This is page numbers 1374 - 1400 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 assembly.

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Item 9: Replies To Opening Address
Item 9: Replies To Opening Address

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you, Mr. Patterson. I, I'm sure along with the other Members, wish to you, sir, all the best to you and your family. Also, with regard to your daughter, Jessica, who comes here often, I convey a special wish for her, too. Item 9, replies to opening address. Item 10, petitions. Item 11, reports of standing and special committees. Item 12, reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 13, tabling of documents. Mr. Nerysoo.

Item 13: Tabling Of Documents
Item 13: Tabling Of Documents

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Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table Tabled Document 144-12(7), Legislative Action Paper on Recall.

Item 13: Tabling Of Documents
Item 13: Tabling Of Documents

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Item 13, tabling of documents. Item 14, notices of motion. Item 15, notices of motions for first reading of bills. Item 16, motions. Mr. Antoine.

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have a motion regarding the appearance of western NWT aboriginal leaders in committee of the whole.

WHEREAS all nine western NWT aboriginal leaders held a summit to discuss a wide range of issues;

AND WHEREAS the western NWT aboriginal leaders have formally identified the areas of implementation of division of the NWT; the inherent aboriginal right to self-government; and, the northern accord on oil, gas and minerals as areas that require immediate action;

AND WHEREAS all western NWT aboriginal leaders have agreed upon a common position on several important issues;

AND WHEREAS these important issues should be publicly brought to the attention of the Legislative Assembly;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Thebacha, that one elected representative of each of the nine western NWT aboriginal organizations be invited to appear as witnesses in committee of the whole on Monday, June 20, 1995.

Mahsi.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Just for the record, it is June 19, 1995. The motion is in order. To the motion. Mr. Antoine.

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The reason for this motion is that the aboriginal leaders held a meeting to discuss the issues of division and they would like to meet with the Legislative Assembly in committee of the whole to discuss the importance of division. Division is going to affect all of us in the Northwest Territories, in the east and in the west. The leaders would like to sit here with us, as MLAs, to share their views on division. They would like to work together closely, as aboriginal leaders, with the government Ministers and MLAs because, ultimately, the eventual division is going to affect everybody in the north. That's one of the reasons. The inherent aboriginal right to self-government is the key issue. They would like to discuss the role of government at the negotiations of the inherent aboriginal right to self-government, whether they be third party at this table or part of the federal team.

On the northern accord on oil, gas and minerals, areas that require immediate action, there is support in some of the aboriginal groups for this northern accord to move forward and they would like to share it with the rest of the Members of the Legislative Assembly.

So these are the reasons why I brought this motion forward, and with that, I will just leave it at that because I think I'll have a chance to speak on it later on. Is that correct? Thank you.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. To the motion. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wholeheartedly support the request of the aboriginal leaders to meet in committee of the whole.

We did discuss this issue in Caucus where we did indicate that we would meet with the Western Caucus initially. However, apparently, it is my understanding that the aboriginal leaders wanted to meet in public, and I respect that. As I also indicated in Caucus, first of all, I don't believe the aboriginal leaders have had a forum to state their positions or ask for their comments to be recorded publicly, and I think this forum of committee of the whole gives them that opportunity.

Mr. Speaker, we are all aware that we are going through division, and I believe that this request is part of our process of division. I know that, even though the Legislative Assembly as a whole consists of also the Nunavut Members, I believe that over the years, when they've asked for support from the west, we've respected their wishes and granted them the support that we could.

The current process now allows for the Nunavut NIC to be able to address the Nunavut areas that are appointed by the federal government, and they have a process developing what they want for Nunavut.

We also have the Special Joint Committee on Division in the Legislative Assembly but they do not have the mandate to address the political issues, to have the dialogues with the aboriginal groups that the aboriginal groups wants to set up.

As I said, I believe it's just a step towards adhering to their request, and I respect that.

Mr. Speaker, I think it's incumbent upon us, as elected representatives, to listen to the elected aboriginal leaders, whether they are from the east or the west, to be able to allow them to express their views, and I think it's incumbent upon us to be able to allow them to have the dialogue that they want with the method they want so that we are of assistance, because we are all trying to achieve the same goal; serving the people who elected us. As Members always state, in order to be able to work to serve the people collectively, it makes it a lot easier.

So with that, Mr. Speaker, I do want to indicate that I have no problem as the elected Member for Thebacha, with discussing the issues with the elected Members and the aboriginal leaders, being able to listen to their viewpoints, their advice and their comments on the issues that pertain to them, and I certainly would encourage Members to support our intentions and our motion. Thank you.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. To the motion. Mr. Dent.

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have to say that I was a bit surprised at the process of how this motion came to be. I think, in the past, a request such as this would have come through either the Nunavut or the Western Caucus. In Caucus discussions, Mrs. Marie-Jewell pointed out, it was agreed that the Western Caucus would meet with the aboriginal leaders to determine what the issues were that they wished to address with us and return with a recommendation. Mr. Speaker, it was only through the grapevine that I heard that the western aboriginal leaders had refused to meet with the Western Caucus. I was not given any official notice. As far as I know, there was no call for the Western Caucus to meet and decide on a course of action before this motion was introduced. As a matter of fact, Mr. Speaker, until this morning, no one had approached me to explain why the leaders wanted to appear in committee of the whole and to tell me what the purpose was.

Mr. Speaker, this does seem to be a new approach. It's somewhat different, I guess, from the manner of consensus that we are used to. Are we now looking at inviting all elected leaders in the NWT to appear in front of committee of the whole? Have we decided that this will be a forum for all to express their views?

Mr. Speaker, out of courtesy, I will not oppose this motion, on the clear understanding that, should a motion be brought forward to bring in a leader from my community, those who support this one will also support that motion. I just think that if this is the new process, we all have to agree that that is the way it should proceed. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

To the motion. Mr. Ballantyne.

Michael Ballantyne Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, was a little concerned with the process. I would have liked if the aboriginal leaders had come to the Western Caucus and we could have worked out a protocol and an approach so they were satisfied that their concerns were being addressed by this Legislative Assembly.

I have talked to representatives of the aboriginal leaders yesterday and today, and I am convinced that their intentions are good. They have some legitimate concerns. They just want to express them here. From what I am told by representatives of the aboriginal leaders, the intent here is not political criticism of individuals. I know when any of us go to a Dene or Metis assembly, we respect them, and I have no reason to believe that Members here won't be respected by the aboriginal leaders.

What I think we should keep in mind, though, is that this is a new approach. We are living in a brand-new age, and things are moving very quickly. Division is coming down the pipe, and there is a lot of possibility for misunderstanding. We now have some very sensitive discussions and negotiations taking place on the northern accord, on self-government and on division. Because of the nature, especially of the western Arctic where there are so many groups involved, it's very easy for misinformation or the wrong information to get circulated and for problems to arise.

I think what we are going to see in the next four years is that it's going to be very important that when those problems or misunderstandings or questions arise, there will be more requests for people to appear here at the Legislative Assembly, and I think we should let them. I think the Nunavut leaders, I am sure, in the next four years are going to ask to appear here because of concerns they have. I am sure that leaders from the tax-based municipalities are going to want to appear here, and though it's not in the normal parliamentary practice in southern Canada, nowhere in southern Canada are they facing an issue like division.

So I think new times are going to take new approaches, and I think that we have to start off by believing that the people's intentions are honourable. People just want to have a forum to express legitimate concerns, and on that basis, Mr. Speaker, I will support this motion. Thank you.

---Applause

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. To the motion. Ms. Cournoyea.

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Mr. Speaker, Members will recall that the matter of aboriginal leaders from the west appearing before committee of the whole was discussed by Caucus earlier this week.

Following that discussion, Caucus determined the leaders should meet with Members of the Western Caucus to brief them on their common positions. It is my understanding that aboriginal leaders rejected the invitation to meet with Caucus and that is why the matter is now before the House in the form of a motion.

Mr. Speaker, Cabinet is of the opinion that the process outlined earlier this week with respect to representation by western leaders is proper. As a result, Cabinet Members will not be supporting this motion and want to encourage the leaders to meet with the Western Caucus as soon as possible in order to begin addressing the issues identified and to develop an appropriate strategy to address the issues. Mr. Speaker, we feel this is a proper way to go. Cabinet will not be supporting the motion. Thank you.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. To the motion. Mr. Antoine, your closing remarks.

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To the motion, I know some Members of this House, especially in Cabinet, are very uneasy about this motion that aboriginal leaders come into this House. As the mover of this motion, I, too, would like to have aboriginal leaders come here to do business. I don't want to see aboriginal leaders come here to attack any Members of Cabinet or to make anybody look bad here, but I've been assured by the aboriginal leaders that I talked to that they will come here to discuss their issues in a reasonable way and that we can establish a time frame for their presentations.

Those are the conditions I agreed to in moving this motion. I don't want to be a mover of a motion that would open this House to other leaders calling people down. So, if Members of Cabinet are afraid to listen to aboriginal leaders because of their position, I think they should take another look at it, because these are the conditions on which I raised this motion. I would like to see them raise their issues in this House, their legitimate issues.

With that, Mr. Speaker, I would like to request a recorded vote on this motion. Thank you.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. The Member for Nahendeh is requesting a recorded vote. All those in favour, please stand.

Recorded Vote

Clerk Of The House Mr. David Hamilton

Mr. Antoine, Mr. Whitford, Mr. Dent, Mr. Ballantyne, Mrs. Marie-Jewell, Mr. Koe.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

All those opposed, please stand.

Clerk Of The House Mr. David Hamilton

Mr. Patterson, Mrs. Thompson, Mr. Allooloo, Mr. Arngna'naaq, Mr. Ng, Mr. Pollard, Ms. Cournoyea, Mr. Kakfwi, Mr. Morin, Mr. Nerysoo, Mr. Ningark.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

All those abstaining, please stand.

Clerk Of The House Mr. David Hamilton

Mr. Pudlat, Mr. Zoe, Mr. Lewis.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. The results of the motion are six, yes; 11, no; with six abstentions. This motion is defeated.

---Defeated

I'm sorry, for the record, there were 3 abstentions. Item 16, motions. Item 17, first reading of bills. Item 18, second reading of bills. Item 19, consideration in committee of the whole of bills and other matters: Committee Report 11-12(7), Report on the Review of Bill 25 - The Education Act; Bill 25, Education Act; and, Bill 34, Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 1, 1995-96, with Mr. Lewis in the chair.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

June 15th, 1995

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The Chair Brian Lewis

I would like to call the committee to order. Good afternoon, everybody. I would like to ask Members if they would like us to carry on from where we were yesterday, with Bill 25 and Committee Report 11-12(7). What is the wish of the committee? Mr. Dent.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Mr. Chairman, I recommend that we concur with your suggestion that we continue on with Committee Report 11-12(7) and the new Education Act, Bill 25.