This is page numbers 821 - 851 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 health.

Topics

Importance Of Sprinkler Systems
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 824

Tony Whitford

Tony Whitford Yellowknife South

Thank you. That would ensure that all future housing construction in Yellowknife must include the installation of a sprinkler system. In fact, Mr. Speaker, this issue is scheduled for public hearings in May or June of this year. I suspect that many of our constituents will share our views on this matter and will be supportive of such amendments and provide suggestions to the fire chiefs on how best to proceed with these initiatives. Thank you.

Importance Of Sprinkler Systems
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 824

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

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

Promotion Of Northwest Territories
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 824

Michael Ballantyne Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we, in the Northwest Territories, are entering a new era of federal funding cutbacks, program downsizing and PY cuts. The regional economic development programs that we have depended on for so long are in the process of being cut back, not just here but across the country.

As I have said many times, the north is probably the most vulnerable region to these cutbacks. We are the most dependent on the federal government. Mr. Speaker, we have two choices. We can sit here and we can divide and redivide a shrinking pie amidst clamouring from regions, Nunavut and the west, all fighting for an ever-diminishing pie; or, we can go out and aggressively pursue our economic future.

I have talked many times in this House about the opportunities in mining, the opportunities in oil and gas and I feel it is very important that we aggressively pursue those opportunities. There are also opportunities in many other areas of our economy: in timber; and, tourism. Japanese by the thousands are coming to the territories and are very interested in the territories. I ask, why don't we have a high level delegation from the Northwest Territories going to Japan with some of our operators...

Promotion Of Northwest Territories
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 824

Some Hon. Members

Hear! Hear!

---Applause

Promotion Of Northwest Territories
Item 3: Members' Statements

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Michael Ballantyne Yellowknife North

...to make deals. I was reading that the university in Newfoundland has found new uses for seal meat. It is very rich in vitamins. There is tremendous potential in the whole health industry for seal meat. We should be travelling the country and pursuing the opportunities in our renewable resources.

Mr. Speaker, we have the most experienced and the best negotiators on all sorts of land claims and aboriginal issues. There is a tremendous market for our expertise right across the country right now. We are leaders in the country. Why aren't we sending some of our people down to show their stuff and help the rest of the country to try to achieve the same progress as we have reached here.

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister of this country is spending a lot of time travelling the world seeking new markets and investment opportunities for Canadians. Mr. Speaker, in the midst of this emotional diatribe, I would like to seek unanimous consent to continue.

---Laughter

---Applause

Promotion Of Northwest Territories
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 824

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

The Member for Yellowknife North is requesting unanimous consent. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Proceed, Mr. Ballantyne.

Promotion Of Northwest Territories
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 824

Michael Ballantyne Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I said, the Prime Minister has spent many days outside of the country drumming up business for Canada. The Premier accompanied him on a very successful trip to China and the Far East. Premiers as we speak are crisscrossing the country trying to seek economic opportunities for their provinces.

I see tremendous opportunities for the Northwest Territories in this country. I would like to see high-profile visits from Ministers and business leaders from the Northwest Territories crisscrossing the country looking for opportunities; letting them know that the Northwest Territories is here and we have tremendous opportunities.

Many times, I don't think we are confident enough in our own abilities. We are afraid to go out and beat the drums for what we have to offer. My fear is if we don't take advantage of the opportunities out there, we will soon be a forgotten backwater in this country. So I ask the government, the Premier and the Minister of Economic Development to provide some leadership, some enthusiasm, some excitement and let's hear the name of the Northwest Territories from coast to coast.

Promotion Of Northwest Territories
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 825

Some Hon. Members

Hear! Hear!

---Applause

Promotion Of Northwest Territories
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 825

Michael Ballantyne Yellowknife North

Let's see if we can break the dependency we have on the federal government. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Promotion Of Northwest Territories
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 825

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Patterson.

Reduction To Legal Interpreting Division
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 825

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Unfortunately, on a less positive note...

Reduction To Legal Interpreting Division
Item 3: Members' Statements

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Some Hon. Members

Boo.

Reduction To Legal Interpreting Division
Item 3: Members' Statements

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Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Mr. Speaker, I wish I could be as inspiring as the Member for Yellowknife North. I must tell the House that I am shocked to learn that one of the exemplary official languages programs in the Northwest Territories, the legal interpreting program, has been savaged and gutted by the Department of Justice, even before the languages agreement with the federal government was finalized, even before the government's own aboriginal languages unit had a chance to assess its overall priorities and make recommendations on priorities following reduced funding and yes, even before the completion of the Avery Cooper evaluation of this program now under way.

This flagship program, Mr. Speaker, which has already relied very heavily on vote 4 federal funding and very little on vote 1 GNWT funding, is a model much admired across Canada and in the circumpolar world for the enlightened way in which the vital and sensitive question of legal interpreting in courts has been handled. A core of over 50 trained interpreters have been trained over the years and certified, not only in aboriginal languages, but also in languages which are used in courts in the Northwest Territories like Vietnamese and Somali. These trained, certified legal interpreters are available in communities throughout the territories. An up-to-date registry is maintained. A monthly newsletter is published. There is a 1-800 number available to interpreters anywhere in the territories to call when they have a question about legal terminology. Much excellent work has been done to refine terminology.

What is most significant about the legal interpreters program is that they are closely connected with the courts, where legal interpreters do their vital work. The best proof of the credibility and success of this program is that the NWT legal interpreters program has been given the direct responsibility for hiring court interpreters in the NWT and for administering the court budget for interpreters. They're ensuring that qualified interpreters are hired and are administering the budget efficiently in the process.

I would like to request consent to conclude my statement, Mr. Speaker.

Reduction To Legal Interpreting Division
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 825

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

The honourable Member for Iqaluit is seeking unanimous consent. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Please proceed, Mr. Patterson.

Reduction To Legal Interpreting Division
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 825

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, court demands for legal interpreters are increasing, not declining. Furthermore, the recent Tran case in the Supreme Court of Canada recognized the right of an accused person to have the services of a qualified legal interpreter. Finally, in the Northwest Territories, I believe we are all very proud of an amendment to the Juries Act which allows jurors to sit in courts in the Northwest Territories even if their first language is not English or French.

The gutting of this program requires us to now ask whether the government is now required to repeal this amendment to the Jury Act. Yesterday, Mr. Speaker, in response to a question asked by Mr. Pudlat in question period, we were comforted by the Minister of Justice who told this House that the "The degree to which changes in funding will change the budget of the Department of Justice is not clearly defined yet." Mr. Kakfwi talked about deleting a half person year plus some reductions in the O and M requirements for the coming year.

However, the Minister was talking only about the very small portion of vote 1 funding which has been available for this program historically. Vote 4 funding has always been very critical to the very existence of this program.

I was therefore astonished to learn that all this enormous progress and this vital program has already been put in terrible jeopardy by a decision already taken to cut two vote 4 PYs, of 4 positions in the entire program. The program's manager and the legal interpreter terminology position with responsibility for the Dene languages, located in Fort Smith, were each given notice on March 1, 1995 that their jobs are gone as of June 1, 1995.

Mr. Speaker, this is a very good program. We are very proud of it. I believe there is consideration being given within the government to transferring the program to the Arctic College interpreter and translator programs. Mr. Speaker, Arctic College, with respect, could not duplicate this program nor could Arctic College offer the vital connections and credibility which has been won over the years in the workplace with judges, court administrators, prosecutors and lawyers.

Mr. Speaker, I will not stand by idly and see this important program gutted and savaged. Thank you.

---Applause

Reduction To Legal Interpreting Division
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 825

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you, Mr. Patterson. Item 3, Members' statements. Ms. Mike.

Public Announcements Re Seal Meat
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 826

Rebecca Mike Baffin Central

Good afternoon, Mr. Speaker. Three days ago, I was delighted to read an article entitled "Seafood-Rich Diet Immunizes Inuit Against Air Pollution" in the Edmonton Journal. I say this to inform my constituents, especially the residents of Broughton Island that, according to Dr. Eric Dewailly of the Quebec Centre for Public Health, seal meat is no threat to anybody's health. It, in fact, contains several contaminants and at the same time, an antidote.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to encourage the young people in my constituency to make seal meat part of their diet and not to fear the contaminants reported by the Department of Health a few years ago. Mr. Speaker, a bit of advice for Department of Health officials: please seek advice and approval of your Minister before disclosing any studies carried out in less than five years before making any public announcements or, better yet, let the Minister responsible make the public announcement. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Public Announcements Re Seal Meat
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 826

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you, Ms. Mike. Item 3, Members' statements. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Importance Of Liquor Inspections
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 826

Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, earlier this session, the Minister of Safety and Public Services tabled the annual reports of the NWT Liquor Commission and Liquor Licensing Board. One of the important improvements in comparison to many other reports was the inclusion of the statistics about the number of liquor inspections completed in each community during 1993-94.

Mr. Speaker, I was pleased to see that in Fort Smith, there were 152 inspections undertaken by the Minister's liquor inspectors and another 70 by the local RCMP detachment. These inspections were devoted to the regulation of licensed premises in our community. Mr. Speaker, I believe that this is important. People are going out to a liquor establishment and want to be in a safe and well-controlled environment. Parents want to know that appropriate safeguards are in place to prevent underage access to drinking. We all have a stake in reducing the illegal distribution of alcohol, the rates of impaired driving and the risks of alcohol-related violence.

I believe a conscientious approach to enforcing the regulations for bars and other licensed premises is an important component of our liquor control system and I would encourage the Minister to continue providing the resources needed for this effective inspection program in Fort Smith. In saying that, I would also like to commend the Fort Smith contracted liquor inspector. I understand that he not only maintains a regular schedule of inspections but he also spends a lot of time explaining regulations and regulatory expectations to bar managers and staff.

However, in further review of the report, I do want to state that I was somewhat surprised that the annual report for 1993-94 indicated the same quality of liquor inspections may not have existed here in Yellowknife. Yellowknife has nine more liquor establishments than Fort Smith and only 53 more inspections

were carried out in 1993-94. Fort Smith only has four liquor establishments.

Mr. Speaker, there are good reasons for MLAs from outside of Yellowknife to be concerned about liquor control in Yellowknife. Many of our students come here from communities all across the territories. People from our constituencies visit the city in large numbers for business purposes.

I seek unanimous consent to continue with my statement.

Importance Of Liquor Inspections
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 826

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

The honourable Member for Thebacha is seeking unanimous consent. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Please proceed, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Importance Of Liquor Inspections
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 826

Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha

In addition, Mr. Speaker, tourists frequently form impressions of the Northwest Territories based on what they see in Yellowknife. All northerners consider the proper regulation of liquor to be a vital government responsibility, especially since we have received the Report on the Review of Rewriting the Liquor Laws of the Northwest Territories: A Legislative Action Paper, which we are dealing with in our committee of the whole.

Mr. Speaker, it has come to my attention that every year after Caribou Carnival, there are concerns that certain establishments' reputations for overserving, overcrowding and serving minors are not being closely monitored. I've wondered whether any formal planning has gone into the organization in administration of the NWT liquor inspection program? Are there any policies and procedures in place to determine when, where, and how many inspections need to be conducted?

I was wondering whether or not there may be too much money going to pay for the Liquor Licensing Board's involvement in administrative details when, really, funds would be better spent on enhancing our enforcement capabilities.

I feel these are important issues and later on, Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister of Safety and Public Services to undertake a full evaluation of the way our liquor inspection program is presently being organized and administrated. Thank you.

Importance Of Liquor Inspections
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 826

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you, Mrs. Marie-Jewell. Item 3, Members' statements. Are there any further Members' statements? Mr. Koe.

Community Wellness Strategy
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 826

Fred Koe Inuvik

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I would like to speak today about the community wellness strategy, these are new initiatives that are being carried out in many communities across the Northwest Territories. And I believe that they are getting good reactions within the communities. But to make this strategy work, Mr. Speaker, we need the full cooperation from all agencies and all government departments and we must involve the aboriginal organizations.

In this time of scarce dollars and tight budgets, social agencies are overworked. We need to provide them with proper assistance to be able to implement proper programs and continue providing the services they do provide in the communities. Our communities have smart, knowledgeable, and resourceful people and they need to work together to get the best bang for our buck.

Government agencies, organizations and departments cannot continue to work in isolation of each other. Communities need to mobilize all their forces to make this strategy work. We also need to provide resources to train more facilitators and coaches. We cannot rely on one or two people in a community to carry the ball. We have to develop our pools of local talent.

Mr. Speaker, we have a strategy here that can work. It is working in some communities and it is up to everyone to cooperate and make it work. Mahsi cho.

---Applause

Community Wellness Strategy
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 827

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you, Mr. Koe. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Antoine.

Fort Liard Community Hall
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 827

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I was debating whether I should raise this issue -- it is an issue about the community hall in Fort Liard -- because I had talked about it in the past, but I would like to give the new Minister of MACA the opportunity to hear it from that side of the House, because the last time I did it he was on this side of the House.

---Applause

Mr. Speaker, the community hall in Fort Liard was built in the mid-1970s, indicating at least 20 years of usage. The log community hall was possible at that time by accessing funds available under the Canada works projects. Mr. Speaker, over the years, this hall has been home to numerous events of the community such as feasts and drum dances, and public functions such as court proceedings and public hearings, and other activities that bring the community together for one reason or another that benefits the community.

As a result of its usage and the lack of an infrastructure program in place at the time, the community hall has been allowed to become dilapidated over the years. Mr. Speaker, the community hall has served its purpose well, however, major structural repair is required; emergency retrofit. The degree of repair is beyond economic common sense. As a result, Mr. Speaker, the community hall is being unused and sits as a reminder to the people of Fort Liard that the process involving the benefiting from a new community hall is once again left in the hands of officials in Yellowknife, which is quite a way from Fort Liard.

If an effective evaluation program was implemented by the necessary department where community consultations are seriously considered, Fort Liard could conceivably be enjoying the benefits of a community hall today. However, this is not the case. In fact, they have made arrangements, such as holding court proceedings in the airport hangar, which have become a sign of the times.

According to the government, Mr. Speaker, it officially recognizes the Fort Liard community hall by endorsing a health inspector's report in a letter addressed to me in October of last year, and I quote, "recommending the community hall be closed because of safety concerns." And, "the building has extensive structural damage, and renovations to bring it up to suitable standards would probably be extremely costly."

Mr. Speaker, I am running out of time. I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement. Mahsi.