This is page numbers 199 - 230 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 nunavut.

Topics

Vince Steen

Vince Steen Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise on this occasion to voice my concern with regard to the recent announcements made by the Minister of DIAND applicable to the funding identified for the creation of future Nunavut government infrastructure and the impact his decisions will have on the capital expenditures of this government over the next three years.

Mr. Speaker, my first concern is with regard to the representation this government had at the negotiating table at the time the decisions were made. I understand this government was represented by three persons appointed by the past Legislative Assembly to represent us on the Nunavut Implementation Commission.

At the present time, I am unaware of who these people report to. Have they reported to anyone in the past six months? What are the costs associated these appointments? Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time, I will be asking the Premier to clarify who these people are and what their terms of reference might be.

My second concern is with regard to the disposition of the $150 million identified by the feds for implementation of a Nunavut territory. Mr. Speaker, a large amount of these dollars appears to be identified for the construction of water and sewage systems, as well as for community roads and land development in the Nunavut area.

Currently, this government, through the five-year capital planning process, has also identified amounts totalling $14 million for land development and $17 million for water and sewage facilities applicable to the Nunavut communities.

Mr. Speaker, I have no doubt that some of these community infrastructure programs that these two levels of government expect to create are, in fact, duplicates of each other. Therefore, I believe this Assembly must take this into consideration as we review the main estimates for this fiscal year. I will be asking the Minister of Finance questions in this regard at the appropriate time. Mr. Speaker, I request unanimous consent to finish my statement.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

The Member for Nunakput is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Mr. Steen, conclude your statement.

Vince Steen

Vince Steen Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, bearing in mind the decision the federal Minister made to allow DPW Canada and the four birthright groups to be responsible for the creation of the future Nunavut government infrastructure, I do not believe it is appropriate for the GNWT to be entering into long-term contracts applicable to the future Nunavut territory. I strongly believe this government body does not have any right to commit the future Nunavut government to expenditures that they might not be able to meet.

Furthermore, the Nunavut government, once established, may feel under no obligation to honour these financial commitments. I am of the opinion that this government must limit contract terms to the proposed division date of April 1, 1999, or shortly thereafter as possible. Mr. Speaker, I am referring, in particular, to the long-term fuel delivery contract that the Department of Public Works and Services has entered into with the Nunasi Corporation for the supply of fuel to the Baffin region.

Mr. Speaker, I will be addressing questions to the Minister of Public Works and Services in this regard at the appropriate time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you, Mr. Steen. Item 3, Members' statements. Mrs. Groenewegen.

Community Empowerment
Item 3: Members' Statements

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Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My Member's statement today is about community empowerment. This is a phrase which is used repeatedly by this government and I know it raises questions in the minds of some people.

First of all, I will explain, according to my understanding, what community empowerment is not. It is not the colonial approach to government that has existed for so long in the North. Colonial, by definition, means control by one power over a dependent area of people. This conjures up an image of an out-of-touch, top-heavy bureaucracy which dictates the choices, priorities and agenda of communities; communities which may be vastly different in terms of size, demographics and culture.

Community empowerment is not a central government which sets global policies which apply across the board regardless of these vast differences. Community empowerment is and encompasses such things as multi-year block funding, community transfer of programs and services, training, ownership of infrastructure and assets, community justice and wellness. This major change in focus in the way the government does business raises many questions in the minds of the people who know how the government works now. Even with the shortfalls of the present system, some may find it more comfortable to maintain the status quo. Questions about community empowerment; big answers. I will only raise a couple of these questions today as they relate to things that are being asked in my riding.

For example, in communities where a local government may consist of a hamlet council and a band council, which is the recognized body for transfer purposes? In my particular riding, I have a First Nations Dene council, I have a town council and I also have a Metis Nation council. As another example, a well-established shed business community, primarily centralized in larger communities has been built on the premise of the policies now in place. These businesses service and supply surrounding communities. With capital and O and M dollars in the hands of communities, are the current policies of purchasing and tendering applicable anymore? Who pays when the money runs out before the project does?

Minister Todd, in his Budget Address, indicates that he wants the private sector to take up the challenge of creating jobs. It's a statistical fact that 70 per cent of investment for economic expansion in the small business sector comes from within...

Community Empowerment
Item 3: Members' Statements

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mrs. Groenewegen.

Community Empowerment
Item 3: Members' Statements

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Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River

I seek unanimous consent to continue with my statement. Thank you.

Community Empowerment
Item 3: Members' Statements

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

The Member for Hay River is seeking unanimous consent to conclude her statement. Do we have any nays? There are no nays. Conclude your statement, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Community Empowerment
Item 3: Members' Statements

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Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It's a statistical fact that 70 per cent of investment for expansion in the small business sector comes from within the established business community. I don't think we can expect this investment should confidently take place when northerners cannot see clearly how community empowerment affects them.

In the end, community empowerment is the only alternative. Not only is colonialism detrimental to the development of the people, it is no longer affordable. The expertise and knowledge is there at the community level; it needs to be developed. There will be growing pains and mistakes made. That will be the role of this central government: to keep the checks and balances in place that will create confidence as we proceed in this new direction. Thank you.

Community Empowerment
Item 3: Members' Statements

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

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

Federal Funding Allocated For Creation Of Nunavut
Item 3: Members' Statements

May 5th, 1996

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Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to also, like Mr. Steen, speak about the funding that was announced for the creation of Nunavut. Let me say to start with that, in summary, the federal government is providing $150 million for the transition costs which we all know about, but $31 million of this is for the federal government.

Federal Funding Allocated For Creation Of Nunavut
Item 3: Members' Statements

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Some Hon. Members

Shame. Shame.

Federal Funding Allocated For Creation Of Nunavut
Item 3: Members' Statements

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Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Right. Now, officials and representatives from the Nunavut area spent 20 plus years negotiating their agreements with the federal government to settle land claims, but also to talk about self-government for the people of Nunavut. This was achieved in concert with the federal government and it involved extensive agreements. In my mind, those agreements imply that there would be adequate funds to run the infrastructure and incremental costs of the two territories. It's disappointing that we only have $150 million -let me correct that -- $120 million to do the transition work, and there is no commitment on the part of the federal government to provide incremental funding. What was stated, and the only comment made on the future, was that funding post-1 999 will be negotiated by the federal Department of Finance.

To me, there is a fundamental issue here. The feds have arbitrarily decided a figure of $150 million -- let me correct that again -- $120 million for the transition costs. I am, of course, concerned about that fact, that there is only $120 million, but I'm more concerned about the long term. How much will be available to run two territories for incremental costs? That is a big question and we should devote our attention to that. We all have a responsibility to ensure that we have incremental costs of adequate funds when the time comes.

Federal Funding Allocated For Creation Of Nunavut
Item 3: Members' Statements

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An Hon. Member

Hear! Hear!

Federal Funding Allocated For Creation Of Nunavut
Item 3: Members' Statements

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Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

I would urge my fellow MLAs from Nunavut, when they meet with Mr. Irwin at the Nunavut Leaders' Conference in Arviat -- the home of my colleague, Mr. O'Brien -- at the end of the week, to tell Mr. Irwin that there are Members upset over this and we are determined that we get adequate funds. Thank you.

--- Applause

Federal Funding Allocated For Creation Of Nunavut
Item 3: Members' Statements

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

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

Further Return To Question 150-13(3): Responsibility For Education Tax Increase
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

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John Todd Keewatin Central

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a return to an oral question asked by Mr. Roland on May 3rd, with respect to the responsibility for tax increases for education.

Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned last week in the House, the Financial Management Board approved a 10 per cent increase in education taxes in all tax-based municipalities except Yellowknife. In addition, the board approved an increase in general property and education tax rates of 10 per cent in the general taxation area, which consists of those areas outside tax-based municipalities.

GNWT property tax rates are set through an establishment order. Each year, they are reviewed by the Department of Finance and recommendations are made to the Minister of Finance and to the Financial Management Board. This year, the Financial Management Board decided to increase GNWT property taxes because they have not kept pace with inflation over the last 30 years. In fact, even after this change, mill rates will have only increased by 33 per cent since 1967 when property rates were instituted. During the same period, the Canadian consumer price index increased by 390 per cent.

Letters notifying tax-based municipalities of the new education mill rates will be sent out shortly. It is projected that the combination of the general property tax and education tax increases will raise $575,000 in 1996-97. The additional revenues are included in the main estimates. However, property tax revenues are projected to be only $79,000 higher than in 1995-96, because 1995-96 revenues were abnormally high. This was as a result of the effort by our government which resulted in the federal government paying about $550,000 in grants-in-lieu of taxes that were owed from previous years. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Further Return To Question 150-13(3): Responsibility For Education Tax Increase
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Henry.

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

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Seamus Henry Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize Don Ellis in the gallery today. Don has returned to Yellowknife as the assistant deputy minister of the Department of Health and Social Services. Don, his wife and family used to live in Yellowknife, and we are glad he has returned to his senses and returned home. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--- Applause

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Morin.

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

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Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize a former Member of this House, a respected elder from my riding of Tu Nedhe, from Fort Resolution, Pete Fraser. Thank you.

--- Applause

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Welcome to the Assembly. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Ng.

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

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Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would also like to recognize Mr. Pete Frazer who is also, as I indicated earlier, the NWT/Yukon representative of the National Advisory Council on Aging. Of course, as I indicated, Mrs. Esther Braden, president; and Ms. Barb Bond, executive director of the NWT's advisory council. Thank you.

--- Applause

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

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

Tommy Enuaraq Baffin Central

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in article 24 of the Nunavut final agreement ... Mr. Speaker, I'll start again. Article 24 of the Nunavut final agreement is of critical importance to all residents of Nunavut. I understood that an announcement was to be made today on this topic. I am disappointed that one was not presented by the government. Can the Deputy Premier advise me when this government will finally announce its response to article 24 and how it plans to implement the spirit and intent of the article? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.