested in finding out about his personal or confidential correspondence. The Executive Council and the government should be more cautious and I urge them to be more cautious to ensure that errors of this nature do not continue because I've been receiving mail that does not belong to me, although they are addressed to myself. I inadvertently read this mail and the constituency's concerns weren't addressed to myself in which case they shouldn't have been given to me.

People might forget who I am and where I'm from and who I represent. Maybe people in the government are forgetting which riding I represent, so this is my reminder, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Confusion Between Mr. Pudlat And Mr. Pudluk
Revert To Item 3: Members' Statements

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Member's Statement Paying Tribute To Susan Aglukark
Revert To Item 3: Members' Statements

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Silas Arngna'naaq Kivallivik

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise in the House today to bring greetings from the Northwest Territories winner of two Juno awards, Susan Aglukark.

---Applause

Susan asked that I convey to the House her comments on winning two Juno awards on March 26th. She stated to me, "I am honoured to have received such distinguished awards, not only for myself but for the people of the Northwest Territories."

Mr. Speaker, Susan is only 28 years old. Although she lived throughout the Northwest Territories for the first 12 years of her life as her father is a Pentecostal minister, her family eventually settled in Arviat, Northwest Territories. After completing high school, Susan was employed as an interpreter with DIAND and then as an executive assistant for the Inuit Tapirisat of Canada.

It has been only three short years since Susan Aglukark gave her first, live public performance at a festival in her home town of Arviat. Since then, Susan has recorded several tapes and CDs. She has appeared on a half a dozen prime time television shows and she has starred in music videos. Canada's media has highlighted her fast-rising career. Susan has had the opportunity to entertain Her Royal Highness, Queen Elizabeth, on two occasions, as well as Prime Ministers Mulroney and Chretien.

This week, Susan added two Juno awards to her ever-growing award collection which includes the first ever aboriginal achievement award in the arts and entertainment field, and the Canadian Country Music Association's Vista Rising Star award.

Susan Aglukark is known both for the quality of her talent and the wholesome values and lifestyle she exhibits. Her example is in sharp contrast to those of other entertainers. The youth of the Northwest Territories need this kind of role model to look up to and to emulate.

In closing, Mr. Speaker, I would like to wish Susan every future success and to note that her success as an NWT Inuit youth should be celebrated by all of us. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Member's Statement Paying Tribute To Susan Aglukark
Revert To Item 3: Members' Statements

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. Before we go back to oral questions, I wanted to say that when it came to item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery, Mr. Patterson was out of order when he said that a certain individual wasn't in the gallery. So I just wanted to say that for the record. And perhaps maybe the individual wasn't in the gallery for that reason. I want to remind the Members that we do have rules here for a reason, and to follow them. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Ningark.

John Ningark Natilikmiot

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on Monday, March 27, 1995, I directed a question to the honourable Minister of Education, Culture and Employment and he responded to me, and I quote from the unedited Hansard: "There are a number of options we're looking at." Mr. Speaker, I should have made a supplementary question on this matter but at this point in time, I would like to ask the Minister, what are the options they are looking at? Thank you.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

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

Return To Question 343-12(7): Clarification Re Funding Options For Pelly Bay School Gymnasium
Question 343-12(7): Clarification Re Funding Options For Pelly Bay School Gymnasium
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you. We have to review whether or not there are enough resources available under the infrastructure program, whether there was another option to use present capital resources, or the possibility of finding anyone who could provide the additional financial resources. I want to advise the honourable Member that the community he is referring to has used all of their infrastructure program dollars except for $592. I think what we need to do now is reflect on how we can access, if possible, future resources that might be used for this purpose.

Return To Question 343-12(7): Clarification Re Funding Options For Pelly Bay School Gymnasium
Question 343-12(7): Clarification Re Funding Options For Pelly Bay School Gymnasium
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Ningark.

Supplementary To Question 343-12(7): Clarification Re Funding Options For Pelly Bay School Gymnasium
Question 343-12(7): Clarification Re Funding Options For Pelly Bay School Gymnasium
Item 6: Oral Questions

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John Ningark Natilikmiot

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Kitikmeot board of education wants the gymnasium attachment to the Pelly Bay school. The community education council of the hamlet of Pelly Bay wants the gymnasium attachment and the hamlet council wants it too. This is something that all parties have been trying to request of the government. My supplementary question to the honourable Minister is, when will the honourable Minister assure the Kitikmeot board of education, the hamlet council of Pelly Bay and the community education council when he will be able to help the community build the much needed infrastructure? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 343-12(7): Clarification Re Funding Options For Pelly Bay School Gymnasium
Question 343-12(7): Clarification Re Funding Options For Pelly Bay School Gymnasium
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Nerysoo.