This is page numbers 1 - 15 of the Hansard for the 13th Assembly, 2nd 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 community.

Need For New Airport Terminal In Resolute Bay
Item 4: Members' Statements

Page 6

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Item 4, Members' statements. Mrs. Groenewegen.

Environmental Review Panel Hearings
Item 4: Members' Statements

Page 6

Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I had a prepared text today for a Member's statement, but I've decided to diverge from that and wing it, so to speak, on another subject.

I was at the Environmental Review Panel hearings just before I came here today, and a presenter went before the panel and made a very passionate plea on behalf of the land, the wildlife and the environment of the Barren Lands. It was a very passionate plea and it resulted in the presenter breaking and becoming very emotional, and people in the audience also breaking down and becoming very emotional during his presentation. But when I heard that, I wanted to stand in the House today to say that I haven't heard all the other presentations to the Environmental Review Panel, but I hope that someone has stood before that panel and made an equally impassioned plea on behalf of the youth of the Northwest Territories who are without hope, in many cases, of finding employment in their home territory. I guess it's my hope that we will find a balance between protecting our beautiful land and our wonderful wildlife, but also taking care of our very most valuable resource, that being our young people in the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

---Applause

Environmental Review Panel Hearings
Item 4: Members' Statements

Page 6

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Item 4, Members' statements, Mr. Roland.

Application Of Affirmative Action Policy
Item 4: Members' Statements

Page 6

Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik

Mr. Speaker, honourable Members, before I get into my statement, I would like to say hello to my children back home and wish my wife, Shawna, a Happy Valentine's Day.

---Applause

Mr. Speaker, I would like to make a comment about the affirmative action policy. If the government is to have a policy, it should be applied across the board evenly and should be fair to all people. If you call the North your home and you have the qualifications and show the initiative, you should be given the opportunity to prove yourself. I believe when the Government of the Northwest Territories is looking for employees it should be looking from within, not from outside sources.

Mr. Speaker, I say this because it has been brought to my attention that good people are being passed over when employment opportunities arise within the Government of the Northwest Territories. Once again, Mr. Speaker, if this government is to have a policy in place, it must be applied evenly across the Territories. If it cannot accomplish this, then it should seriously look at removing it.

Mr. Speaker, I do not think that we, as a government, should be creating barriers for the people of the Northwest Territories. Instead, Mr. Speaker, I think we should be trying to encourage people to make the North a better place to live. Thank you.

---Applause

Application Of Affirmative Action Policy
Item 4: Members' Statements

Page 6

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Item 4, Members' statements. Mr. Miltenberger.

Community Sports Versus Arctic Winter Games
Item 4: Members' Statements

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Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to state the concern today that I have about sport and recreation at the community level. I believe over the years, since 1970, it has suffered, and it has suffered as a result of the Arctic Winter Games. I think the Arctic Winter Games have become too big, too expensive, are held too often; and sport and recreation at the community level has, as a result, suffered. I think, especially in these times of fiscal restraint and the move towards community empowerment and the focus on the community as the source of all the things that we want to do, that it's time, once these Arctic Winter Games are over, to have a serious look at our involvement in this very costly enterprise that has become like a mini-Olympics. I think we're losing a lot of the good trades we used to have when I was a kid in the communities, where you had lots of competition, there were a lot of leagues, there were intercommunity competitions going on; and that has gone in the quest to get on the all-star team or to get on a team that may go to the Winter Games.

As we're telling people that we can't afford the government we do have, we're spending $7,000 to ship dogs around to go on dog races, or food for dogs. It puts us in a dilemma: where are our priorities? I think, as the honourable Member for Hay River said, we have to keep in mind what we want for our children. What do we want them to learn about sport and recreation and where do you learn these things the best? And where do all children get that best opportunity? That's at the community level. Only a very few will make it to the Arctic Winter Games, so I think we have to seriously look at our involvement in this enterprise. Thank you.

Community Sports Versus Arctic Winter Games
Item 4: Members' Statements

Page 7

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Item 4, Members' statements. Are there any further Members' statements? Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Picco.

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

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Edward Picco Iqaluit

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize a well-known Yellowknife resident and union activist, Brother Ben McDonald from the Union of Northern Workers.

---Applause

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 7

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mrs. Groenewegen.

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 7

Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize in the gallery today, Mayor Jack Rowe from Hay River; Deputy Mayor Ray Young; councillors Rick Connors, Mansell Grey, Robert Bouchard, Dean McMeekan, and the longest-serving municipal councillor in the Northwest Territories, Councillor Red McBryan. I would also like to recognize James Cayen from the West Channel First Nations Band Council; Charlie Scarborough, Hay River's town manager, and also Jeff Griffiths from the Community Futures board of directors. Thank you.

---Applause

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Welcome to the Assembly. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Picco.

Edward Picco Iqaluit

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Education. Mr. Speaker, since September of 1995, and during my election campaign and continuing until now, there have been several concerns regarding the transfer of several programs from the Nunavut Arctic College campus in Iqaluit to other centres. Mr. Speaker, several groups, including the Iqaluit Chamber of Commerce and the Baffin leaders' summit have written or passed motions asking the Minister to carefully consider the proposed transfers as well as submissions from staff and students of Nunatta Campus against this transfer.

Mr. Speaker, through a letter and a communique, the Minister has stated that he is in favour of and has approved in principle, the transfer of four programs from Nunatta Campus to other centres. Mr. Speaker, my question to the Minister is, in light of the severe economic pressures facing the GNWT, why is the Minister continuing with this exercise which could cost this government in excess of $2 million when the program, infrastructure, administration, and logistics are already in place at Nunatta

Campus.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. The Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Dent.

Return To Question 1-13(2): Transfer Of Nunavut Arctic College Programs
Question 1-13(2): Transfer Of Nunavut Arctic College Programs
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 7

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on receiving the recommendation of the board of governors that the programs be reallocated, I have given my approval in principle and have to recognize that this is based on the basic principle of establishing fairness in the distribution of programs throughout the three campuses in Nunavut. I have asked the board to provide my office, by March 31st, with a detailed examination of what the one time and ongoing costs of program transfer will be. At this point in time, I cannot accept the Member's allegation that it will be in excess of $2 million.

Return To Question 1-13(2): Transfer Of Nunavut Arctic College Programs
Question 1-13(2): Transfer Of Nunavut Arctic College Programs
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 7

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

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

Supplementary To Question 1-13(2): Transfer Of Nunavut Arctic College Programs
Question 1-13(2): Transfer Of Nunavut Arctic College Programs
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 7

Edward Picco Iqaluit

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm glad that I have some support over in the Cabinet today. Mr. Speaker, supplemental: Will the Minister release the public consultation report that was submitted to the college board of governors concerning the proposed transfer?

Supplementary To Question 1-13(2): Transfer Of Nunavut Arctic College Programs
Question 1-13(2): Transfer Of Nunavut Arctic College Programs
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 7

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 1-13(2): Transfer Of Nunavut Arctic College Programs
Question 1-13(2): Transfer Of Nunavut Arctic College Programs
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 8

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am assuming that the Member is referring to a report that was submitted to the board of governors by a consultant. I would have to check in the terms of reference to that to see whether or not that could be made public. I could certainly share that report with the Member; I'm not sure if I can table it at this point in time and I'll have to let you know.

Further Return To Question 1-13(2): Transfer Of Nunavut Arctic College Programs
Question 1-13(2): Transfer Of Nunavut Arctic College Programs
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 8

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Picco.

Supplementary To Question 1-13(2): Transfer Of Nunavut Arctic College Programs
Question 1-13(2): Transfer Of Nunavut Arctic College Programs
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 8

Edward Picco Iqaluit

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in a letter dated January 25th to the president of the Iqaluit Chamber of Commerce, the Minister states that, and I quote, "That the transfer of base-funded programs must not result in a requirement for additional financial resources." Mr. Speaker, my question to the Minister is how can additional costs not be included when you and I realize that additional staff housing will have to be found in other transferred communities, that married accommodations for students will have to be found, and that the GNWT will have to honour its responsibility to the transferred staff and purchase their houses. Which, from my information at the present time, are five instructors at approximately $150,000 a house; at the very least, an additional cost to this government of $750,000 alone in buying the transferred employees' homes.

Supplementary To Question 1-13(2): Transfer Of Nunavut Arctic College Programs
Question 1-13(2): Transfer Of Nunavut Arctic College Programs
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 8

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 1-13(2): Transfer Of Nunavut Arctic College Programs
Question 1-13(2): Transfer Of Nunavut Arctic College Programs
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 8

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the department doesn't, and the Minister doesn't run the Nunavut Arctic College on a day-to-day basis; that is left up to the board of governors. I have asked the board of governors to demonstrate that it can meet the costs and the cost of relocation internally. At this point in time, they've been told -- as I'm quite often told by my colleague from the Department of Finance -- that there is no more money. They have been told quite clearly that there are no additional funds and so they must demonstrate how they intend to meet the costs of program relocation from the funding that they currently receive.

Further Return To Question 1-13(2): Transfer Of Nunavut Arctic College Programs
Question 1-13(2): Transfer Of Nunavut Arctic College Programs
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 8

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Final supplementary, Mr. Picco.

Supplementary To Question 1-13(2): Transfer Of Nunavut Arctic College Programs
Question 1-13(2): Transfer Of Nunavut Arctic College Programs
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 8

Edward Picco Iqaluit

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my final supplemental: Although the Cabinet may not believe this, I want to point out that I'm not against decentralization of college programs if it makes logistic, administrative, and financial sense to do so. Mr. Speaker, why would the Minister recommend the transfer of the community alcohol and drug treatment counsellor program, for example, when he, I, and most of the Members in this House know the only alcohol and drug treatment centre is located in Iqaluit? Mr. Speaker, this does not make any sense. We're talking about financial restraints and yet we can do one thing and say another. Mr. Speaker, my supplemental question to the Minister is has he thought about that?

Supplementary To Question 1-13(2): Transfer Of Nunavut Arctic College Programs
Question 1-13(2): Transfer Of Nunavut Arctic College Programs
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 8

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Dent.