This is page numbers 1341 - 1373 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 chairman.

Topics

Supplementary To Question 618-12(7): Status Of Aboriginal Custom Adoption Recognition Act Implementation
Question 618-12(7): Status Of Aboriginal Custom Adoption Recognition Act Implementation
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1350

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

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

Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha

Good afternoon, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask a question of the Minister of Safety and Public Services. Mr. Speaker, last week, I questioned the Minister at great length, about the matter of legal jurisdiction. He indicated that this government did not have the responsibility under our Safety Act, to deal with the refusal of the Bird Dog officers to work. He indicated the responsibility lies under the Canada Labour Code.

Mr. Speaker, I want to indicate to the Minister that I sought a legal opinion on this, because I believe the responsibility lies with the Government of the Northwest Territories, under our Safety Act. I want to indicate to the Minister that, in as much as he feels this is covered not by the NWT Safety Act but by the Canada Labour Code, it is currently, indeed, under the NWT Safety Act that this responsibility does lie.

So, I want to ask the Minister whether or not he will review, once again, the NWT Safety Act to assure the air attack officers, who refused to work for this government, that they are, indeed, the responsibility of the Government of the Northwest Territories under the NWT Safety Act. I would like to ask the Minister, would he review this to determine whether this act applies to the Bird Dog officers? Thank you.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Minister of Safety and Public Services, Mr. Nerysoo.

Return To Question 619-12(7): Application Of Nwt Safety Act To Bird Dog Officers
Question 619-12(7): Application Of NWT Safety Act To Bird Dog Officers
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1350

Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We will certainly review the matter. In fact, I have given instructions already to my staff to get the Department of Justice to advise

them about the legal responsibility we have, and to ensure we have the proper interpretation necessary for us to carry out our responsibility.

Return To Question 619-12(7): Application Of Nwt Safety Act To Bird Dog Officers
Question 619-12(7): Application Of NWT Safety Act To Bird Dog Officers
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1351

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Supplementary To Question 619-12(7): Application Of Nwt Safety Act To Bird Dog Officers
Question 619-12(7): Application Of NWT Safety Act To Bird Dog Officers
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1351

Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate that response. I would like to ask the Minister whether or not he will be able to provide the House with that response before we decide to prorogue. Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 619-12(7): Application Of Nwt Safety Act To Bird Dog Officers
Question 619-12(7): Application Of NWT Safety Act To Bird Dog Officers
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1351

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Nerysoo.

Further Return To Question 619-12(7): Application Of Nwt Safety Act To Bird Dog Officers
Question 619-12(7): Application Of NWT Safety Act To Bird Dog Officers
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1351

Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm not certain, Mr. Speaker, if I will be able to do that; I will certainly advise all honourable Member of the situation once that information is provided to me, through written correspondence. If I receive it before then, I will hopefully be able to provide that information to the honourable Members.

Further Return To Question 619-12(7): Application Of Nwt Safety Act To Bird Dog Officers
Question 619-12(7): Application Of NWT Safety Act To Bird Dog Officers
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1351

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Supplementary To Question 619-12(7): Application Of Nwt Safety Act To Bird Dog Officers
Question 619-12(7): Application Of NWT Safety Act To Bird Dog Officers
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1351

Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In addition, I would like to ask the Minister if he would check with the Government of Canada to confirm that these air attack officers are employees of the government and are subject to the Safety Act of the NWT, particularly section 13.

Supplementary To Question 619-12(7): Application Of Nwt Safety Act To Bird Dog Officers
Question 619-12(7): Application Of NWT Safety Act To Bird Dog Officers
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1351

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Nerysoo.

Further Return To Question 619-12(7): Application Of Nwt Safety Act To Bird Dog Officers
Question 619-12(7): Application Of NWT Safety Act To Bird Dog Officers
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1351

Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can certainly advise the honourable Member that we will review the matter of the legal interpretations that are given and their application. Certainly, if the matter is such that we have legal responsibility, then we will assume the responsibility accordingly, if that is the legal opinion that is provided to me and to the Cabinet. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Further Return To Question 619-12(7): Application Of Nwt Safety Act To Bird Dog Officers
Question 619-12(7): Application Of NWT Safety Act To Bird Dog Officers
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1351

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Final supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Supplementary To Question 619-12(7): Application Of Nwt Safety Act To Bird Dog Officers
Question 619-12(7): Application Of NWT Safety Act To Bird Dog Officers
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1351

Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would also like to ask the Minister whether or not he is aware of the penalties under the act, which indicates that if the Government of the Northwest Territories discharges, suspends, disciplines; or threatens to discharge, suspend or discipline, otherwise discriminating or threatening to discriminate against air attack officers because that person has exercised his right to refuse to work under section 13, the government may be found guilty of an offence under the act and liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000. Is the Minister aware of that? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 619-12(7): Application Of Nwt Safety Act To Bird Dog Officers
Question 619-12(7): Application Of NWT Safety Act To Bird Dog Officers
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1351

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Nerysoo.

Further Return To Question 619-12(7): Application Of Nwt Safety Act To Bird Dog Officers
Question 619-12(7): Application Of NWT Safety Act To Bird Dog Officers
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1351

Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'll certainly ensure that we are clear about the interpretations given to the legislation, and I will advise my colleagues about its application and ensure that we are all certain about the legal obligations that we have under the legislation, as well. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 619-12(7): Application Of Nwt Safety Act To Bird Dog Officers
Question 619-12(7): Application Of NWT Safety Act To Bird Dog Officers
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1351

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Pudlat.

Kenoayoak Pudlat Baffin South

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will direct this question to the Minister of Health and Social Services. Last winter when we had our session here, I requested a birthing centre for the Baffin region. I spoke on that as a Member this winter, and I asked whether this was going to be invested, to see if they could establish a working relationship with the Baffin Regional Health Board to establish a Baffin birthing centre so that the people in the Baffin region can exercise their cultural rights as Inuit. As well, in Quebec, I know that is how they have always used their culture. How is this procedure going, this far, with the Baffin health board discussions? Are there any discussions going on between the government and the Baffin health board? Thank you.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Minister of Health and Social Services, Ms. Cournoyea.

Return To Question 620-12(7): Status Of Birthing Centre For Baffin Region
Question 620-12(7): Status Of Birthing Centre For Baffin Region
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1351

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The issue of birthing centres is an ongoing discussion that we're having with all the health boards across the Northwest Territories. The Baffin health board is completing their needs assessment as it relates to a new hospital, and also taking into consideration what is going to be available at the community level in the health centres.

This has been an ongoing discussion, Mr. Speaker, and we have not neglected to bring to the attention of the Baffin health board the honourable Member's interest in having some kind of clear direction on birthing centres. Certainly, the department is in support of attempting to keep families closer to home or in the communities. I know that the evaluation of the Rankin Inlet Birthing Centre has shown that there's great value in this, and that the idea should be incorporated in the health needs studies that are presently taking place, not only in Baffin, but in other regional health centres. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Return To Question 620-12(7): Status Of Birthing Centre For Baffin Region
Question 620-12(7): Status Of Birthing Centre For Baffin Region
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1351

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

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

John Ningark Natilikmiot

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is directed to the Minister of Justice. By this time, the Minister may have received a request for funding from the hamlet of Taloyoak. According to my understanding, Mr. Speaker, the hamlet of Taloyoak has a part-time court worker, and that community has requested funding to make that part-time court worker full time. We all know that the justice system is very complicated. The court system is also complicated. Even we, as seasoned politicians, find both to be very complicated. I am sure the people in the small communities find them to be more complicated than we expect them to understand. Has the honourable Minister received a request from the hamlet of Taloyoak for funding? Thank you.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Minister of Justice, Mr. Kakfwi.

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Mr. Speaker, I will take the question as notice. Thank you.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

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