Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have heard a number of times that we are waiting for the conclusion of this alcohol reform paper. When will we see that? Will it be in the near future, so that everybody in the territories, in the facilities, the community alcohol drug workers will know where we are heading? Thank you.
Debates of Feb. 19th, 1997
Topics
Supplementary To Question 338-13(4): Improvements To After Care Services
Question 338-13(4): Improvements To After Care Services
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 696
Supplementary To Question 338-13(4): Improvements To After Care Services
Question 338-13(4): Improvements To After Care Services
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 696
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Ng.
Further Return To Question 338-13(4): Improvements To After Care Services
Question 338-13(4): Improvements To After Care Services
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 696
Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I believe a lot of organizations, communities and treatment centres have had an opportunity to see the discussion paper that is out there. The thrust of some of the major initiatives is to put the dollars for alcohol and drug treatment to the communities, whether it is through a regional board structure, or directly to the communities to allow them that flexibility to make the decisions in respect to alcohol and drug programming. I think it would be safe to say, Mr. Speaker, that for all intents and purposes, we are almost there as far as a conclusion. I am looking forward to some of the discussions with committee of the whole on this issue, so that I can get a feel of the acceptability, or the issues that would surround it not being concluded. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Further Return To Question 338-13(4): Improvements To After Care Services
Question 338-13(4): Improvements To After Care Services
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 696
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. Miltenberger.
Question 339-13(4): Seniors' Fuel Subsidy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 696
Michael Miltenberger Thebacha
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is directed to the Minister for Education, Culture and Employment, in regards to the seniors' fuel subsidy. I raised the issue on Friday and the Minister adroitly and tenaciously stick-handled around the issue with a level of skill that could have put him in the NHL. I would just like to ask if, over the weekend, he has had a chance to ponder on this particular issue, and reconsider whether he would be prepared to say, very simply, that the fuel subsidy program will be included for next year? Thank you.
Question 339-13(4): Seniors' Fuel Subsidy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 696
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
The Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Dent.
Return To Question 339-13(4): Seniors' Fuel Subsidy
Question 339-13(4): Seniors' Fuel Subsidy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 696
Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, looking at the Hansard for Friday, it appears to me that I have answered this question. I have said that I will ensure that the program will be available to seniors in the next year, and that we will do everything we can, once we have our budget approved, to find out where the funds will come from. I am not certain that we will be able to follow the direction provided by the motion in this House to get the funds from rents, but I do believe that once our budget is approved, we will have the ability to find some area from which to reallocate funds from within, to ensure that there is a program this fall for seniors. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Return To Question 339-13(4): Seniors' Fuel Subsidy
Question 339-13(4): Seniors' Fuel Subsidy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 696
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Miltenberger.
Supplementary To Question 339-13(4): Seniors' Fuel Subsidy
Question 339-13(4): Seniors' Fuel Subsidy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 696
Michael Miltenberger Thebacha
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When the Minister was an ordinary MLA, I recollect him coming to the communities on a Special Committee for Social Programs, where he was characterized with a straight shooting, John Wayne kind of manner. It took a bit of work, but can I ask the Minister to confirm, as I sift through his comments today, that ensure means yes?
Supplementary To Question 339-13(4): Seniors' Fuel Subsidy
Question 339-13(4): Seniors' Fuel Subsidy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 696
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Dent.
Further Return To Question 339-13(4): Seniors' Fuel Subsidy
Question 339-13(4): Seniors' Fuel Subsidy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 696
Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake
Mr. Speaker, I do not happen to have a dictionary in my holster at the moment. If my recollection is right, ensure, does mean to make sure, which is very close to saying yes, if not exactly the same. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Further Return To Question 339-13(4): Seniors' Fuel Subsidy
Question 339-13(4): Seniors' Fuel Subsidy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 696
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Oral questions. Mr. O'Brien.
Question 340-13(4): Detail On Plan 2000
Item 6: Oral Questions
February 18th, 1997
Page 696
Kevin O'Brien Kivallivik
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Minister of the NWT Housing Corporation. In the Minister's statement this morning, he indicated that the proposed Plan 2000 will provide for approximately 2000 families to be accommodated into adequate housing. Mr. Speaker, that is probably the best news that we have heard in this House all year. I realize that the Minister indicate that there will be a more technical and detailed briefing forth coming. I believe this type of good news is worth repeating. My question to the Minister is: Can the Minister be more precise, and bottom line just how this will be accomplished? Thank you.
Question 340-13(4): Detail On Plan 2000
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 696
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
The Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation, Mr. Arlooktoo.
Return To Question 340-13(4): Detail On Plan 2000
Question 340-13(4): Detail On Plan 2000
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 696
Goo Arlooktoo Baffin South
Mr. Speaker, the initiative that I announced this morning is doubling of the number of houses that we build and fix up each year. One of the ways we plan to do it is to convert the mortgages that are held by clients now through the Housing Corporation system and get back financing. In other words, instead of the Housing Corporation acting as a bank and lending out money, we will facilitate it, and act as a backup to certain clients. We are expanding the Downpayment Assistance Program to encompass more people. We are also planning to install water and sewer systems to at least 240 units during this time, to replace on the old northern rental units.
Return To Question 340-13(4): Detail On Plan 2000
Question 340-13(4): Detail On Plan 2000
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 696
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. O'Brien.
Supplementary To Question 340-13(4): Detail On Plan 2000
Question 340-13(4): Detail On Plan 2000
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 697
Kevin O'Brien Kivallivik
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just one final question. When does the Minister anticipate the target date for this proposal to be commenced?
Supplementary To Question 340-13(4): Detail On Plan 2000
Question 340-13(4): Detail On Plan 2000
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 697
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Arlooktoo.
Further Return To Question 340-13(4): Detail On Plan 2000
Question 340-13(4): Detail On Plan 2000
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 697
Goo Arlooktoo Baffin South
Mr. Speaker, as we have received the green light from Cabinet to go ahead with this, we will be preceding immediately to implement the plans. Due to the shipping season, I think it would be too optimistic to say that the new houses would be in this year's sealift. It would have to be in the next one. In the western Arctic, with the road system, the extra houses, extra materials needed to start this program will be done later this year.
Further Return To Question 340-13(4): Detail On Plan 2000
Question 340-13(4): Detail On Plan 2000
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 697
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. Henry.
Question 341-13(4): NWT Protected Area Strategy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 697
Seamus Henry Yellowknife South
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question will be to the Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development. The Minister presented a document in the House today, and talked about the strategy. I would like to congratulate the Minister. I think that he talked about many positive initiatives in this document, and about this strategy. I believe it is extremely timely, as we have a resource development industry that is extremely nervous. I think it is fair to say that the concern from that constituency, is that this project will be hijacked by environmental groups and so forth. I would suggest that the Minister's comments this morning have gone a long way to alleviate those concerns.
My question to the Minister is; I have read other documents from jurisdictions on how they have developed their protected areas, and I understand that there has been financial compensation given to individuals and businesses who can prove a loss of revenue due to the protected areas being designated. Could the Minister inform the House how this strategy that he will develop will determine compensation, if any, to those affected? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Question 341-13(4): NWT Protected Area Strategy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 697
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
The Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Kakfwi.
Return To Question 341-13(4): Nwt Protected Area Strategy
Question 341-13(4): NWT Protected Area Strategy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 697
Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu
Mr. Speaker, I think it is important for all stakeholders, including the mining companies, to remember that it is the federal government that announced a requirement to develop a Protected Areas Strategy by 1998. It was the mining industry as well that called for a Protected Areas Strategy when they signed the Whitehorse Mining Initiative Accord. The aboriginal organizations all called for some sort of a protected area strategy in their submissions to the BHP hearings. This government has consistently said that we also support the need to come up with a Protected Areas Strategy. What is important for people to remember is that it is the federal government that has the jurisdiction over lands and inland waters in the Northwest Territories at this time. It will be the federal government that will be concerning itself with the liability that would arise, if third party interests are unduly compromised as a result of a strategy. It should be very clear that the Protected Areas Strategy conference is being done in partnership with the federal government. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that every effort will be made to recognize existing third party interests, which the mining companies have a great concern about. If third party interests are not respected and are being compromised, then the question of liability will come up. It will be the federal government that will be answering those questions. Thank you.
Return To Question 341-13(4): Nwt Protected Area Strategy
Question 341-13(4): NWT Protected Area Strategy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 697
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Henry.
Supplementary To Question 341-13(4): Nwt Protected Area Strategy
Question 341-13(4): NWT Protected Area Strategy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 697
Seamus Henry Yellowknife South
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am pleased to hear that the federal government will have to take on any financial obligations or fall out from areas that may potentially be removed from development. I think that we have all heard the horror stories of the British Columbia government. What they had to pay out in the Windy Craggy situation to Royal Oak. I do not believe that this government could afford to even consider that. Mr. Speaker, I talked about the positiveness of the Minister's statement. That is public record. The Minister did make additional information available to MLAs on protected strategies a couple of weeks ago. I believe there is excellent information there. My question to the Minister, will he make this information available to the public? I believe it would put additional information out there, and provide much better assurances to all parties. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.