This is page numbers 51 - 70 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 ---.

Topics

Return To Question 44-13(3): Impact Of Wage And Benefit Reductions
Question 44-13(3): Impact Of Wage And Benefit Reductions
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 55

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 Premier regarding the changes to dissolving the regional directors' offices and allowing MACA to implement programs such as community transfer initiatives. I would like to ask the Premier regarding that approach. As he is aware, from my earlier statement, presently in the Beaufort/Delta we are in the process of self-government negotiations. In those negotiations, we are looking at programs and services. How does the Premier see the aboriginal organizations, band councils in communities, Metis locals and aboriginal regional councils such as the Gwich'in Tribal Council and the Inuvialuit Regional Council being involved in those deliberations or discussions coming up to those transfers taking place to the communities through community empowerment?

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Premier.

Return To Question 45-13(3): Regional Input On Community Transfers
Question 45-13(3): Regional Input On Community Transfers
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 56

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I see that Metis locals as well as First Nations councils at the community level will be fully involved with community empowerment discussions with the Department of MACA or the Department of Health and Social Services on wellness. It will be up to them to decide amongst themselves where they will need a regional function. If they so choose, then they will be funded accordingly. Thank You.

Return To Question 45-13(3): Regional Input On Community Transfers
Question 45-13(3): Regional Input On Community Transfers
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 56

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Supplementary To Question 45-13(3): Regional Input On Community Transfers
Question 45-13(3): Regional Input On Community Transfers
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 56

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

With regard to the initiative, because there is a possibility of duplicating tracts; one is the negotiation tract where you're dealing directly with the federal government regarding the land claims agreements, and also the goals that are spelled out in those agreements with regard to different programs, taking over initiatives Such as health, education, being able to look at taxation and other elements which are in those agreements. What I do not want to see is that there may be a possibility of having too much process and not enough work being done to have these processes concluded in the time frames that are set forth. The Gwich'in and the Inuvialuit are presently in the process of negotiating self-government agreements with the federal government and the GNWT to establish an agreement in principle by next year. What I would like the Premier to answer is does he see a process in which these people will be involved through consultation, or is it a process which is already spelled out in the establishment of this new initiative. Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 45-13(3): Regional Input On Community Transfers
Question 45-13(3): Regional Input On Community Transfers
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 56

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Morin.

Further Return To Question 45-13(3): Regional Input On Community Transfers
Question 45-13(3): Regional Input On Community Transfers
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 56

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to assure the Member that the communities will be fully consulted on the community empowerment approaches that we are trying to achieve. The whole reason for trying to work with the communities is so the communities can finally start making the decisions of their day-to-day lives in their communities on the programs that are being administered in their communities. So it will be done in a very close working relationship with the communities. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 45-13(3): Regional Input On Community Transfers
Question 45-13(3): Regional Input On Community Transfers
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 56

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Supplementary To Question 45-13(3): Regional Input On Community Transfers
Question 45-13(3): Regional Input On Community Transfers
Item 6: Oral Questions

March 24th, 1996

Page 56

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

I would like clarification of what he means by "consultation." Consultation could be a method of picking up a phone and making a phone call, or is he talking about regional meetings with the Beaufort/Delta leadership? Is he talking about meetings with the individual interest groups such as band councils, Metis locals or other groups such as the tribal councils?

Supplementary To Question 45-13(3): Regional Input On Community Transfers
Question 45-13(3): Regional Input On Community Transfers
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 56

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Morin.

Further Return To Question 45-13(3): Regional Input On Community Transfers
Question 45-13(3): Regional Input On Community Transfers
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 56

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It's very clear to me that there will be community meetings in every Gwich'in or Inuvialuit community. The community will have meetings with the local leaders and that's what will drive the process. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 45-13(3): Regional Input On Community Transfers
Question 45-13(3): Regional Input On Community Transfers
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 56

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Henry.

Seamus Henry Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Finance. In his statement in the House last Thursday, the Minister indicated that non-unionized employees of the Government of the Northwest Territories will have their remuneration rolled back 6.5 per cent. Do these rollbacks include Hay Plan employees of Workers' Compensation and the Power Corporation?

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Minister of Finance, Mr. Todd.

John Todd Keewatin Central

Mr. Speaker, I will take that question as notice so I can give my honourable colleague the correct answer. Thank you.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

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

Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Premier regarding community empowerment. I know that it may be a little early in the process to be asking this type of question; however, we also all know that Yellowknife is a very different community from the rest of the communities in the Western Arctic and the East, as well. The communities will be given the opportunity to take over various areas such as the Department of Public Works, Housing and those types of things. Since Yellowknife already maintains the roads, streetlights and all this type of stuff, what types of opportunities will Yellowknife have through the community empowerment process?

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Premier.

Return To Question 47-13(3): Community Empowerment Opportunities In Yellowknife
Question 47-13(3): Community Empowerment Opportunities In Yellowknife
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 56

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yellowknife is not totally on its own when you're talking about community empowerment, being the only unique community that we do have. We also have other tax-based municipalities that carry out similar functions as Yellowknife does. I guess the biggest advantage to those larger communities is the block funding arrangement that we've been talking about, and the ability to control their own programs in their own communities. I make it very clear that also includes those tax-based municipalities; they also have to work with the Metis and Dene people in those communities. Thank you.

Return To Question 47-13(3): Community Empowerment Opportunities In Yellowknife
Question 47-13(3): Community Empowerment Opportunities In Yellowknife
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 57

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Erasmus.

Supplementary To Question 47-13(3): Community Empowerment Opportunities In Yellowknife
Question 47-13(3): Community Empowerment Opportunities In Yellowknife
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 57

Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Premier made reference to taking over programs. When reference is made to programs, what types of programs does this mean?

Supplementary To Question 47-13(3): Community Empowerment Opportunities In Yellowknife
Question 47-13(3): Community Empowerment Opportunities In Yellowknife
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 57

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Morin.

Further Return To Question 47-13(3): Community Empowerment Opportunities In Yellowknife
Question 47-13(3): Community Empowerment Opportunities In Yellowknife
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 57

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. For example, in some of our tax-based municipalities, communities will have the ability to take over not only the municipal programs that they already are handling, but also education, health, social services; all programs that are delivered by this government. The basic thing that has to be accomplished is that those groups that are presently doing that function have to get together in the same room to discuss how we could do it more efficiently and better for the betterment of that community. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 47-13(3): Community Empowerment Opportunities In Yellowknife
Question 47-13(3): Community Empowerment Opportunities In Yellowknife
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 57

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Picco.