This is page numbers 100 - 127 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 public.

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Return To Question 88-13(2): Privatization Plan For Computer Services
Question 88-13(2): Privatization Plan For Computer Services
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 111

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

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

Question 89-13(2): Construction Of Road Between Inuvik And Tuk
Item 6: Oral Questions

February 20th, 1996

Page 111

Vince Steen

Vince Steen Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, before the Christmas break in the December sitting of this House, I asked a question to the Minister of Transportation as to whether or not he would consider undertaking pooling the transportation infrastructure between Tuk and Inuvik as a way of improving the economic conditions in my region. Mr. Speaker, shortly after I got home after the House adjourned, my community received two dogteams from Economic Development. I spent a few days convincing people that I did not think the request had any relation to what we received from the government.

Yesterday, I received a response from the Minister of Transportation as to possibly doing something with this request I had put forward to him. Mr. Speaker, the Minister indicated that it's $160 million, a rough estimate, to build a road between Inuvik and Tuk. Mr. Speaker, I'm beginning to wonder who was serious here, whether it was the person who was questioning me about the dogteams or whether it was the Minister, because I really think that these figures put forward are discouraging figures, rather than encouraging. I believe, as many people in my community believe, that Economic Development projects could be undertaken which could be productive in the sense that we would undertake constructing this road or at least starting on construction of this road. We cannot do it alone, Mr. Speaker. We need assistance from Economic Development and the Minister of Transportation, in particular, for the process of the road to proceed.

Mr. Speaker, as well in the letter I received, the Minister stated that it is a federal responsibility. Mr. Speaker, I have noticed that in the past couple of months this government has taken on a lot of federal responsibilities that they were not really entitled to, I think. I would like to address my question to the Minister of Transportation. Would he seriously consider again undertaking this project as a way of improving the economic development situation, both in my community and in Inuvik? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Minister of Transportation, Mr. Antoine.

Return To Question 89-13(2): Construction Of Road Between Lnuvik And Tuk
Question 89-13(2): Construction Of Road Between Inuvik And Tuk
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 111

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to thank the honourable Member for Nunakput for his concerns with regard to transportation linkage between Inuvik and Tuk. He has raised this issue with me before, and I think it's a good initiative for his part of the area. The department experts have looked at this section of the road that is being proposed, and with their best estimates, the figure --as Mr. Steen stated - was roughly $160 million to build such a road. On the other hand, it is correct that the federal government is responsible for all new roads in the Northwest Territories. This being a new road, it fits under their mandate. This is one of the areas that the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs has the task, has no money and has nobody running that program for them.

Until the federal government decides to spend more money on their infrastructure development in Canada, only then will we have a chance to get some money from the federal government for new roads. On the other hand, the federal government is also looking for places where there could be some programs for employment development. Perhaps that might be an area to seek it out. But at the present time, the Department of Transportation, as everybody in this House knows, is going through a business planning process and we have been asked to look at reducing how much is in this budget already. By adding a project of that significance, it is difficult. On the other hand, I have no problems in looking into a joint venture project at the same time as making cuts in different areas. We also have to look at what we can do to enhance economic development in different areas. Perhaps this would be one area to look at. I will seriously consider such a proposal perhaps once the Member puts forward a good proposal. Maybe we can talk about it. That is what we are here for: to look at what we can do to develop the North. Mahsi.

Return To Question 89-13(2): Construction Of Road Between Lnuvik And Tuk
Question 89-13(2): Construction Of Road Between Inuvik And Tuk
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 111

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Just to remind the Members, try to keep your preambles brief and to the point. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Miltenberger.

Return To Question 89-13(2): Construction Of Road Between Lnuvik And Tuk
Question 89-13(2): Construction Of Road Between Inuvik And Tuk
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 111

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Renewable Resources. As he is checking his figures to facilitate providing some information that should be made public, and as he is checking the age and sex of the buffalo -- I am not sure whether he means their sexual orientation or not -- would he also be kind enough to give this House the cost of the ice road that was built across the Slave River into the Hanging Ice Bison Ranch, breaking down the equipment, staff time, regular hours, overtime and use of casuals? Thank you.

Return To Question 89-13(2): Construction Of Road Between Lnuvik And Tuk
Question 89-13(2): Construction Of Road Between Inuvik And Tuk
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 111

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Minister of Renewable Resources, Mr. Kakfwi.

Return To Question 89-13(2): Construction Of Road Between Lnuvik And Tuk
Question 89-13(2): Construction Of Road Between Inuvik And Tuk
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 111

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Mr. Speaker, that was a long preamble. I didn't get the question at all. I will have to ask the Member to clarify what it is he is asking me to provide.

Return To Question 89-13(2): Construction Of Road Between Lnuvik And Tuk
Question 89-13(2): Construction Of Road Between Inuvik And Tuk
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 111

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Miltenberger.

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will speak slowly and clearly. Could the Minister please provide, along with the other information that he is checking into, the cost of the ice road into the Hanging Ice Bison Ranch that was built across the Slave River, using highway staff, Renewable Resources staff and give me a break down of the equipment

costs, staff costs, regular hours, overtime and use of casuals. Thank you.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Minister of Renewable Resources, Mr. Kakfwi.

Return To Question 90-13(2): Cost Of Building Ice Bridge Across Slave River
Question 90-13(2): Cost Of Building Ice Bridge Across Slave River
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 112

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Mr. Speaker, it might take a few days, but I would be prepared to try to provide the Member with that information. Thank you.

Return To Question 90-13(2): Cost Of Building Ice Bridge Across Slave River
Question 90-13(2): Cost Of Building Ice Bridge Across Slave River
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 112

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Barnabas.

Levi Barnabas High Arctic

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question to the Minister of Health and Social Services and Housing. I have a question regarding funding for alcohol and education programs. Why hasn't his department responded to the letters that were sent from my constituency --from Arctic Bay and Resolute --requesting funding for these programs? This program is being funded by the hamlet and it is getting to the point where it is accumulating a deficit for the hamlet. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Ng.

Return To Question 91-13(2): Lack Of Response From Minister Re Alcohol Education Funding For High Arctic
Question 91-13(2): Lack Of Response From Minister Re Alcohol Education Funding For High Arctic
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 112

Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The honourable Member pointed out the situation with respect to one of the communities to me yesterday. I will find out the status of the request and get back to the Member on that. Thank you.

Return To Question 91-13(2): Lack Of Response From Minister Re Alcohol Education Funding For High Arctic
Question 91-13(2): Lack Of Response From Minister Re Alcohol Education Funding For High Arctic
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 112

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

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

Seamus Henry Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like the Premier to state clearly in this House that this government that sits here today represents all citizens of the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Premier of the Northwest Territories, Mr. Morin.

Return To Question 92-13(2): Request For Premier To State That GNWT Represents All Nwt Residents
Question 92-13(2): Request For Premier To State That GNWT Represents All NWT Residents
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 112

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I completely agree with the Member, we do represent all citizens of the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

Return To Question 92-13(2): Request For Premier To State That GNWT Represents All Nwt Residents
Question 92-13(2): Request For Premier To State That GNWT Represents All NWT Residents
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 112

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

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

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment with regard to aboriginal languages, especially in the Mackenzie Delta with the Gwich'in language program and also the Inuvialuktun language. Are there any attempts made to cut these languages because of the present financial statement we are in?

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

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

Return To Question 93-13(2): Status Of Gwich'in And Inuvialuktun Language Programs
Question 93-13(2): Status Of Gwich'in And Inuvialuktun Language Programs
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 112

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as the Member knows, we are currently in the process of reviewing our budgets and planning for the 1996-97 fiscal year. While I can't be very specific about what is in those budgets because they are still in a draft stage, I can tell the Member that the official languages programs are recognized to have taken a major cut in the current year we are in because of the reduction that this government saw from the federal government's contribution for official languages. Our goal is to avoid, as much as possible, any further reductions in the coming years.

Return To Question 93-13(2): Status Of Gwich'in And Inuvialuktun Language Programs
Question 93-13(2): Status Of Gwich'in And Inuvialuktun Language Programs
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 112

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.