Debates of Feb. 10th, 1998

This is page numbers 669 - 702 of the Hansard for the 13th Assembly, 5th 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

Members Present
Item 1: Prayer
Tabling Of The Fourth Annual Report, Nunavut Land Claim Agreement
Pangnirtung School Funding
Inuit Employment Strategy
Arctic College Management Studies Cooperative Program
Northern Shrimp Fishery Quotas
Keewatin Health Care Services
Canadian Blood Services
Benefits Of The Traditional Economy
Tobacco Tax Letters Of Credit
Expressions Of Support
Western Arctic Aboriginal Tourism Conference
Return To Oral Question 164-13(5): Authority For Lease Approvals
Return To Oral Question 244-13(5): GNWT Office Lease Renewals
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Northern Shrimp Fishery Quotas
Management Studies Cooperative Program
Pangnirtung Teacher Shortage
Support For The Craft Industry
Inuit Employment Plans
Update On Contract Policy And Request For Proposals Guidelines
Custom Adoption Commissioner For Inuvik
Decentralized Nunavut Government
Benefits Of A Decentralized Government
Labour Standards Act Amendments
Secure Storage Of Pharmaceuticals
Request For Proposals Protocol Agreement
Reduction Of Pangnirtung Teachers
Western Electoral Boundaries Commission
Condominium Act Inadequacies
Tabled Document 39-13(5): The Implementation Of The Nunavut Land Claims Agreement, 1996-97 Annual Report
Tabled Document 40-13(5): Article Entitled "put Up Or Shut Up" From The Yellowknifer Newspaper, February 6, 1998
Item 18: Second Reading Of Bills
Bill 10: Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 1998
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 20: Report Of Committee Of The Whole
Item 22: Orders Of The Day

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I believe there are already inequities between senior citizens who own their own homes and those who live in subsidized housing. The seniors who live in their own homes have to pay for their fuel, electricity, water, garbage pick up and all the rest of this and now some of them have to pay their taxes as well. Since the department is already looking at closing one loop-hole would the Minister and her department undertake to ensure senior citizens are treated equally in this instance?

Also, so that the municipalities will not place a limit on the amount that they will provide relief for? After all, these senior citizens may have worked all their life in order to attain their home and they are now on fixed incomes. I do not think they should be penalized for living in the city of Yellowknife rather than in Fort Rae or some other municipality that does not do their taxes or where they do not have taxes whatsoever.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair John Ningark

Thank you. Madam Minister.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Manitok Thompson Aivilik

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We will consider the suggestion made by the Member. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair John Ningark

Thank you. Mr. Erasmus, your time is up. I have Mr. Steen. We are dealing with community operations. Mr. Steen.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Vince Steen

Vince Steen Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I would like to conclude my topic on my earlier questions on capital projects to the department. I believe the department indicated this project is on going and considered under operations and maintenance funding to the hamlet of Tuktoyaktuk. As such, it is the responsibility of the hamlet to handle this particular situation with federal fisheries. I would just like to point out, Mr. Chairman, this particular type of situation, I believe, plays a big part in the hamlet's financial overall.

If the hamlet finds themselves in this type of situation whereby they would have to, in order to continue with the project, fund environmental hearings out of their own funding. There is no funding for that particular purpose. Therefore, they have no choice but to go down. I would just like some assurance from the department that they will work with the community to assure that, for one thing, federal fisheries regulations are, in fact, met and the conditions that federal fisheries, whatever concerns they may have were addressed.

Also, that there would be consideration for funding to the communities in this type of situation to assure them they do not have to draw on their own operations and maintenance funding to address this type of concern by other departments that were not foreseen. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair John Ningark

Thank you. Madam Minister.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Manitok Thompson Aivilik

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I will ask Mr. Christensen to answer that. Thank you.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair John Ningark

Assistant deputy minister, Mr. Christensen.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Christensen

The cost the Member refers to would be considered project management costs that would be necessary to implement a project. The cost associated with getting the environmental approvals for the project to proceed would be project management costs, which would be included in the cost of the project. The funding that we would provide for the project could be put towards those costs. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair John Ningark

Thank you. Mr. Steen.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Vince Steen

Vince Steen Nunakput

Mr. Chairman, could I get assurance from the department that they will work with the hamlet in responding to federal fisheries?

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair John Ningark

Thank you. Madam Minister.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Manitok Thompson Aivilik

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yes, we will.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair John Ningark

Thank you. Mr. Steen.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Vince Steen

Vince Steen Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. If I could just switch to everybody's favourite topic here, the Keewatin pilot project. I would just like some clarification, Mr. Chairman. I believe, I am hearing that the Keewatin mayors, and this is also based on information I have been receiving by correspondence, they intend to take over all the capital projects.

I am wondering how this fits in. Obviously, there was a fair amount of planning and involvement from citizens in the communities through, for instance, the health board. They identified their priorities. Also, the education boards identified their priorities. I am just wondering how these two authorities would be involved with this Keewatin pilot project? I get the impression the mayors are suggesting that they would take over that type of infrastructure as well.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair John Ningark

Thank you. Madam Minister.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Manitok Thompson Aivilik

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. These leaders are not all mayors. The education and the health boards are at the same table and also the Inuit organizations are all at the same table. They talk about issues in their communities. This is not just the mayors of the Keewatin region. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair John Ningark

Thank you. Mr. Steen.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Vince Steen

Vince Steen Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I understand the Minister to say this particular group is not trying to obtain any legislative authority, so therefore, are they going to be just an advisory capacity?

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair John Ningark

Thank you. Ms. Thompson.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Manitok Thompson Aivilik

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I will ask my deputy minister to answer that. She is more familiar with it. Thank you.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair John Ningark

Thank you. Ms. Ballantyne.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Ballantyne

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, it is anticipated that the Keewatin Communities Association would play a project management role in the delivery of capital projects and also to provide a specialist services for the maintenance of community buildings where a hamlet did not have that specialist service locally in the community. They would have an advisory role with respect to the identification of capital projects that we would bring forward to the Legislative Assembly in the department's capital plan and would also appear in the capital budgets of other departments whose infrastructure would be affected. Yet part of it is advisory, part of it would be project management. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair John Ningark

Thank you. Mr. Steen.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Vince Steen

Vince Steen Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the department identified this group as Keewatin Communities Association. Is this group registered?