Debates of Jan. 27th, 1998

This is page numbers 333 - 366 of the Hansard for the 13th Assembly, 5th 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 fund.

Topics

Members Present

Item 1: Prayer

Accelerate Homeownership Program

Aurora Fund

1999 International Year Of Older Persons

Thoughts Of Igloolik Suicide Victim

Boarding Facilities In Iqaluit

State Of The Northern Mining Industry

Emergency Response Services At Northern Airports

Keewatin Health Care Concerns

Municipal Funding Formula Inequities

High Temperature Heating System In Inuvik

Pay Equity Dispute

Questions And Answers In The Legislative Assembly

Condition Of Fire Suppression Equipment

Benefits From Federal Diamond Royalty Regime

GNWT Office Lease Policy

Kimmirut Request For An Arena

Passing Of Kakisa Elder - Johnny Providence

Return To Oral Question 76-13(5): Lottery Licensing Policy

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Airport Firefighting Services In Smaller Communities

Firefighting Equipment Inspections

Administration Of Immigrant Investor Funds

Municipal Financial Audits

Public Service Job Classification System

Status Of Keewatin Health Care Services

Aurora Fund Subscription Levels

Yellowknife Office Space Leases

Transfer Of High Temperature Heating System

Funding For Pangnirtung Fire Hall

Opinion On Potential Conflict

GNWT Contract Report

Access To Public/private Partnerships Initiative

Reply 6-13(5): Mr. Ootes' Reply

Petition 1-13(5): Request For Kimmirut Community Arena

Petition 2-13(5): Understaffing At Igloolik Health Centre

Tabled Document 21-13(5): Unsigned Note Re: GNWT Loan

Tabled Document 22-13(5): Photographs Depicting Pangnirtung Fire Hall

Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Item 21: Report Of Committee Of The Whole

Item 23: Orders Of The Day

Member's Statement 99-13(5): Questions And Answers In The Legislative Assembly
Item 3: Members' Statements

January 26th, 1998

Page 337

Jane Groenewegen Hay River

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, if I could give my Member's statement a title today, it would be the great dilemma. To ask or not to ask, to speak or not to speak, to be or not to be.

It is possible to do this job and say very little. My predecessor only made 14 Member's statements in eight years and asked relatively few questions in this House. If one has the good fortune of looking reasonably intelligent, I suppose they could earn the admiration and respect of their colleagues and the public by just being.

Lately, I have been trying to bring questions to this House that I truly believe the public is interested in knowing the answer to. There are inherent risks in our style of consensus government of asking too many questions.

Without a party system, the strategy for bringing about accountability and transparency is more convoluted than one might imagine. Although we speak of the privilege every Member has, to investigate and make statements about matters of public concern and the dignity we enjoy as Members which carries with it the privilege to be free from unwarranted interference, it is not quite that simple.

Since every Member sits as an independent, people could construe your questions to be motivated by a very personal, devious or untoward agenda. If the person being questioned suspects this and takes the questions as a personal affront, the whole process begins to deteriorate. So for the record, Mr. Speaker, after weighing out the pros and cons of speaking or not speaking, I have decided that in spite of the risks to me personally, or politically, it is worth it. It is worth it because this is a public government. This is the people's government. The money we have spent are the people's money. The people have the right to know.

In case you think I embark on this mission of accountability and transparency lightly, I assure you I have considered the consequences. We are a small group of legislators here and it is human nature to want to avoid confrontation and to be liked by the people you work with.

In spite of the warnings and admonitions with the accompanying details of what might happen to me if I do not adhere to this advice, I will continue to ask questions in public, in the hopes of upholding the confidence of my constituents and the public in this government.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to offer my compliments to my friend Mr. Todd today on his Minister's statement entitled the Aurora Fund. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Member's Statement 99-13(5): Questions And Answers In The Legislative Assembly
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 337

The Speaker

Thank you, Madam Groenewegen. Members' statements. The honourable Member for Baffin Central, Mr. Enuaraq.

Member's Statement 100-13(5): Condition Of Fire Suppression Equipment
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 338

Tommy Enuaraq Baffin Central

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am going to be talking in Inuktitut. (Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to discuss fire trucks within the communities of the Northwest Territories, particularly within the northern communities. It is not only in Clyde River, but also in other communities. Fire trucks and fire vehicles are not always in good running condition in the winter.

For instance, I will use this as an example, in the last few years in Clyde River the garage in the community caught on fire. When the fire brigade was called upon, they used a fire truck. They had a hard time putting the fire out due to the hose being frozen within the truck. The garage was on fire and it burnt right to the ground due to the fact that they had difficulties with the fire truck. So, I would just like an awareness of this matter be made, that we have problems, especially in the winter time when they have to use fire trucks. When the time comes up during question period, I will be questioning the Minister regarding these fire trucks. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (Translation ends).

Member's Statement 100-13(5): Condition Of Fire Suppression Equipment
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 338

The Speaker

Qujannamiik, Mr. Enuaraq. Members' statements. The honourable Member for Yellowknife South, Mr. Henry.

Member's Statement 101-13(5): Benefits From Federal Diamond Royalty Regime
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 338

Seamus Henry Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, over the past weekend I listened to an interview on CBC radio with the Honourable Paul Martin, the federal Minister of Finance, in which he categorically stated if the proposed merger between the Royal Bank and the Bank of Montreal was not in the best interest of all Canadians, his government would not let it happen. I sincerely hope, Mr. Speaker, when the federal government introduces its new mineral royalty regime on diamonds they also act in the best interest of all Canadians, specifically, northern Canadians.

We have to work hard to make the federal government agree that as much of the value-added industry that is associated with diamond mining as possible stay in the Northwest Territories.

The honourable Mr. Todd and Mr. Kakfwi are no doubt working hard to convince the federal government that we deserve a large share of the royalties from this diamond play.

I would remind the federal government and particularly, Jane Stewart of DIAND, of the Western Australia State Legislature, an act of legislation that compelled the diamond mining company to perform a significant portion of the value-added components in Australia.

Mr. Speaker, I strongly believe that it is imperative we work together at all levels of government to make sure as many benefits as possible from the diamond mines stay in the north.

What the federal government has to realize is, the sooner we have a tax-base and a viable economy here in the north, the sooner it will be possible for us to reduce the transfer payments we need presently to operate. The sooner we have a viable economy, the sooner we can accept the mantle of provincial status and become truly, the masters of our own fate. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

Member's Statement 101-13(5): Benefits From Federal Diamond Royalty Regime
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 338

The Speaker

Thank you. Members' statements. I have the honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.

Member's Statement 102-13(5): GNWT Office Lease Policy
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 338

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I stand today in regard to the whole question of office space and the aspirations that aboriginal groups have of possibly being owners of real estate in Yellowknife and looking at the potential Yellowknife has to offer in that area and being told, time and time again this government is not open to that possibility, to any long-term leases. Basically, the arrangement which will be looked at is a month-by-month lease. Yet we hear in this House, there are new organizations on the block who seem to be operating on a new ball field, which seems to have its own rules which apply to certain groups. Yet regarding the Gwich'in Tribal Council who has made several attempts to this government to look at the Laing Building and look at the possibility of purchasing it with the idea of a long-term lease, being told that was not acceptable by this government. We hear of a similar arrangement of a purchase regarding the Lahm Ridge Tower in which they received an eight-year lease in the area of $9.5 million. So, it makes me wonder exactly whose rules are we playing under? Basically, it all depends on who the players are. I think when we talk about an open government and a public government to the people we represent, we have to also take in mind who are we accountable to. I think at the end of the day, it is who pays for these long-term leases regarding the creation of two new territories and the cost to the new governments after division, also, the cost of administering services to both governments and taking on new debts which is crucial in our period of time with regard to one year before division.

I think we have to ask ourselves, can we afford these decisions at this time in regard to finding new ways of purchasing items or getting ourselves locked into long-term leases? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause.

Member's Statement 102-13(5): GNWT Office Lease Policy
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 338

The Speaker

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Members' statements. Any further Members' statements? Mr. Arlooktoo.

Member's Statement 103-13(5): Kimmirut Request For An Arena
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 338

Goo Arlooktoo Baffin South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Later today I will be tabling a petition from my constituency from the community of Kimmirut urging the Minister of MACA to

consider once again, the issue of building an arena for the community.

The community has been asking for an arena for the last 15 years. I am the third MLA who has been tabling letters and petitions in this House for an arena. We have seen many, many communities that have gone ahead of Kimmirut in getting an arena. We have seen our arena in the capital projects plans for years, only to be delayed for many more years.

We are once again asking the Minister of MACA and the Government of the NWT to consider perhaps, as one of the P3 projects, the issue of a community arena in Kimmirut and I will be pleased to table the petition later today.

Member's Statement 103-13(5): Kimmirut Request For An Arena
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 339

The Speaker

Thank you, Mr. Arlooktoo. Members' statements. Before we move on to Item 4, returns to oral questions, I would like to recognize in the public gallery, the Interim Commissioner for Nunavut, Mr. Anawak.

--Applause

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Antoine.

Member's Statement 104-13(5): Passing Of Kakisa Elder - Johnny Providence
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 339

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

(Translation) I am going to be saying this in Slavey. Today an elder from Kakisa Lake has passed away. His name is Johnny Providence. He died last week and his funeral is today. There are a lot of people that went to Kakisa to attend his funeral. The elder has lived in that community for many years, so a lot of people would have attended this funeral to pay their respects to him and his family. Honourable Sam Gargan, being the MLA for this area, has also attended the funeral. I myself have known this elder for a few years, and I would like to say this in honour of him and his family. Thank you. (Translation ends)

Member's Statement 104-13(5): Passing Of Kakisa Elder - Johnny Providence
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 339

The Speaker

Thank you, Mr. Antoine. Our condolences go to the family of the deceased. Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Madame Thompson.

Return To Oral Question 76-13(5): Lottery Licensing Policy
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

Page 339

Manitok Thompson Aivilik

Mr. Speaker, I have a return to an oral question asked by Mr. Krutko on January 22, 1998 on the Lottery Licensing Policy.

Current regulations under the Lotteries Act outline the requirement for the sale of nevada or pull tickets. These can be sold only during the course of running an actual licensed bingo or casino event. The regulations also allow for the sale of nevada or pull tickets by charitable organizations that sell from a private clubroom or for a community broadcasting society registered under the Societies Act. The Midway Lake Music Festival did not meet these requirements and as a result could not sell nevada or pull tickets.

Several groups, including Midway Lake Music Festival, had made requests to the department that these regulations be changed as they did not reflect the needs of many non-profit organizations.

In response to requests from these organizations, the department had previously been working towards a solution. After reviewing the regulations, the department is making changes that will better meet the needs of non-profit groups. New regulations, which I expect will be in place within one month, will allow organizations, such as the Midway Lake Festival, to sell nevada or pull tickets at the radio station during the day their licensed bingo is scheduled. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Return To Oral Question 76-13(5): Lottery Licensing Policy
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

Page 339

The Speaker

Thank you, Madame Thompson. Returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mrs. Groenewegen.