This is page numbers 431 - 457 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 area.

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Further Return To Question 239-12(7): Fort Liard Request For Community Hall
Question 239-12(7): Fort Liard Request For Community Hall
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 444

Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I guess if the community wishes to reallocate some of the existing capital funding in the community's existing capital plan, they could certainly approach Madam Premier and we could take a look at that. But if the community is asking to bring additional funding into the capital funding process, in order to do that we would have to delete a project from another constituency. At this time, as you all know, Members would be upset if that took place. I would like to say again that I do recognize the needs of the community of Fort Liard that have been brought forward by the Member. We will take a look at it. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 239-12(7): Fort Liard Request For Community Hall
Question 239-12(7): Fort Liard Request For Community Hall
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 444

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Item 7, written questions. Mr. Zoe.

Further Return To Question 239-12(7): Fort Liard Request For Community Hall
Question 239-12(7): Fort Liard Request For Community Hall
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 444

Henry Zoe

Henry Zoe North Slave

Mr. Speaker, before we go to written questions, may I seek unanimous consent to return to item 3? Thank you.

Further Return To Question 239-12(7): Fort Liard Request For Community Hall
Question 239-12(7): Fort Liard Request For Community Hall
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 444

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

The Member is seeking unanimous consent to return to item 3, Members' statements. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Please proceed, Mr. Zoe.

Concerns Re Early Closure Of Winter Roads
Revert To Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 444

Henry Zoe

Henry Zoe North Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yesterday my colleague, Mr. Antoine, raised a concern about the early closure of winter roads. He raised many good points about the effects on people of the communities as a result. I agree with Mr. Antoine's concern. People in my constituency are also concerned about the announced early closure of the winter roads.

Mr. Speaker, I have another concern with respect to the winter road closure on March 15th. This concern has to do with support for economic development. In my area, Mr. Speaker, there are a number of developments going on this year. Over the last week, I have received many calls and letters from groups that will be negatively impacted by this decision. For example, Mr. Speaker, the Dogrib Power Corporation is involved in a major development in conjunction with the NWT Power Corporation. The general contractor for this project has a lot of materials to bring in. Both the project schedule and prices were based on being able to maximize use of the winter road to get the supplies in.

Even the subcontractors on this project, such as the catering company, will be affected if they can't get in their materials. While contractors know that the length of time the roads will stay open varies, they certainly expected, based on past years, to be able to use the road well past March 15th. In Wha Ti, Mr. Speaker, the Wha Ti Development Corporation negotiated a contract to build an arena. They also counted on the economies of being able to use the winter road to get their supplies in. This closure may make the difference between a positive profitable project and a loss for this growing local business, the kind this government apparently wants to encourage.

Mr. Speaker, this government has placed a strong emphasis on economic development. This has extended to the use of negotiated contracts to help local companies get on their feet.

Concerns Re Early Closure Of Winter Roads
Revert To Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 444

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Zoe, your time is up.

Concerns Re Early Closure Of Winter Roads
Revert To Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 444

Henry Zoe

Henry Zoe North Slave

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

Concerns Re Early Closure Of Winter Roads
Revert To Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 444

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

The Member for North Slave is seeking unanimous consent. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Please proceed, Mr. Zoe.

Concerns Re Early Closure Of Winter Roads
Revert To Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 444

Henry Zoe

Henry Zoe North Slave

Thank you, colleagues. Mr. Speaker, the early closure of the winter roads seems to work against the efforts to develop our economy. Many of the projects negatively affected by the closure are paid for directly or indirectly by our government. I hope that when this decision was made, the government considered not just the savings but also the additional costs on projects as a result of supplies having to be flown into the communities and also to the project sites. Mahsi.

Concerns Re Early Closure Of Winter Roads
Revert To Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 444

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Item 3, Members' statements. Back to item 7, written questions. Mr. Zoe.

Concerns Re Early Closure Of Winter Roads
Revert To Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 444

Henry Zoe

Henry Zoe North Slave

Mr. Speaker, can I seek unanimous consent to go back to oral questions? I forgot to ask one question. Thank you.

Concerns Re Early Closure Of Winter Roads
Revert To Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 444

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

The Member for North Slave is seeking unanimous consent to go back to item 6, oral questions. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Proceed, Mr. Zoe.

Question 240-12(7): Early Closure Of Winter Roads
Revert To Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 444

Henry Zoe

Henry Zoe North Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to direct this question to the Premier, as the Minister of Transportation is not in the House in today. My question is with regard to the early closure of winter roads in my constituency and the negative impact, not only on the people in their day-to-day activities, but on planned economic development and construction activities. I understand that the Minister of Transportation has undertaken to look into the issue of winter road closure in response to Mr. Antoine's concerns; however, I would like to ask the Premier if she would endeavour to approach the Minister of Transportation to explore every possibility of keeping the winter roads open as long as possible and as long as the weather permits. Thank you.

Question 240-12(7): Early Closure Of Winter Roads
Revert To Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 444

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Madam Premier.

Return To Question 240-12(7): Early Closure Of Winter Roads
Question 240-12(7): Early Closure Of Winter Roads
Revert To Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 445

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Mr. Speaker, I will take the request to the Minister of Transportation to see how the needs and requirements that have been stated can be met. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Return To Question 240-12(7): Early Closure Of Winter Roads
Question 240-12(7): Early Closure Of Winter Roads
Revert To Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 445

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Item 6, oral questions. Item 7, written questions. Item 8, returns to written questions. Item 9, replies to opening address. Item 10, petitions. Item 11, reports of standing and special committees. Item 12, report of committees on the review of bills. Item 13, tabling of documents. Mr. Dent.

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

Page 445

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to table Tabled Document 42-12(7), the results of an interjurisdictional survey for comparison of figures, provided by the Honourable Nellie Cournoyea in October 1994 in response to my written question about mammograms. Ms. Cournoyea's reply indicated that the NWT compared quite well, in 1992, to results achieved in Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Ontario and BC. This survey shows that there was actually a much greater percentage of mammographies done in each of those five provinces than there was in the NWT.

Mr. Speaker, I am also retabling Tabled Document 43-12(7), Ms. Cournoyea's Return to Written Question 15-12(6) for comparison's sake.

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

Page 445

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Item 13, tabling of documents. Mr. Nerysoo.

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

Page 445

Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table Tabled Document 44-12(7), Northwest Territories Liquor Commission 40th Annual Report for the Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 1994. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Page 445

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Item 13, tabling of documents. Item 14, notices of motion. We will take a 15-minute break.

---SHORT RECESS

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

Page 445

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

The House will come back to order. We're on item 16, motions, and we have Motion 13-12(7) with Mr. Antoine.

Motion 13-12(7): Defence Of Extreme Drunkenness
Item 16: Motions

March 2nd, 1995

Page 445

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

WHEREAS the Northwest Territories has a rate of reported violent crime which is six times the national average and a rate of reported sexual assault which is growing at alarming proportions;

AND WHEREAS there were 679 reported incidents of sexual assault in the NWT in 1993, making the rate of reported sexual assault nine times the national average;

AND WHEREAS it is estimated that alcohol is involved in virtually all crime in the NWT, and especially assault and sexual assault;

AND WHEREAS the Legislative Assembly, on February 11, 1994, recognized that violence against women and children is occurring at epidemic levels, and accordingly issued a declaration of zero tolerance;

AND WHEREAS many people in the NWT have expressed that the recognition of extreme drunkenness as a defence to assault and sexual assault by the Supreme Court of Canada, has made women feel threatened and at risk;

AND WHEREAS the Minister of Justice and Attorney General for Canada on February 24, 1995, tabled legislation in Parliament which will amend the Criminal Code to remove self-induced, extreme drunkenness as a defence to crimes of violence;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Sahtu, that the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories expresses its full support for the proposed amendments to the Criminal Code which would remove self-induced extreme drunkenness as a defence to general intent crimes of violence;

AND FURTHER, affirms that the removal of this defence is demonstrably justifiable in a free and democratic society. Mahsi.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

The motion is in order. To the motion. Mr. Antoine.

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. The Canadian government's Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, the Honourable Allan Rock, has tabled amendments to the Criminal Code. These amendments will not allow self-induced extreme drunkenness or intoxication as a defence to crimes of violence. There was a Supreme Court of Canada decision last fall called the Daviault decision. The case used extreme drunkenness as a defence to an assault charge. By being really drunk, this person was in a state of automatism and insane while he sexually assaulted an elderly lady in a wheelchair. This decision and the act itself, is totally unacceptable to everyone in any society and must be changed.

Now other people are beginning to use this decision to defend themselves in courts for assault charges. The Charter of Rights and Freedoms, section 7, gives everyone the right not to be deprived of their right to life, liberty and security of person, except in accordance with the principles of fundamental justice. Being extremely intoxicated does not give anyone the right to deprive other people in this society their own right to life, liberty and security, Mr. Speaker. Based on that, I move this motion. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Seconder of the motion, Mr. Kakfwi.