This is page numbers 37 - 50 of the Hansard for the 13th Assembly, 3rd 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 housing.

Topics

Social And Economic Problems In Communities
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 39

Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On Wednesday of this week, my colleague, the honourable Mr. O'Brien, made a statement in this House in reference to the disastrous health problems that have plagued his home community. He included a statement saying that this incident only serves to illustrate the need for us in this Assembly to take dramatic action to deal with the social and economic problems being faced by communities such as Arviat. We can't just be driven by deficit management.

Like Mr. O'Brien, I also support the idea of Premier Morin's announcement to establish an advisory council on the economy and employment, for which lie will invite business people from across the NWT to provide him with advice and ideas.

It will be invaluable for the Premier to get input from the business community and equally invaluable for those ideas and viewpoints to be passed on to Members of this House. In that regard, I would suggest that the Premier's committee not become overweighted with political representatives from this House. However, I agree that the economy and employment must be given the same emphasis by Members of this House as we are giving deficit management, and that we create a mechanism by which we can play an ongoing role. I would support the establishment of a special committee of this House to also work on figuring out how to repair the northern economy.

We, in this House, must not deal solely with deficit management; let's not just roll along and let these costcutting measures lead us to despondency, let's wrestle with this ugly problem, let's develop a parallel vision with goals of where we want to go so that soon we will not solely be concentrating 100 per cent on cost cutting. Let's get back to building our economic future. Let's help kick-start the economy.

I would fully support the establishment of a committee made up of four ordinary Members who could study such issues as unemployment -- which, by the way, is the highest percentage-wise, in Canada -- a committee which could tabulate and review reports such as the SCONE report of 1989. This special committee could provide a valuable linkage to the Premier and could provide ideas that could be floated with the business community and industry, perhaps such initiatives as creating internships for our youth whereby we can involve industry and business to create entry-level jobs for youth entering the job market.

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

Social And Economic Problems In Communities
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 39

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

The Member for Yellowknife Centre is seeking unanimous consent. Do we have any nays? There are no nays. Conclude your statement, Mr. Ootes.

Social And Economic Problems In Communities
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 39

Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I realize we have to get our financial house in order and this will take some time to accomplish but, in the meantime, let's develop jobs for northerners which in turn will alleviate some of our social problems. This will also give us an opportunity to see how we are going to replace the dollars the federal government will continue to take away from us. Shrinking federal dollars will likely continue to plague us for many years to come.

By the time division of the Northwest Territories occurs on April 1, 1999, 1 want to see a strong, efficient, debt-free government with a vibrant economy that will put a big dent in the social and economic problems of those people who live in communities like Arviat. This will take our collective leadership. Thank you.

--- Applause

Social And Economic Problems In Communities
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 40

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you, Mr. Ootes. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Evaloarjuk.

Thanking Mlas For Support
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 40

Mark Evaloarjuk Amittuq

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to express my gratitude to all the honourable Members for supporting me. I will speak to my relatives about what you had written down for their support. Thank you. I would like to thank all the Members,

--- Applause

Thanking Mlas For Support
Item 3: Members' Statements

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank You, Mr. Evaloarjuk. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Roland.

Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Even though I just returned from home, I would like to say hello to my children and wife back home.

--- Applause

I would like to say thank you to Mr. Picco for sending greetings to us while I was in Inuvik. We did get a rise out of it.

I would like to make a statement as to what went on back in my home community of Inuvik. I went to attend the Arctic Environmental Protection Strategy Conference that was going on; unfortunately, I didn't meet up with Steve. We crossed paths. I found it to be a good experience that the northern communities and countries ate getting together to set directions to what can be done, to talk of sustainable development. It's a positive thing to be involved with. I look forward to things coming from such types of conferences.

I would like to put in a kick for Inuvik that the people who worked and volunteered their time to put the conference on did a very good job. The Ministers were entertained in the evening by the Inuvik Drummers and Dancers as well as the East Three Reelers. I believe they enjoyed themselves. I would like to say that Yellowknife better watch out, we might take over as conference capital of the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

--- Applause

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Rabesca.

Concerns Re Housing Corporation Contracts
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 40

James Rabesca North Slave

Mr. Speaker, I wrote a letter to the Honourable Charles Dent and Mr. Kelvin Ng on March 7, 1996, and to date I have not received any response regarding the building and learning strategy program without any notice to Wha Ti First Nation. They had to use the previous year's profits to train the project manager because $20,000 was withdrawn and was not made available for training dollars as part of the housing project costs from the Department of Education, Culture and Employment.

Mr. Speaker, the problems do not end here. The Wha Ti First Nation was not only hit financially due to the loss of $20,000, the Housing Corporation wanted the Wha Ti First Nation to agree on administering their housing programs on a fixed price and stated that if they had not signed an agreement before March 31, 1996, the Housing Corporation threatened that the housing project would go out to tender.

Mr. Speaker, a letter from the Housing Corporation dated February 27, 1996, to the Wha Ti First Nation stated that in the coming year, construction will be up for tender. The Wha Ti First Nation has a serious concern about the manner in which contracts are being forced upon them and about how numerous training dollars can be cut without notice to the people who will be mostly affected and will drastically affect the community's ability to successfully bid with any other bidders in a housing project. I do not accept the way the programs are being administered by the two departments, and have serious concerns about how transfers of housing projects to the communities are being handled.

Mr. Speaker, I will have a question for both the Honourable Charles Dent and Mr. Kelvin Ng at the appropriate time today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Concerns Re Housing Corporation Contracts
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 40

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you, Mr. Rabesca. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Henry.

Investing In The Northwest Territories
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 40

Seamus Henry Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. You may wonder what this little piece of paper is here. Just for your information, Mr. Erasmus is going to keep track of me and the number of times I speak in Members' statements from now on.

This afternoon, Members of this House will be playing hockey ... Sorry, will be skating.

--- Laughter

Let me try that again. Members of this House will be attempting to copy what is being called one of Canada's national sports, against the local media team. What is significant about this event? Let me tell you the irony of this event. The team of MLAs will be playing in a hockey rink in Yellowknife, the operation and maintenance of which is subsidized and paid for by the taxes of the citizens and businesses of Yellowknife. The original building was built by the sponsorship of the owners of the local mines. The labour to build the Gerry Murphy Arena was supplied on a volunteer basis by the residents of Yellowknife. Then, when times get tough, the community that grew by virtue of the fact that they had a hard-working, industrious population, a vibrant business community, gets slashed in a Draconian manner that was demonstrated by the government in this House yesterday.

I will be asking the Minister of Finance to explain this new math where he said, and I quote:

"...that the job losses in headquarters will be slightly higher." Mr. Speaker, you don't create prosperity in a family by stealing from another family member who took the initiative of hard work and worked smarter than another member of the family. Bear in mind that when you take this slash-and-burn attitude towards the community, it flies in the face of investors from outside the Northwest Territories where they look at what is going on and say they don't went to risk their money in the NWT.

Look at how they treat their communities.

The successful investor will say there is no significant benefit in being prosperous. The government will not allow it. Look at what they did to their capital. We need investment in the Territories. We need the jobs that will get people off of social programs and give dignity back to people; the dignity and pride of having a job and the social additions that it will create. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--- Applause

Investing In The Northwest Territories
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 40

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Dent.

--- Applause

Investing In The Northwest Territories
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 40

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Item 3, Members' statements. Are there any further Members' statements? Item 4, returns to oral questions. 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 40

Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I was pleased that I was able to convince my husband to take the day off work today and come and defend the Groenewegen name on the ice against the media. I would like to recognize my husband, Rick, and my daughter, Jillian,

--- Applause

Appreciation To Caribou Carnival Volunteers
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 40

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this weekend is Caribou Carnival weekend in Yellowknife. Fort Caribou opens today at noon and will operate through Sunday. This is Yellowknife's annual winter -_ some might say spring -- festival, but the outside temperature doesn't really lead us to believe that it is spring yet.

Mr. Speaker, one of the premier events of the weekend will be the Canadian Championship Dog Derby, which is managed by the Yellowknife Rotary Club. That race kicks off today; three 50-mile heats that will start today at 12:30 and on Saturday and Sunday, the race begins at noon each day.

Caribou Carnival includes activities for all. We have snowmobile races, fireworks, ice carving contests, northern games on the ice stage and there will be special events for young people. As Mr. Henry has already talked about in the early part of his statement, one of the best spectator sports of the weekend will happen at 2:00 this afternoon, which is the hockey game between the MLAs and the media.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to extend a vote of thanks to the large corps of volunteers who put together Caribou Carnival this year. They are headed by Mr. Mike Kalnay and they have put in hundreds of hours of volunteer time to pull this carnival off. I wish them well. I would like to invite all Members and all members of the public to participate in events this weekend and enjoy the hospitality of Yellowknifers and the fun that helps warm our late winter weekend, no matter what the temperature is outside. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Appreciation To Caribou Carnival Volunteers
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 40

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Welcome to the Assembly. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Henry.

Appreciation To Caribou Carnival Volunteers
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 40

Seamus Henry Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to acknowledge a group in the gallery. Today we have a group of visiting students who are part of a program called Northern Experience '96. I would like to acknowledge Jensenne, Erin and Ann of Calgary, Jamie from Drumheller, Lara and Kristin from Lloydminster, Charelle of North Battleford, Anita from Peace River, Anya and Chris of Red Deer and Laura of Swift Current. The northern experience program has beet) sponsored by the local Yellowknife Rotary Club. On behalf of the Assembly, I would like to welcome them to Yellowknife and wish them a pleasant visit. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--- Applause

Appreciation To Caribou Carnival Volunteers
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 40

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

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

Item 6: Oral Questions
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 40

Edward Picco Iqaluit

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. See, Mr. Todd, I can be quiet for a few seconds.

--- Interjection

Edward Picco Iqaluit

Mr. Speaker, yesterday I tabled the response of the Minister of Education on the petition supporting keeping programs at Nunatta campus of Nunavut Arctic College. Mr. Speaker, I have had some time to review the consultative report on the proposed transfers. Mr. Speaker, the report did not alleviate my fears of the cost implications. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Education. When will he announce to this House how many programs, what programs and when said-programs currently offered elsewhere in the NWT, will be offered in Nunavut? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

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

Return To Question 29-13(3): Time Frame For Delivery Of Programs At Nunavut Arctic College
Question 29-13(3): Time Frame For Delivery Of Programs At Nunavut Arctic College
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 42

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the delivery of programs is, in large part, determined by the board of governors of Nunavut Arctic College. Which programs can be delivered by both of the colleges, East and West, is determined by the level of budgets. As the Member knows, we will be discussing the budget shortly, so I would expect that we would get into some detailed discussion of that when the budget is introduced in May.

Return To Question 29-13(3): Time Frame For Delivery Of Programs At Nunavut Arctic College
Question 29-13(3): Time Frame For Delivery Of Programs At Nunavut Arctic College
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 42

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Picco.

Supplementary To Question 29-13(3): Time Frame For Delivery Of Programs At Nunavut Arctic College
Question 29-13(3): Time Frame For Delivery Of Programs At Nunavut Arctic College
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 42

Edward Picco Iqaluit

Mr. Speaker, the Minister has said earlier in this House over the past few months that because of third-party funding of programs, he does not feel that Nunatta Campus in Iqaluit will be hurt by the said-program transfers. Mr. Speaker, with the continued reductions in Pathways funding by the federal government, which is the largest third-party funder of programs at Nunatta Campus, how does he expect the campus to make up that shortfall?

Supplementary To Question 29-13(3): Time Frame For Delivery Of Programs At Nunavut Arctic College
Question 29-13(3): Time Frame For Delivery Of Programs At Nunavut Arctic College
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 42

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Evaloarjuk, are you getting translation? Mr. Dent.