The Member for Yellowknife Frame Lake is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Do I have any nays? Mr. Dent, you have unanimous consent.
--Applause
Debates of Dec. 11th, 1998
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.
Topics
Member's Statement 15-13(7): Discussion Regarding An Early Election In The West
Item 4: Members' Statements
Page 8
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Revert To Member's Statement 2-13(7): Electoral Boundaries
Item 4: Members' Statements
Page 8
Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake
This may make for difficult reading in Hansard, Mr. Speaker, because there will be several pages between the start and finish of my statement. I had been talking about a way of addressing or coming up with a solution to the situation that was left us by the Boundaries Commission report not being adopted and suggested that we could add perhaps five seats in total to the House. This sort of approach, Mr. Speaker, would be a political solution and there are no doubt other sorts of solutions that could be considered. As Members are aware, we are now facing a court challenge because the recommendations of the Boundaries Commission were rejected. Several Members in this House, as well as many members of the public have suggested that we need to look for a political solution rather than leaving important decisions to the courts.
Mr. Speaker, we must be able to handle our own affairs. We must be able to make tough decisions for ourselves when called upon. Mr. Speaker, the Members from Yellowknife will be calling on the Chairman of Western Caucus to call a special caucus meeting early in the new year to see if caucus members are willing to consider a political solution to the boundaries commission issue.
--Applause
Revert To Member's Statement 2-13(7): Electoral Boundaries
Item 4: Members' Statements
Page 8
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Members' statements. Mr. Antoine.
Member's Statement 16-13(7): Season's Greetings
Item 4: Members' Statements
Page 8
Jim Antoine Nahendeh
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as a Member of this Legislative Assembly for Nahendeh I want to acknowledge the congratulations from all the Members here today for me taking this plunge and to being the Premier here. I would like to thank everybody here. I would also like to thank Stephen Kakfwi for doing a campaign here and speaking out. I would also like to thank all the Members that ran for the position of Minister and as well as congratulating Mr. Floyd Roland.
As well I would like to wish you all a merry Christmas and season's greetings. I would like to extend that as well to my constituents, to my communities of Jean Marie River, Nahanni Butte, Trout Lake, Wrigley, Fort Liard and Fort Simpson, to everybody that is out there in the communities. I also wanted to say that the holiday season is the time to be with your families, a time to be with your own people in your own communities. I would like to say that we have gone through really tough times here. Even today we had an example of it here with the tragedies and events that come back to people and that are having a big effect on us here. I would like to maybe say that, let us go home, visit our families, relax, think over the issues, talk to people, recharge your batteries because we still have some commitments to conclude for the rest of our term here. With that, I would like to say Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
--Applause
Member's Statement 16-13(7): Season's Greetings
Item 4: Members' Statements
Page 8
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Members' statements. Mr. Henry.
Member's Statement 17-13(7): Seasons Greetings
Item 4: Members' Statements
Page 8
Seamus Henry Yellowknife South
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would just like to take a moment to congratulate Mr. Antoine, the Premier-elect, and thank Mr. Kakfwi for putting his name forward too. I would also like to take the opportunity to congratulate Mr. Roland, he will be missed, but I understand the Premier-elect has designated Mr. Roland to the portfolios that he held. That happens to be under the committee that I am a Member of, so I look forward to Mr. Roland coming before us.
At this time of the year, Mr. Speaker, I would like to take the opportunity to wish all the colleagues that I have had the opportunity and pleasure of working with over the past year, a very happy and holy Christmas. I would like to thank all the staff of this government that, for the most part, make us here in the Legislative Assembly look good. It is their hard work that contributes towards that.
To all the residents of the Northwest Territories, I would like to say a very merry Christmas and a happy new year. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
--Applause
Member's Statement 17-13(7): Seasons Greetings
Item 4: Members' Statements
Page 8
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Members' statements. Item 5, recognition of
visitors to the gallery. Mr. Miltenberger.
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors To The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors To The Gallery
Page 9
Michael Miltenberger Thebacha
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize Ms. Maureen Johnston, the RVP from the UNW in Fort Smith, who is here this weekend, I know, to successfully conclude a collective agreement that can be taken out to her people and constituents that she represents. Please welcome, if you will, Ms. Johnston.
--Applause
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors To The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors To The Gallery
Page 9
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Welcome to the Assembly. Recognition of visitors to the gallery. Mrs. Groenewegen.
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors To The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors To The Gallery
Page 9
Jane Groenewegen Hay River
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to recognize Dawna O'Brien, she is a constituent of mine from Hay River and everyone knows her because she used to work here at the Legislative Assembly. It is great to see you, Dawna.
--Applause
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors To The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors To The Gallery
Page 9
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Recognition of visitors to the gallery. Mr. Antoine.
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors To The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors To The Gallery
Page 9
Jim Antoine Nahendeh
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize my executive secretary, Edith, and the newest addition to her family, Brandon. She has taken a leave of absence while her and her newborn baby are getting acquainted. I would like to welcome her.
--Applause
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors To The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors To The Gallery
Page 9
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Welcome to the Assembly. Recognition of visitors to the gallery. Mr. Arlooktoo.
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors To The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors To The Gallery
Page 9
Goo Arlooktoo Baffin South
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize Ms. Kelley Merilees who is my executive secretary and who keeps my office organized well. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
--Applause
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors To The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors To The Gallery
Page 9
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Welcome to the Assembly. Recognition of visitors to the gallery. Mr. Dent.
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors To The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors To The Gallery
Page 9
Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to take this occasion on the last day that we are sitting this year to recognize Mrs. Pat Thomas, the President of the NWTTA, and wish her and all teachers throughout the territories, a merry Christmas.
--Applause
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors To The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors To The Gallery
Page 9
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Recognition of visitors to the gallery. Mr. Ootes.
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors To The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors To The Gallery
Page 9
Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to take this opportunity to recognize the members of the press. I realize that at times it has been difficult for Members, but I think they are a part and parcel of our system and a very important element. I think that they, on their part, do their work diligently and hard and I think they deserve recognition, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.
--Applause
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors To The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors To The Gallery
Page 9
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Recognition of visitors to the gallery. Mr. Erasmus.
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors To The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors To The Gallery
Page 9
Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Following on what Mr. Ootes had said, I think it is only right that we also recognize all the translators that work hard here and without them, we would not be able to get our job done. Thank you.
--Applause
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors To The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors To The Gallery
Page 9
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Recognition of visitors to the gallery. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Picco.
--Laughter
Question 1-13(7): Minister's Forum On Schooling
Item 6: Oral Questions
December 10th, 1998
Page 9
Edward Picco Iqaluit
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I know it is the last day and Members do not want to hear too many questions, but that is what I am paid to do.
--Applause/Laughter
Thank you. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the fans over there.
--Laughter
Seriously, Mr. Speaker, Minister Dent, I think, announced something quite interesting and that was the Ministers' Forum on Schooling. It sounds good in the press release that he put out and in his Minister's statement, but I do not see any terms of reference for the committee and exactly what they are supposed to do. It seems a bit fuzzy-wuzzy, so I wonder if the Minister could maybe give us a bit more explanation on the terms of reference for this, how it is going to report back to the Assembly, is the NWTTA involved and so on? Thank you.
Question 1-13(7): Minister's Forum On Schooling
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 9
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
The Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Dent.
Return To Question 1-13(7): Minister's Forum On Schooling
Question 1-13(7): Minister's Forum On Schooling
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 9
Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on a couple of occasions in this House, I have given statements about the renewal of the department's strategic plan, which is called, Towards 2010. That plan was first adopted five years ago and in the intervening time, a number of changes have taken place to our system, such as grade extensions. There have been a number of other changes and it was felt necessary to update that plan. What I have done is, asked this forum to conduct public, consultation to advise as to the successes in the strategic plan in the area of education, what some of the challenges are that we face, and to provide advice on how the strategic plan should be updated. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Return To Question 1-13(7): Minister's Forum On Schooling
Question 1-13(7): Minister's Forum On Schooling
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 9
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr.
Picco.