Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In 1974, an agreement was made with what became Nanisivik Mines Ltd. This agreement was meant to ensure that jobs at Nanisivik Mines went to northerners. Does the Minister plan on implementing similar agreements with mines that are planning to open in the Northwest Territories? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Debates of May 21st, 1996
Topics
Supplementary To Question 270-13(3): Status Of Economic Benefits Agreements With Mining Companies
Question 269-13(3): Status Of Honorarium For Panel On The Economy And Employment
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 501
Levi Barnabas High Arctic
Supplementary To Question 270-13(3): Status Of Economic Benefits Agreements With Mining Companies
Question 269-13(3): Status Of Honorarium For Panel On The Economy And Employment
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 501
Don Morin Tu Nedhe
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I apologize earlier for calling you Mr. Chairman. Mr. Speaker, the panel have all accepted their appointments and I look forward to calling a meeting around mid-June. Thank you.
Supplementary To Question 270-13(3): Status Of Economic Benefits Agreements With Mining Companies
Question 269-13(3): Status Of Honorarium For Panel On The Economy And Employment
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 501
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Barnabas.
Question 270-1313): Status Of Economic Benefits Agreements With Mining Companies
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 501
Levi Barnabas High Arctic
(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (Translation ends) ... Mines and Petroleum Resources. In his Budget Address, the Minister of Finance stated that mining companies are welcome here as they are prepared to create jobs for northerners. Can the Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources explain what this department is doing to ensure that the mining companies do indeed create jobs for northerners? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Question 270-1313): Status Of Economic Benefits Agreements With Mining Companies
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 501
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, Mr. Kakfwi.
Return To Question 270-13(3): Status Of Economic Benefits Agreements With Mining Companies
Question 270-1313): Status Of Economic Benefits Agreements With Mining Companies
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 501
Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Department of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources has worked with the mining industry to alert them to the fact that prior to any projects being initiated in advance, we require an effort on the part of the government, with the mining industry taking the lead, to negotiate with affected regions and communities a package that would demonstrate realistic benefits in terms of jobs, training and economic spin-offs that would be of benefit directly and indirectly. That is one initiative we work with.
Return To Question 270-13(3): Status Of Economic Benefits Agreements With Mining Companies
Question 270-1313): Status Of Economic Benefits Agreements With Mining Companies
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 501
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Kakfwi.
Further Return To Question 270-13(3): Status Of Economic Benefits Agreements With Mining Companies
Question 270-1313): Status Of Economic Benefits Agreements With Mining Companies
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 501
Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu
Mr. Chairman, it is my view that the agreements for each specific project are best left to be negotiated by the affected parties. Presumably, that would be the local communities and the regional aboriginal organizations, as well as the regional business and political organizations. It is my view that each agreement, by its nature, would be different depending on the needs and expectations of the communities, its people and the regions. As well, the expectations of the company involved may vary from region to region. It is my view that benefits from mining initiatives, for instance, are not realistic if we set very high employment percentages. We should look for diversifying the expectations of where and what benefits should come to the communities and the regions. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 270-13(3): Status Of Economic Benefits Agreements With Mining Companies
Question 270-1313): Status Of Economic Benefits Agreements With Mining Companies
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 501
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Barnabas.
Supplementary To Question 270-13(3): Status Of Economic Benefits Agreements With Mining Companies
Question 270-1313): Status Of Economic Benefits Agreements With Mining Companies
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 501
Levi Barnabas High Arctic
(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The agreement that was made for Nanisivik Mines was established. (Translation ends) ... the Commissioner was supposed to appoint a counsellor whose job it would be to assist northerners in getting jobs administered along with getting appropriate training and support, but such a counsellor was never appointed. As a result, the number of northerners working at Nanisivik Mines has been disappointing. Can the Minister ensure this House and ensure all northerners that he and his government will follow through on any agreements made with the mining companies planning to open new mines in the NWT to ensure that northerners get the jobs at those new mines? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Supplementary To Question 270-13(3): Status Of Economic Benefits Agreements With Mining Companies
Question 270-1313): Status Of Economic Benefits Agreements With Mining Companies
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 502
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Kakfwi.
Further Return To Question 270-13(3): Status Of Economic Benefits Agreements With Mining Companies
Question 270-1313): Status Of Economic Benefits Agreements With Mining Companies
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 502
Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu
Mr. Speaker, I believe that it is a good suggestion to be made and one that this government can work with. One of the suggested recommendations is to work with mining companies to see if some sort of transportation subsidy could be initiated by this government to enhance the employment of aboriginal people and northern residents from surrounding communities and even adjacent regions, in order to increase the number of jobs taken by aboriginal and northern people. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 270-13(3): Status Of Economic Benefits Agreements With Mining Companies
Question 270-1313): Status Of Economic Benefits Agreements With Mining Companies
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 502
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Ningark.
Question 271-13(3): Taloyoak Resident Not Receiving Old Age Pension
Item 6: Oral Questions
May 20th, 1996
Page 502
John Ningark Natilikmiot
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I indicated in my Member's statement, an elder living in Taloyoak should now be receiving an old-age pension but hasn't yet received it. That pension fundamentally belongs to the individual. Mr. Speaker, I have talked to this issue since the day I got elected in the year 1989 with no avail. There are a number of occasions that have come to my attention for the past six and a half years.
Here is one more which hasn't been delivered. The individual in question is unilingual. He has no knowledge of the western legal system. The gentleman has no access to a lawyer at the community level. The individual is an elder who should now be receiving an old-age pension. The individual knows that there are people much younger than he is receiving the old-age pension. In the community, according to the knowledge of elders, the church records and the records from the RCMP office are incorrect and these elders can attest to that fact. My question is to the Minister of Health and Social Services and the Justice Minister, in this case. Will the Minister direct his staff to Mr. Jimmy Totalik __ I will spell the name, for the record; T-O-T-A-L-l-K -- and have a legal aid worker talk to Mr. Totalik to find a way to make sure records are corrected, so the gentlemen will receive the old-age pension that he should be receiving? Thank you.
Question 271-13(3): Taloyoak Resident Not Receiving Old Age Pension
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 502
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. The question was directed to the Minister of Justice, Mr. Ningark? Minister of Justice, Mr. Ng.
Return To Question 271-13(3): Taloyoak Resident Not Receiving Old Age Pension
Question 271-13(3): Taloyoak Resident Not Receiving Old Age Pension
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 502
Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the honourable Member is correct, he has brought this issue before me as the Minister of Health and Social Services in the past. It is difficult to deal with the issue when you are trying to substantiate records contrary to what is on file with the RCMP and what is on file with the church groups. However, recognizing the issue the honourable Member has brought forward, I will have someone take a look at the matter once again to see if there is anything that can be done to rectify the situation about this individual's age. I have to say that it will be difficult, without some form of substantiation that we will need, to bring forward a case for having his year of birth corrected, Mr. Speaker.
Return To Question 271-13(3): Taloyoak Resident Not Receiving Old Age Pension
Question 271-13(3): Taloyoak Resident Not Receiving Old Age Pension
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 502
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Supplementary, Mr. Ningark.
Supplementary To Question 271-13(3): Taloyoak Resident Not Receiving Old Age Pension
Question 271-13(3): Taloyoak Resident Not Receiving Old Age Pension
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 502
John Ningark Natilikmiot
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe, Mr. Speaker, the records can be rectified. I say that because I have talked to many elders in Taloyoak who were around at the time the gentlemen was born. So will the honourable Minister talk to his staff to make sure records are corrected, once and for all? There are necessary documents that can be witnessed by the elders. Will he get his staff to talk to Mr. Totalik and deal with the matter once and for all?
Supplementary To Question 271-13(3): Taloyoak Resident Not Receiving Old Age Pension
Question 271-13(3): Taloyoak Resident Not Receiving Old Age Pension
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 502
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Ng.
Further Return To Question 271-13(3): Taloyoak Resident Not Receiving Old Age Pension
Question 271-13(3): Taloyoak Resident Not Receiving Old Age Pension
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 502
Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I indicated, yes, I am willing to have a staff person speak to Mr. Totalik to try to get some information. As I indicated earlier, if the records were improperly recorded to begin with, then it is a difficult situation unless you have someone who was there at the time who can correct what was recorded in the case of this individual's year of birth. As you know, back then it was a federal responsibility for those types of records. We will work with the honourable Member and with his constituent to try to resolve the situation. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 271-13(3): Taloyoak Resident Not Receiving Old Age Pension
Question 271-13(3): Taloyoak Resident Not Receiving Old Age Pension
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 502
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Krutko.
Question 272-13(3): Funding For Beaufort/delta Legal Services Clinic
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 502
David Krutko Mackenzie Delta
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Justice. It is with regard to the funding of the Beaufort/Delta legal services clinic for funds that have been allocated to service contracts to service clients who need legal aid. It has been noted with regard to the number of resources that have been allocated to other jurisdictions with regard to the legal services. As you will note, the Mackenzie Delta, at one time, had two legal services: Arctic Rim Law Society, which is based out of Tuktoyaktuk; and, Mackenzie Delta Legal Services, out of Inuvik. Since then, they amalgamated to form one, called the Beaufort/Delta Legal Services Clinic.
With regard to the amount of resources that are going to be allocated this year for $260,000 to maintain the two operations into one, if you figure it out based on percentages and the number of clients and court activity, as well as the cost, to date the Beaufort/Delta in the past year have had 4,660 court cases. Other areas, such as the Keewatin, had 1,443. Those clients, in the case of the Beaufort/Delta have received $260,000. The Kitikmeot, $200,000 works out to an average per court appearance of $138.60. Yet, the Beaufort/Delta works out to $55. That's almost two-thirds less than what is being spent there.
Just to use another scenario; for instance, in the last 10 months of 1995-96, the number of applications in the Kitikmeot was 205 which works out to almost a $976 cost per applicant, yet the Mackenzie-Delta with 297 works out to $870. Between those two costs, it works out to about $100 difference.
In closing, I would like to ask the Minister to see if there's a possibility of reviewing the funds that will be allocated for 1996-97 with regard to the Beaufort/Delta, and also all services in the Northwest Territories, to maintain that all individuals who apply for legal aid will have adequate resources available to them and also allow for the funds to be allocated equally right across the Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Question 272-13(3): Funding For Beaufort/delta Legal Services Clinic
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 503
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Minister of Justice, Mr. Ng.
Return To Question 272-13(3): Funding For Beaufort/delta Legal Services Clinic
Question 272-13(3): Funding For Beaufort/delta Legal Services Clinic
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 503
Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Legal Services Board of the Northwest Territories has jurisdiction for decisions relating to how they provide services throughout the Northwest Territories. That decision to amalgamate the two boards in the Inuvik area was made by the Legal Services Board as a whole. There was representation from the region who sits on the Legal Services Board. Having recognized the Member's concern, I will ask the Legal Services Board to review the decision that they've made. But as it stands now, I am supporting the decision of the board. Thank you.
Return To Question 272-13(3): Funding For Beaufort/delta Legal Services Clinic
Question 272-13(3): Funding For Beaufort/delta Legal Services Clinic
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 503
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.