Debates of May 29th, 1997

This is page numbers 1191 - 1211 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 federal.

Topics

Members Present

Item 1: Prayer

Constitutional Working Group Update

Nunavut Unified Human Resource Development Strategy

Constitutional Working Group

Ministers Absent From The House

Tribute To Lydia Kalluk

Report To Indian Agent - March, 1953

Public Library Services

Dew Line Site Clean-up Agreement

Tribute To Isaac Irngaut

Northern Employment Strategy

Student Graduates Hiring Practices

354-13(4): Support For Educational Opportunities

Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Proposed Restructuring Of Public Libraries

Pay Equity

Inuvik Hospital Replacement Project

Dew Line Site Clean-up

Clean-up Of Sunk U.s. Navy Vessel

Nunavut Human Resource Development Strategy

Budget Cuts To Beaufort Delta Region

Changes To Keewatin Dental Therapy Program

Funding For Hunters And Trappers

Item 7: Written Questions

Written Question 27-13(4): Grades Of Fuel In Use

Written Question 28-13(4): Electronic Access To Information

Establishment Of Parks

Item 17: First Reading Of Bills

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

Item 20: Report Of Committee Of The Whole

Item 21: Third Reading Of Bills

Item 22: Orders Of The Day

Member's Statement 351-13(4): Tribute To Isaac Irngaut
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1195

Mark Evaloarjuk Amittuq

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I do not wish to bear sad news, but it is a universal human thing that we feel sadness and compassion for others who have lost loved ones.

I would like to inform my colleagues that last week on May 19th, on my way to Yellowknife from Igloolik, there was a suicide. The man was Isaac Irngaut, who was 76 years old. I have known this man since my childhood, living in the same community with him. However, I do not know what his reasons were for his suicide. He was a very good man, a sober man all his life. Whenever he could, he would attend church and in the winter season, he would help the less fortunate, widowed women and the church by keeping their pathways clear of snow. He did this out of his own will and with no pay. Sometimes, though he would have difficulty walking as he had pain in his legs.

He will be greatly missed. He has many relatives, including his wife, his many daughters, sons and grandchildren. They will be in our prayers as we ask for their comfort and serenity. Mr. Speaker, I want to say to our younger generation that this should not be viewed as an acceptable option in life. In the old days among Inuit tradition, elders would commit suicide upon feeling or accepting that they could no longer contribute to their society and saw themselves as a burden to their people. I believe that Mr. Irngaut saw himself in that way. However, he still had much to give and I feel that this perception was not a true reflection of reality.

Mr. Speaker, we also feel compassion for Ludy Pudluk and his loved ones who have recently lost their mother. We will remember them in our prayers. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (Translation ends)

Member's Statement 351-13(4): Tribute To Isaac Irngaut
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1196

The Deputy Speaker John Ningark

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Evaloarjuk. These people and their relatives will be in our prayers. Thank you. (Translation ends) Members' statements. Mr. Rabesca.

Member's Statement 352-13(4): Northern Employment Strategy
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1196

James Rabesca North Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss the new Northern Employment Strategy that the Honourable Mr. Todd announced yesterday that will invest in our people. I feel that this will prove to be a very worthwhile program. It will bring the badly needed dollars into the right areas that we need it in. It is encouraging to see this government finally open its' purse strings and hopefully do some good in the important areas of training and job creation. My hope now is that our overworked staff can the time to promote and distribute the information to the communities and the private businesses so that they can access the components of this which will start us on the road to a better economy and healthier and more prosperous way of life for a good number of our residents. In this House, we have stressed over and over the need for job creation and training. We feel that the government has listened and responded with very good initiatives. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Member's Statement 352-13(4): Northern Employment Strategy
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1196

The Deputy Speaker John Ningark

Thank you, Mr. Rabesca. The honourable Member for Yellowknife North, Mr. Erasmus.

Member's Statement 353-13(4): Student Graduates Hiring Practices
Item 3: Members' Statements

May 28th, 1997

Page 1196

Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My statement today is on hiring graduates. Mr. Speaker, many of us in this Assembly have talked about the need to hire northerners. Others have also talked about student employment. I would like to talk about the missing link. That is what we do as a government to encourage employment for recent graduates. Mr. Speaker, we spend $12 million a year on student financial assistance, but what do we do to encourage those same students to take jobs in the north? Do we have entry level positions in our government and businesses so they have somewhere to start? I have not heard of very many. Northern students have many other opportunities presented to them. Every fall recruiters descend on college and university campuses across the country. They search for the best and the brightest among the students in their final year. Of course, this includes our best and brightest as well. In contrast our students have to dig and scrape to make contacts in the north in most occupations.

I was told recently about a student who graduated in occupational therapy. Her letters to northern employers were not even acknowledged. So, she is staying in the south where she had four job offers. Mr. Speaker, travelling to every campus is expensive and I am not suggesting that we do that. However, there has to be a way to let students know about what opportunities are available here at home. At the same time, we need a system to help employers promote themselves to northern students. As a government, we also need to look at our organization. Is it only open to those with experience or do we have entry level positions for new graduates? We also need to encourage other northern employers to create opportunities for new graduates. There are lots of creative things that can be done so that as a territory we can get some return for the dollars spent on student financial assistance.

We have to see our post-secondary students as a valuable resource. We need to reach out to them, actively encourage them to come home. Help them get over that no win situation of no job/no experience, no experience/no job. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Member's Statement 353-13(4): Student Graduates Hiring Practices
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1196

The Deputy Speaker John Ningark

Thank you, Mr. Erasmus. Members' statements. Mr. Krutko.

354-13(4): Support For Educational Opportunities
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1196

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My statement today is in regards to education and the crucial need for students in the smaller communities to have that opportunity to be educated. Also for this government to put the resources in place to ensure that education is carried out and the resources and the teachers are in place to carry out the teaching out of our children and also the students in the communities. Mr. Speaker, I am talking in regards to the cuts that have been put in place in the Beaufort Delta region, some $500,000 and a 11.5 positions. Mr. Speaker, when we talk about developing the north and developing the northern economy, it is also critical that we develop our human resources which are children and the students of the Northwest Territories. To allow them the ability to succeed in life and set their goals high to basically be what they want to be from astronauts to computer technicians to teachers to social workers. When we make these drastic cuts in the education systems that are in place, we are not only denying the students the education that we need, but we are also impacting the economy of the north by not allowing those students to have the quality education that most Canadians take for granted. So at the appropriate time, Mr. Speaker, I will be asking the Minister of Education a question on this matter in relation to the cuts in the Beaufort Delta region and the effects it is having on the education of our students. Thank you.

-- Hear! Hear!

-- Applause

354-13(4): Support For Educational Opportunities
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1197

The Deputy Speaker John Ningark

Thank you. Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions.

Mr. Kakfwi.

Return To Question 324-13(4): General Hunting License Applications
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

Page 1197

Stephen Kakfwi

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is a return to a question asked by Mr. Rabesca and Mr. Enuaraq on February 28, 1997. It is in regard to questions about the General Hunting Licence applications.

General Hunting Licence Applications

In the Northwest Territories (NWT) for the purposes of hunting, there is a General Hunting Licence called a GHL and a resident hunting licence.

To qualify for a resident hunting licence an applicant must have lived in the NWT for two years prior to the date of application. This licence is subject to seasons, limits or quotas and is issued along with the associated tags for a nominal fee.

To be a successful applicant for a GHL the applicant must meet the eligibility and residency requirements of subsection 15(1) of the Wildlife Act. Subsection 15(1) reads as follows:

"A general hunting licence be issued only to a person who:

(a) immediately before July 1, 1979, held, was eligible to hold or was eligible except only for being underage to hold a general hunting licence under Item 1 of Column II of Schedule A to the Game Ordinance, R.S.N.W.T. 1974, c. G-1.

(b) is a resident, has at no time lived outside the Territories for a continuous period of five years or more, and at least one of whose parents:

(i) is a resident and eligible under this paragraph or paragraph (a) to hold a general hunting licence, or

(ii) immediately before death was a resident and then held or was then eligible to hold a general hunting licence other than one issued under paragraph (c), or Item 1 or 3 of Column II of Schedule A to the Game Ordinance, R.S.N.W.T. 1974, c. G-1, or

(c) has lived in the Territories continuously for the five years immediately preceding his or her application for the licence, and is a Canadian citizen or landed immigrant, and whose application is recommended by a Hunters' and Trappers' Association and is accepted by the Superintendent.

With regards to residency requirements there are exceptions for people who have lived outside the NWT for any period as students or to serve in the Canadian Armed Forces or the RCMP if he or she lived in the NWT immediately before the commencement of that period.

For GHLs issued under paragraph (c) annual renewal is subject to continued support by the local Hunters' and Trappers' Association.

Return To Question 324-13(4): General Hunting License Applications
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

Page 1197

The Deputy Speaker John Ningark

Thank you, Mr. Kakfwi. Returns to oral questions. Mr. Antoine.

Return To Question 201-13(4): Funding For Constitutional Development
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

Page 1197

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have a short reply for David Krutko when he asked regarding funding for constitutional development. For the 1996/97 fiscal year, $284,000 in contribution funding and in-kind support has been provided to the Constitutional Working Group. The in-kind service included some salaries and travel costs for ministry staff and some Constitutional Working Group expenses. The Legislative Assembly and Department of Justice have also provided in-kind support to the Constitutional Working Group.

In response to the question regarding the amount of funding provided directly to aboriginal groups for self-government negotiations, the Government of the Northwest Territories has not provided any funding. The funding of the aboriginal group's participation in self-government negotiations is a federal responsibility. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Return To Question 201-13(4): Funding For Constitutional Development
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

Page 1198

The Deputy Speaker John Ningark

Thank you, Mr. Antoine. Returns to oral questions. Mr. Todd.

Return To Question 173-13(4): Funding For Western Constitutional Process
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

Page 1198

John Todd Keewatin Central

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it was asked by Mr. Steen on January 30th with respect to the government participation in the aboriginal self-government negotiations. Mr. Steen asked, on January 30th, about the status of the $1 million in additional funding for government participation in aboriginal self-government negotiations that have been approved by the FMB.

This funding was not included in 1997/98 main estimates, as the need for additional resources was not identified until last fall. The analysis of the social crime was not completed until January of this year. The $1,096,000 in incremental funding is included in the 1997/98 Supplementary Appropriations No. 1, which is scheduled for third reading today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Return To Question 173-13(4): Funding For Western Constitutional Process
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

Page 1198

The Deputy Speaker John Ningark

Thank you, Mr. Todd. Returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Krutko.