This is page numbers 661 - 686 of the Hansard for the 13th Assembly, 4th 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.

Members Present

Honourable Jim Antoine, Honourable Goo Arlooktoo, Mr. Barnabas, Mr. Enuaraq, Mr. Erasmus, Mr. Evaloarjuk, Honourable Samuel Gargan, Mrs. Groenewegen, Mr. Henry, Honourable Stephen Kakfwi, Mr. Miltenberger, Honourable Don Morin, Honourable Kelvin Ng, Mr. Ningark, Mr. O'Brien, Mr. Ootes, Mr. Picco, Mr. Rabesca, Mr. Roland, Mr. Steen, Honourable Manitok Thompson, Honourable John Todd.

Oh, God, may your spirit and guidance be in us as we work for the benefit of all our people, for peace and justice in our land and for constant recognition of the dignity and aspirations of those whom we serve. Amen.

Item 1: Prayer
Item 1: Prayer

Page 661

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Good afternoon. Mr. Ng. Point of privilege.

Point of Privilege

Item 1: Prayer
Item 1: Prayer

Page 661

Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I rise on a point of privilege. The February 13, 1997 edition of the Inuvik Drum, in reporting on a public meeting that I attended on February 7th in Inuvik, incorrectly implied that I said, and I quote:

"The Department of Health and Social Services hopes to reduce the number of treatment centres to just one in each of the western and eastern territories by 1999."

My comments were intended as an assurance that there would be at least two facilities, rather than a threat or an announcement of further reductions in funding. The elimination of funding for another treatment facility is not currently part of the department's plan for alcohol and drug treatment facilities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Item 1: Prayer
Item 1: Prayer

Page 661

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Point of order. Mr. O'Brien.

Point of Order

Item 1: Prayer
Item 1: Prayer

Page 661

Kevin O'Brien Kivallivik

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order concerning a matter that occurred in the committee of the whole Friday, February 14. Mr. Speaker, this is my first opportunity to raise this point. I refer to Rule 23(h) which states that in debate a Member will be called to order by the Speaker if the Member makes allegations against another Member, a House Officer or a witness. Mr. Speaker, the Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Morin, made the statement that I should not have the word honourable in front of my name. At the time, the comment was made I asked the Honourable Premier to apologize for his comment. I note that on page 1103 of the unedited Hansard that Mr. Morin withdrew the remark but did not apologize for it. Mr. Speaker, using Rule 23(h) I request that you rule that I have a point of order and request the Premier, the honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, apologize. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Item 1: Prayer
Item 1: Prayer

Page 661

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you, Mr. O'Brien. Although the discussion was in committee of the whole, a Member is entitled at the first opportune time to rise on a point of order if he has one. In this case, Mr. O'Brien has done that. Having found that the honourable Mr. Morin used offensive words, I will now ask that Mr. Morin apologize for the use of his words. Mr. Morin.

Item 1: Prayer
Item 1: Prayer

Page 661

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to take this opportunity to apologize to this House if they found my remarks offensive. Thank you.

Item 1: Prayer
Item 1: Prayer

Page 661

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you, Mr. Morin. I would like to take a moment to ponder about an event that happened 60 years ago. Today in an area known as the North Ooglit Islands, about 30 kilometres north of Hall Beach, that was the day our colleague from Amittuq, Mr. Evaloarjuk, was born.

---Applause

Item 1: Prayer
Item 1: Prayer

Page 661

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

As most Members know, Mr. Evaloarjuk was a Member of the Assembly from 1975 to 1984 before being re-elected in 1995. On behalf of all the Members, I would like to wish Mr. Evaloarjuk a happy 60th birthday.

Item 1: Prayer
Item 1: Prayer

Page 661

Some Hon. Members

Hear! Hear!

---Applause

Item 1: Prayer
Item 1: Prayer

Page 661

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Have a good day. Orders of the day. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Mr. Morin.

Minister's Statement 50-13(4): Minister Absent From The House
Item 2: Ministers' Statements

Page 661

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to advise Members that the Honourable Charles Dent will be absent from the House today to attend the Council of Ministers of Education in Toronto. Thank you.

Minister's Statement 50-13(4): Minister Absent From The House
Item 2: Ministers' Statements

Page 661

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Ministers' statements. I would also like to let Members know that we have been advised by

Mr. Krutko that, due to a serious illness in his family, he will not be in attendance in this House for the next few days. Our thoughts and prayers are with Mr. Krutko. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Enuaraq.

Clyde River Library
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 662

Tommy Enuaraq Baffin Central

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today in the House I would like to speak on the issue of the libraries. The people are concerned about shutting down the libraries. (Translation ends) Mr. Speaker, I would like to talk a little about the library in Clyde River. We have a small library, but it is a busy place. The community librarian makes sure that people can get the books and magazines they want. The library provides programs for the children and adults. We have books both in English and Inuktitut, so it encourages everyone to read and learn more. The community library is an important place in Clyde River. It is a meeting place, a place for learning. Mr. Speaker, all the talk about cuts to libraries is a concern for the people of Clyde River. Their library is very important to them. I hope that when the government looks at the possible changes to library funding, the Minister remembers the importance of Clyde River library. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Clyde River Library
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 662

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you, Mr. Enuaraq. Members' statements. Mr. Evaloarjuk.

Recognition Of Deceased Constituents
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 662

Mark Evaloarjuk Amittuq

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to thank all of you for congratulating me on my birthday. That is my first statement, to thank you. Also, I would like to state, Mr. Speaker, since I have been here in 1995, in my riding of Igloolik and Pond Inlet, there have been a number of deaths that have happened. Mr. Speaker, I would like to state one of my cousins I just heard last night, Isaaci Anaviapik, passed away yesterday. I would just like to send my condolences to his relatives and friends. We will remember them in our prayers. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (Translation ends)

Recognition Of Deceased Constituents
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 662

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you, Mr. Evaloarjuk. Members' statements. Mr. Miltenberger.

Social Program Needs And Pressures
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 662

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as we go about our jobs as politicians and get involved in the heady affairs tied into nation building and dividing of two territories, I would just like to list off some very grim reminders to people about other issues that we have to keep in mind. Our birth rate is about two and a half times the national average. In the last nine years, there has been a 31 percent increase in school enrolments. In the last nine years, student financial assistance requests have tripled. Social assistance cases have doubled in the last nine years. Violent crimes have increased by 45 percent in the last nine years. This is five or six times the national average, Mr. Speaker. The correctional centre admissions have seen a 34 percent increase in the last nine years. Last year, we had 22 suicides which, on a per capita basis, puts us far above the national average. Housing needs show 3,584 households in core need as a result of the last survey. Our average population, 33 percent of our population that is under the age of 15.

Mr. Speaker, all these rocketing upward trends in terms of social needs and social pressures are occurring at the same time as we have seen a very flat line or a decrease in government expenditures and revenues. As we go about our business and look at our budgets and where we are going, this has been brought up before, but we have to keep in mind that at some point if we do not address what is driving our costs as a government, we are doomed to a never ending downward slide trying to deal with social problems that we do not have the money to deal with. I ask that we all keep this in mind as we go about doing this budget and look towards 1999. There are some things that cannot be ignored much longer. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Social Program Needs And Pressures
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 662

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Members' statements. Mr. Ootes.

Western Constitutional Development
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 662

Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in recent weeks I have heard people accuse us of foot dragging over constitutional development in the western Arctic. I can understand why some might think that we are being negligent. However, I think that they are wrong. I would like to set the record straight. Partners in a New Beginning was released in October with the promise of public consultations to begin in December. Unfortunately, that plan hit a snag. Ottawa balked at the process because it felt that elements of the Partners report might run counter to the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Since then, the Constitutional Working Group has endeavoured to get federal officials to support a broad public discussion on the three models proposed in the Partners report. They succeeded, but it was a time consuming task. That is probably why some people think that we, as MLAs, have not been paying attention to the issue. We have not been making a lot of speeches, that is true, but taking strong positions at this time would be inappropriate. We have put our opinions aside for a while to let the working group do its job. We will have opportunities to comment for or against the proposals when the consultations begin in March. To work outside the process would impair public participation. In the meantime, several Members of this House, including myself, have asked the Minister for Constitutional Development for regular updates on the Partners process, particularly in relation to the vital issue of ratification. We have also expressed concerns about certain areas of the package.

I want to thank the Minister for being candid and forthcoming in his replies, all of which are available to the public through Hansard, television broadcast from the House, and media reports. We may not have made a lot of noise about the constitutional process in the past few months, but anyone who pays attention to our work will see that we have not let it slip. They will also have a good idea of what has happened since October and where the process is heading. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Western Constitutional Development
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 663

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you, Mr. Ootes. Members' statements, Mr. Ng.

Nunavut Leaders' Summit
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 663

Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I want to speak briefly about some of the activities and events that took place over the past three days in Cambridge Bay. As we all know, many of us had an opportunity to attend the Nunavut Leaders' Summit. I will not get into the details of some of those discussions because they will be in the media over the next couple of days. I would like to comment on some of the other activities that did take place. I would also like to thank all the participants that did attend, whether they were elected officials, appointed officials, or the staff that were there. Some of the other events, Mr. Speaker, that took place: there was a Kitikmeot Chamber of Commerce meeting at the same time as the Nunavut Leaders' meeting.

I would like to extend appreciation to the Honourable Goo Arlooktoo for speaking to the Chamber of Commerce, along with myself. There was also an arena re-opening ceremony and the Honourable Manitok Thompson and the Honourable Don Morin both participated. I would like to extend my appreciation to them for their participation in that. As well, thanks to Commissioner Helen Maksagak, who also was a part of those ceremonies and activities. I would like to also mention there was a hockey game. A local team, of which I was fortunate to be a member, was chosen to play the out of town summit participants. We were gracious hosts by losing two to one to the out of town team.

I would like to thank Doug Crossley of Cambridge Bay, who organized that event. Finally there were a couple of other community square dances held both on Saturday and on Sunday. They were very well attended by the community and by guests from outside of the community. I would like to thank David Evalik and Elik Tologanak for organizing those two events. There was also, Mr. Speaker, a presentation made to the Honourable Ron Irwin from the community by the mayor. They presented him with a drum. I would like to thank Attima Hadlari for giving drum lessons to the federal Minister at that time. I, Mr. Speaker, would also like to seek unanimous consent to complete my statement. Thank you.

Nunavut Leaders' Summit
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 663

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

The Member for Kitikmeot is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Do we have any nays? There are no nays. Mr. Ng, you have unanimous consent.

Nunavut Leaders' Summit
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 663

Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would also like to thank and acknowledge the Mayor, Mr. Wilfred Wilcox, and his staff, Henry Brown, the SAO; Stephane Labonne, the recreation director; Pat File, the community wellness director for all their contributions and making sure all the events were successful and all the other staff that were involved. There are too many to name. Finally, I think Mr. Speaker, on behalf of all the participants and the guests from out of town, I would like to thank the community residents of Cambridge Bay for their warmth and the hospitality that they extended to everyone. I think it offset some of the 40 below weather and the wind conditions that we had to persevere with over the weekend. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.