This is page numbers 459 - 488 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

Further Return To Question 241-12(7): Status Of Gun Control Legislation
Question 241-12(7): Status Of Gun Control Legislation
Revert To Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 464

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Mr. Speaker, we have no indication at this time, although we have enquired to the committee chairman in Ottawa. We have requested that they consider travelling to the Northwest Territories since our part of Canada is so different from southern Canada that it deserves to be visited by the committee. As of this time, we have no response from the committee. Although, it is said that they're inclined toward sitting in one place and receiving presentations. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 241-12(7): Status Of Gun Control Legislation
Question 241-12(7): Status Of Gun Control Legislation
Revert To Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 464

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Antoine.

Supplementary To Question 241-12(7): Status Of Gun Control Legislation
Question 241-12(7): Status Of Gun Control Legislation
Revert To Item 6: Oral Questions

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Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is such an important issue. It seems at this point in time that since this is federal government legislation and it has been tabled in the House of Commons, the only changes we could hope to see would be through the presentation to this committee. I don't see any other route we could use at this time except for trying to influence Members of the committee to see it our way. I think it's important that as many people as possible from the north make presentations to this committee. It's crucial that this committee comes north to hear as many people as possible. If that's the case, I would like to ask the Minister of Justice if funding will be available to different groups that may want to make presentations. If they don't have their own funding and it's important that their views be heard, would this government be providing any sort of funding for people to help them with their travel to come and have their voices heard before this committee? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 241-12(7): Status Of Gun Control Legislation
Question 241-12(7): Status Of Gun Control Legislation
Revert To Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 464

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Kakfwi.

Further Return To Question 241-12(7): Status Of Gun Control Legislation
Question 241-12(7): Status Of Gun Control Legislation
Revert To Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 464

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Mr. Speaker, I have two points. What are the means by which we can effect change? The Member is correct; this committee is the most obvious avenue we have to make our views known very clearly to the Members of this committee in hope that they will recommend some changes to the legislation before handing it back to the Government of Canada. That is the intended purpose of having the hearings.

We also have avenues through our respective Members of Parliament. In this regard, we know that the Member of Parliament for the Western Arctic, Ethel Blondin-Andrew, stated last week in Parliament that she would have reservations about supporting the legislation if it did not respect the aboriginal and treaty rights of people in her constituency. She will support it if it is demonstrated that it does not infringe and impede on the aboriginal rights of the Dene, Inuvialuit and Metis.

The Member for Nunatsiaq, Jack Anawak, has not been so favourable in his opposition. In fact, he seems resigned and sees it as a minor inconvenience.

Further Return To Question 241-12(7): Status Of Gun Control Legislation
Question 241-12(7): Status Of Gun Control Legislation
Revert To Item 6: Oral Questions

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Some Hon. Members

(Microphones turned off)

Further Return To Question 241-12(7): Status Of Gun Control Legislation
Question 241-12(7): Status Of Gun Control Legislation
Revert To Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 464

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

So there is some work to be done in getting the views of the north expressed clearly to get our people in the communities to understand very specifically what the implications are of this huge legislation and how much of an inconvenience and infringement it is going to be in the lives of all our people. So there is a lot of work to be done there.

The second point the Member raised was with regard to financial assistance for groups to make presentations. Again, we have written to the chairman of the committee, Mr. Allmand, asking for information that would allow us to advise the First Nations and other interested and concerned groups, as to what would be available for assistance for them to come to the committee to make their presentations.

Thank you.

Further Return To Question 241-12(7): Status Of Gun Control Legislation
Question 241-12(7): Status Of Gun Control Legislation
Revert To Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 465

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Antoine.

Supplementary To Question 241-12(7): Status Of Gun Control Legislation
Question 241-12(7): Status Of Gun Control Legislation
Revert To Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 465

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It would be good if this Standing Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs who will be conducting hearings on the new gun control legislation could travel north. I haven't heard whether there is the possibility that they might not come north. If they don't come north and they conduct their hearings in Ottawa, will this government be providing assistance to different groups who may want to make presentations to this committee? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 241-12(7): Status Of Gun Control Legislation
Question 241-12(7): Status Of Gun Control Legislation
Revert To Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 465

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Kakfwi.

Further Return To Question 241-12(7): Status Of Gun Control Legislation
Question 241-12(7): Status Of Gun Control Legislation
Revert To Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 465

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Mr. Chairman, it is my view that it is federal legislation. It is federal legislation that is going to be a horrendously expensive proposition for the federal government. It is the federal government that will have to take on the cost of implementing this piece of legislation, not the Government of the Northwest Territories. So it is my view that we have to convince the federal government that they should be paying for the cost of the northern people providing some cost-saving advice to them about their legislation. At this time, this government, the departments of Justice in particular with Renewable Resources, will provide some advice and information to groups upon request in preparing presentations. By and large, the responsibility goes to the federal government for this. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 241-12(7): Status Of Gun Control Legislation
Question 241-12(7): Status Of Gun Control Legislation
Revert To Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 465

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

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

Question 242-12(7): Notification Of New Rent Scale
Revert To Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 465

Kenoayoak Pudlat Baffin South

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is directed to the Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation. It seems that the new rent scale that is being implemented on April 1st will go ahead. We all know people in public housing who have never had rental arrears, have kept up to date with their payments and who have been very faithful to their housing associations since they have resided in public housing. There has been no indication of giving benefits to those people who always keep up to date with their rental payments. The government is giving them a big rental increase. As the Minister said, 95 per cent of the people in the Northwest Territories have been informed and some people who have been away haven't received this information. Mr. Speaker, will they be notified by April 1st? Will the information come across to those other people who have not heard about this? Do you think all the people in the NWT will know about this rental scale before April 1st? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 242-12(7): Notification Of New Rent Scale
Revert To Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 465

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Minister of Housing, Mr. Morin.

Return To Question 242-12(7): Notification Of New Rent Scale
Question 242-12(7): Notification Of New Rent Scale
Revert To Item 6: Oral Questions

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Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. According to the information I have from the NWT Housing Corporation, local housing authorities are quite sure that they will be able to get in touch with all tenants and all people who haven't had their counselling. The housing authority will make sure those people who are out on the land or travelling will get their notice. Thank you.

Return To Question 242-12(7): Notification Of New Rent Scale
Question 242-12(7): Notification Of New Rent Scale
Revert To Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Ms. Mike.

Question 243-12(7): Notification Of Rent Increases
Revert To Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 465

Rebecca Mike Baffin Central

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Housing on the rent scale implementation. Isn't it the present law that the landlord has to give three months' notice if there is going to be rent increases? Thank you.

Question 243-12(7): Notification Of Rent Increases
Revert To Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Minister of Housing, Mr. Morin.

Return To Question 243-12(7): Notification Of Rent Increases
Question 243-12(7): Notification Of Rent Increases
Revert To Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 465

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The law is that a private landlord would have to give three months notice and are allowed to change their rent once a year. But because we have what they call a "rental subsidy" -- public housing -- we don't have to give the three-month notice. Our leases with our tenants are month to month. So it only requires one month. Thank you.

Return To Question 243-12(7): Notification Of Rent Increases
Question 243-12(7): Notification Of Rent Increases
Revert To Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 465

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Supplementary, Ms. Mike.

Supplementary To Question 243-12(7): Notification Of Rent Increases
Question 243-12(7): Notification Of Rent Increases
Revert To Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 465

Rebecca Mike Baffin Central

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Why is it that the Housing Corporation has to give just one month's notice when the GNWT is required to give three months? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 243-12(7): Notification Of Rent Increases
Question 243-12(7): Notification Of Rent Increases
Revert To Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 465

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Mr. Morin.

Further Return To Question 243-12(7): Notification Of Rent Increases
Question 243-12(7): Notification Of Rent Increases
Revert To Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 465

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is my understanding that if you refer to staff housing compared to social housing, there is a difference. It's social housing, which is subsidized housing, and it only requires one month. The leases are month to month. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 243-12(7): Notification Of Rent Increases
Question 243-12(7): Notification Of Rent Increases
Revert To Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 465

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Supplementary, Ms. Mike.

Supplementary To Question 243-12(7): Notification Of Rent Increases
Question 243-12(7): Notification Of Rent Increases
Revert To Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 465

Rebecca Mike Baffin Central

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a concern in this area because in one of my communities there are something like 60 people on a waiting list for public housing. This government has a monopoly in the small communities on houses available for rent because there aren't private housing markets. I don't consider that fair, especially when only a small

number of access houses can be built in smaller communities to help some of the people who can afford their own homes. How can the Minister implement a rent scale that will force individual tenants to pay rent?