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.

Return To Question 433-12(7): Federal Royalties From Nwt Oil And Gas
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

Page 1044

John Todd Keewatin Central

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a return to an oral question asked by Mr. Antoine on April 7th with respect to federal royalties from oil and gas. The federal government receives royalties from oil and gas production at the Norman Wells, Bent Horn and Pointed Mountain fields. The first two are oilfields and the latter produces gas.

Norman Wells royalties are governed by the 1944 Norman Wells proven area agreement. Under this agreement, Imperial Oil owns two-thirds of the field production and pays the federal government a five per cent royalty on this production. The federal government owns the remaining one-third of the field and receives the net income from this production. The "Crown share" is a form of royalty. The combined income to the federal government from these royalties is about $45 million a year.

Royalties from the Pointed Mountain gas field are calculated on the basis of 10 per cent on the first 76 per cent of production and 15 per cent on the balance. Royalties from this field average slightly over $300,000 per year. Bent Horn pays royalties at a flat rate of 10 per cent. They amount to an average of $16,000 per year.

I would note for all Members that, at present, all royalties collected from oil and gas activities in the Northwest Territories only flow to the federal government. Thank you.

Return To Question 433-12(7): Federal Royalties From Nwt Oil And Gas
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

Page 1044

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Mr. Kakfwi.

Further Return To Question 448-12(7): Consultation With Legal Profession Re Cuts To Legal Interpreting Services
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

Page 1045

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Mr. Speaker, I have two returns to oral questions. First, in response to Mr. Patterson, a question he asked on April 19, 1995 about whether or not there had been any consultations with judges, the defence bar, Crown prosecutors and legal aid clinics on the cutbacks and changes proposed for the legal interpreting program.

Officials of the Department of Justice have had discussions about the proposed changes to the delivery of the legal interpreter training program with members of the judiciary of the Supreme and Territorial courts, both in the regions and in Yellowknife, and with the director of the Crown Attorney's office at the federal Department of Justice office in Yellowknife. Following these discussions, a concern was expressed about adequate interpreter services being available for court.

During the 1994-95 fiscal year, the department spent in excess of $100,000 for interpreting services provided in court. The department intends to maintain expenditures at the level necessary to ensure adequate interpreter services continue to be available. The department shares the concern that training must be continued in order to meet the needs of the court.

The training program will only change in terms of who delivers it. An interdepartmental committee has been formed to determine how best to deliver interpreter training. The department is represented on the committee in order to ensure that the standards developed by the current legal interpreter training program for interpreter training will be maintained under a new training model.

Comments received pursuant to discussions with the judiciary and the Crown about proposed changes were forwarded to Avery, Cooper & Co. These comments and the subsequent consultation undertaken by Avery, Cooper & Co. with judges, lawyers and others will be considered when looking at alternatives to the current training procedures.

The committee has received two drafts of the consultant's report and is currently reviewing the second draft. The recommendation in both drafts emphasizes maximizing the benefits of all interpreter programs by offering one complete program through Arctic College. The department's recent actions with regard to the legal interpreter training program are well-aligned with the recommendations of the report. The department anticipated the fiscal problems the program was facing as well as the probable solution, as recommended by the consultant.

Mr. Patterson also said that it was his understanding that there are four vacant Inuktitut interpreter terminologist positions. In fact, there is only one Inuktitut interpreter terminologist position and it is currently being staffed to fill a vacancy.

Return To Question 419-12(7): Qualifications Of Official Languages Coordinator
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

Page 1045

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Mr. Speaker, I have a return to another oral question, this one asked by Ms. Mike, a question she asked on the 6th of April. Ms Mike asked what the qualifications of the official languages coordinator were, in the context of a series of questions on the effect of lay-off notices in the legal interpreter training program. Upon reviewing this series of questions and the responses to them, it would be useful to clarify that the official languages coordinator is an employee of the Department of Justice, while the official languages unit, with responsibilities for official languages policy throughout the government, is based in the Department of the Executive.

An interdepartmental committee has been formed to determine how best to deliver interpreter training, given the federal government cutbacks for French and aboriginal languages. The mandate of the committee is to eliminate possible duplication of the costs for interpreter training programs and to maximize the benefits of each program for all persons taking training.

Avery, Cooper & Co. has been contracted by the Department of Education, Culture and Employment to conduct a study and recommend how the government can best deliver interpreter training programs for all types of interpreters, given severely decreased funding. Interpreter training programs are currently offered through the Departments of Education, Culture and Employment, Health and Social Services, and Justice. Following the review, the program for training interpreters will be adjusted in order to eliminate possible duplication of services, while maintaining our ability to train qualified medical, legal and general-purpose interpreters.

The final report from the study will be submitted to the interdepartmental committee by the end of May. The committee will use the report as a basis to make recommendations to Cabinet about how best to deliver interpreter training. Thank you.

Return To Question 419-12(7): Qualifications Of Official Languages Coordinator
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

Page 1045

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you, Mr. Kakfwi. Item 4, return to oral questions. Mr. Nerysoo.

Return To Question 427-12(7): Regulation Re Fire Retardant On Canvas Tents
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

Page 1045

Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is a reply to a question asked by the honourable Member for Natilikmiot, Mr. Ningark, regarding the regulation for fire retardants on canvas tents. The Government of Canada regulates the manufacture of camping tents, play tents, ice fishing tents and personal use tents through the Hazardous Products Act of Canada, tent regulations.

The federal regulations require that all tents governed by the regulations be constructed of fire retardant materials, and that all tents sold in stores conform with the requirements set out in the regulations. I will provide full details about the federal regulatory structure to the Member, by letter, this week. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Return To Question 427-12(7): Regulation Re Fire Retardant On Canvas Tents
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

Page 1046

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Patterson.

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 1046

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have not been in the House this week, I understand Mr. McDonald has been here. I was unable to recognize him because I was in Ottawa. So I would like to recognize him today -- Mr. Ben McDonald of the UNW -- and also note that he has been here on other days and was not recognized by any other honourable Members, unfortunately. Thank you.

---Applause

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 1046

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. I would like to recognize an individual who is dear to my heart, in the gallery, and that is my twin sister Margaret Rose Elleze.

---Applause

Margaret is 15 minutes my elder.

---Laughter

Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Koe.

Question 471-12(7): Policy Re Outside Employment Of Rcmp Officers
Item 6: Oral Questions

April 25th, 1995

Page 1046

Fred Koe Inuvik

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I heard on the radio and read in the papers about a recent plebiscite that was held proposing a liquor outlet in Coppermine. I understand the plebiscite was defeated by the community so, basically, the issue is finished as far as a liquor outlet goes. What concerns me, Mr. Speaker, is the proponent of the proposal to open a liquor outlet in Coppermine, as I understand it, is a local RCMP officer who works in the community of Coppermine. I would like to ask the Minister of Justice what the policy is regarding RCMP officers and their abilities to seek private sector opportunities, especially related to liquor outlets in our communities.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Minister of Justice, Mr. Kakfwi.

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Mr. Speaker, I will take the question as notice and speak to the chief superintendent at the earliest opportunity. Thank you.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

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

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have a question for the Minister of Health and Social Services. Mr. Speaker, on April 5th when we were considering the budget of Health and Social Services in committee of the whole, I asked the Minister about air medevac standards. The Minister advised that the objective was to finalize standards for air medevacs by June 30, 1995. I understand, however, that recently a request for proposals was issued by the department asking for air medevac operators in the Mackenzie and Kitikmeot and western Arctic regions. Could the Minister advise whether or not the standards have already been finalized for air medevacs?

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Minister of Health and Social Services, Madam Premier.

Return To Question 472-12(7): Status Of Air Medevac Standards
Question 472-12(7): Status Of Air Medevac Standards
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1046

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Mr. Speaker, I do not believe that the standards have been completed at this time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Return To Question 472-12(7): Status Of Air Medevac Standards
Question 472-12(7): Status Of Air Medevac Standards
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1046

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Dent, supplementary.

Supplementary To Question 472-12(7): Status Of Air Medevac Standards
Question 472-12(7): Status Of Air Medevac Standards
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1046

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Minister, also on that day, assured the House that she would distribute copies of the draft standards to Members of this Assembly at the same time they're being made available to operators. Since there is a request for proposals out there, the standards must have been distributed to some of the operators; yet, none of the Members I know have copies of the draft standards yet. Could the Minister please explain why that situation has developed?

Supplementary To Question 472-12(7): Status Of Air Medevac Standards
Question 472-12(7): Status Of Air Medevac Standards
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1046

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Ms. Cournoyea.

Supplementary To Question 472-12(7): Status Of Air Medevac Standards
Question 472-12(7): Status Of Air Medevac Standards
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1046

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Mr. Speaker, I will check into the matter and get back to the Member, and take that question as notice. Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 472-12(7): Status Of Air Medevac Standards
Question 472-12(7): Status Of Air Medevac Standards
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1046

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

The question has been taken as notice. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Patterson.

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To the Minister of Justice. I believe, Mr. Speaker, that in conjunction with our discussing the problems of implementing the present provisions of Bill C-17, the Minister is aware of my concern that some RCMP who are accepting these applications are determining whether to waive the fee for an FAC based on whether a person is on welfare. I would like to ask the Minister whether he believes whether a person is on welfare should be the criteria for determining whether a person is a sustenance hunter. Thank you.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Minister of Justice, Mr. Kakfwi.

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

Page 1046

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Mr. Speaker, I will be seeking a meeting with the chief superintendent of the RCMP in order to put the question to the chief superintendent. Under the present laws governing firearms and acquisition for firearms, how much of the present legislation is being enforced, how is

it being enforced and where are the criteria used to make these judgements and, specifically in response to the Member, how are the RCMP deciding how fees are waived, if at all. Thank you.

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

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.