This is page numbers 549 - 579 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 education.

Topics

Members Present

Mr. Antoine, Hon. Silas Arngna'naaq, Mr. Dent, Hon. Samuel Gargan, Hon. Stephen Kakfwi, Mr. Koe, Mr. Lewis, Mrs. Marie-Jewell, Ms. Mike, Hon. Don Morin, Hon. Richard Nerysoo, Hon. Kelvin Ng, Mr. Ningark, Mr. Patterson, Hon. John Pollard, Mr. Pudlat, Mr. Pudluk, Hon. John Todd, Mr. Whitford, Mr. Zoe

---Prayer

Item 1: Prayer
Item 1: Prayer

Page 549

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Item 2, Ministers' statements.

Minister's Statement 37-12(7): Tabling Of Note
Item 2: Ministers' Statements

Page 549

Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yesterday afternoon, the honourable Member for Baffin Central tabled a personal note that I sent to her. I would like to take this opportunity to apologize to the Member for any unparliamentary language the note may have contained or for any offence which may have been taken to its contents. Thank you.

---Applause

Minister's Statement 37-12(7): Tabling Of Note
Item 2: Ministers' Statements

Page 549

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Item 2, Ministers' statements. Mr. Morin.

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Over the past few days, there have been a number of concerns raised by MLAs about the implementation of the rent scale. I would like to make a statement today about the rent scale implementation and to assure Members that we are hearing their concerns, and acting on them as we become aware of them.

The implementation of the new rent scale is a very big job. There are approximately 5,600 tenant households in 50 communities across the NWT whose rents have to be assessed. The old rent scale had not been updated since 1983 and needed to be changed. CMHC, our federal funding partner, advised us that change was needed or they were going to cut almost $6 million annually from our funding. The new rent scale received the broadest consultation of any Housing Corporation or government policy. It was reviewed with community groups, housing associations and authorities, mayors, MLAs and was discussed with the Special Committee on Social Housing made up of Members of this Assembly.

Notices of the change to the rent scale have gone out, as required under the Residential Tenancies Act, one month prior to implementation. Members of this Assembly have stated that some constituents are having trouble understanding the notice. There seems to be a difference of opinion on the translation of the document. Where it has been determined that a tenant has not understood the notice because of translation problems, a further one month's notice will be allowed.

---Applause

The tenant will receive counselling in the language they prefer so they fully understand the rent scale changes. We anticipated that all tenants would have to be individually counselled. This is why we have put notices in the newspapers, on TV and on the radio. To date, approximately 50 per cent of the 5,600 households have been counselled and this number is increasing rapidly. Staff from the local housing organizations have reported that tenants are coming in for counselling and to have their new rents assessed. Our local housing authority staff have been asked to make a special effort to ensure that Inuktitut speakers fully understand the new rent scale.

---Applause

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Item 2, Ministers' statements. Mr. Todd.

John Todd Keewatin Central

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, last week my colleagues in this House impressed upon me their concern over the scheduled closing dates for the winter roads. I committed to reviewing their concerns with the department and modifying the schedule of dates, if appropriate.

As I advised the Members at that time, the decision to close the roads earlier than normal was mainly a financial one. That hasn't changed, so any modification to the schedule must minimize the expenditure of funds. With this understanding, I am prepared in several locations to provide a short extension to the season.

---Applause

On the winter road to Rae Lakes and Lac La Martre, the department will remove its heavy equipment but leave the road open to travel for an additional 10 days, to March 25th, unless the weather forces an earlier closure. This will allow an additional window for moving in materials for a number of Economic Development projects that are planned for this year.

---Applause

On the roads to Aklavik and Tuktoyaktuk, the department will remove its heavy equipment but leave the road open to travel for an additional three days, to April 24th, weather permitting. This will allow intercommunity travel for the purpose of attending community carnivals scheduled for that weekend.

On the roads linking Norman Wells, Fort Good Hope and Fort Franklin, the department will remove its heavy equipment but leave the road open to travel for an additional 10 days, to March 25th, unless the weather forces an earlier closure. This will allow an additional period for intercommunity travel.

Spring road conditions in the southern Mackenzie Valley are more difficult than on other sections of the system. There is more risk of environmental damage at stream crossings and the effort required to maintain and then close the road is greater. The clean-up will require stable road conditions to complete and must therefore be carried out before the road begins to deteriorate. I am therefore unable to make any changes to the closing date for the section of road between Wrigley and Fort Norman.

The access roads to Jean Marie River, Nahanni Butte and Trout Lake already enjoy some of the longest operating seasons on the winter road season. With this year's early opening, Jean Marie River's season has only been reduced by a couple of days and Nahanni Butte's season is a week and a half longer than normal. Nevertheless, I am prepared to extend the season by 10 days, to March 25th. Again, heavy equipment will be removed, but the road left open for travel.

I hope that these changes, while not perfect, will help to alleviate some of the concerns that the Members have raised.

---Applause

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you, Mr. Todd. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Patterson.

Commercial Fishing Of Turbot
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 550

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to make a statement about a flat fish with funny eyes called a turbot, or Greenland halibut. This fish is very important to Canada these days because there are no cod left but turbot still exits in some abundance in deep, cold Canadian waters. This is a fish that has been especially significant for the people and fishery of Pangnirtung in recent years.

Mr. Speaker, these days, the Honourable Brian Tobin, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans for Canada is making big waves in the international community, fighting foreign fishermen who are invading our waters to take Canadian turbot. Mr. Tobin is getting tough with these foreign fishermen and yesterday they were driven off by his threats that they would be boarded and seized by Canadian naval vessels if they try to catch our turbot.

Today, I would like Mr. Tobin to understand how my Inuit constituents and other Inuit who want to fish for turbot in the Baffin see the turbot fishery and see his heroic fight against the aggressors from away. Last year, eight Inuit HTAs and Inuit companies from the Baffin region applied for new licences to catch turbot in their coastal Arctic waters, relying on the clear Inuit preference to adjacent fishery resources spelled out in the Inuit land claims agreement. They, too, were competing with an invasion, however, but an invasion of a different sort: applications for turbot licences in Arctic waters from within Canada. What did Mr. Tobin do to protect the Inuit applicants from an invasion from southern Canadian fishermen? Not one of the new Inuit licence applications was approved.

Mr. Speaker, when Inuit from Baffin Island asked for protection from an invasion of southern Canadian license applications to fish turbot in their waters, they got no protection. The southern Canadian applicants received preference to come up and fish in our waters. Most were from the Minister's own home region of Newfoundland and Labrador. Of the licences given out for fishing 5,500 tonnes of turbot in Arctic waters last year, existing Inuit licence holders from Baffin and northern Quebec got 1,250 tonnes. The remainder of 4,250 tonnes went to southern Canadian invaders.

I'll ask for a bit more time, Mr. Speaker.

Commercial Fishing Of Turbot
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 550

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

The Member for Iqaluit is requesting unanimous consent. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Complete your statement, Mr. Patterson.

Commercial Fishing Of Turbot
Item 3: Members' Statements

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Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and Members. When these valuable licences were given to southern Canadian fishermen to catch turbot in our Arctic waters, my Inuit constituents felt the same way as I believe Mr. Tobin and many Canadians feel now about foreign fishermen exploiting Canadian resources off the Grand Banks.

I want to say I applaud Mr. Tobin for his aggressive stance with the foreign invaders, but this coming year let him apply that same zeal to respect the Inuit land claim and allow Inuit applicants from communities with high unemployment to be protected from having outside companies move in to harvest our turbot in our Arctic waters.

---Applause

Thank you. I fervently hope that in future, Mr. Tobin will be as aggressive in fighting for the rights of indigenous Inuit licence applicants to fish turbot in Arctic waters as he has been aggressive in fighting foreign turbot fishermen invading Canadian waters. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Commercial Fishing Of Turbot
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 550

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Item 3, Members' statements.

Brian Lewis Yellowknife Centre

Yesterday, Mr. Speaker, Mrs. Marie-Jewell made these remarks while dealing with the Nursing Profession Act, and I quote, "There have been comments that the timing is right for this bill because it's International Women's Day. I found those comments to be a little bit chauvinistic."

I admit, Mr. Speaker, I was one of those Members guilty of pushing to deal with this bill yesterday. Although I have not been accused of being chauvinistic, I admit to making the comment that we should accomplish something concrete and practical as a Legislature on International Women's Day. My comment may have sounded chauvinistic. However, there are 28 women in a program right now who depend on the passage of the Nursing Profession Act. Ten of those women are living in my constituency, Mr. Speaker. They wrote me a letter urging me to push for quick passage of this bill and they are: Sharon Nahanni, Olga Mercredi, Debra Wilson, Christine Brewster, Jason Nault, Della Napayok-Ell, Lucy Tulugarjuk, Margaret Baker, Jennifer Menzies and Catherine Lauzon.

---Applause

Mr. Speaker, every day we hear criticism of our parliamentary system of government; it's no good, it can't do anything. I think yesterday will show that we are a very responsive Legislature. If it simply needs to be done, we can get it done in a speedy and responsible manner. I don't believe it matters to our students what process or what arguments are ever used to achieve the passage of a bill that people would like to have. And if it takes chauvinism to make 28 women happy, it's a very small price to pay.

The 28 students can now relax and give their full attention to their studies and not have to worry any more about what we do in this House...

An Hon. Member

Hear, hear.

Brian Lewis Yellowknife Centre

...except to give third reading and to get assent to that bill. Thank you.

---Applause

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Todd.

Recognition Of Pages From Keewatin
Item 3: Members' Statements

March 8th, 1995

Page 551

John Todd Keewatin Central

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm pleased to stand today to recognize two young people from the Keewatin who are serving as Pages at the Legislative Assembly this week. I would like to introduce to all the Members, Ms. Inukshuk Aksalnik from Rankin Inlet, Jennifer Sheetoga from Whale Cove. They both attend the Maani Ulujuk Secondary School in Rankin where Inukshuk is enrolled in grade 9 and Jennifer is in grade 10.

These young women were selected by the staff and the student council of the Maani Ulujuk School, based on a number of factors including their academic achievement, attendance at school, attitude, willingness and their interest in learning more about how our Legislative Assembly functions -- although sometimes I'm concerned about that.

---Laughter

Like the parents of these young women, Martha Aksalnik of Rankin Inlet, who has been a friend of mine for 25 years, and Philip and Eva Sheetoga of Whale Cove, I am very proud that they've been selected to serve in the Legislative Assembly as Pages. I would ask that you join with me in welcoming these two young students to the House. Thank you.

---Applause

Recognition Of Pages From Keewatin
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 551

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

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

Implementation Of New Rent Scale
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 551

Ludy Pudluk High Arctic

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I was to make a statement regarding some of our business from yesterday concerning the rent scales. I, myself, didn't comment too much yesterday on the debate because I was aware that the Minister has been working on this for some time and it has been under discussion by many different committees.

People in the High Arctic have a concern about this. While they are aware of the processes of government, they have this particular concern. At the time housing was provided for them by the federal government they were never told that their situation may begin to change in the future. This has caused a lot of pain for the constituents up to this date.

I want to express my gratitude to the Minster for providing an extra month before the implementation of the rent scales, to enable accurate information for tenants whose rent might change. In his responses to questions yesterday, I was not very happy with some of the answers. It seems that the Inuit would have to go to the local housing associations to fill out application forms to implement the new rent scales. My main concern is for the elderly who are only able to read in Inuktitut according to what they understand.

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

Implementation Of New Rent Scale
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 551

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent. Do we have any nays? There are no nays. Conclude your statement, Mr. Pudluk.

Implementation Of New Rent Scale
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 551

Ludy Pudluk High Arctic

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and colleagues. My concern is mainly about the elderly people who can only read in Inuktitut. People who are older had the understanding that they didn't need to go to the office to give information. There are a number of communities that have received this information, as far as we understand. I checked into this this morning, and some of the communities have already received this information. Although they've made a slight change to the translation in Pond Inlet, the other communities seem to have the same information that was first sent out.

I am able to read the Inuktitut language and I can speak and understand English. The Minister talked about the English version being the same as the Inuktitut version. As far as my reading went in Inuktitut, it is not the same at all. In fact, the meaning is reversed. This was a major concern to me for the communities, once it becomes implemented, for the unilingual people. I know that a lot of people will have to start moving into their own private units based upon their income. However, there are still discussions where many people are still unable to afford their own units. People who have a higher income level can't be told that this is an option that you should try out. I think that is going to continue to be a problem today because there isn't enough information as to what is available out there.

This will continue to be a concern for my community. Obviously, they won't be able to return to their old ways of living. We know that the implementation will take place and that the translation will be changed. The correct information will be passed out and, as was mentioned by the Minister, they will be working closely with the local housing organizations. I am grateful for that. The rent scale is something that I can't really fight against, but the Inuktitut translation should have been readily understood and not distributed because it confuses people in the Baffin, Keewatin and Kitikmeot. For those reasons, I would like to ask the Minister to issue an apology. Thank you.

Implementation Of New Rent Scale
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 552

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

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

Prospectors' And Developers' Conference
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 552

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to talk a bit about the Prospectors' and Developers' Association of Canada conference, which took place earlier this week in Toronto. This is probably the largest mining conference in Canada, bringing together players from the mining industry from not just Canada or North America, but from all around the world.

Mr. Speaker, at this year's conference there were a large number of delegates from Yellowknife and region: the mayor and a few aldermen were there; representatives from the Dogrib Nation; representatives from the Yellowknives Dene Band; and, probably more than 30 business representatives.

Mr. Speaker, we were there, generally, to talk about and promote mining in the north; to let companies know that we want their business, but that there are conditions. As the Premier said in her keynote address to the conference on Monday night: "Northerners respect the need for a mining company to achieve a healthy bottom line, but northerners expect mining companies to respect our bottom line. The need for environmentally-sensitive operations, which provide real benefits for northerners."

Prospectors' And Developers' Conference
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 552

An Hon. Member

Hear, hear.