This is page numbers 765 - 792 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 corporation.

Supplementary To Question 386-12(7): Monitoring Impact Of Federal Budget On Nwt
Question 386-12(7): Monitoring Impact Of Federal Budget On Nwt
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to thank the Premier for that informative answer. I was speaking earlier today about my concern about cutbacks to the CBC in the north. I understand that CBC North is facing possible cutbacks of 25 per cent in the coming year, after having pared its administration to the bone in previous years. I would like to ask the Premier, which Minister or department within our government would be responsible for monitoring cutbacks in the CBC and perhaps representing the concerns of the Northwest Territories if cuts should affect us?

Supplementary To Question 386-12(7): Monitoring Impact Of Federal Budget On Nwt
Question 386-12(7): Monitoring Impact Of Federal Budget On Nwt
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 772

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Mr.

Supplementary To Question 386-12(7): Monitoring Impact Of Federal Budget On Nwt
Question 386-12(7): Monitoring Impact Of Federal Budget On Nwt
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Madam Premier.

Further Return To Question 386-12(7): Monitoring Impact Of Federal Budget On Nwt
Question 386-12(7): Monitoring Impact Of Federal Budget On Nwt
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Mr. Speaker, I've been trying to find out exactly what is happening in the CBC and how it has been affecting us. I know there has been some concern expressed, particularly in the central Arctic that has been promised some facilities and operation money. There is quite a bit of worry in the regional operations so the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment and I are both very concerned about whether those cuts will happen. It would be myself, primarily, and then the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment who are dealing with this.

Further Return To Question 386-12(7): Monitoring Impact Of Federal Budget On Nwt
Question 386-12(7): Monitoring Impact Of Federal Budget On Nwt
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 773

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

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

Kenoayoak Pudlat Baffin South

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Health and Social Services. In the eastern Arctic, we all know that food prices are very high in the northern stores. The communities I represent get their food shipped by airlines and this has very much increased the costs of food in the stores of the three communities I represent. I would like to ask the Minister what differences there are in the food prices from southern companies. I would like to ask the Minister if she has looked into this to see if there is any difference between the food prices in the north and in the southern stores. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Minister of Health and Social Services, Madam Premier.

Return To Question 387-12(7): Northern Versus Southern Food Costs
Question 387-12(7): Northern Versus Southern Food Costs
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Mr. Speaker, I can assure the Member without any hesitancy that the food prices in the southern stores are much different than the food prices in Arctic Canada and, in a lot of communities, substantially different. What the government tries to do overall, in terms of social assistance, is the cost of the food is calculated the best we can. I know it is not always as generous as people would like to see, but we try to take that into account. I believe more and more, this government is trying to determine the cost of living, from housing to food, general maintenance of homes and livelihood, and is trying to incorporate some fairness in terms of subsidies.

For example, in Pelly Bay, we have a subsidy because the only way foodstuffs get into the region are through air flights. Just recently, we've done some experiments and tried to bring the food in by barge. The other thing, too, that's available in a lot of the communities -- and we're trying to get an understanding of who is aware of it and who is using it -- is the food freight subsidy which is available to everybody, including stores. There's a subsidy for bringing in fresh food and some foodstuffs. I've asked recently whether that subsidy is being translated into lower costs at stores for individuals. This is not a big study with a consultant, I'm just asking those questions to get a breakdown. I will try to have more detail in a few days to see where we are with that. There are substantial differences and we recognize that, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Return To Question 387-12(7): Northern Versus Southern Food Costs
Question 387-12(7): Northern Versus Southern Food Costs
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Pudlat.

Supplementary To Question 387-12(7): Northern Versus Southern Food Costs
Question 387-12(7): Northern Versus Southern Food Costs
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 773

Kenoayoak Pudlat Baffin South

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Supplementary to the same Minister. She indicated that she has put out a study as to what kind of differences there are in the food prices, and a lot of my constituents would like to see this study that has been done. Can the Minister indicate to the House whether she can give me the information that she said has been put out in that study? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary To Question 387-12(7): Northern Versus Southern Food Costs
Question 387-12(7): Northern Versus Southern Food Costs
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Ms. Cournoyea.

Further Return To Question 387-12(7): Northern Versus Southern Food Costs
Question 387-12(7): Northern Versus Southern Food Costs
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 773

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Mr. Speaker, I will provide for the Member the latest cost of living rates as soon as possible, perhaps later today or tomorrow. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 387-12(7): Northern Versus Southern Food Costs
Question 387-12(7): Northern Versus Southern Food Costs
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Lewis.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Minister responsible for Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs, Mr. Kakfwi.

Return To Question 388-12(7): Provisions For Removal Of First Nations Leadership
Question 388-12(7): Provisions For Removal Of First Nations Leadership
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Mr. Speaker, as far as I know there are no provisions specifically for recall in any of the aboriginal organizations. They do have terms for removal of executives and there are procedures under local customs in each community for the removal of chiefs; these vary in different communities up and down the valley. As far as I know, there is no duly-elected government of the First Nation, yet as such. Thank you.

Return To Question 388-12(7): Provisions For Removal Of First Nations Leadership
Question 388-12(7): Provisions For Removal Of First Nations Leadership
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Lewis.

Supplementary To Question 388-12(7): Provisions For Removal Of First Nations Leadership
Question 388-12(7): Provisions For Removal Of First Nations Leadership
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Brian Lewis Yellowknife Centre

Does that mean that in the First Nations governments, once you are elected, there is neither a council nor a chief, that you then have a mandate for your full term and there is no way in which you could be removed during that time? Is that what the Minister is saying?

Supplementary To Question 388-12(7): Provisions For Removal Of First Nations Leadership
Question 388-12(7): Provisions For Removal Of First Nations Leadership
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 773

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Kakfwi.

Further Return To Question 388-12(7): Provisions For Removal Of First Nations Leadership
Question 388-12(7): Provisions For Removal Of First Nations Leadership
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In the politics of aboriginal communities, each chief is elected for a certain term. Each president of a Metis local, for instance, is elected for a certain term; those are the ones that I am most familiar with. Each community has different understandings about what is the custom for removal of chiefs. For instance, in some communities it was understood that if a sufficient number of people showed up at a public meeting called to discuss the issue, and if a motion was passed at such a meeting, that was the end of the term of the chief.

The Metis locals run more by their rules. There are rules for the removal of officials. The regional and territorial organizations also have specific procedures under their by-laws and constitution for removal of officials. But the one that the Member may be most interested in is the custom of the Dene for removal of chiefs, where it is almost by local custom that it is done. It has become, I would say, not so widely practised any more. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 388-12(7): Provisions For Removal Of First Nations Leadership
Question 388-12(7): Provisions For Removal Of First Nations Leadership
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 774

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Lewis.

Supplementary To Question 388-12(7): Provisions For Removal Of First Nations Leadership
Question 388-12(7): Provisions For Removal Of First Nations Leadership
Item 6: Oral Questions

April 2nd, 1995

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Brian Lewis Yellowknife Centre

Okay, on the basis of what the Minister said then, Mr. Speaker, would he confirm that once a person is elected to an aboriginal First Nations government, there is no guarantee that that person can serve the full term for which he was elected? There are varying provisions from community to community whereby that member could be removed.

Supplementary To Question 388-12(7): Provisions For Removal Of First Nations Leadership
Question 388-12(7): Provisions For Removal Of First Nations Leadership
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 774

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Kakfwi.

Further Return To Question 388-12(7): Provisions For Removal Of First Nations Leadership
Question 388-12(7): Provisions For Removal Of First Nations Leadership
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 774

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Mr. Speaker, in the past...I know that in the 1970s and early 1980s, for instance, there were some chiefs who were removed because of local disgruntlement with the perception of how they may have dissatisfied their people.

In the last 10 years, I would say, as more and more of the chief and councils have got into business and into more of an operational mode where they have extensive responsibilities, there has also come into place very clear mandates and procedural requirements for the way they conduct their business. Because of that, I believe the accountability has become much more technical and clearly defined in many of the communities.

So the business of removing chiefs has become, for many of the people, I think, a greater concern. It shouldn't be trivialized or just left to an undefined "local custom." People have started to recognize that a very effective speaker can get up at a public meeting and sway people to back a call to remove a chief, even without substance of any significance. And so, I think people, in order to protect themselves, have seen that what you need are strong procedures for the protection of those people who are elected, as well as the themselves. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 388-12(7): Provisions For Removal Of First Nations Leadership
Question 388-12(7): Provisions For Removal Of First Nations Leadership
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 774

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Final supplementary, Mr. Lewis.

Supplementary To Question 388-12(7): Provisions For Removal Of First Nations Leadership
Question 388-12(7): Provisions For Removal Of First Nations Leadership
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 774

Brian Lewis Yellowknife Centre

Since there are all kinds of examples that we all know about, a long list of them, of people who have in fact been removed from office - -very often for trivial reasons -- I would like to ask the Minister, what procedures are in fact taking place, what ways are being established to make sure that if a member is going to be removed in aboriginal First Nations governments, that would be done in a transparent way so that everybody would know what the issue is and has a chance to do things that he says properly and not for trivial reasons.