This is page numbers 1165 - 1196 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 liquor.

Topics

Tony Whitford

Tony Whitford Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Certain conditions have arisen that will not allow me to ask my question today. I will deter it until tomorrow.

--- Laughter

An Hon. Member

Who's missing?

The Speaker

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Ms. Mike.

Question 533-12(7): Origin Of Sealskin Products
Revert To Item 6: Oral Questions

June 6th, 1995

Page 1182

Rebecca Mike Baffin Central

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. During our last sitting in April when we were dealing with the budget of the Department of Renewable Resources, the Honourable Silas Arngna'naaq passed around sealskin prototype products with Minnguq sewing group labels on them. My question is for the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism because this Broughton Island sewing group is funded through ED&T. It is my understanding that the sealskins of these products are from Newfoundland and were manufactured somewhere in northern Ontario.

Question 533-12(7): Origin Of Sealskin Products
Revert To Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1182

An Hon. Member

Shame.

Question 533-12(7): Origin Of Sealskin Products
Revert To Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1182

Rebecca Mike Baffin Central

My question to the Minister is this, is ED&T trying to enhance the economy of the NWT or are they trying to enhance the economies of Newfoundland and northern Ontario?

--- Applause

Question 533-12(7): Origin Of Sealskin Products
Revert To Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1182

The Speaker

Madam Premier, would you like to respond?

Question 533-12(7): Origin Of Sealskin Products
Revert To Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1182

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Minister responsible, I will take the question as notice., Thank you.

Question 533-12(7): Origin Of Sealskin Products
Revert To Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1182

The Speaker

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

Question 534-12(7): Federal Consultation Re Bill C-68
Revert To Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1182

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I note that several members of the firearms control task force of the Department of Justice of Canada are here today. We discussed their "consultations" in this House earlier. I would like to ask our Minister of Justice if he's had communications from his federal counterpart, the Honourable Allan Rock, about his commitments to consult with the aboriginal people of the Northwest Territories on Bill C-68. Thank you.

Question 534-12(7): Federal Consultation Re Bill C-68
Revert To Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1182

The Speaker

Minister of Justice, Mr. Kakfwi.

Return To Question 534-12(7): Federal Consultation Re Bill C-68
Question 534-12(7): Federal Consultation Re Bill C-68
Revert To Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1183

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Mr. Speaker, apparently the federal Minister had written to me back on the 19th of May apologizing for being out of the country for a couple of weeks, regretting that he was unable to inform me any earlier that consultation with aboriginal people was going to take place shortly across Canada. Once communities had been selected and a definitive timetable set, the Minister committed at that time to inform me exactly when and where these would take place.

The letter that contains the Minister's commitment of May 19th was received in my office just yesterday afternoon. Thank you.

Return To Question 534-12(7): Federal Consultation Re Bill C-68
Question 534-12(7): Federal Consultation Re Bill C-68
Revert To Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1183

The Speaker

Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Supplementary To Question 534-12(7): Federal Consultation Re Bill C-68
Question 534-12(7): Federal Consultation Re Bill C-68
Revert To Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1183

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm happy that the federal Minister of Justice intended to give our Minister notice of the timetable for the community consultations of the firearms task force group. I would like to ask the Minister, notwithstanding the federal Minister's good intentions, what was the kind of notice that the Minister and his office actually got about the timetable for consultations in our NWT communities? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 534-12(7): Federal Consultation Re Bill C-68
Question 534-12(7): Federal Consultation Re Bill C-68
Revert To Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1183

The Speaker

Mr. Kakfwi.

Further Return To Question 534-12(7): Federal Consultation Re Bill C-68
Question 534-12(7): Federal Consultation Re Bill C-68
Revert To Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1183

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Mr. Speaker, I must say that I have received no notice, either as a Member of the Legislature or as the Minister of Justice, as to the timetable for community meetings and consultations. So I have had no prior notice and have very little information as to what the present consultation process is that is being conducted at this time. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 534-12(7): Federal Consultation Re Bill C-68
Question 534-12(7): Federal Consultation Re Bill C-68
Revert To Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1183

The Speaker

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

Supplementary To Question 534-12(7): Federal Consultation Re Bill C-68
Question 534-12(7): Federal Consultation Re Bill C-68
Revert To Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1183

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In light of the lack of courtesy and notice provided by the federal Minister of Justice on these community consultations, I would like to ask our Minister of Justice if he is satisfied that the consultation process on Bill C-68 in the Northwest Territories so far has been adequate? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 534-12(7): Federal Consultation Re Bill C-68
Question 534-12(7): Federal Consultation Re Bill C-68
Revert To Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1183

The Speaker

Mr. Kakfwi.

Further Return To Question 534-12(7): Federal Consultation Re Bill C-68
Question 534-12(7): Federal Consultation Re Bill C-68
Revert To Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1183

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Mr. Speaker, as you know, our people right across the Northwest territories say Bill C-68 is going to affect our ability to put food on the table for our families. It is a very basic, fundamental concern that reaches into our homes and our families, and it's a very heartfelt issue.

I believe that ample notice should be given of consultation, if it should take place. Public notice should be given that public meetings will be held in certain locations at certain times. There should be adequate preparation by the people involved, to ensure that a full summary of the bill and the implications and the issues that it brings out is prepared and is brought to the public in an organized fashion so that they have a basis on which to formulate some initial thought to have some understanding on which to base questions and feel they've been consulted.

In a great part, I guess I feel like there's been a great rush for the Minister to say -- perhaps on the Peter Gzowski show -that, as he said: "People are going north to consult and are being consulted at this moment as we speak".

That hastily collected plan has been put forward in order to make the impression that consultation is taking place. I think it is important for Members of this Legislature to speak about the concerns they have as consultation, as it is being called by the federal government, is taking place in the constituencies across the Northwest Territories.

In part, I would say I am very disappointed. It's ill prepared. We have not been informed, even as a government, of the consultation, and I have great difficulty believing that a letter that was dated May 19th should have only been received in my office yesterday. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 534-12(7): Federal Consultation Re Bill C-68
Question 534-12(7): Federal Consultation Re Bill C-68
Revert To Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1183

The Speaker

Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Whitford.

Question 535-12(7): Location Of NWT Water Bombers
Revert To Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1183

Tony Whitford

Tony Whitford Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Circumstances have changed again.

--- Laughter

Mr. Speaker, I would like to direct a question to the Minister responsible for forest fire fighting. I would like to ask the Minister where our water bombers are now. I understand that for a while they were loaned to Alberta or the other provinces to help them in their battle against fires. We are now seeing a much more serious condition appearing here in the territories, and I would like to ask where our water tankers are?

Question 535-12(7): Location Of NWT Water Bombers
Revert To Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1183

The Speaker

The Minister responsible for fire management, Mr. Morin.

Return To Question 535-12(7): Location Of Nwt Water Bombers
Question 535-12(7): Location Of NWT Water Bombers
Revert To Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1183

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, the Member is quite correct. We did lend, or through the MARS agreement or whatever, the DC-4 water bomber to Alberta to Whitecourt, and it was down there for approximately 24 hours. We did bring it back into the north.

We have our two CL-215s and two more CL-215s are supposed to be in the Wells now. The DC-4 should be leaving Hay River to go to Norman Wells. We have kept back one DC-4 on standby in the South Slave because conditions are very high there as well. I would like to assure the Member that the city of Yellowknife, as well, has I believe it is 3 firefighting crews in this area and we also have firefighting crews in Fort Rae, Lutsel K`e and Fort Resolution that all can be put into action if any fires threaten this community. Thank you.

Return To Question 535-12(7): Location Of Nwt Water Bombers
Question 535-12(7): Location Of NWT Water Bombers
Revert To Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1184

The Speaker

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