(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to speak on access roads, especially for the smaller communities. It is very important to have access roads in the smaller communities, especially for the visitors, for hunting purposes, for tourists and also to go hunting and get to your boats and your vehicles. As a government, we have been cutting back. There have been cutbacks on the access roads as well. Later on this afternoon, I will be asking the Minister responsible for Transportation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (Translation ends.)
Debates of March 4th, 1997
Topics
Importance Of Access Roads
Item 3: Members' Statements
Page 1070
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you, Mr. Barnabas. Members' statements. Mr. Ootes.
Western Constitutional Process
Item 3: Members' Statements
Page 1070
Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to say a few words today about the constitutional process that we are going through. This has been about a year's project and soon members of the Constitutional Working Group have arranged to hold meetings in various communities. In my community of Yellowknife, this will take place on March 18. My area of concern with the consultation process is that we ensure that the Constitutional Working Group provide a facilitator to conduct these meetings and that resource people be available to answer questions and to explain the various proposals and principles that are being put forward, which we are seeking the public's feedback on. One of the other areas of concern that I have is that we not put forward the main proposal again to the public and say this is the main proposal and how do you feel about it. It is my impression from the public that I have dealt with, the main proposal has a lot of holes in it. We have to be able to put forward the other two proposals that were in the document and have explanations of how the various proposals were worked. I think that the other item that is of critical concern to the public is the ratification process of the constitution. By that I mean how the vote will be held in the western Arctic in order to approve or disapprove the constitution that will be put forward. I think that this is extremely important for the Constitutional Working Group to address before the group goes to consultation. Later on in this session, Mr. Speaker, I will be asking several questions of the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs in this regard. Thank you.
Western Constitutional Process
Item 3: Members' Statements
Page 1070
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you, Mr. Ootes. Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mrs. Groenewegen.
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Page 1070
Jane Groenewegen Hay River
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is a pleasure today to represent someone who comes from one of the smaller of the two communities that I represent, Enterprise. Mr. Karl Mueller is in the gallery today.
-- Applause
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Page 1070
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Welcome to the Assembly. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Ootes.
Question 442-13(4): Facilitator For Constitutional Consultation Process
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1070
Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question will be to the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs regarding the constitutional consultation process. I wonder if the Minister could tell us if there will be a facilitator along with resource individuals provided at the public meetings. Naturally, the Members of the Legislative Assembly for that constituency will be present. I
wonder if the Minister could answer that question for me. Thank you.
Question 442-13(4): Facilitator For Constitutional Consultation Process
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1071
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
The Minister responsible for Aboriginal Affairs, Mr. Antoine.
Return To Question 442-13(4): Facilitator For Constitutional Consultation Process
Question 442-13(4): Facilitator For Constitutional Consultation Process
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1071
Jim Antoine Nahendeh
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, the Constitution Working Group office has obtained facilitators to be involved in the consultation process. There will be resource people at the meetings to answer all necessary questions. Thank you.
Return To Question 442-13(4): Facilitator For Constitutional Consultation Process
Question 442-13(4): Facilitator For Constitutional Consultation Process
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1071
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Oral questions, supplementary, Mr. Ootes.
Supplementary To Question 442-13(4): Facilitator For Constitutional Consultation Process
Question 442-13(4): Facilitator For Constitutional Consultation Process
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1071
Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A great concern to me is how the package, the three proposals that we have, will be presented to the public. Will there be an explanation of each of the proposals and models that were put forward in the initial document? Thank you.
Supplementary To Question 442-13(4): Facilitator For Constitutional Consultation Process
Question 442-13(4): Facilitator For Constitutional Consultation Process
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1071
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Mr. Antoine.
Further Return To Question 442-13(4): Facilitator For Constitutional Consultation Process
Question 442-13(4): Facilitator For Constitutional Consultation Process
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1071
Jim Antoine Nahendeh
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The facilitators held a workshop on Friday to go through the package so they become familiar with it. These are technical people who will be going into the communities to explain the package and address the concerns that have arisen regarding the package that was tabled in this House in October. We have moved beyond that particular package. There will be additional information there. The idea of the process is not to sell the package. The idea is to explain the package and the concerns and receive further feedback from the communities. Perhaps they could address the concerns at these meetings as well. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 442-13(4): Facilitator For Constitutional Consultation Process
Question 442-13(4): Facilitator For Constitutional Consultation Process
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1071
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Oral questions, supplementary, Mr. Ootes.
Supplementary To Question 442-13(4): Facilitator For Constitutional Consultation Process
Question 442-13(4): Facilitator For Constitutional Consultation Process
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1071
Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Regarding the ratification process, can the Minister enlighten us as to whether or not a decision has been made that will be put before the public for consultation as to how the constitution will be ratified?
Supplementary To Question 442-13(4): Facilitator For Constitutional Consultation Process
Question 442-13(4): Facilitator For Constitutional Consultation Process
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1071
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Antoine.
Further Return To Question 442-13(4): Facilitator For Constitutional Consultation Process
Question 442-13(4): Facilitator For Constitutional Consultation Process
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1071
Jim Antoine Nahendeh
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. At the end of the whole process, once we have gone through the consultation and looked at the feedback we received from communities regarding this package, we tend to revise the package. With the concerns that have developed, we will have a more refined package that will be acceptable to the people of the north. We will then go through the ratification process. We are developing some scenarios on how the ratification process will be done. That will also be presented during the consultation process. This ratification will happen hopefully by the fall. We still have some time to further develop this process. It is important that we have a grasp on what it is we are trying to deal with here when we are asking people to approve a package we are developing. Yes, we will have information on the ratification process during the constitution process. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 442-13(4): Facilitator For Constitutional Consultation Process
Question 442-13(4): Facilitator For Constitutional Consultation Process
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1071
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Oral questions, final supplementary, Mr. Ootes.
Supplementary To Question 442-13(4): Facilitator For Constitutional Consultation Process
Question 442-13(4): Facilitator For Constitutional Consultation Process
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1071
Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Once the revisions have been made and the package has been redrafted, will it be placed before the Western Caucus and the Aboriginal Summit for approval and acceptance prior to it going out to the public? Thank you.
Supplementary To Question 442-13(4): Facilitator For Constitutional Consultation Process
Question 442-13(4): Facilitator For Constitutional Consultation Process
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1071
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Antoine.
Further Return To Question 442-13(4): Facilitator For Constitutional Consultation Process
Question 442-13(4): Facilitator For Constitutional Consultation Process
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1071
Jim Antoine Nahendeh
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is very important when we are developing this constitution process that everyone that has been involved in this process be kept up-to-date with the latest information. We mentioned in this House earlier in this session that we regard it as a rolling draft. We are developing the draft as we go through the constitution process. It is very important that we keep everybody informed as we go along. Yes, we will be notifying and informing the Western Caucus Members and the Aboriginal Summit leaders as we move through this process. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 442-13(4): Facilitator For Constitutional Consultation Process
Question 442-13(4): Facilitator For Constitutional Consultation Process
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1071
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Oral questions, Mr. Miltenberger.
Question 443-13(4): State Of Affairs At Trail Cross Facility
Item 6: Oral Questions
March 3rd, 1997
Page 1071
Michael Miltenberger Thebacha
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Health and Social Services. It is regarding the Trail Cross facility, and the state of affairs at the facility, regarding the contract itself and some recent incidents. What are the plans of the Minister, in terms of trying to make sure the well-being of the children is paramount in all of this? Thank you.
Question 443-13(4): State Of Affairs At Trail Cross Facility
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1071
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Ng.
Return To Question 443-13(4): State Of Affairs At Trail Cross Facility
Question 443-13(4): State Of Affairs At Trail Cross Facility
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1071
Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am also concerned about the incident that took place at Trail Cross. Standard protocol is that we receive an incident report from the contractors detailing the specific incidents that took place. The plan would be to review the incident report with the
contractors, to ensure that proper procedure took place and try to minimize the risk of any similar incidents happening. Thank you.