Debates of Feb. 26th, 1997

This is page numbers 879 - 917 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.

Topics

Members Present

Item 1: Prayer

Recognition Of Aboriginal Community Governments

National Child Benefit

Training Northern Ferry Captains

Public Housing Rental Policy

Work Performed At Fox 2 Station

Affirmative Action

Employment Changes After Division

Kids Help Phone Bowlathon

Unofficial Affirmative Action Policy

Plan 2000

Affirmative Action Policy

Support For Roberta Vaneltsi

Rules And Procedures Of The Legislative Assembly

Need For All People To Work Together

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Rent Scale For Social Housing

Funding For Outpost Camps

Plan 2000

Government Privatization Policy

Plan 2000

Unpaid Work From Fox 2 Program

Affirmative Action

Funding For Winter Festivities

Plan 2000

Critical Housing Shortage

Communications Strategy

Plan 2000

Public Sources For Infrastructure Funding

Assets Available For Sale

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Return To Written Question 12-13(4): Ministerial Authorities

Item 10: Petitions

Item 13: Tabling Of Documents

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Recommendation To Return Funding For The NWT Arctic Tourism Association To Historical Levels

Recommendation To Ensure A More Equitable Distribution Of Oil And Gas Consultant Funding

Item 20: Report Of Committee Of The Whole

Item 22: Orders Of The Day

Support For Roberta Vaneltsi
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 883

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I stood in the House several weeks ago, pledging support for my colleagues and the people of the north for an individual who is seeking custody of her children in the Czech Republic. Roberta Vaneltsi was born and raised in Fort McPherson. Roberta has not seen her children since July 1994, after they were abducted by their father and taken to the Czech Republic. Her story was told last week on CBC North. I am hoping that all of you loyal fans out there have caught the program. Roberta is presently seeking funds to go to the Czech Republic, as she has now received a court date of April 25th, 1997 for those proceedings in Brunn, a city of 500,000 people in the south of the Czech Republic. Roberta needs $5,000 for travel, legal costs and also to help her case in court. She is presently booking her airfares and also has arranged for friends in Prague who will drive her, along with her lawyer, to Brunn for the trial and hearing.

I am asking my colleagues in this House and I am also asking Mr. Erasmus to be on my fund-raising team, since he has got it down pat, to make an attempt to contribute. The Gwich'in Tribal Council and the people in Mackenzie Delta are presently making pledges. So I call upon my colleagues and the people of the north to make pledges also. They can contact Robert Alexi (403) 979-4869, he will be able to give you Roberta's address and also her bank accounts so that you may make your contributions through that process. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Support For Roberta Vaneltsi
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 883

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Members' statements. Mr. O'Brien.

Rules And Procedures Of The Legislative Assembly
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 883

Kevin O'Brien Kivallivik

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the proceedings of the Legislative Assembly are based on a long parliamentary history. The rules and procedures associated with the Assembly are in place for many reasons: To ensure all Members can fairly represent their constituents, to support the expression of alternative views on issues, to foster respect among the Members and to allow for a range of issues to be heard and discussed. One difficulty with any set of rules is that they often need to be clarified, as it this case with the Assembly and its rules. Mr. Speaker, over the last few months many Members have raised a flurry of points where the rules and procedures have needed to be more clearly defined. We have touched on many issues from the conflict of interest to inappropriate use of common slang phrases, from shirt collars and neckties to the conduct of business.

Mr. Speaker, I have appreciated your patience as you have provided many rulings clarifying the appropriate decorum, discussion and dress to maintain the dignity of this House. I hope we have addressed all the areas which need to be clarified. We should now be able to concentrate our attention on addressing the issues that are important to our constituents and the NWT as a whole. Mr. Speaker, it costs approximately $16,000 a day to operate this legislative building. When you combine that with the critical issues that are facing us, such as division, the budget deficit and the need for job creation, Mr. Speaker, hopefully now we can direct the time that is needed to address these critical issues in a way that we are not interrupted, so that time is duly provided for these issues.

-- Applause

Rules And Procedures Of The Legislative Assembly
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 883

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you, Mr. O'Brien. Members' statements. Mr. Roland.

Need For All People To Work Together
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 883

Floyd Roland Inuvik

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise this morning on an area of concern. Over the last number of days, I have

heard statements in the House that concern me very much, especially when we look at the way things have happened over the last few decades. Mr. Speaker, in 1967 the government moved north to be closer to the people. With this came an influx of many different people from different lands and different parts of this country we call Canada and with them many different ideals, different from the people who were born here and lived in the Northwest Territories for generations. Mr. Speaker, those ideals did not see eye-to-eye with many people that were here before.

My concern is that people in the territories, as different as we are all over Canada, need to work together. We have to find a way of cooperating that is going to lead to success, not find a way that is going to lead to destruction, to chaos and to people just not getting along. For years we have seen an influx of people into the Territories and have helped the people of the Territories and, in some cases, have hurt the people of the Territories. There is no magic in what we can do with affirmative action or any other policy this government puts forward. It is the people that count, not the words written on paper. As Members of this Assembly, we have to try and put forward the best part of all peoples in the Territories, not one over another and not one trying to assimilate another.

Mr. Speaker, I come from a mixed relationship. My father was a non-aboriginal and my mother was an aboriginal. I do not say one way should be over another. Instead, I see the way it needs to work together. From what I have been hearing from around this table, I see we have a long ways to go in this House and in this government. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Need For All People To Work Together
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 884

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Members' statements. Before we go on to the next item, I would like to remind the Members to slow down a bit when they make their statement. Some Members were going pretty fast and the translators cannot keep up and a lot of times, things that are interpreted in aboriginal languages take longer than maybe one word in the English language. I would request the indulgence of the Members to cooperate and give consideration to the translators. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Enuaraq.