This is page numbers 341 - 369 of the Hansard for the 13th Assembly, 6th 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

James Rabesca North Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I hosted a meeting between the Western MLAs and the community of Rae-Edzo. This meeting was mainly to start a dialogue to gather support for my colleagues for the Road to Resources and other important initiatives that my community is working on, which of course, includes the airport project. At this time, I would like to thank the honourable Charles Dent, Mr. Roy Erasmus, Mr. Michael Miltenberger, Mr. David Krutko and Mr. Seamus Henry for attending this meeting. Listening to my constituents' concerns regarding this very important issues. Throughout this meeting the word compromise was said over and over.

On that note, it was agreed that in order for the Road to Resources project to go ahead, all parties must work together to ensure this project is a success. It is with this feeling of compromise, we will be planning another meeting of this type, which will also include members from Detah, N'dilo and Yellowknife. In closing, I again would like to thank my colleagues and members of my community for attending the start of a process that will benefit the whole North Slave region. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Members' statements. Mr. Krutko.

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on an issue that I have raised before in this House with limited success, regarding the implementation of a policy in this government. I am talking about, Mr. Speaker, the

Affirmative Action Policy that this government has had in place to support aboriginal people for 12 years. We do not see the success rate or increases of aboriginal people in the government workforce. This government must effectively implement the policy, which has not happened.

Without the Department of Personnel, there is no consultation in dealing with affirmative action applicants and clients. Most jobs in regard to the Affirmative Action Policy are being filled more in relation to labour positions and lower standards of opportunities of this government. Mr. Speaker, individuals who attend post-secondary education, and to obtain their degrees at universities and come back home are still having a hard time finding jobs with the Government of the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, we may point fingers at BHP and other companies to implement social impact agreements and ensuring that a certain percentage of positions will be filled by northerners and aboriginal people, but, Mr. Speaker, in this government, especially in the area of management positions only 12 percent are held by aboriginal people. We need to look at many aboriginal people in the Northwest Territories who have schooling degrees and work in the private sector and ask ourselves why are those people not in the Government of the Northwest Territories workforce.

There maybe many questions asked through this government in regard to the Affirmative Action Policy, but, Mr. Speaker, it is important that if we are going to have policies that we ensure they are there for the purpose of benefiting those who the policy was drafted for. Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time, I will be asking the Minister a question on the Affirmative Action Policy and why is it not working.

--Applause

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Members' statements. Mr. Erasmus.

Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge the GNWT and the union to get a contract out, so our public service members can vote on it. Mr. Speaker, this issue has dragged on far too long and it is affecting all northerners in many ways. For example, we have been hearing for quite a while now about the nursing shortage. If you listen to the radio, you hear about it. If you look at the papers, you can see it there. Turn on your TV, you see it there. Lately, we have had Members talking about it here. Some of our Members went to Tuktoyaktuk and saw signs up that there were fewer services being provided. Another Member spoke yesterday, that the health system is in a death spiral because of this. Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Health and Social Services has tabled a Recruitment and Retention Plan. This was put together with the help of health boards, nurses, doctors and so on.

Mr. Speaker, we have heard that community nurses stand to gain up to $13,000 a year through a new collective agreement that has already been agreed upon. The problem is the GNWT cannot pay those new salaries because the bargaining process is still going on. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

The Member for Yellowknife North is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Do we have any nays? There are no nays. Mr. Erasmus, you have unanimous consent.

Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, colleagues. Mr. Speaker, this situation reminds me of an old story. The one where there is water flowing through a hole in a dike and the little Dutch boy sticks his finger in the hole and stops the flow and that saves his village. In our case, the little Dutch boy, or rather the little Scottish boy is ready to put his finger in the dike, unfortunately there is something blocking his finger. I urge the union and the government negotiators to hurry up and get something out for the workers to vote on. For the sake of our health care system, quite blocking the Scottish boy's finger. Thank you.

--Applause

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Members' statements. Mr. Ootes.

Member's Statement 157-13(6): Remembrance Day
Item 3: Members' Statements

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Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would also like to say some words on Remembrance Day today. I would like to mention that I was born in a country that was under war in Holland in the 1940's. I must say that I have had my parents speak about that time with a great deal of memories that were not pleasant. There was suffering, a lot of death, and a lot of injustices done to people who were overridden by an other power. It effected my family, my mother, my father, my brother, myself, my grandparents, and our extended family very dramatically in many ways. I would like to say that war is not pleasant. It is very, very unpleasant, not just for the soldiers but for the residents in those particular areas. We came to Canada in 1952, and I must say, that we found this particular country a dramatic change from where we came from. A country where there is tremendous opportunity, and you will never believe what it does for people who come from an area that is war torn, to come to a country like this. The opportunity presents itself, if a person is willing to take it. For anybody in this country, it is there to be taken. I do not care how destitute you are, how poor you are, if you really want to get somewhere, you can do it. I have proven that in my particular case.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to tell people that this is the best country in the world. It has been judged as such by the United Nations five times in this decade. It is based on 175 other countries comparisons and on about 75 criteria. On this day, tomorrow, I would like people to remember and not only remember that war is terrible and those who have died in it, but also remember what a great country we have, what opportunities we have, and the responsibilities we have to ensure that we carry that on for our future generations. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause.

Member's Statement 157-13(6): Remembrance Day
Item 3: Members' Statements

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Mr. Ng.

Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a return to oral question asked by Mr. Krutko on September 25, on cancer studies in the MacKenzie Delta. On September 25, 1998, you expressed concern over high cancer rates in the Mackenzie Delta and you asked me what studies have been done and where they are.

The Government of the Northwest Territories, through the Department of Health and Social Services, maintains a Cancer Registry under the Disease Registries Act. It is a legal duty of health professionals in the NWT to report every newly diagnosed case of cancer to the registry.

Information gathered in the Cancer Registry is reviewed annually and reports are produced periodically. The analyses are usually published in EpiNorth, our epidemiological newsletter. Data is also regularly provided back to health and social services boards upon request.

Cancer rates in the NWT, although rising, still remain lower than the rest of Canada. This is also true of the Mackenzie Delta region. The types of cancer which are on the rise include lung cancer, strongly linked to high rates of tobacco smoking, and cancer of the large intestine and rectum, associated with dietary changes away from traditional foods towards those that are fried, high in saturated fats, and low in fibre, vitamins and trace minerals.

The perception that cancer rates are high in many NWT communities relates to the following:

-cancer rates were traditionally quite low among aboriginal people and the rise in the past two or three decades has been noticeable;

-cancer is a disease associated with aging; as the numbers of elders increase, so do the numbers of people with cancer; and,

-people with cancer are also more "visible" in small communities as compared with large centres; proportionally more people are aware or touched by each new case of cancer.

The department is quite concerned about this issue. In collaboration with aboriginal partners, a project is currently underway to develop a communications package to facilitate discussions about cancer at the community and regional levels. A workshop was held in Yellowknife on October 14-15, 1998. It was coordinated by the Dene Nation and included participation from regional stakeholders. Once a communications package has been developed, it will be provided to the Inuvik Regional Health and Social Services Board for use at the community level in your region. Thank you.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Returns to oral questions. Ms. Thompson.

Manitok Thompson Aivilik

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a return to an oral question asked by Mr. Rabesca on November 9, 1998, Review of the Municipal Funding for MACA.

In response to the Member's question regarding funding for the community of Rae-Edzo, I would like to confirm for the Member that in recognition of the unique situation in that community, the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs provided additional funding to the community of Rae-Edzo for both the 1997/1998, and 1998/1999 fiscal years. The department has also identified additional funding for the community for the 1999/2000 fiscal year subject to the approval of the Legislative Assembly.

Based on the concerns raised by the Member for North Slave, the Municipal Finance Review is considering the unique situation of separate communities within a single municipal boundary, as in Rae-Edzo. I anticipate that this review will result in recommendations regarding such situations. Thank you.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

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

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

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Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am happy to recognize my constituency assistant in the gallery. She used to go by the name of Janine Gordon, but has since been married this summer and now goes by Janine Blake. Thank you.

--Applause

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Welcome to the Assembly. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Krutko.

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

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David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize Pat Thomas with the NWTTA. Welcome Pat.

--Applause

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Welcome to the Assembly. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Ningark.

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

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John Ningark Natilikmiot

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize two people in the public gallery. One is Annie Clark, now a resident of Iqaluit, Nunavut, former interpreter/translator of this Assembly for ten years.

--Applause

Secondly, Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize Atima Hadlari, Director of Language Bureau of Cambridge Bay in Nunavut.

--Applause

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Welcome to the Assembly. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Ng.

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

November 9th, 1998

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Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot

Thank you. I thank my honourable colleague for recognizing Mr. Atima Hadlari. I did not realize he was there. I, too, would also like to recognize Mr. Atima Hadlari as one of my constituents and a golfing associate. Thank you.

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Henry.

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

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Seamus Henry Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure today, to recognize someone I have had the opportunity to work with for the past ten years, and an individual that allows me to have the freedom to have so much time in this House, a member of my constituency, Mr. Craig Shenher.

--Applause

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Welcome to the Assembly. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Krutko.

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Minister of Finance, regarding the Affirmative Action Policy. In regard to my statement it seems like there is a real gap in the number of jobs that have been created through this policy in regard to the changes that we made in this government with the removal of the Department of Personnel. There are a lot of jobs being advertised, but there are not too many aboriginal people filling those positions. I would like to ask the Minister exactly why is it that there is such a low percentage of aboriginal people at the management position level in this government and what is being done to ensure that there is an opportunity for aboriginal people to get into the managerial positions?