Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Health and Social Services with regard to the matter of members of bands who are registered Indians under the band list may live in southern Canada for educational reasons, health reasons or what not who may have passed on. Basically, the cost of transferring people back to their communities for burials seem to be a real concern to a lot of my members, especially in the Mackenzie Delta. A lot of people have been moved to southern institutions with TB and other things in the past; in which, they may reside there, but the family is originally from places like Arctic Red, Fort McPherson or Aklavik. We would like to know if the Minister can look into revisiting this issue with regard to transferring people's bodies from southern Canada for burial in the North who are registered Indians.
Question 13-13(2): Transporting Deceased Registered Indians From Southern Canada To Home Communities
In the Legislative Assembly on February 14th, 1996. See this topic in context.
Question 13-13(2): Transporting Deceased Registered Indians From Southern Canada To Home Communities
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 12
Question 13-13(2): Transporting Deceased Registered Indians From Southern Canada To Home Communities
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 12
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Ng.
Return To Question 13-13(2): Transporting Deceased Registered Indians From Southern Canada To Home Communities
Question 13-13(2): Transporting Deceased Registered Indians From Southern Canada To Home Communities
Item 6: Oral Questions
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Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I guess the issue would depend on why that individual was down south to begin with. If it was an individual who was there for medical treatment or who passed away while they were down south for that treatment, then we would be obligated, of course, to bring that individual back to the Territories. If the individual were down there on their own; decided to move down outside of the Territories and were to pass away, then I would not feel there would be an obligation of this government to bring that person's remains if they were to be deceased, no matter where they originated from.
Having said that though, Mr. Speaker, I will look into what's in the policy right now and go over the issue with the Member. Thank you.
Return To Question 13-13(2): Transporting Deceased Registered Indians From Southern Canada To Home Communities
Question 13-13(2): Transporting Deceased Registered Indians From Southern Canada To Home Communities
Item 6: Oral Questions
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The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.
Supplementary To Question 13-13(2): Transporting Deceased Registered Indians From Southern Canada To Home Communities
Question 13-13(2): Transporting Deceased Registered Indians From Southern Canada To Home Communities
Item 6: Oral Questions
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David Krutko Mackenzie Delta
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is with regard to the whole question not of residency, but the question about bands, being a registered Indian based on a band list. If you're registered anywhere in Canada, you have to be associated with a band. I think it may not have been taken into consideration when that program was cut out because we do have a lot of people who are registered, either through land claim agreements or through a band list, as registered Indians to a band in Arctic Red River or Tsiigehtchic or Fort McPherson or Aklavik. I'm saying that I think that should be seriously considered when we make the statement that these people are not residents of the Northwest Territories, but technically they are because they are registered under a band list. I think that has to be seriously looked at.
Supplementary To Question 13-13(2): Transporting Deceased Registered Indians From Southern Canada To Home Communities
Question 13-13(2): Transporting Deceased Registered Indians From Southern Canada To Home Communities
Item 6: Oral Questions
February 13th, 1996
Page 12
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Mr. Ng.
Further Return To Question 13-13(2): Transporting Deceased Registered Indians From Southern Canada To Home Communities
Question 13-13(2): Transporting Deceased Registered Indians From Southern Canada To Home Communities
Item 6: Oral Questions
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Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, with respect to the obligation of this government for band members, I'm not exactly sure if that's within the realm of responsibilities of Health and Social Services. I might suggest that it might be better handled by the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs. If the honourable Member is speaking with respect to medical patients who are band members, then I can speak to that issue. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Further Return To Question 13-13(2): Transporting Deceased Registered Indians From Southern Canada To Home Communities
Question 13-13(2): Transporting Deceased Registered Indians From Southern Canada To Home Communities
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 12
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.
Supplementary To Question 13-13(2): Transporting Deceased Registered Indians From Southern Canada To Home Communities
Question 13-13(2): Transporting Deceased Registered Indians From Southern Canada To Home Communities
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 12
David Krutko Mackenzie Delta
The question I was looking at, Mr. Speaker, is with regard to people who are deceased due to cancer, a disease or what not. I think that was what I was basically relating my question to.
Supplementary To Question 13-13(2): Transporting Deceased Registered Indians From Southern Canada To Home Communities
Question 13-13(2): Transporting Deceased Registered Indians From Southern Canada To Home Communities
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 12
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Ng.
Further Return To Question 13-13(2): Transporting Deceased Registered Indians From Southern Canada To Home Communities
Question 13-13(2): Transporting Deceased Registered Indians From Southern Canada To Home Communities
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 12
Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I said earlier and I guess I'll say it again, if the individual is out for medical treatment and were to become deceased at that time, then it would be the responsibility of our government to bring that person back. If that person was out there as a band member who didn't reside in the Northwest Territories who happened to be deceased, having chosen to live down south, then I don't feel that it would be an obligation of our government to bring that person back no matter where they originated from or what band they belonged to, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 13-13(2): Transporting Deceased Registered Indians From Southern Canada To Home Communities
Question 13-13(2): Transporting Deceased Registered Indians From Southern Canada To Home Communities
Item 6: Oral Questions
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The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Barnabas.