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.

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Return To Question 614-12(7): Northern Accord Negotiations
Question 614-12(7): Northern Accord Negotiations
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1348

John Todd Keewatin Central

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As my colleagues in this House know, I am the eternal optimist. I believe that even though this is a difficult task, we will be able to reach an agreement on the northern accord with the aboriginal groups in the territories, and if we reach an acceptable agreement, then we can move forward with the federal government.

That doesn't mean to say, as my colleague asked, that we are not looking at options. I am not a man of one option. We need to ensure that whatever takes place in this part of the country benefits the north first and everywhere else second. So we are looking, particularly in the diamond area, at other diamond-producing countries to see what mechanisms they have in place to ensure that they get their fair portion, if you want, of the benefits.

With respect to my department's action plan, we are looking at the possibility of doing some research with respect to the possibility of further processing and value-added opportunities that go with diamonds. We are looking at the sorting and valuing of diamonds and the impact that will have.

I think that one of the ones that my colleague is really looking for is that we are also, should all else fail, looking at policy options including taxation, taking royalties in kind, or the establishment of marketing boards.

However, Mr. Speaker, I do want to say that this is a second position that we are looking at right now. As I said earlier, I am an eternal optimist. I am confident that northerners will see the need to reach a compromise. We were still at the table, I understand, yesterday, and I am confident that by June 30th we will be able to move forward with a common position to get an accord in place that will ensure that all northerners benefit from the significant mineral and mining development that takes place in this country. Thank you.

---Applause

Return To Question 614-12(7): Northern Accord Negotiations
Question 614-12(7): Northern Accord Negotiations
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1349

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

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

Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister responsible for fire management. Mr. Speaker, the procedures for lay-off of employees are fairly clearly laid out in the government's human resources manual, and earlier the Premier described the procedures which the government is supposed to follow. Can the Minister explain why these procedures were not followed in the lay-off of Rick Pederson, the manager of air operations? Thank you.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

The Minister responsible for forest fire management, Mr. Morin.

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My understanding is that the procedures were followed, and I will look into it and take the question as notice. Thank you.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. The question is taken as notice. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Patterson.

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation. Mr. Speaker, I think the Minister knows that I am concerned about how staff housing has been transferred to the corporation, and I think I have also made him aware of the fact that, recently, a new employee of the Housing Corporation responsible for staff housing had to go to the enormous expense of travelling from Iqaluit to Hall Beach, just to check two or three transferring teachers out of their staff houses. Mr. Speaker, my question is, if the Minister is committed to allowing local housing authorities to deliver all the programs in communities, including staff housing, why are these services being delivered from the district office? Thank you.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation, Mr. Morin.

Return To Question 616-12(7): Delivery Of Nwthc Services By District Office
Question 616-12(7): Delivery Of Nwthc Services By District Office
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1349

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We plan on working with the local housing authorities and associations to ensure that they take care of all the staff housing needs.

At the present, the Housing Corporation has planned to go into every community and work with the local authorities to train them to take on those needs. It seems like a fairly straightforward task to check people in and out of staff housing, and they should be able to take on those as soon as possible.

They should be able to take on the other portions of it as soon as they get the proper training. That is going to happen. That responsibility will fall in the hands of local housing authorities. We will assist in giving them training and support. Thank you.

Return To Question 616-12(7): Delivery Of Nwthc Services By District Office
Question 616-12(7): Delivery Of Nwthc Services By District Office
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1349

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Supplementary To Question 616-12(7): Delivery Of Nwthc Services By District Office
Question 616-12(7): Delivery Of Nwthc Services By District Office
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1349

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm glad to hear that this is the way it will be done. But, I guess I would like to ask the Minister, wouldn't the most efficient process have been to train and support the local housing authorities to deliver the program on the ground in the communities, and then transfer the responsibility to the Housing Corporation, rather than transfer it to the district office first and then get the communities' training up and running afterwards? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 616-12(7): Delivery Of Nwthc Services By District Office
Question 616-12(7): Delivery Of Nwthc Services By District Office
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1349

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Morin.

Further Return To Question 616-12(7): Delivery Of Nwthc Services By District Office
Question 616-12(7): Delivery Of Nwthc Services By District Office
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1349

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That would have been good, if everything happened that way, yes, I agree with the Member. But what was happening in the communities is the communities were very involved in implementing the new rent scale, documenting people, getting training to implement the new rent scale, and also this transfer was happening at the same time. So, we have taken on the responsibility at the end of the fiscal year of the government and are catching up with the training. It should be all on par by the middle of July. That's the information I received. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 616-12(7): Delivery Of Nwthc Services By District Office
Question 616-12(7): Delivery Of Nwthc Services By District Office
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1349

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

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

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister responsible for Municipal and Community Affairs. In the winter session, Mr. Speaker, I raised concerns about the protection of the communities from fire. My comment at that time was that people in the smaller communities had only a chemical tank as the means for fire protection. It's not adequate in the smaller communities, so I had suggested to the Minister that they should look at putting water pumps with enough hose to reach the furthest house in the communities for protection. I repeat this because of the situation that we have had in Fort Norman and Norman Wells, where we just about lost these communities; and, there is a chance for brush fires in the communities, because it's so dry.

I would like to ask the Minister if his department looked at the suggestion that I made earlier this winter. Thank you.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. Ng.

Return To Question 617-12(7): Status Of Community Water Pumps For Fire Protection
Question 617-12(7): Status Of Community Water Pumps For Fire Protection
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1350

Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm not sure about the status of the honourable Member's suggestion, but I will get in touch with the department and get back to the Member on that. Thank you.

Return To Question 617-12(7): Status Of Community Water Pumps For Fire Protection
Question 617-12(7): Status Of Community Water Pumps For Fire Protection
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1350

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Item 6, oral questions. Ms. Mike.

Rebecca Mike Baffin Central

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last week, I made a statement about custom adoption in Clyde River; that I'm currently working with 13 families in an attempt to get the birth certificates for those custom adopted children. Some are now old enough to enter the workplace. My question is for the Minister responsible for Health and Social Services. What is the status of the implementation of the Aboriginal Custom Adoption Recognition Act?

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Minister of Health and Social Services, Ms. Cournoyea.

Return 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

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Mr. Speaker, given the fact that to have the act implemented would take a bit of time, and recognizing that people want to move ahead and get the outstanding problem areas resolved, what we are doing in the short term is bringing together a couple of people presently in the department and giving them assignments so we can help these people along.

The implementation of the Aboriginal Custom Adoption Act Recognition will just take a little bit more time; however, we realize the urgency of some of these matters and I will be prepared to appoint two people who will take on the task in the interim, probably by Monday. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Return 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. Supplementary, Ms. Mike.

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

Rebecca Mike Baffin Central

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On February 28, 1995, in response to Mr. Koe's question, the Minister responsible informed this House that an information kit will have to be prepared for communities, that an orientation process was needed for an Adoption Commissioner and payment procedures will have to be finalized. What is the status of that information kit?

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

Ms. Cournoyea.

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

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Mr. Speaker, this work is presently being done. I will have to take the question as notice because I don't know right at the moment exactly where the kit is at. As I said, Mr. Speaker, it has taken a little longer than expected to get the work concluded. However, I will make a report on that and, in the meantime, we will try to accommodate some of the initiatives that are moving ahead of the process and the policy, Mr. Speaker.