Oral questions. Mr. O'Brien.
Debates of Dec. 4th, 1998
This is page numbers 509 - 545 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 conflict.
Topics
Further Return To Question 253-13(6): Hay Job Evaluation System
Question 253-13(6): Hay Job Evaluation System
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 520
The Speaker
Question 254-13(6): Update On Land And Resources Dispute
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 520
Kevin O'Brien Kivallivik
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Minister responsible for RWED, Mr. Kakfwi. Mr. Speaker, I wonder if the Minister could give the House an update as to the status of the dispute that centres around the Dene band in northern Manitoba and also Saskatchewan regarding the land rights, fishing and hunting rights. My understanding, Mr. Speaker, is that there is a dispute regarding the land that is currently to be encompassed in Nunavut and the Dene band are saying that this land actually belongs to them. I wonder if the Minister could give us an update on the situation.
Question 254-13(6): Update On Land And Resources Dispute
Item 6: Oral Questions
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The Speaker
The Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Kakfwi.
Return To Question 254-13(6): Update On Land And Resources Dispute
Question 254-13(6): Update On Land And Resources Dispute
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 520
![Stephen Kakfwi](/media/CACHE/images/polpics/11-stephen-kakfwi/ab77c1961d45ad012958309f36c1cb37.jpg)
Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu
Mr. Speaker, there are aboriginal peoples living outside of the boundaries of the Northwest Territories who have claim to lands and rights within our borders. This has been unresolved for a great many years. The Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Mr. Antoine, would have more information regarding the status of these First Nations' initiatives to clarify and define the rights that they possess. I would ask the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs to provide us with that information in his capacity as Minister for Aboriginal Affairs. Thank you.
Return To Question 254-13(6): Update On Land And Resources Dispute
Question 254-13(6): Update On Land And Resources Dispute
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 520
The Speaker
Oral questions. Mr. Picco.
Question 255-13(6): Aboriginal Language Community Contributions
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 520
Edward Picco Iqaluit
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Education. The aboriginal language translation and interpretation services provided by the Language Bureau was privatized in 1997. In June, 1997, the Cabinet authorized a reallocation of the budget formerly used for these services or about $1.437 million to be allocated to the language groups. I understand, Mr. Speaker, that there is only $350,000 from the original $1.437 million available to the aboriginal language groups in the Northwest Territories. Given that the Minister has stated that the closure of the Language Bureau was not a cost-cutting exercise, I am wondering why only $350,000 is available for the several different language organizations and groups in the Northwest Territories? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Question 255-13(6): Aboriginal Language Community Contributions
Item 6: Oral Questions
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The Speaker
The Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Dent.
Return To Question 255-13(6): Aboriginal Language Community Contributions
Question 255-13(6): Aboriginal Language Community Contributions
Item 6: Oral Questions
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![Charles Dent](/media/CACHE/images/polpics/15-charles-dent/4bb9e502208ef37f0a3edb5cda4065ca.jpg)
Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, when we were discussing this issue in the first instance, we had estimated that the privatization of the interpreter/translator corps would free up approximately $500,000. In fact, what it has freed up for distribution for language communities is about $450,000, not $350,000, as the Member has mentioned. The Member is correct that not all of the money that was being used before could be freed up as we still have statutory requirements to translate materials. What happened was, over the course of two years, the department tracked how much, for instance, the Department of Public Works used the interpreter/translator services and allocated a cost to those services and transferred that money to the Department of Public Works and Services so they can continue to source those services as they need them. In doing that, the total amount that was left over after we allocated all the monies to the different departments, was about $450,000. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Return To Question 255-13(6): Aboriginal Language Community Contributions
Question 255-13(6): Aboriginal Language Community Contributions
Item 6: Oral Questions
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The Speaker
Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Picco.
Supplementary To Question 255-13(6): Aboriginal Language Community Contributions
Question 255-13(6): Aboriginal Language Community Contributions
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 520
Edward Picco Iqaluit
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the privatization of the Language Bureau, the way I understand it is that, indeed, when we had interpreters and translators available to this government on salary, indeed, it was cheaper for the government. Now it is costing them more money to go to the private sector and, indeed, some monies have had to come forward from different departments to pay for these funds. My follow-up supplementary question is, has any money been made available or given to the Inuktitut language group in Nunavut? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Supplementary To Question 255-13(6): Aboriginal Language Community Contributions
Question 255-13(6): Aboriginal Language Community Contributions
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 520
The Speaker
Mr. Dent.
Further Return To Question 255-13(6): Aboriginal Language Community Contributions
Question 255-13(6): Aboriginal Language Community Contributions
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 520
![Charles Dent](/media/CACHE/images/polpics/15-charles-dent/4bb9e502208ef37f0a3edb5cda4065ca.jpg)
Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I do know that, as of last week, there had been three agreements signed with aboriginal language communities. I do not believe that any of these was with the Inuktitut language community. I will have to check on that and get back to the Member. There were I believe, three contracts under negotiation. It may be in process if it has not taken place yet. I will endeavour to provide the Member with an answer within the next day. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Further Return To Question 255-13(6): Aboriginal Language Community Contributions
Question 255-13(6): Aboriginal Language Community Contributions
Item 6: Oral Questions
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The Speaker
Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Picco.
Supplementary To Question 255-13(6): Aboriginal Language Community Contributions
Question 255-13(6): Aboriginal Language Community Contributions
Item 6: Oral Questions
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Edward Picco Iqaluit
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, what is the process for the language groups to be able to get access to this money? If the Minister could explain that process and, indeed, how much money is available per language group? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Supplementary To Question 255-13(6): Aboriginal Language Community Contributions
Question 255-13(6): Aboriginal Language Community Contributions
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 521
The Speaker
Mr. Dent.
Further Return To Question 255-13(6): Aboriginal Language Community Contributions
Question 255-13(6): Aboriginal Language Community Contributions
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 521
![Charles Dent](/media/CACHE/images/polpics/15-charles-dent/4bb9e502208ef37f0a3edb5cda4065ca.jpg)
Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The process is that the language communities can apply to our department for the funds. We have run ads in newspapers across the Northwest Territories. We have written to various organizations advising them of this possibility. In response to the second part of the Member's question, the amount of money that has been allocated per language community is $50,000. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Further Return To Question 255-13(6): Aboriginal Language Community Contributions
Question 255-13(6): Aboriginal Language Community Contributions
Item 6: Oral Questions
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The Speaker
Oral questions. Final supplementary, Mr. Picco.
Supplementary To Question 255-13(6): Aboriginal Language Community Contributions
Question 255-13(6): Aboriginal Language Community Contributions
Item 6: Oral Questions
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Edward Picco Iqaluit
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the answer just given by the Minister, am I to understand that, indeed, each language group, for example, in Nunavut would it be NTI, they have to submit some type of proposal of how they will use this money and then the department will review the proposal and then submit the allocated $50,000, if that was the amount? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Supplementary To Question 255-13(6): Aboriginal Language Community Contributions
Question 255-13(6): Aboriginal Language Community Contributions
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 521
The Speaker
Mr. Dent.
Further Return To Question 255-13(6): Aboriginal Language Community Contributions
Question 255-13(6): Aboriginal Language Community Contributions
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 521
![Charles Dent](/media/CACHE/images/polpics/15-charles-dent/4bb9e502208ef37f0a3edb5cda4065ca.jpg)
Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We are expecting that the proposals will come into the department for allocation of the money, demonstrating the group is representative of the language community and yes, how they will use the money. The money was in our budget for promotion and development of aboriginal languages. We would expect to see those criteria addressed in the proposals. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Further Return To Question 255-13(6): Aboriginal Language Community Contributions
Question 255-13(6): Aboriginal Language Community Contributions
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 521
The Speaker
Oral questions. Mr. O'Brien.
Question 256-13(6): Nunavut And Manitoba Land Dispute
Item 6: Oral Questions
December 3rd, 1998
Page 521
Kevin O'Brien Kivallivik
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, following up to my earlier question, I wonder if Minister Antoine, the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, will provide the update I was seeking regarding the land dispute between the Dene band in northern Manitoba regarding the land that is encompassed in Nunavut? Thank you.
Question 256-13(6): Nunavut And Manitoba Land Dispute
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 521
The Speaker
The Minister responsible for Aboriginal Affairs, Mr. Antoine.
Return To Question 256-13(6): Nunavut And Manitoba Land Dispute
Question 256-13(6): Nunavut And Manitoba Land Dispute
Item 6: Oral Questions
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Jim Antoine Nahendeh
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Dene Schineyea in northern Manitoba, there is a dispute right now with them and the federal government. These matters are currently before the federal court in litigation of Chief Simon Samuel versus the Government of Canada, the Government of the Northwest Territories and Tunngavik Federation in Nunavut. As such, it would be probably inappropriate for me to comment directly on these matters at this time. It is a complicated issue and, if need be, I will gather all the pertinent information and provide the background information to the honourable Member asking the question. Thank you.
Return To Question 256-13(6): Nunavut And Manitoba Land Dispute
Question 256-13(6): Nunavut And Manitoba Land Dispute
Item 6: Oral Questions
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The Speaker
Oral questions. Mr. Rabesca.