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.

Topics

Traditional Events In Taloyoak
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 434

John Ningark Natilikmiot

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, during my visit to my region, mainly Taloyoak, I had the opportunity to talk to one of the local business people, Mr. Dennis Lyall. Mr. Lyall has indicated to me on two occasions that he wants to put together traditional events, which are slated for the early summer of 1995.

Mr. Speaker, such events are good for the community; it brings together different entertainers from outlying communities as well as from other regions. Mr. Speaker, cultural events are good, they are mentally healthy; physically healthy and culturally healthy, and, Mr. Speaker, it is God-given for people to get together in the spirit of goodwill. So I would urge the department which has the money to support such events to do so. At the appropriate time, I will be asking the Minister of Education, Culture and Communications for some possible funding for this event. Thank you.

Traditional Events In Taloyoak
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 434

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

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

Achievements Of NWT Athletes
Item 3: Members' Statements

March 2nd, 1995

Page 434

Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wanted to have an opportunity to speak about a young man I think many of us know personally, at least I do. He's a young man who is setting what I consider is an example worthy of recognition. He's a young man from Yellowknife, actually, by the name of Jeremy Jaud. We pay great tribute to our athletes. Mr. Whitford, Member for Yellowknife South, spoke about our athletes at the Canada Winter Games. The chair of the Ordinary Members' Caucus spoke about the Koe curling team. Sometimes, Mr. Speaker, we have a tendency not to realize the importance of sports to the development of young people.

I wanted to rise to pay tribute to Jeremy Jaud, and not only for his character because I had an opportunity to be at the Canada Summer Games where I saw Jeremy Jaud and members of the Yellowknife Polar Bear Swim Club, who are the majority of the team, cheer on other athletes, whether they were playing volleyball, soccer or fastball. For those who don't know and who didn't read the papers, from the 10th to the 12th of February at the 1995 Junior Nationals in Victoria, Jeremy took gold in the 100-metre freestyle, the 100-metre breaststroke, the 200-metre individual medley, the 200-relay, the 200 metre breaststroke; and, in the 400 metre relay, Jeremy and his team broke the old youth national record by a full two seconds.

Jeremy Jaud also won silver medals in the 200-metre freestyle, the 400-individual medley, the 200-backstroke and the 400-metre freestyle.

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

Achievements Of NWT Athletes
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 435

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

The Member for Mackenzie Delta is seeking unanimous consent. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Please proceed, Mr. Nerysoo.

Achievements Of NWT Athletes
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 435

Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker and thank you, colleagues. Mr. Speaker, I wanted to make a point of raising this issue today because I think, oft-times we have a tendency of spreading bad news. Jeremy Jaud is giving the territories a chance to spread good news about things, about young people and the reason why determination and commitment is important for young people, whether it is in school, athletics or at work. A young man like this who, along with other athletes like Ron Gonzales of Hay River, Pinto Dragon of Fort Smith, and Kevin Koe of Inuvik/Yellowknife, set wonderful examples for our young. I think we should always encourage young people to participate in athletics because it develops character, commitment and the desire to do better, whether or not they win. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Achievements Of NWT Athletes
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 435

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you, Mr. Nerysoo. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Ballantyne.

Michael Ballantyne Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, would like to talk about young athletes, and Jeremy Jaud is a very impressive young athlete. I would like to talk about our speedskaters. This weekend, the NWT Speedskating Association is holding their territorial championships. There are 150 skaters involved in the Yellowknife club. They've been coached by very dedicated long-time coaches, Gay Kennedy and Dave McCann, who have been with the club for many, many years.

We also have a wave of the future. Three of the great young skaters in the club, Giny Wainwright, Dwight Pennington and Jamie Sanders are fantastic skaters and have taken certification courses with Sport North and are giving back to the sport, as coaches, so that the club continues. The Yellowknife Speedskating Club has held clinics in Igloolik, Fort Providence, Pangnirtung, Tuktoyaktuk, Norman Wells, Inuvik and in Aklavik. Last week, we had eight athletes at the Canada Winter Games

and everybody at the Winter Games were very impressed with the calibre of our athletes.

Speedskating is a wonderful sport for those who have ever seen it. Those kids skate like the wind. There are very simple rules: skate fast and turn left, at least that's what they tell me. It's a sport that can take place anywhere in the territories because all you really need is an arena, skates and a helmet. I understand that Pangnirtung is one example where it's really catching on and two kids from Pangnirtung are competing here at the championships. They are a really good bunch of kids and a good bunch of coaches, with tremendous camaraderie. I think the Yellowknife Speedskating Club is a great credit to the community.

The championships are being held at the Yellowknife Community Arena on Friday from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm and on Saturday from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm. Everybody is welcome. On behalf of the Legislative Assembly, I wish all the competitors well in the NWT championships. Thank you.

---Applause

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you, Mr. Ballantyne. Item 3, Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Mr. Nerysoo.

Further Return To Question 140-12(7): Funding Provided To Students At Lester B Pearson College
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

Page 435

Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is a return to an oral question asked by Mr. Antoine on February 22nd with regard to funding provided to the students at Lester B. Pearson College. In the past, the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment supported one northern student a year to attend Lester B. Pearson College, through the payment of a two-year scholarship. The scholarship covered costs for tuition and room and board for this two-year program. In addition, the department also paid the transportation costs for NWT students.

Due to fiscal restraint, in 1993 the department informed Lester B. Pearson College that they would no longer be providing a scholarship for students to attend this program. The last student the department fully funded to attend was a student from Fort Smith, sponsored for the 1993-95 academic term. This year, the cost of tuition and room and board for the college is $19,000. The department did provide the college with a list of possible private sponsors, including land claim organizations, that might be willing to support NWT students.

I am pleased to inform you that, starting in 1994, Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, in conjunction with Lester B. Pearson College, is supporting a student from Rankin Inlet to attend the program. I am also pleased to inform you that Lester B. Pearson, itself, is also offering a scholarship for one NWT student for each new two-year term. A Fort Simpson student is now receiving this scholarship for the 1994-96 term. In total, there are three NWT students now attending the college. A student from Fort Smith is in the second and last year of the program and the Fort Simpson and Rankin Inlet students are in the first year of their program.

I'm not aware of any letters sent to these students telling them that they would no longer be receiving scholarship funding to attend Lester B. Pearson college and I would appreciate receiving a copy of these letters so I can help resolve this matter. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Further Return To Question 140-12(7): Funding Provided To Students At Lester B Pearson College
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

Page 436

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Dent.

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Justice. Mr. Speaker, several of the victims' services programs of the NWT have been able to tap into federal funding on a three-year term basis to augment the funding from this government. Without this funding, it is questionable whether many could have even operated. Is the Minister aware of any cuts to this federal funding as a result of the federal budget?

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Minister of Justice, Mr. Kakfwi.

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Mr. Speaker, I have to take the question as notice. I have yet to receive the details of the implications of the federal budget to our specific programs. Thank you.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. The question was taken as notice. Mr. Koe.

Fred Koe Inuvik

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the budget speech delivered on February 20, 1995, the Minister of Finance made a statement and I wish to quote that statement: "We are committed to treating our employees fairly and it is our intention to work cooperatively with the unions, be it at the bargaining table or in joint consultation, to determine the most effective means to reduce wage and benefits costs." What does the Minister mean by this statement?

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Minister of Finance, Mr. Pollard.

Return To Question 224-12(7): Clarification Of Statement In Budget Address
Question 224-12(7): Clarification Of Statement In Budget Address
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 436

John Pollard Hay River

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good morning. Mr. Speaker, I wanted to send a clear message to our employees, either through the NWTTA or the UNW, that we would bargain with them in good faith, whether it was creating workforce adjustment programs if any downsizing were to occur, or if it was concerning community transfer where jurisdictions are changing for certain employees. Most of all, Mr. Speaker, it was regarding the collective bargaining that has been going on and that we have asked for certain concessions from our employees through their union, the UNW. I wanted to send a clear message that that would be done in good faith and that we were willing to cooperate and use the bargaining process properly and come to good arrangements with our unions. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Return To Question 224-12(7): Clarification Of Statement In Budget Address
Question 224-12(7): Clarification Of Statement In Budget Address
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 436

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Supplementary, Mr. Koe.

Supplementary To Question 224-12(7): Clarification Of Statement In Budget Address
Question 224-12(7): Clarification Of Statement In Budget Address
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 436

Fred Koe Inuvik

Mahsi. This particular statement that I quoted seems like a real paradox, Mr. Speaker. I am sure that the union is not as interested in reducing wages and benefits costs, as some Members of this government are. How are the negotiations between the UNW and this government proceeding?

Supplementary To Question 224-12(7): Clarification Of Statement In Budget Address
Question 224-12(7): Clarification Of Statement In Budget Address
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 436

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Minister of Finance, Mr. Pollard.

Further Return To Question 224-12(7): Clarification Of Statement In Budget Address
Question 224-12(7): Clarification Of Statement In Budget Address
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 436

John Pollard Hay River

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there are no negotiations going on at the present time. We are looking and have exchanged names with regard to mediation and arbitration which is a course in the bargaining process.

Further Return To Question 224-12(7): Clarification Of Statement In Budget Address
Question 224-12(7): Clarification Of Statement In Budget Address
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 436

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Supplementary, Mr. Koe.

Supplementary To Question 224-12(7): Clarification Of Statement In Budget Address
Question 224-12(7): Clarification Of Statement In Budget Address
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 436

Fred Koe Inuvik

Has an arbitrator or mediator been chosen yet?

Supplementary To Question 224-12(7): Clarification Of Statement In Budget Address
Question 224-12(7): Clarification Of Statement In Budget Address
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 436

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Pollard.

Further Return To Question 224-12(7): Clarification Of Statement In Budget Address
Question 224-12(7): Clarification Of Statement In Budget Address
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 436

John Pollard Hay River

Not to my knowledge, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.