Debates of March 8th, 1995

This is page numbers 521 - 547 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 housing.

Topics

Members Present
Item 1: Prayer
International Women's Day
Prospectors' And Developers' Conference
Review Of Student Accommodation
Early Childhood Program
International Women's Day And Appreciation Of Mrs. Lewis
International Women's Day
Susan Toolooktook's Walk Of Love
Reorganization Of Heritage Canada In Nwt
International Women's Day
Winter Roads In Nahendeh
International Women's Day And Mrs. Ningark
International Women's Day
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Status Of Affirmative Action Review Committee
Use Of Tabled Document 51-12(7) To Inform Tenants Of Rent Adjustments
Designation Of Form Entitled "rent Change Notice"
Extension Of Date For Closure Of Winter Roads
Inuktitut Translation Of Rent Change Notice Misleading
Distribution Of Premier's Speech
Rental Increases Regardless Of Misleading Inuktitut Translation
Status Of Staffing Justice Of The Peace Trainer Position
Number Of Pys At Housing Corporation
Make-up Of Affirmative Action Review Committee
Extension For Unilingual Tenants Re Rent Increase
Number Of Pys At Housing Corporation
Polar Bear Management
Employees' Awareness Of GNWT Vehicle Restrictions
Improvements To Highway System
Written Question 15-12(7): List Of Purchases Made By Dpw Local Garage In Fort Smith
Written Question 16-12(7): Maintenance And Closure Of Winter Roads In Nahendeh
Return To Written Question 6-12(7): Notice Of Development Of High School Program And Reduction Of Services
Return To Written Question 14-12(7): Review Of Arctic College Environmental And Renewable Resources Technology Program
Return To Written Question 5-12(7): Arctic College Base Funding
Return To Written Question 8-12(7): Protection From Rental Increases For Public Housing Tenants
Item 13: Tabling Of Documents
Invitation To Department Of Heritage Canada Officials To Appear Before The Legislative Assembly Of The NWT To Respond To Concerns
Item 15: Notices Of Motions For First Reading Of Bills
Bill 20: Loan Authorization Act, 1995-96
Bill 21: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1994-95
Bill 22: Forgiveness Of Debts Act, 1994-95
Bill 23: Write-off Of Debts Act, 1994-95
Bill 24: Community Employees' Benefits Act
Bill 25: Education Act
Bill 26: An Act To Amend The Jury Act
Bill 27: An Act To Amend The Land Titles Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Bill 17: An Act To Amend The Nursing Profession Act
Item 20: Report Of Committee Of The Whole
Item 22: Orders Of The Day

Further Return To Question 275-12(7): Rental Increases Regardless Of Misleading Inuktitut Translation
Question 275-12(7): Rental Increases Regardless Of Misleading Inuktitut Translation
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 533

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In all normal circumstances, yes. That is what the rent scale change says and that's a very clear answer to the Member.

Also, I would like to assure the Members and this Member, particularly, that I just received the document she is referring to which says "will not pay rent." If that is the case and that is how it is, then it has to be cleared up. We have to give the benefit of the doubt to our tenants and we have to work it out with our local housing authorities how to solve the problem, but I don't see it as a major problem and we should be able to address it fairly shortly. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 275-12(7): Rental Increases Regardless Of Misleading Inuktitut Translation
Question 275-12(7): Rental Increases Regardless Of Misleading Inuktitut Translation
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 533

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

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

Question 276-12(7): Status Of Staffing Justice Of The Peace Trainer Position
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 533

Tony Whitford

Tony Whitford Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to direct a question to the Minister of Justice. Members will know the role that justices of the peace play in the day-to-day delivery of justice in the communities. Almost every community across the territories has at least one justice of the peace; in some cases, two or more. Those justices of the peace, hard working as they are, require a certain amount of contact, weekly, to be assured of what they are doing and they also need training.

Mr. Speaker, it has been some time since the justice of the peace trainer, Mr. Stevens left the territorial government and the justices of the peace have been left without someone directly responsible for them. I would like to ask the Minister, what are the plans for replacing the justice of the peace trainer in the foreseeable future?

Question 276-12(7): Status Of Staffing Justice Of The Peace Trainer Position
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 533

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Minister of Justice, Mr. Kakfwi.

Return To Question 276-12(7): Status Of Staffing Justice Of The Peace Trainer Position
Question 276-12(7): Status Of Staffing Justice Of The Peace Trainer Position
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 533

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Mr. Speaker, the plan is to find someone to fulfil the function that was done by Mr. Sam Stevens until he left. Whether or not we will fill that position to carry out that function or come up with another means to get that function fulfilled is under discussion right now with the chief judge of the Territorial Court. We all recognize that training is an important element in developing community-based justice and in supporting the development of justices of the peace. We are having discussions with the chief judge on how best to fulfil that requirement. Thank you.

Return To Question 276-12(7): Status Of Staffing Justice Of The Peace Trainer Position
Question 276-12(7): Status Of Staffing Justice Of The Peace Trainer Position
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 533

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Whitford.

Supplementary To Question 276-12(7): Status Of Staffing Justice Of The Peace Trainer Position
Question 276-12(7): Status Of Staffing Justice Of The Peace Trainer Position
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 533

Tony Whitford

Tony Whitford Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It's reassuring that this is being looked at. Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, I've heard from a number of justices of the peace that plans are afoot to replace that position with that of a judge. While I recognize the value that judges may contribute to training justices of the peace, quite a lot of the function is administrative. There is recruitment, there is a lot of paperwork and personal contact and I fear if this is the route that is taken, it will detract from this. I would like to ask the Minister if they would take into consideration the administrative role when they are seeking a new trainer.

Supplementary To Question 276-12(7): Status Of Staffing Justice Of The Peace Trainer Position
Question 276-12(7): Status Of Staffing Justice Of The Peace Trainer Position
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 533

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Kakfwi.

Further Return To Question 276-12(7): Status Of Staffing Justice Of The Peace Trainer Position
Question 276-12(7): Status Of Staffing Justice Of The Peace Trainer Position
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 533

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Yes, Mr. Speaker, we shall.

Further Return To Question 276-12(7): Status Of Staffing Justice Of The Peace Trainer Position
Question 276-12(7): Status Of Staffing Justice Of The Peace Trainer Position
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 533

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Item 6, oral questions. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Question 277-12(7): Number Of Pys At Housing Corporation
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 534

Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Housing. Mr. Speaker, yesterday, I asked the Minister of Housing whether or not the Housing Corporation had cut PYs from their budget and he indicated they didn't cut any, even though they experienced a drastic cut in their budget allotment.

Mr. Speaker, his response, and I quote from unedited Hansard: "Yes, we can justify it and we'll do that when we present our budget in this House. All the PYs are there and all that information will be available to the Members. Thank you." Mr. Speaker, my purpose for asking the Minister whether or not there were any cuts in PYs is, if he looks in his budget book, there are no PYs described at all. It just requests approval for $62 million, and that's it.

I would like to ask the Minister whether or not he will provide the number of PYs that the Housing Corporation has, for the past four years. Thank you.

Question 277-12(7): Number Of Pys At Housing Corporation
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 534

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation, Mr. Morin.

Return To Question 277-12(7): Number Of Pys At Housing Corporation
Question 277-12(7): Number Of Pys At Housing Corporation
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 534

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes.

Return To Question 277-12(7): Number Of Pys At Housing Corporation
Question 277-12(7): Number Of Pys At Housing Corporation
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 534

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Supplementary To Question 277-12(7): Number Of Pys At Housing Corporation
Question 277-12(7): Number Of Pys At Housing Corporation
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 534

Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the Minister provide the number of PYs that the Housing Corporation has prior to his budget coming into the House, or when will he provide them? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 277-12(7): Number Of Pys At Housing Corporation
Question 277-12(7): Number Of Pys At Housing Corporation
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 534

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Morin.

Further Return To Question 277-12(7): Number Of Pys At Housing Corporation
Question 277-12(7): Number Of Pys At Housing Corporation
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 534

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'll provide them as soon as the Housing Corporation provides them to me. That shouldn't take very long because it's the same type of information we provide to SCOF. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 277-12(7): Number Of Pys At Housing Corporation
Question 277-12(7): Number Of Pys At Housing Corporation
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 534

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Supplementary To Question 277-12(7): Number Of Pys At Housing Corporation
Question 277-12(7): Number Of Pys At Housing Corporation
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 534

Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha

In addition to PYs, Mr. Speaker, recognizing that this is International Women's Day and in trying to establish government's commitment to ensure adequate representation of women at all levels of the territorial public service, will the Minister indicate how many positions in the Housing Corporation at the director level or above are presently filled by women? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 277-12(7): Number Of Pys At Housing Corporation
Question 277-12(7): Number Of Pys At Housing Corporation
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 534

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Morin.

Further Return To Question 277-12(7): Number Of Pys At Housing Corporation
Question 277-12(7): Number Of Pys At Housing Corporation
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 534

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will provide to this House information on all positions, whether they are women, men, aboriginal, or non-aboriginal, in the Housing Corporation. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 277-12(7): Number Of Pys At Housing Corporation
Question 277-12(7): Number Of Pys At Housing Corporation
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 534

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Final supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Supplementary To Question 277-12(7): Number Of Pys At Housing Corporation
Question 277-12(7): Number Of Pys At Housing Corporation
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 534

Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha

Thank you. Will the Minister commit to providing that information prior to our sessional break? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 277-12(7): Number Of Pys At Housing Corporation
Question 277-12(7): Number Of Pys At Housing Corporation
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 534

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Morin.

Further Return To Question 277-12(7): Number Of Pys At Housing Corporation
Question 277-12(7): Number Of Pys At Housing Corporation
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 534

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, no.