This is page numbers 107 - 130 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

Members Present

Hon. Jim Antoine, Hon. Goo Arlooktoo, Mr. Barnabas, Mr. Enuaraq, Mr. Erasmus, Mr. Evaloarjuk, Hon. Samuel Gargan, Mrs.

Groenewegen, Mr. Henry, Hon. Stephen Kakfwi, Mr. Miltenberger, Hon. Don Morin, Hon. Kelvin Ng, Mr. Ningark, Mr. O'Brien, Mr.

Ootes, Mr. Picco, Mr. Rabesca, Mr. Roland, Mr. Steen, Hon. John Todd

--- Prayer

Item 1: Prayer
Item 1: Prayer

Page 107

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Good afternoon. Orders of the day, item 2, Ministers' statements. Mr. Morin.

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to advise Members that the Honourable Charles Dent will be absent from the House today to attend a joint venture signing ceremony with the NWT Power Corporation and the Gwich'in Development Corporation in Fort McPherson. As well, the Honourable Manitok Thompson will be absent from the House for the remainder of the week to attend the Northwest Territories Association of Municipalities annual general meeting in Inuvik. Thank you.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Mr. Morin.

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A part of Aboriginal Languages Month and Francophone Week in the Northwest Territories is the government's community language leader award program that recognizes individuals who promote the use of their languages.

The program recognizes a finalist from each official language except English. From these finalists, three award winners are chosen from Inuktitut, French and Dene/Cree.

Mr. Speaker, this is the first year of the program. A panel has completed its review of the nominations for this year's awards and I'm pleased to announce their names this afternoon: Bertha Francis of Fort McPherson, Gwich'in; Mary Wilson of Yellowknife, North Slavey; Andy Norwegian of Fort Simpson, South Slavey; Johnny Eyakfwo of Rae-Edzo, Dogrib; Jonas Adams of Fort Smith, Chipewyan; Suzanne Lefebvre of Iqaluit, French; Rosemary Meyok of Kugluktuk, Inuinnaqtun; Fred Wolki of Tuktoyaktuk, Inuvialuktun; and, Mariano Aupilardjuk of Rankin Inlet and Mark Kalluak from Arviat for Inuktitut.

The panel felt the contribution of these people to be significant. As a result, they, along with all other finalists, will receive a certificate recognizing their contributions to the promotion of their languages.

Mr. Speaker, the three award winners chosen from the finalists are: Mariano Aupilardjuk of Rankin for Inuktitut; Johnny Eyakfwo from Rae-Edzo for Dene/Cree; and, Suzanne Lefebvre of Iqaluit for French. I have a tough time with those names, Mr. Speaker, and the pronunciation; so I apologize to those people if I did not pronounce their names properly.

Each of these award winners will receive a plaque and $250. An additional $250 will be donated on their behalf to a community organization of their choice that is involved in language development work.

Mr. Speaker, I want to ask Members to join me in commending these individuals for their efforts in promoting the use of their language. Mahsi, thank you.

--- Applause

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you, Mr. Premier. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Mr. Morin.

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am pleased to make the following statement on behalf of my colleague, the Minister responsible for the NWT Power Corporation, who is in Fort McPherson today to sign an important new energy agreement with the Gwich'in Development Corporation.

This afternoon, the Minister, along with the Member for Mackenzie Delta, representatives of the Power Corporation and the Gwich'in Tribal Council, are signing the papers which will set this in motion. It is hoped that the agreement will set the pattern for others like it across the North.

Customers on the new system will be able to buy the heat at rates competitive to what they now pay for heating fuel.

The direct advantage will be reduced heating costs and lower expenses for maintenance.

The Power Corporation will benefit from new revenues from a valuable resource which is a by-product of electrical generation. This will help stabilize power rates for customers.

Mr. Speaker, Members will recall the fire early this year that destroyed Fort McPherson's school. This new district heating system will cut replacement costs by avoiding the need for new boilers in the new school.

Those communities that already have power plants located close to larger buildings are especially well suited to take advantage of district heating systems. There are several communities which have been using the Power Corporation's heat, free of charge, since the late 1970s. But the Power Corporation recognizes that by treating this heat as a valuable resource rather than a by-product, considerable benefits can be created for more communities and for power users across the North.

Those benefits include recapturing more of the value of the fuel, thereby offsetting the corporation's operating expense and stabilizing rates for power customers. It means significantly reducing pollutants by reducing the burning of heating fuel and will create new local business opportunities.

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the Power Corporation and the Gwich'in on the signing of their new joint venture.

It is an excellent combination of reducing costs, taking advantage of existing resources and benefitting the environment. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you, Mr. Morin. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Ningark.

Vision Of Nunavut Leadership
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 108

John Ningark Natilikmiot

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good afternoon. Mr. Speaker, today I want to talk about my vision of when Nunavut comes in 1999, and about the dreams and aspirations of the people of Nunavut. Mr. Speaker, my vision of the Nunavut leadership is that it will be compassionate, whatever that means. I guess it means a leadership that is sympathetic to the concerns and suffering of others, that no one community, no one region, is excluded from programs and services by the Nunavut capital.

Mr. Speaker, the dreams and aspirations of the people of Nunavut are that every community in every region will live in harmony with one another; and, that essential programs like health care education will be delivered and decentralized to respective communities, thereby ensuring easy access to the public and to cut travel costs in the regions.

Mr. Speaker, what is a winner in leadership? A true winner in leadership, Mr. Speaker, or collective leadership is that someone is willing to share his winnings with others. I

believe that holds true for the new capital to be and the leadership. Thank you.

--- Applause

Vision Of Nunavut Leadership
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 108

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

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

Transfer Of Occupational Health And Safety To Wcb
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 108

Seamus Henry Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Since our election in mid-October, we, at the Legislative Assembly, have been inundated with business plans, deficit reduction options and cost-cutting measures. The pace has been hurried and has not always provided an opportunity for consultation or input. A prime example of this is the proposed transfer of occupational health and safety to the Workers' Compensation Board. There has been no consultation or input on this transfer from the parties most involved; no consultation with the chamber of mines, the chamber of commerce or workers in industry.

Mr. Speaker, this move will have a major impact on a number of companies currently operating in the NWT, as well as those companies thinking of setting up shop in the Territories. We talk of bolstering investment in the Northwest Territories, investment which will undoubtedly come from business and, at the same time, we're increasing the cost of doing business. This does not make sense.

The Minister responsible for the Workers' Compensation Board, Mr. Todd, has identified and I believe stated in this House that moving occupational health and safety to the Workers' Compensation Board will bring us more in line with other Canadian jurisdictions. This simply is not the case, Mr. Speaker. A few quick telephone calls identified that, in fact, only four of the other 11 jurisdictions have combined the two offices. The Minister of Finance has also stated that these plans of which this transfer is part have been developed in consultation with the standing committees. My honourable colleague from Yellowknife Centre pointed out yesterday in this House that the Standing Committee on Resource Management and Development had recommended that the GNWT not proceed with the proposed transfer until further information, rationalization and justification had been provided back to the committee. This information has not yet found its way to committee Members.

In addition, Mr. Speaker, the NWT Supreme Court is currently reviewing a case in which the WCB has named the mine safety inspector in a law suit. Given all these factors, Mr. Speaker, it is difficult to understand why the government is pressing forward in this issue. I would strongly urge the government and the standing committees to revisit this option. The government must take the necessary steps and provide the required information so that a decision on the proposed transfer can be made in a true and consensus fashion. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Transfer Of Occupational Health And Safety To Wcb
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 108

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

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

Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have received several letters concerning the amalgamation of the Northwest Territories Workers' Compensation Board and the GNWT's department of occupational health and safety. One such letter reads, "The Workers' Compensation Board is a no-fault insurance program funded by employers, in which the money is held in trust for injured workers and families. As the principal stakeholders of the Northwest Territories Workers' Compensation Board, the undersigned are on record as being totally opposed to the process of the proposed transfer of the GNWT department of occupational health and safety to the Workers' Compensation Board and demand that it be stopped immediately. A thorough public review seeking input from the stakeholders, combined with an in-depth actuarial review are essential to the implementation of such a significant change in the WCB mandate." This letter is signed by the president of the NWT Federation of Labour, the president of the NWT Chamber of Commerce, first vice-president of the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce, regional vice-president of the Union of Northern Workers, president of the NWT Construction Association, president of the NWT Association of Municipalities, president of the NWT Chamber of Mines, vice-president of CAW Local 2304 and the president of the NWT Steelworkers Area Council.

In addition to this letter, I understand that there's a legal matter between the amalgamation of the two parties in question that still needs to be resolved. Mr. Speaker, I agree we need to reduce our costs and amalgamation is one way of doing that; however, we do need to do things properly and we cannot have all the stakeholders in this process against amalgamation. As such, I am asking the Minister of Finance to do a thorough public review seeking input from the stakeholders combined with an in-depth actuarial review before implementing such a significant change. Thank you.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you, Mr. Erasmus. Item 3, Mr. Picco.

Solutions For Economic Change
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 109

Edward Picco Iqaluit

Thank YOU, Mr. Speaker. I would like to begin by thanking Mr. Ningark of Nunavut; it is also my dream and my fellow colleagues', I'm sure. Over the past few days, I have been a very vocal critic of the way this government has been implementing the deficit reduction plans. I said in this House yesterday that constructive criticism is a needed part of government. However, if you are going to criticize, you also have to offer solutions.

--- Applause

Mr. Speaker, I am announcing today in this House that I will be seeking solutions to help this government manage economic change. Economic renewal has to be first and foremost for a government that is faced with the major hurdles the 13th Assembly is faced with. Mr. Speaker, when I return to Iqaluit, I will be meeting with business, labour and the public at large to get solutions for our situation. I will hold a focus group meeting to thrash out

ideas and possible economic renewal opportunities that I will pass on to this government.

Mr. Speaker, my friend, the Honourable John Todd, as Finance Minister of this government, has been given a very thankless task. He has to manage a way out of the overspending days of the past GNWT governments. However, Mr. Todd will still need to hear Edward Picco's and other MLAs' challenges, as well as solutions to this fiscal reality.

Mr. Speaker, I will continue to give constructive criticism to this government. I will also be giving constructive proposals to help Mr. Todd and this Assembly manage the change needed to take the 13th Assembly to division and beyond. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--- Applause

Solutions For Economic Change
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 109

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

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

Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have obtained a copy of a research document which was apparently prepared for a Member of Cabinet entitled: "Jurisdictional Survey, Occupational Health and Safety and the Workers' Compensation Board" in consideration of the transfer of certain government responsibilities to the Workers' Compensation Board.

May I suggest that there are some very gross errors in the information provided about the role of the WCB in other jurisdictions that could easily misinform the Minister responsible or our WCB. The information is in a table format that lists what responsibilities the WCB has in each province. Some errors are:

that mine safety inspection in BC is the responsibility of the WCB. This is totally wrong. The WCB in BC is not responsible for mine safety inspections. For Manitoba, that WCB is funded 90 per cent by premiums and 10 per cent by government. This is actually the reverse. The WCB is funded 90 per cent by government and 10 per cent by employer premiums.

I will be tabling this letter during the sitting at the appropriate time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Just to caution Members regarding quoting from Cabinet documents. If Members wish to do that, they should be prepared to table the documents. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. O'Brien.

Kevin O'Brien Kivallivik

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, before I start my statement, I asked yesterday in the House if we could get a piece of plywood to divide myself and Mr. Picco. I would settle for a pair of blinders. Mr. Picco has stolen my thunder in the statement I was going to make today. Thank you, buddy.

--- Laughter

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about the pending salary and benefits reductions to northern workers. Mr. Speaker, I want to qualify the following remarks by stating that I recognize that the Minister of Finance, Mr. Todd, has, in the famous words of my honourable colleague, Mr. Miltenberger, .'a huge" task and responsibility that must be managed; the deficit. Mr. Speaker, this is a job I would not even wish on my honourable friend, Mr. Picco.

In all seriousness, Mr. Speaker, I have some strong reservations regarding some of the reductions in general in the across-the-board equity on others. Mr. Speaker, it is difficult enough for the residents of Kivallivik to face these reductions, but to add to this the appearance of disparity.

Mr. Speaker, when this Assembly addressed and voted on the amendment to the Public Service Act, I spoke to this amendment. The gist of my statement was that I was not pleased with the amendment nor with the speed at which it was brought forward and processed. I also indicated that I was fearful that if we did not pass this amendment, these reductions would come on the backs of the unemployed, the poor and the less fortunate.

It was also my understanding that this move would greatly bring about an end to our embarrassing financial situation. Mr. Speaker, it is not my intent to criticize the Minister of Finance; I merely state my feelings on the mess that we find ourselves in. Mr. Speaker, a number of my honourable colleagues have spoken about the need to carry out these extreme measures in a caring, fair and compassionate way. Mr. Speaker, it is also not my intention to question the honourable Minister's definition of "caring, fair and compassionate" because I am sure it would be reasonable.

Mr. Speaker, I will add my voice to the issue of equity. Mr. Speaker, along with a number of my honourable colleagues, we have serious concerns about the reductions to the VTA, settlement allowance and ultimate removal, especially the impact that they will have in the off-road communities. Mr. Speaker, I seek consent to conclude my statement.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. The Member for Kivallivik is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Do

we have any nays? There are no nays. Conclude your statement, Mr. O'Brien.

Kevin O'Brien Kivallivik

The concern that we have on these proposals, especially the impact that they will have on the off-road communities. Mr. Speaker, having lived in some of the off-road communities like Tuktoyaktuk and Arviat, I can tell you that it is tough enough to get along with the present benefits. The cost of living is much greater then in the larger centres. For example, in Arviat, a large bottle of Coke is $8. In Baker Lake, it is $12. Mr. Speaker, these are dry communities, so I am sure you can understand that people drink a lot of pop there.

Mr. Speaker, in comparing the figures that relate to the proposed cuts for our northern workforce, I find myself increasingly concerned and disillusioned regarding these cuts. To take it a step further, I find myself questioning my rationale when I supported this amendment; the rationale being to protect the less fortunate.

Mr. Speaker, if a review of the equity of the proposed reductions is not initiated, unfortunately, it will force me to question my judgement regarding the amendment that was passed. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

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

Passing Of North Slave Elder
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 110

James Rabesca North Slave

Mr. Speaker, I would like to make a statement regarding my absence in the House yesterday. I had to go home because of a great-uncle's death yesterday. I had to attend a funeral of the uncle of Chief Joe Rabesca. As one of the elders in the community had put it, regarding how my great-uncle lived during his life, he happened to live to 91 years old. According to what one of the elders said about his life, he was a great teacher of how to live off the land and hunt, fish and trap. Most of my family were happy with the amount of people who attended the funeral, especially from the outlying communities and most of the people from Ndilo, Yellowknife and Dettah came out to show their respect at his funeral, including people from Meander River.

I would like to thank the people who took part and tried to comfort us as the family. I would just like to thank the people who came down for his last days and for his funeral.

--- Applause

Passing Of North Slave Elder
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 110

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you, Mr. Rabesca. Item 3, Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Mr. Todd.