This is page numbers 1311 - 1340 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

Ludy Pudluk High Arctic

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In the previous session, I asked a question. I will ask a supplementary to a question I asked at that time. This is to the Minister of Renewable Resources. Polar bear management isn't going to stay in Yellowknife; they will be moved to the Baffin region. Since their office is going to be transferred over to that region, when does the Minister think that is going to happen?

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Minister of Renewable Resources, Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Return To Question 609-12(7): Relocation Of Polar Bear Management To Baffin Region
Question 609-12(7): Relocation Of Polar Bear Management To Baffin Region
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1322

Silas Arngna'naaq Kivallivik

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am happy to say that this will be done because this was dealt with at our meeting this morning. It was approved that polar bear management is going to be moved to the Nunavut area. This move will commence in the fall. Thank you.

Return To Question 609-12(7): Relocation Of Polar Bear Management To Baffin Region
Question 609-12(7): Relocation Of Polar Bear Management To Baffin Region
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1322

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

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

Tony Whitford

Tony Whitford Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to direct a question to the Minister of Transportation. It is a compliment on an initiative that his department will be undertaking shortly regarding transportation on the highways;big truck inspections. In the announcement referring to the inspections, they said they would be employing some 12 officers manning our two inspection sites at Enterprise and Inuvik for this 72-hour effort. Do we have 12 officers or are they hiring new people to do these inspections?

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Minister of Transportation, Mr. Todd.

Return To Question 610-12(7): Officers For Truck Inspections On Highway System
Question 610-12(7): Officers For Truck Inspections On Highway System
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1322

John Todd Keewatin Central

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe that the operation with respect to the inspection of trucks is being done by the current staff that we have. Thank you.

Return To Question 610-12(7): Officers For Truck Inspections On Highway System
Question 610-12(7): Officers For Truck Inspections On Highway System
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1322

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Whitford.

Supplementary To Question 610-12(7): Officers For Truck Inspections On Highway System
Question 610-12(7): Officers For Truck Inspections On Highway System
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1322

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Todd.

Further Return To Question 610-12(7): Officers For Truck Inspections On Highway System
Question 610-12(7): Officers For Truck Inspections On Highway System
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1322

John Todd Keewatin Central

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. No, Mr. Speaker. There is a growing concern, particularly in the last six or seven months right across the country with respect to big trucks and safety as it relates to that equipment. I believe recently on the news there was a particular concern raised when there were two nasty accidents in Ontario. So this is an overall approach by the provinces and territorial jurisdictions to bring about the more vigilant approach to inspections to ensure that these trucks barrelling down our highways are doing so in a safe and orderly way to protect the interests of territorial citizens. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 610-12(7): Officers For Truck Inspections On Highway System
Question 610-12(7): Officers For Truck Inspections On Highway System
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1322

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Whitford.

Supplementary To Question 610-12(7): Officers For Truck Inspections On Highway System
Question 610-12(7): Officers For Truck Inspections On Highway System
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1322

Tony Whitford

Tony Whitford Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The announcement states that there will be two check stops; the one at Enterprise and the one at Inuvik. It will catch most of the vehicles coming into the territories. However, there is another route and that is through the Liard. I am not sure about the amount of traffic that comes through there. Is this an oversight or is it deliberately not going to be inspected because of low traffic? Why is it not being included in the expectations?

Supplementary To Question 610-12(7): Officers For Truck Inspections On Highway System
Question 610-12(7): Officers For Truck Inspections On Highway System
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1322

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Todd.

Further Return To Question 610-12(7): Officers For Truck Inspections On Highway System
Question 610-12(7): Officers For Truck Inspections On Highway System
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1323

John Todd Keewatin Central

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My honourable colleague is correct; the majority of the heavy truck traffic goes through the two points and we feel that that is where we should put our energies; particularly with respect to the limited fiscal resources we have. Our analysis shows that is where the majority of vehicles pass through. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 610-12(7): Officers For Truck Inspections On Highway System
Question 610-12(7): Officers For Truck Inspections On Highway System
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1323

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask a question of the Minister responsible for forest fire management. Mr. Speaker, on Monday, June 12th, I asked the Minister whether or not he would give us the status of Bird Dog officers with respect to flying with the DC-4s. I would like to ask him for an update with respect to the status of Bird Dog officers. Thank you.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Minister responsible for forest management, Mr. Morin.

Return To Question 611-12(7): Status Of Bird Dog Officers
Question 611-12(7): Status Of Bird Dog Officers
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1323

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is my understanding that the DC-4 pilots have been approved by the consultant we brought in to do the safety inspections. To day at around 12 o'clock, I believe it was, the supervisor was instructed to instruct the Bird Dog officers to report to work for orientation. He refused so he was terminated. Then we went to a Bird Dog officer to instruct him to report for orientation, and he refused so he was terminated. Thank you.

Return To Question 611-12(7): Status Of Bird Dog Officers
Question 611-12(7): Status Of Bird Dog Officers
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1323

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Supplementary To Question 611-12(7): Status Of Bird Dog Officers
Question 611-12(7): Status Of Bird Dog Officers
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1323

Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I find that quite appalling, and I don't think it's any type of joke with respect to Members' comments. Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask if it is the intention of this Minister to terminate all employment for all Bird Dog officers who are employed by the Government of the Northwest Territories? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 611-12(7): Status Of Bird Dog Officers
Question 611-12(7): Status Of Bird Dog Officers
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1323

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Morin.

Further Return To Question 611-12(7): Status Of Bird Dog Officers
Question 611-12(7): Status Of Bird Dog Officers
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1323

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Let me assure the Member that I take this matter very seriously. I take the whole issue of forest fire fighting very seriously. It is not my intention to terminate all the Bird Dog officers. These men are requested to go to work. The aircraft are ready to go to work. The pilots are ready to go to work. It is their choice. It is their career choice not to go to work. If they choose not to go to work, then they will be terminated on the spot, their keys for the buildings and their credit cards will be taken away and they']] be asked to leave the building. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 611-12(7): Status Of Bird Dog Officers
Question 611-12(7): Status Of Bird Dog Officers
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1323

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Supplementary To Question 611-12(7): Status Of Bird Dog Officers
Question 611-12(7): Status Of Bird Dog Officers
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1323

Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The problem for these Bird Dog officers, as I have stated in the

House many times, is that they are very concerned about their safety. Last night, I saw the documentary that CBC did, and it was clearly stated that the Bird Dog officers refused to fly with the DC-4s because of the request for proposals the government sent out asking for certain requirements, and this request for proposals was not fulfilled. Therefore, it is a safety issue. I would like to ask the Minister regarding the termination of Bird Dog officers, why is it that on termination of Bird Dog officers, they are only given verbal notice and not any notification in writing on their status of employment? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 611-12(7): Status Of Bird Dog Officers
Question 611-12(7): Status Of Bird Dog Officers
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1323

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Morin. Minister responsible for forest fire management.