This is page numbers 1 - 14 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 assembly.
Members Present
Honourable Jim Antoine, Honourable Goo Arlooktoo, Honourable Charles Dent, Mr. Erasmus, Honourable Sam Gargan, Mrs. Groenewegen, Mr. Henry, Honourable Stephen Kakfwi, Mr. Krutko, Mr. Miltenberger, Honourable Kelvin Ng, Mr. Ningark, Mr. Ootes, Mr. Picco, Mr. Rabesca, Mr. Roland, Mr. Steen, Honourable John Todd.
Oh, God, may your spirit and guidance be in us as we work for the benefit of all our people, for peace and justice in our land and for the constant recognition of the dignity and aspirations of those whom we serve. Amen.
Item 1: Prayer
Item 1: Prayer
Page 1
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you, Mr. Ningark. Good Morning. Mr. Clerk, would you ascertain whether Her Honour the Commissioner is prepared to enter the Chamber and open the 7th Session of the 13th Assembly.
--Order
Item 2: Opening Address
Item 2: Opening Address
Page 1
Commissioner Maksagak
Please be seated. Mr. Speaker, Members of the Legislative Assembly, I am pleased to welcome you to the 7th Session of the 13th Legislative Assembly.
I would like to begin by congratulating the new Premier-elect, the Honourable Jim Antoine, and the new Minister-elect, the Honourable Floyd Roland.
--Applause
I know that you will work diligently to fulfil the mandate of this government. I look forward to officially administering the oath of allegiance and the oath of office later today.
Secondly, I would like to recognize the work of all Members of this Legislative Assembly. As you head into the final months of this government, you can look back with pride at what has been accomplished since you were elected in 1995. I recall opening the 2nd Session of this Assembly in February of 1996. At that time, I said I was confident that this government's vision of a Northwest Territories with a secure financial future and a healthier, better educated and more self-sufficient population would be achieved. You can all be proud of the progress that has been made to date.
This government has achieved a balanced budget. The plan you embarked upon to create two new territories is in the final stages. Major steps have been taken toward securing the economic well-being of the territories: formula financing agreements have been signed for Nunavut and the Northwest Territories; Canada's first diamond mine opened in October, and planning for others is underway. This government was successful in having the sorting and valuation of the diamonds done in the north. Secondary diamond industries will also create jobs for northerners.
These are exciting times for all of us. The people of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut can look forward to two well run, secure governments. This is due in no small part to your work over the past three years. The past few weeks have been a difficult time for all Members of this House. It is my hope that you will not be discouraged or lose sight of the crucial role you are playing in the continuing evolution of this country. In this final year of the 13th Legislative Assembly, I encourage you to finish your work with the same dedication, energy and attention to duty that you have shown throughout your time in office.
I would like to take this opportunity to say a few personal words of thanks to the many people who have supported me and my family through their actions, kind works, cards and prayers through the past eight months. Your thoughtfulness is appreciated from the heart.
Now, as we look forward to the exciting challenges ahead for us all in 1999, I wish to remind you that the United Nations has declared 1999 the International Year of Older Persons. As an older person myself, I encourage you to bring forward ideas and suggestions for ways to recognize and celebrate the many valuable contributions that older persons have made and are still making to our society.
As the Christmas season arrives, our thoughts turn with joy to family and friends, to happy memories. While it can be a very busy time for us all, we must not forget to pause for a moment and appreciate our many blessings, to enjoy our freedoms, our good health and, most importantly, all those who have brought happiness to our lives. I would like to wish each and every one across the north the blessing of the season and every good wish for the New Year.
As Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, I am pleased to declare open the 7th Session of the 13th Legislative Assembly.
--Applause
Item 2: Opening Address
Item 2: Opening Address
Page 1
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
The House will come back to order. Orders of
the day. Item 3, Ministers' statements. Mr. Antoine.
Minister's Statement 1-13(7): Minister Absent From The House
Item 3: Ministers' Statements
Page 2
Jim Antoine Nahendeh
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to say good morning to everybody. I wish to advise Members that the Honourable Manitok Thompson will be absent from the House today to attend to personal matters in Rankin Inlet. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Minister's Statement 1-13(7): Minister Absent From The House
Item 3: Ministers' Statements
Page 2
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Ministers' statements. Mr. Antoine.
Minister's Statement 2-13(7): Sessional Statement
Item 3: Ministers' Statements
Page 2
Jim Antoine Nahendeh
Good morning again, Mr. Speaker, and honoured colleagues. I am proud to be standing here as your Premier-elect. I would also like to congratulate Mr. Floyd Roland on being selected as our new Cabinet Member. I wish to announce that Mr. Roland will assume responsibility for the Department of Public Works and Services and the Department of Transportation.
Today we begin the 7th Session of the 13th Legislative Assembly. This is the final session before the creation of two new territories on April 1, 1999.
Members of this House can look back with pride on what has been accomplished since the election in 1995: - we have a balanced budget, - we have strengthened our voice at the national level, - we have moved greater control over programs and services to communities and regions, - we have made significant progress on the implementation of division; and, - we are negotiating aboriginal rights agreements in virtually al regions in the western NWT.
We are nearing the end of our time together. In only four months the map of Canada will change forever with the creation of two new territories.
We have made great progress in the work that needs to be done by April 1st, but there are still important tasks ahead of us. Just as the new Government of Nunavut will be busy establishing itself next year, those of us who remain in the west will have to adjust to our new role.
Recent events have distracted us somewhat from our work and created some bad feelings between Members. It is time to put that aside and move on. As I have said before, northerners expect honesty, accountability and stability from their government. Together, we can restore public confidence and get back to the issues that affect the daily lives and the future of the people who chose us to be here. Our constituents are counting on us. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
--Applause
Minister's Statement 2-13(7): Sessional Statement
Item 3: Ministers' Statements
Page 2
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Ministers' statements. Mr. Dent.
Minister's Statement 3-13(7): Minister's Forum On Schooling
Item 3: Ministers' Statements
Page 2
Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am pleased to announce today the appointment of members to the Minister's Forum on Schooling. The forum is a seven member committee that will travel to ten communities across the Northwest Territories. In the coming months it will hear from the public on the challenges and successes in our northern education system. The forum will look to the public to help examine the Department of Education, Culture and Employment's goals and activities in the kindergarten to grade 12 program. Debate on key issues will be encouraged. The results will provide me with the basis I need to form recommendations on the future direction of schooling.
The seven people who have been chosen as forum members are first, Mr. Robert Tordiff of Fort Smith and Ms. Mary Wilman of Iqaluit to co-chair the Forum. Other members of the group include Sheila Napayok, Sabet Biscaye, Gary Black, Ethel Blake and Uriash Puqiqnak. This group brings a very broad perspective and extensive experience to their work on the forum. Many have been directly involved in the delivery, management and governance of education and training programs.
By next April, the Minister's Forum will prepare two reports on their findings - one for the Northwest Territories and one for Nunavut. In the west, the report will be used to help update the Department of Education, Culture and Employment's Strategic Plan. In the east, the report will be given to the first Nunavut Minister of Education for their use.
It is important to recognize and understand the successes in northern education to date. The forum will look for suggestions on how to build on these successes and continue to improve education programs and resources in the north. It is important to also mention that community educators will be encouraged to actively participate in the consultation process. District education authorities, school principals and adult educators will be encouraged to host public forums in their communities. The results of these discussions will be forwarded to the forum.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the forum members for agreeing to undertake this work. It is a big commitment. I am confident that the forum will do a great job and I look forward to their reports after consultation with the public. Mahsi.
Minister's Statement 3-13(7): Minister's Forum On Schooling
Item 3: Ministers' Statements
Page 2
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Ministers' statements. Mr. Antoine.
Minister's Statement 4-13(7): Recognition Of Staff
Item 3: Ministers' Statements
Page 2
Jim Antoine Nahendeh
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have the good fortune to be the Minister of some very hard-working departments. Recent times have been a little difficult for staff in one of those departments, and often the negative remarks have been extended to include all of the GNWT. I want to say a few words today about the good work that all of our employees are doing.
No matter what the latest crisis in this House, elevators are still being inspected, computer systems are working, fuel is being delivered in small communities. The work of the public service goes on and that work is done well. The best performance in the government is one that nobody notices.
Of course, it is not just Public Works and Services staff that do a good job, and it is not just Transportation employees or Aboriginal Affairs staff who are doing excellent work for the NWT: teachers, finance clerks, nurses, wildlife officers and all others who provide the services that keep the NWT and its government running smoothly.
Since this is the holiday season, I would like to add my voice to those who have recently recognized the efforts of our public service. I would like to wish them and their families a happy time during the holidays.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
--Applause
Minister's Statement 4-13(7): Recognition Of Staff
Item 3: Ministers' Statements
Page 3
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Ministers' statements. Mr. Kakfwi.
Minister's Statement 5-13(7): 1998 Summer Tourism Statistics
Item 3: Ministers' Statements
Page 3
Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The travel and tourism sector of our economy has seen tremendous growth over the past two decades. An increasing number of businesses in the Northwest Territories are providing a wide range of high-quality services to visitors from around the world.
This past summer, we saw an increase in campground and park revenue of 22 percent from 1997. Revenue from all regions was up with the largest gains being made in the North and South Slave Regions.
Mr. Speaker, the Northwest Territories has a number of advantages that hold tremendous appeal to visitors. We will continue to work with tourism operators to ensure that products and services utilize those advantages and that the tourism industry remains an important contributor to the well-being of northerners. Thank you.
--Applause
Minister's Statement 5-13(7): 1998 Summer Tourism Statistics
Item 3: Ministers' Statements
Page 3
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Ministers' statements. Item 4, Members' statements. Mr. Arlooktoo.
Member's Statement 1-13(7): Appreciation For Colleagues, Staff And Family
Item 4: Members' Statements
Page 3
Goo Arlooktoo Baffin South
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On my last day as Acting Premier, I appreciate the opportunity to be the first to congratulate the new Premier-elect, and the new Cabinet Minister and also all those who ran for Cabinet portfolios, and especially to Mr. Kakfwi who during his speeches yesterday made some very good points and showed us what kind of real leader and the depth that he has. I wanted to let all Members here know that when I suddenly became the Acting Premier that Mr. Kakfwi was the first to come to my office to offer advice and support and ask me to tell him if there was anything I needed, that he was just down the hall. I appreciate and recognize that. Mr. Speaker, this morning as I was going to the office and thinking about today and relinquishing the office I have held for the last few days, the song by Mr. Johnny Paycheck kept coming to mind, it is entitled, Take This Job and Shove It.
--Laughter
For me it has been an honour and a privilege, especially the fact that I became Acting Premier two days before my 35th birthday. It is really something that I recognize that many other people do not have the chance to do. Despite the fact that I did not sleep very much during that period, really as the years go by, this will be something I cherish.
I wanted to spend this last minute here saying thank you to my Cabinet colleagues and especially to my staff, Mr. Paul Bachand, who I could not do without in the last few days. He is my executive assistant and acting principal secretary. Kelley Merilees is my secretary, Nicole Camphaug and John Manning who are my assistants and who have very quickly come to the occasion to assist me in the last while. Finally, Mr. Speaker, to my constituents and especially my family, Dorothy and my three boys and my daughter at home. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
--Applause
Member's Statement 1-13(7): Appreciation For Colleagues, Staff And Family
Item 4: Members' Statements
Page 3
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Members' statements. Mr. Dent.
Member's Statement 2-13(7): Electoral Boundaries
Item 4: Members' Statements
Page 3
Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I too would like to echo Minister Arlooktoo's congratulations to all those who participated yesterday and particularly to Mr. Antoine and Mr. Roland.
Mr. Speaker, yesterday in the Great Hall we celebrated the 50th Anniversary of the United Nations Proclamation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Article 21 of that declaration calls for the authority of the government to be based on the will of the people. Article 21 goes on to say that, the will of the people shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal sufferage. In Canada, Mr. Speaker, we have the Charter of Rights and Freedoms which ensures constitutional protection for individual rights. The same constitution which protects the rights of aboriginal people to self-government also protects, through the Charter, an individual's right to relative parity of voting power.
In the 6th Session of this Assembly we considered the report of the Electoral Boundaries Commission 1998. That report recommended two more seats for Yellowknife. As Members will no doubt recall, that recommendation was rejected in this House. Mr. Speaker, the Boundaries Commission recommended that six out of 16 or 37.5 percent of the seats in the future 14th Assembly be allocated to Yellowknife. I have no doubt that this recommendation was largely based on consideration of the case law relevant in charter references.
However, Members were not comfortable with more seats for Yellowknife only. Mr. Speaker, after looking at the numbers in a couple of other constituencies, another approach came to mind. Perhaps Members would consider adding a couple of seats outside of Yellowknife to help maintain the balance. Hay River and Inuvik are the two constituencies with the largest populations outside of Yellowknife, so why not consider adding another seat each to Hay River and Inuvik? The only problem there, Mr. Speaker, is that if you add two seats in Yellowknife and two in other communities, Yellowknife would have only 33 percent of the seats in the 14th Assembly. This falls short of the 37.5 percent recommended by the learned members of the Boundaries Commission with, we can be sure, the charter requirements in mind. Mr. Speaker, there would be other ways to address this. Perhaps considering a total of five seats being added, three in Yellowknife and two outside, which would mean 36.8 percent of the seats in the House for Yellowknife which is not far off the 37 percent recommended by the Boundaries Commission. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
Member's Statement 2-13(7): Electoral Boundaries
Item 4: Members' Statements
Page 4
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
The Member for Yellowknife Frame Lake is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Do I have any nays? Sorry, Mr. Dent, you do not have unanimous consent. Members' statements. Mr. Roland.
Member's Statement 3-13(7): Kindness To A Family In Need
Item 4: Members' Statements
Page 4
Floyd Roland Inuvik
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Before I start off I would like to send greetings back to my wife and children. Mr. Speaker, seeing that this is the last time I will be making a Member's statement from this side of the House, I would like to leave us all with a story of human kindness, especially in light of Christmas coming on I think it would be a good story to share right now.
Mr. Speaker, it was through an unfortunate tragedy that happened this fall that a family suffered the loss of their home because of the piling situation in our community. As a result of that, Mr. Speaker, throughout the evening many people gathered to help that family out to remove their possessions that they had inside this house. I am told that friends and strangers of this family pulled together without being called upon. Strangers stopped by outside the home and lined up and formed a human chain to remove all the goods from their home and remove them out to a safer place. The family is taken care of now in a new place, but this example of how people come together is something we need to see more of on a more regular basis throughout the territories. We have heard many people speak of how government should do many more things to help the people, but this is where the people on their own initiative came together to help out those in need. As we part today and travel back to our homes and our constituencies, I hope that we can look to our people in our communities and share stories of this nature and share in the spirit of Christmas and giving of kindness and joy.
I would like to thank all the Members and I look forward to working with them in the upcoming new year. All those that are travelling off to Nunavut, I wish them much luck. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
--Applause
Member's Statement 3-13(7): Kindness To A Family In Need
Item 4: Members' Statements
Page 4
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Members' statements. Mr. Rabesca.
Member's Statement 4-13(7): Accomplishments Of The 13th Assembly
Item 4: Members' Statements
Page 4
James Rabesca North Slave
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would first like to congratulate the new Premier-elect, Mr. Jim Antoine, and the new Cabinet Member, the Honourable Mr. Roland. I know they will work hard and provide guidance and vision for the future.
Mr. Speaker, as you are aware, three years ago we first came to this Assembly. Some of us were long-time Members and others like myself have been here previously , while others were new. We knew we had many tough issues to deal with. First and foremost we had the deficit to deal with, this affected us all, as well as our constituents. However, with the guidance of our previous Premier and his Finance Minister, we succeeded. We have also had many issues regarding division to deal with and again we have succeeded.
If it was not for the hard work of Mr. Morin and his colleagues, I am sure we could not have accomplished what we have in as little time we had. We should be proud of our work.
When we came to this house for the first time, most of us did not know each other. We have built friendships and good working relationships that will last for a long time. As the eastern Members get ready for their election and move out of this Assembly, I can say they will be missed. It has always been enjoyable to hear Mr. Picco give his rendition of the latest song he heard on the radio or to listen to Mr. O'Brien provide us with the latest joke of the day. Of course, I cannot forget my travelling companion and good friend, Mr. Ningark. As I call him brother John and I travelled to various areas of our country and it was always enjoyable to have his company.
This has been a very interesting and exhausting term, we have had our high points as well as our low points but we have survived and now can say that we have made history on many fronts and for the most part it gives me great pleasure. Over the last week we have dealt with many issues, some very troubling, but again we have pushed forward and provided the best results that we could have.
In closing, I would like to thank the Members from the east for their assistance and companionship over the last three years and hope for the best on their upcoming election and challenges ahead to realize their own territory. I would also like to wish my constituents in the North Slave along with all the residents of the country, a safe and happy holiday season. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
--Applause
Member's Statement 4-13(7): Accomplishments Of The 13th Assembly
Item 4: Members' Statements
Page 5
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Steen.
Member's Statement 5-13(7): Season's Greetings
Item 4: Members' Statements
Page 5
Vince Steen Nunakput
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my congratulations to Mr. Antoine and Mr. Roland. I wish them every success in their new positions. Mr. Speaker, I just want to take a few minutes, a couple of minutes here to pass on season's greetings to my communities of Sachs Harbour, Holman Island, Paulatuk, and Tuktoyaktuk, as this will probably be the last day we will be here before Christmas. I wish them all a safe and happy Christmas season. As well, I would like to wish all my colleagues in this House a merry Christmas and the best in the new year. I am hoping that I will be seeing my Nunavut colleagues again, before April 1st, so I am going to save my farewells until that time. Thank you.
--Applause
Member's Statement 5-13(7): Season's Greetings
Item 4: Members' Statements
Page 5
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Members' statements. Mr. Miltenberger.
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