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

Michael Ballantyne Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is to the chairman of the Financial Management Board and the Finance Minister. Mr. Speaker, last year, for the first time in many years, the community of Ndilo in my constituency was left out of the five-year capital plan. Chiefs Sangris, Beaulieu and myself had a meeting with the Minister of Finance a couple of months ago. He was going to look at some ways to get Ndilo back in the plan. I would now like to ask if the Minister can confirm that Ndilo will be put back into the capital plan of the Northwest Territories.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Minister of Finance, Mr. Pollard.

Return To Question 622-12(7): Inclusion Of Ndilo In Five Year Capital Plan
Question 622-12(7): Inclusion Of Ndilo In Five Year Capital Plan
Item 6: Oral Questions

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John Pollard Hay River

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good afternoon. Mr. Speaker, even though Ndilo is not on the capital plan in the books this year, the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs advises me that there is $100,000 set aside for them this year to make some upgrades on an access road. The Minister of MACA and myself have discussed this issue, and we will address the five-year capital plan and Ndilo's requirements as we go through the planning cycle in this upcoming budget. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Return To Question 622-12(7): Inclusion Of Ndilo In Five Year Capital Plan
Question 622-12(7): Inclusion Of Ndilo In Five Year Capital Plan
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Antoine.

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Health and Social Services regarding the Aboriginal Custom Adoption Recognition Act. Mr. Speaker, this act was passed in the House, and my constituents have approached me on this particular act wanting to know how they could go about using the custom adoption act so that an adoption would be recognized. There are people aware that such an act is in place and they want to use it, but I understand that a lot of development has to take place with this act before it can be implemented.

The information I have is that the proclamation of the Aboriginal Custom Adoption Recognition Act is expected to occur on or before September 30, 1995. I would like to ask the Minister responsible if this proclamation will happen on or before September 30, 1995. Thank you.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Minister of Health and Social Services, Ms. Cournoyea.

Return To Question 623-12(7): Enforcement Date Of Aboriginal Custom Adoption Recognition Act
Question 623-12(7): Enforcement Date Of Aboriginal Custom Adoption Recognition Act
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Mr. Speaker, just to give an outline on where we are, what the plans are and the target dates; we're now ready to establish a registry at headquarters complete that by June 30th. The target date to prepare an information kit for communities in the process of recruiting, appointment and training and for the payment of fees is by September 30, 1995. The target date for selection of the Adoption Commissioners is November 30, 1995. Training for Adoption Commissioners will take place by December 31st.

Mr. Speaker, as I indicated earlier, while we are going through the process and the steps that have to be taken, the department and I are trying to work out an interim measure where we can take care of some of the areas where people want quicker action and to try to look after the backlog that presently exists. So, although we have to go through the process and take these steps, we still feel we should assign a couple of people just to deal with trying to get some of the outstanding backlog completed.

Mr. Speaker, I hope we can stick with our targets and get the job done, and I'll make a further report on just how far along we are in our ability to meet all our targets and to have the act completely enforced, called and in action. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Return To Question 623-12(7): Enforcement Date Of Aboriginal Custom Adoption Recognition Act
Question 623-12(7): Enforcement Date Of Aboriginal Custom Adoption Recognition Act
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

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

Supplementary To Question 623-12(7): Enforcement Date Of Aboriginal Custom Adoption Recognition Act
Question 623-12(7): Enforcement Date Of Aboriginal Custom Adoption Recognition Act
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the answer. It further clarifies for me the status of the Aboriginal Custom Adoption Recognition Act. I think it's long overdue. We have debated it and passed it in the House, and this government is just trying to implement it.

It's good to hear that there might be an interim measure. It seems to me, Mr. Speaker, that it is not too certain whether or not the government will do this, and I would just like to ask the Minister if she could further clarify for the House exactly what this interim measure means, especially with the time frame? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 623-12(7): Enforcement Date Of Aboriginal Custom Adoption Recognition Act
Question 623-12(7): Enforcement Date Of Aboriginal Custom Adoption Recognition Act
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Ms. Cournoyea.

Further Return To Question 623-12(7): Enforcement Date Of Aboriginal Custom Adoption Recognition Act
Question 623-12(7): Enforcement Date Of Aboriginal Custom Adoption Recognition Act
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Mr. Speaker, as I earlier indicated to the Member and Ms. Mike, the deputy minister and I are discussing with two very well-known workers within the system who have been involved with this type of work before to see if we can give them a special assignment to deal with these outstanding issues until we get the custom adoption act in place.

I hope, as I have also previously indicated, that I will give an update on just who they are as soon as possible, within the next week. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Further Return To Question 623-12(7): Enforcement Date Of Aboriginal Custom Adoption Recognition Act
Question 623-12(7): Enforcement Date Of Aboriginal Custom Adoption Recognition Act
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

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

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On June 5th, in response to questions I asked the Minister of Public Works and Services about the residency requirement to obtain BIP northern preference status, the Minister for Public Works and Services stated, in effect, that as long as a person owns and maintains a residence, whether it is lived in or not, he is considered a resident, "because there are also two other things. He has to have a Northwest Territories driver's licence and health care card. So in order to obtain those, you have to be a resident. So that's what we use for documentation to certify residency."

My question, Mr. Speaker, is, since a newcomer can buy a house, get a driver's licence immediately and can get a health care card after three months, would the Minister agree that the northern residency requirement for northern preference under the BIP should really just be called the three-month residency requirement? Thank you.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

The Minister of Public Works and Services, Mr. Morin.

Return To Question 624-12(7): Residency Requirements For Qualifying Under Bip
Question 624-12(7): Residency Requirements For Qualifying Under Bip
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Member asked if I would agree that the northern residency clause should be called the three-month residency clause. No, I do not. Thank you.

Return To Question 624-12(7): Residency Requirements For Qualifying Under Bip
Question 624-12(7): Residency Requirements For Qualifying Under Bip
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Supplementary To Question 624-12(7): Residency Requirements For Qualifying Under Bip
Question 624-12(7): Residency Requirements For Qualifying Under Bip
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can see the Minister's strategy is to quickly exhaust my supplementaries, Mr. Speaker. So far, he's won the first round.

---Laughter

I would like to ask the Minister, if you can buy a house -- whether you live in it or not does not matter -- but we rely on the health care card and the driver's licence which require a maximum of three months, is not the effect of these answers to be that northern residency means three month's residency only, minimum. Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 624-12(7): Residency Requirements For Qualifying Under Bip
Question 624-12(7): Residency Requirements For Qualifying Under Bip
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Morin.

Further Return To Question 624-12(7): Residency Requirements For Qualifying Under Bip
Question 624-12(7): Residency Requirements For Qualifying Under Bip
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That is not the manner in which we would like to call a northern resident a northern resident, just someone moving here and then getting northern residency in three months. For the business incentive policy, you should have lived here a certain length of time and you should have been carrying on business, had a business licence and all the other things. But the Member is probably correct. I don't know how long it takes to get a driver's licence or a health care card. I have had them forever, so I don't know that.

We realize the definition of residency, either local or northern, is a problem, so we are trying to address that issue under the new business incentive policy. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 624-12(7): Residency Requirements For Qualifying Under Bip
Question 624-12(7): Residency Requirements For Qualifying Under Bip
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Supplementary To Question 624-12(7): Residency Requirements For Qualifying Under Bip
Question 624-12(7): Residency Requirements For Qualifying Under Bip
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe that the information provided to the House through my returns to written questions shows a loophole one could drive a truck or fly a water bomber through, and I would like to ask the Minister -- if he'll permit the analogy --

---Laughter

would he agree that it seems unfair that, all other things being equal, a resident of three months in the NWT is given the same status in terms of the northern residency requirement as a comparable business person who has had 30 years' residence? Should that not be fixed up quickly, Mr. Speaker? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 624-12(7): Residency Requirements For Qualifying Under Bip
Question 624-12(7): Residency Requirements For Qualifying Under Bip
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Morin.

Further Return To Question 624-12(7): Residency Requirements For Qualifying Under Bip
Question 624-12(7): Residency Requirements For Qualifying Under Bip
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It does seem unfair if a person who lives in the north has preference under

the business incentive policy if he's only lived here for three months, compared to a person who has lived here for a year or 30 years. If the Member is aware of those types of things, please make me aware of those businesses, and I will look into it.

Further Return To Question 624-12(7): Residency Requirements For Qualifying Under Bip
Question 624-12(7): Residency Requirements For Qualifying Under Bip
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Final supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Supplementary To Question 624-12(7): Residency Requirements For Qualifying Under Bip
Question 624-12(7): Residency Requirements For Qualifying Under Bip
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have made the Minister aware of certain cases of this kind in my riding, and I will continue to do so. But my question to the Minister is, since there seems to be a loophole in the present BIP requirements for northern residents, and it seems inappropriate to rely on the health care card and the driver's licence are indicators of permanent residence. I would like to ask the Minister, since we're letting contracts daily and judging them according to BIP preference requirements, when will the new BIP rules be put in place so we can eliminate these loopholes that are being taken advantage of, as we speak? Thank you.