This is page numbers 1041 - 1073 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 violence.

Supplementary To Question 473-12(7): Determination Of Sustenance Hunter
Question 473-12(7): Determination Of Sustenance Hunter
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1047

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm pleased that the Minister will use his good offices with the RCMP to discuss this important issue. I would like to ask the Minister whether he would recommend that the more appropriate criteria -- if policemen are going to be making a judgement about whether a person hunts for food -- would be to determine whether or not that person holds a general hunting licence. Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 473-12(7): Determination Of Sustenance Hunter
Question 473-12(7): Determination Of Sustenance Hunter
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Kakfwi.

Further Return To Question 473-12(7): Determination Of Sustenance Hunter
Question 473-12(7): Determination Of Sustenance Hunter
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1047

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Mr. Speaker, that may be the most common sense way to approach the issue. It may very well be the way to address that question and should be made clear. In any case, the right to hunt is seen by all people across this country as the most basic right, the most elementary right that we have as aboriginal people regardless of whether we are on welfare or we make in excess of $100,000 a year. That right should not be interfered with by any laws. That was basically what the Sparrow case had laid out in the Supreme Court. We will be looking seriously at that question when we're reviewing the present regimes of the firearms legislation and more specifically at the proposed new firearms legislation. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 473-12(7): Determination Of Sustenance Hunter
Question 473-12(7): Determination Of Sustenance Hunter
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1047

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Koe.

Fred Koe Inuvik

Everybody must be tired here. Mr. Speaker, it's always nice to come back home to catch up on the news and the goings-on in the Northwest Territories. I read in the paper and heard on the news about an increase in the apprehensions of young children across the Northwest Territories. I would like to ask the Minister of Health and Social Services whether or not there has been a significant increase in the number of child welfare apprehensions across the Northwest Territories.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

The Minister of Health and Social Services, Ms. Cournoyea.

Return To Question 474-12(7): Increase In Child Welfare Apprehensions
Question 474-12(7): Increase In Child Welfare Apprehensions
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1047

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Mr. Speaker, the report shows that there has been a significant increase. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Return To Question 474-12(7): Increase In Child Welfare Apprehensions
Question 474-12(7): Increase In Child Welfare Apprehensions
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Supplementary, Mr. Koe.

Supplementary To Question 474-12(7): Increase In Child Welfare Apprehensions
Question 474-12(7): Increase In Child Welfare Apprehensions
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1047

Fred Koe Inuvik

Mahsi. Can the Minister inform us as to reasons for the significant increases in apprehensions?

Supplementary To Question 474-12(7): Increase In Child Welfare Apprehensions
Question 474-12(7): Increase In Child Welfare Apprehensions
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1047

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Ms. Cournoyea.

Further Return To Question 474-12(7): Increase In Child Welfare Apprehensions
Question 474-12(7): Increase In Child Welfare Apprehensions
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1047

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Mr. Speaker, as the information has been relayed to me, there isn't anything that we can put at the top of the list as the reason there is such as increase in child apprehensions. We really can't say for one reason or another, except perhaps that there is more awareness and more people who are prepared to take these measures. However, I can't, with the information I have, provide any specific area where we could say the reason in this area more so than in others. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Further Return To Question 474-12(7): Increase In Child Welfare Apprehensions
Question 474-12(7): Increase In Child Welfare Apprehensions
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1047

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Supplementary, Mr. Koe.

Supplementary To Question 474-12(7): Increase In Child Welfare Apprehensions
Question 474-12(7): Increase In Child Welfare Apprehensions
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1047

Fred Koe Inuvik

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I guess a lot of work can be done in our communities, preventative work that may or may not be getting done. I would like to ask the Minister about a proposal that an Inuvik interagency committee had submitted to this government, a proposal to look after the youth within the community using all the local resources. This would contribute to making the numbers... If the proposal that the committee has put forward works, it makes sense that the people in the community can look after their own children and the children that are in the care of this government. I would like to ask the Minister what is the status of that proposal?

Supplementary To Question 474-12(7): Increase In Child Welfare Apprehensions
Question 474-12(7): Increase In Child Welfare Apprehensions
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1047

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Ms. Cournoyea.

Further Return To Question 474-12(7): Increase In Child Welfare Apprehensions
Question 474-12(7): Increase In Child Welfare Apprehensions
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1047

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Mr. Speaker, in terms of the specific proposal that the Member is referring to that, along with a variety of others, is being looked at. Because the issue is not relative to one community or one area of the Northwest Territories, there has been significant discussion going on under the community wellness strategy whereby the communities would look at the resources that are presently within their community and see if those resources are adequately deployed in the proper place. Is there a better way of utilizing those resources to look at the social problems or address the social problems in each community?

The proposal that is before us is one of many which we will be pursuing very actively as soon as we can get some time to make sure that we deal with the communities and the agencies in the communities so that we can have a more holistic approach to addressing the social concerns in each community. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Further Return To Question 474-12(7): Increase In Child Welfare Apprehensions
Question 474-12(7): Increase In Child Welfare Apprehensions
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1047

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Final supplementary, Mr. Koe.

Supplementary To Question 474-12(7): Increase In Child Welfare Apprehensions
Question 474-12(7): Increase In Child Welfare Apprehensions
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1048

Fred Koe Inuvik

Mahsi. I appreciate the amount of work that's been generated from the community wellness strategy but each community, each individual community or groups within the communities, work at different speeds. Some are more aggressive and assertive and some are more advanced in the types of work they do. Here we have a community that is ready, willing and able to do this work. They've got a very well-thought-out proposal that makes sense. I would like to ask the Minister if she can expedite this specific one so that people in the community can help reduce the numbers of children that are apprehended. Mahsi.

Supplementary To Question 474-12(7): Increase In Child Welfare Apprehensions
Question 474-12(7): Increase In Child Welfare Apprehensions
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1048

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Ms. Cournoyea.

Further Return To Question 474-12(7): Increase In Child Welfare Apprehensions
Question 474-12(7): Increase In Child Welfare Apprehensions
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1048

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Mr. Speaker, I'm not proposing that every proposal has to be looked at in light of assessing how and when we're going to move with the proposals. That was not the intent of my reply to the honourable Member. I just made mention that there were several areas and several communities who want to deal with the overall social support that they can have within their community to address this issue and many others. The proposal is on the table. We've had some meetings with all the agency groups, the care givers in Inuvik, a week ago. We are looking to follow up with that and see what can be done in trying to reorganize funding so that these people can take on these added responsibilities. We don't intend to hold it up because some other areas may not be as aggressively pursuing that goal. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Further Return To Question 474-12(7): Increase In Child Welfare Apprehensions
Question 474-12(7): Increase In Child Welfare Apprehensions
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1048

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Dent.

Question 475-12(7): Change In Graduation Certification
Item 6: Oral Questions

April 25th, 1995

Page 1048

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Mr. Speaker, in the past we had two graduation diplomas for those who completed high school: the advanced secondary school certificate and the general secondary school certificate. I understand that we've changed the system now and have only one. I was wondering if the Minister could advise the House the reasons for changing from two diplomas to one.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

The Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Nerysoo.

Return To Question 475-12(7): Change In Graduation Certification
Question 475-12(7): Change In Graduation Certification
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1048

Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Very simply, Mr. Speaker, Alberta has changed the way in which they measure students.

Return To Question 475-12(7): Change In Graduation Certification
Question 475-12(7): Change In Graduation Certification
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1048

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Supplementary, Mr. Dent.

Supplementary To Question 475-12(7): Change In Graduation Certification
Question 475-12(7): Change In Graduation Certification
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1048

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Could the Minister advise if other jurisdictions besides Alberta have changed to the same sort of standard?