Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I too, stated in my statement that there should be an easier way to resolve this argument of challenge in the courts about population distribution and also the whole comment that there are 7,000 people in one riding. I think, to be fair to other ridings and communities, in the case of my region in Inuvik where it has over 3,000 members, in Hay River, and the other ridings which are similar in size. I think, considering we have heard the biggest argument of all, with the whole question about population, an old question to diversity access. I believe this is the fairest way of dealing with the argument, by threats of court action, going to the Supreme Court, or wherever, based on the population argument, this is one way to deal with that matter in a fair way, by allocating the riding that has the 7,000 members and distributing the other ridings so that they are more in line with the other large centres, such as Inuvik for instance. I will be supporting this motion.
Debates of Nov. 12th, 1998
This is page numbers 371 - 406 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 yellowknife.
Topics
Committee Motion 9-13(6): Motion To Create Four Electoral Districts For The City Of Yellowknife
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 400
Committee Motion 9-13(6): Motion To Create Four Electoral Districts For The City Of Yellowknife
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 400
The Chair John Ningark
I would like to remind all Members to keep their views to the content of the motion, please. I have Mr. Ootes and Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. Ootes.
Committee Motion 9-13(6): Motion To Create Four Electoral Districts For The City Of Yellowknife
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 400
Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. To the motion, this is the first time I have seen this particular map as it is being proposed. I do not think it is fair to put that before this Assembly at this particular time. I am astounded that this would be brought forward in this fashion, without consultation of the Yellowknife Members. I think it is inconsiderate and I believe that we can work better in this Assembly than to shove these types of things in front of each other on a surprise basis. I believe that Members, hopefully, will use their better judgement and turn this motion down. It deserves to be turned down and I will certainly be voting against it. Thank you.
Committee Motion 9-13(6): Motion To Create Four Electoral Districts For The City Of Yellowknife
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 400
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. I have the Member for Hay River, Mrs. Groenewegen.
Committee Motion 9-13(6): Motion To Create Four Electoral Districts For The City Of Yellowknife
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 400
Jane Groenewegen Hay River
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. With respect to the surprise element of this redrawing of the Yellowknife electoral districts, I want to say that I have the same feeling about the previous motion with respect to the five seats for Yellowknife, in that I do not believe it was one that was shared with anyone either, prior to it coming to the House right here and now. That is a motion that I would like to have had a chance to give more consideration to. I did check with my colleagues here to see if it was the fact that it was not in the House, in fact, this was not shared with anybody in advance. This is something that I think could have used some discussion and it is something that, in looking at the numbers, I think there could have been merit in supporting. However, that is not the motion we are on now, we are on this new motion.
I agree that it would be not respectful to have the majority of Members of this House today voting on a motion to redraw the Yellowknife constituencies without having had some prior discussion with the Members to see how they would feel about it. It is their riding. They would know best. On the element of the surprise issue, let me say, I think it would have stood a few people in better stead today to have seen this motion on the five Members prior to this instant. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Committee Motion 9-13(6): Motion To Create Four Electoral Districts For The City Of Yellowknife
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 400
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. To the motion, Mr. Steen.
Committee Motion 9-13(6): Motion To Create Four Electoral Districts For The City Of Yellowknife
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 400
Vince Steen Nunakput
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I believe I have similar concerns that Mr. Kakfwi expressed very adequately. I note that I have the biggest riding in the territories, and I wonder, too, where to draw the line. I will not be supporting this motion either. I think Yellowknife MLAs, if not, in fact, the public as well, should have some consultation and some input as to where the lines will be drawn. I think that is only fair. I will not be supporting this motion.
Committee Motion 9-13(6): Motion To Create Four Electoral Districts For The City Of Yellowknife
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 400
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you, Mr. Steen. I will recognize Members who have not spoken to this motion at this time. Mr. Henry.
Committee Motion 9-13(6): Motion To Create Four Electoral Districts For The City Of Yellowknife
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 400
Seamus Henry Yellowknife South
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I expect this type of consideration by the Member. It falls very much in line with his attacks through the debate earlier on. What I do not expect, and I expect a lot better, is of our Premier of the NWT, to make a statement to the effect of, divide the constituency of Yellowknife into 4,000 parcels and still my constituency of Nahendeh will represent four to one votes, even at that Tu Nedhe, I beg your pardon, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, that attitude is not reflective of a leader. Mr. Speaker, I will be voting ...
Committee Motion 9-13(6): Motion To Create Four Electoral Districts For The City Of Yellowknife
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 400
The Chair John Ningark
Excuse me. Mr. Morin.
Committee Motion 9-13(6): Motion To Create Four Electoral Districts For The City Of Yellowknife
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 400
Don Morin Tu Nedhe
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to make a point of order. The Member, Mr. Henry, referred to me as the Premier of the Northwest Territories and everybody fully realized when we came into this debate that we would be representing our constituencies. Mr. Kakfwi did not speak as a Minister of RWED. Mr. Antoine did not speak as the Minister of Transportation, Aboriginal Affairs, DPW. Mr. Dent did not speak as the Minister of Education and I did not speak as the Premier of the Northwest Territories. I was speaking to these motions in this debate as the MLA for Tu Nedhe. I would like the Member to withdraw his remarks and apologize. Thank you.
Committee Motion 9-13(6): Motion To Create Four Electoral Districts For The City Of Yellowknife
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 400
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. I am advised by counsel that the honourable Member for Tu Nedhe does not have a point of order. Thank you. Mr. Henry, you were speaking, I believe, when the point of order was raised. Mr. Henry, you still have the floor.
Committee Motion 9-13(6): Motion To Create Four Electoral Districts For The City Of Yellowknife
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 401
Seamus Henry Yellowknife South
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I had finished but I would point out that the Premier is supposed to be the balance in this legislature and to see all sides of it. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Committee Motion 9-13(6): Motion To Create Four Electoral Districts For The City Of Yellowknife
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 401
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you, please stay to the motion. Is there any Member that has not spoken yet who wishes to speak to the motion at this time? Yes, Mr. Antoine, you have not spoken to the motion. Therefore I recognize Mr. Antoine.
Committee Motion 9-13(6): Motion To Create Four Electoral Districts For The City Of Yellowknife
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 401
Jim Antoine Nahendeh
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, speaking as an MLA for Nahendeh, and speaking to the motion here, these sort of discussions, were kind of worked out in the past in the Western Caucus, but it was agreed on by everyone from the Western Caucus that we would have an open debate on this on the floor of the House.
As a result, that is how I took this motion, as well as the previous one, where the Member for Yellowknife, Mr. Dent, has put this motion of creating five electoral districts on the floor. I was not aware this was going to happen and I was not aware about this one here of dividing actually on a map the four existing electoral districts. Although I did say in my comment, Mr. Chair, that I would prefer that instead of supporting the two extra seats in Yellowknife that we re-look at the electoral districts in Yellowknife and divide the population into four equal areas, I think there are about 17,000 people, and divide it that way. I did make that comment in my general comments in the debate, Mr. Chair. Thank you.
Committee Motion 9-13(6): Motion To Create Four Electoral Districts For The City Of Yellowknife
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 401
The Chair John Ningark
Before I recognize another speaker, I would like to recognize the Chairman of the Ordinary Members Caucus. I am advised to recognize Mr. Roland because he has not spoken to this motion yet. Mr. Roland.
Committee Motion 10-13(6): Extended Sitting Hours
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 401
Floyd Roland Inuvik
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that in accordance with rule 6(2) that the sitting hours be extended to conclude the matter under discussion.
Committee Motion 10-13(6): Extended Sitting Hours
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 401
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. The motion is in order and it is not debatable. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried. We shall sit until the matter at hand is concluded. To the motion. Mr. Roland.
Committee Motion 10-13(6): Extended Sitting Hours
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 401
Committee Motion 10-13(6): Extended Sitting Hours
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 401
The Chair John Ningark
Yes, proceed with the amendment to the motion, Mr. Roland.
Committee Motion 10-13(6): Extended Sitting Hours
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 401
Floyd Roland Inuvik
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. My amendment would be, I move that the current electoral districts of Yellowknife North, Yellowknife Centre, Yellowknife Frame Lake and Yellowknife South be redrawn to create four electoral districts in consultation with the Members from Yellowknife. Thank you.
Committee Motion 10-13(6): Extended Sitting Hours
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 401
The Chair John Ningark
We have to get your motion typed up and we shall take a few minutes break until the motion is typed and distributed. Thank you.
--Break
Committee Motion 10-13(6): Extended Sitting Hours
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 401
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. I would like to call the committee back to order. We have an amendment to the motion by Mr. Roland and it is ready. It is in order. Mr. Roland, please.
Committee Motion To Amend Committee Motion 9-13(6)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 401
Floyd Roland Inuvik
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that committee of the whole motion 9-13(6) be amended by deleting all the words that follow:
"redrawn to create four electoral districts,"
and substituting the following:
"in consultation with the four Yellowknife MLAs,"
and, Mr. Chairman, I would ask that it be a recorded vote.
Committee Motion To Amend Committee Motion 9-13(6)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 401
The Chair John Ningark
Your request for a recorded vote is noted. The motion is in order. To the motion. Mr. Ootes.