Debates of May 16th, 1996

This is page numbers 409 - 465 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 chairman.

Topics

Members Present
Item 1: Prayer
International Travel Trade Representatives To Tour Yellowknife And Inuvik
Land Administration Program Graduates
Difficulties Experienced In Accessing Social Assistance Programs
Unresolved Issues Regarding The Thebacha Election And Fraud Allegations
Benefits To Be Realized By Creating A Single Office Of The Ombudsman
Lack Of Scheduled Airline Services Between Repulse Bay, Igloolik And Pelly Bay
Conflicting Development Initiatives On Northern Bathurst Island
Tribute To John Mackenzie Of Rae-edzo
Fisheries Opportunities In Central Baffin Region
Need To Enhance Sporting Facilities In Mackenzie-delta Area
Unsolicited And Unsigned Messages And Complaints
Tribute To Hon. Justice Mark De Weerdt On Retirement
Absence From The House
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Trades Representatives Touring Western Arctic
Eligibility Requirements For Social Assistance In Nwt
Improvements To Airline Flights For Igloolik, Pelly Bay And Repulse Bay
Status Of Federal Private Member's Bill C-222
Review Of Thebacha Election Process
Review Of Business Incentive Policy
Implementation Of Salary And Contract Disclosure
Update On Meeting With The Prime Minister
Cost Recovery For Search And Rescue In The Arctic
Chief Julius School Gymnasium Funding
Home Improvement Programs
Report On Affirmative Action Review
Reply To Requests For Intervenor Funding
NWT Airport Marketing Strategy
Northern Fuel Prices
Application Of Seniors' Housing Rates
Written Question 5-13(3): Education Issues In The Baffin Region
Item 9: Replies To Opening Address
Item 10: Petitions
Item 13: Tabling Of Documents
Rescission Of March 28, 1996 Committee Of The Whole Decision
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Bill 11: Appropriation Act, 1996-97
Committee Report 3-13(3): Standing Committee On Resource Management And Development Report On The Review Of The 1996-97 Main Estimates
Item 20: Report Of Committee Of The Whole
Item 23: Orders Of The Day

Committee Report 3-13(3): Standing Committee On Resource Management And Development Report On The Review Of The 1996-97 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 441

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

--- Agreed

Committee Report 3-13(3): Standing Committee On Resource Management And Development Report On The Review Of The 1996-97 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 441

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Equipment acquisition, Keewatin, total region, $55,000.

Committee Report 3-13(3): Standing Committee On Resource Management And Development Report On The Review Of The 1996-97 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 441

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

--- Agreed

Committee Report 3-13(3): Standing Committee On Resource Management And Development Report On The Review Of The 1996-97 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 441

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Equipment acquisition, Kitikmeot, total region, $68,000.

Committee Report 3-13(3): Standing Committee On Resource Management And Development Report On The Review Of The 1996-97 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 441

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

---Agreed

Committee Report 3-13(3): Standing Committee On Resource Management And Development Report On The Review Of The 1996-97 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 441

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Mr. Ningark.

Committee Report 3-13(3): Standing Committee On Resource Management And Development Report On The Review Of The 1996-97 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 441

John Ningark Natilikmiot

Thank you, Madam Chair. Under the equipment acquisition, Kitikmeot region, mobile equipment; $56,000 is not a lot of money when you talk about various things. What are we getting for this amount? Thank you.

Committee Report 3-13(3): Standing Committee On Resource Management And Development Report On The Review Of The 1996-97 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 441

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Ningark. Mr. Kakfwi.

Committee Report 3-13(3): Standing Committee On Resource Management And Development Report On The Review Of The 1996-97 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 441

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Madam Chair, I think when it says "various," it usually means a variety of small capital items. They use chain saws up there, so they are probably restricted to outboard motors and snowmobiles and small capital items like that which are used by the field staff.

Committee Report 3-13(3): Standing Committee On Resource Management And Development Report On The Review Of The 1996-97 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 441

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Kakfwi. Mr. Ningark.

Committee Report 3-13(3): Standing Committee On Resource Management And Development Report On The Review Of The 1996-97 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 441

John Ningark Natilikmiot

I thank the honourable Minister for his response, but I will need a specific itemized paper, if not available today, some time in the next few days. Thank you.

Committee Report 3-13(3): Standing Committee On Resource Management And Development Report On The Review Of The 1996-97 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 441

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Ningark. Mr. Kakfwi.

Committee Report 3-13(3): Standing Committee On Resource Management And Development Report On The Review Of The 1996-97 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 441

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Often, as well, it is budgeted just as an item based on the probability of perhaps someone's guess that we will need so many small capital items. Whatever the basis for the allocation is, we would be pleased to share it with the Member.

Committee Report 3-13(3): Standing Committee On Resource Management And Development Report On The Review Of The 1996-97 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 441

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Kakfwi. Equipment acquisition, Kitikmeot, $68,000. Total region, $68,000.

Committee Report 3-13(3): Standing Committee On Resource Management And Development Report On The Review Of The 1996-97 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 441

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

--- Agreed

Committee Report 3-13(3): Standing Committee On Resource Management And Development Report On The Review Of The 1996-97 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 441

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Total equipment acquisition, $377,000.

Committee Report 3-13(3): Standing Committee On Resource Management And Development Report On The Review Of The 1996-97 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 441

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

--- Agreed

Committee Report 3-13(3): Standing Committee On Resource Management And Development Report On The Review Of The 1996-97 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 441

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Total activity, $1.56 million.

Committee Report 3-13(3): Standing Committee On Resource Management And Development Report On The Review Of The 1996-97 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 441

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

--- Agreed

Forest Fire Management

Committee Report 3-13(3): Standing Committee On Resource Management And Development Report On The Review Of The 1996-97 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 441

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Forest fire management, operations and maintenance, total operations and maintenance, $28.13 million. Mr. Erasmus.

Committee Report 3-13(3): Standing Committee On Resource Management And Development Report On The Review Of The 1996-97 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 442

Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North

Thank you, Madam Chair. I was talking with Mr. Picco during the break and he was wondering if he could get a firebreak around Iqaluit this year.

Committee Report 3-13(3): Standing Committee On Resource Management And Development Report On The Review Of The 1996-97 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 442

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Erasmus. Mr. Kakfwi.

Committee Report 3-13(3): Standing Committee On Resource Management And Development Report On The Review Of The 1996-97 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 442

Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North

I am just kidding. What I really wanted to know is, the Minister had indicated in his opening comments that communities may assume authority for initial attack on forest fires and predefined high-valued areas close to communities. I just wondered if he could expand on that a little more, so we could understand better what that means.

Committee Report 3-13(3): Standing Committee On Resource Management And Development Report On The Review Of The 1996-97 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 442

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Mr. Kakfwi.

Committee Report 3-13(3): Standing Committee On Resource Management And Development Report On The Review Of The 1996-97 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 442

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Madam Chair, based on last year's budget expenditures for the initial attack phase of firefighting, we estimate that most fires in the initial stage require roughly about $20,000 to fight and put out within a 24-hour period. That is a rough estimate. So what we are offering to communities is, if they wish, they would have authority to spend up to $20,000 for any fire they attack in an agreed-to prescribed area. They have $20,000 to put it out within a 24-hour period. If the 24-hour period lapses and they are still fighting it, we then move in, as a department, and decide with the community what course of action to take after that. If they spend over $20,000, again we come in to decide with them what course of action to take.