This is page numbers 847 - 881 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

Honourable Jim Antoine, Honourable Goo Arlooktoo, Mr. Barnabas, Honourable Charles Dent, Mr. Enuaraq, Mr. Erasmus, Mr. Evaloarjuk, Honourable Sam Gargan, Mrs. Groenewegen, Mr. Henry, Honourable Stephen Kakfwi, Mr. Krutko, Mr. Miltenberger, Honourable Don Morin, 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

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you, Mr. Henry. Good afternoon. Mr. Barnabas, on a point of privilege.

Point of Privilege

Item 1: Prayer
Item 1: Prayer

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Levi Barnabas High Arctic

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (Translation) I will be speaking in Inuktitut. Mr. Speaker, this morning I must clear up a big misunderstanding in regard to the Member for Hay River who presented a document. I was unable to be in the House yesterday due to a personal tragedy that occurred in my riding, therefore, I was unable to respond to the issue that was raised by the Member for Hay River. I had not considered this to have grown into this proportion and I was not aware that this problem would become so great. I would like to indicate to the Member for Hay River and to my friend and colleague, Mr. Arlooktoo, that I did write the note. At the time I considered it as a confidential piece of writing and I did it more in the spirit of fun and as a joke. I do pass notes to my colleagues in the House not of a serious nature. I express my true regret today for having caused such a huge problem and I accept responsibility for the hardship that has been caused for the Member for Hay River, Jane Groenewegen, as well as, for the Member, Mr. Goo Arlooktoo. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (Translation ends)

--Applause

Item 1: Prayer
Item 1: Prayer

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Mrs. Groenewegen.

Point of Privilege

Item 1: Prayer
Item 1: Prayer

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Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River

Mr. Speaker, I would also like to rise on a point of privilege today. Mr. Speaker, in light of what this House has just heard regarding the unsigned note, I would like to say that I accept Mr. Barnabas' apology for writing the note. I would also like to offer my sincere apology to Mr. Arlooktoo and to this House. It was not my intention in seeking the truth in this matter to call into question the honesty and integrity of the honourable Member, nor indeed, any honourable Member. In my quest to find the truth, Mr. Speaker, the document which I tabled, I did believe to be true. At this time, Mr. Speaker, I would request that I could seek the unanimous agreement of this House to withdraw Tabled Document 49-13(5) with my sincere apology for any inadvertent reflections on the character or integrity of the Member for Baffin South. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

Item 1: Prayer
Item 1: Prayer

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

The Member for Hay River is seeking unanimous consent to withdraw Tabled Document 49-13(5). Do we have any nays? There are no nays. Mrs. Groenewegen, you have unanimous consent. Tabled Document 49-13(5) is now withdrawn.

--Applause

Orders of the day. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Mr. Morin.

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to advise Members that the Honourable Manitok Thompson will be absent from the House for the remainder of the week to attend the Manitoba Trade Mission in Iqaluit and the Keewatin Regional Leadership meetings on the Keewatin pilot project in Rankin Inlet. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you, Mr. Morin. Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Enuaraq.

Tommy Enuaraq Baffin Central

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good afternoon. Mr. Speaker, yesterday I spoke about the garbage and abandoned buildings at Cape Christian, a former American coast guard station located 12 miles northeast of Clyde River. Today, I would like to talk about the environmental assessment done in 1996 and for the record, Mr. Speaker, I was involved in that assessment in 1996 by the Canadian Royal Military College. Their study showed that there are small amounts of PCBs in the paint of the buildings and 23 cubic metres of soil were found to be contaminated within the site. The study concluded that the site received low priority on the clean-up list, as there was minimal contamination and there was small risk posed by contaminants on site. The owner of the site is now the Government of the Northwest Territories. Mr. Speaker, Clyde River would like assurances from the government that the site is environmentally safe. Thank you.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr.

Barnabas.

Levi Barnabas High Arctic

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will be speaking in Inuktitut. Mr. Speaker, this morning we met with the Members and staff regarding the friendship centres. It is important that these organizations receive funding because of the different initiatives they wish to carry out for their services and to maintain their businesses. In maintaining the services it was indicated, perhaps two years ago, by the friendship centres, the communications departments and the different organizations within the regions to help promote unity among adults and younger people, as well as elders. This is promoted through the use of the friendship centres, including translation requirements, language and culture initiatives. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (Translation ends)

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Krutko.

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, will be making a statement about the friendship centres in the Northwest Territories. As the Member stated, this morning we had the opportunity to hear from the Northwest Territories Council for Friendship Centres in relation to some of the obligations they have to fulfil and, also, the dedication they have to serve the people of the Northwest Territories. In regard to the friendship centres in Canada, this is considered one of the oldest aboriginal institutions in Canada which moved north in the 1970s. The Tree of Peace Friendship Centre was established in Yellowknife in the early 1960s and other centres were developed from then, such as the Uncle Gabe's Friendship Centre, the Soaring Eagle Friendship Centre and Ingamo Hall in Inuvik. Mr. Speaker, in regard to the work and efforts these organizations do to assist, not only the government, but to serve the people of the Northwest Territories, I think it is important to note that all other jurisdictions in Canada, using an example such as Alberta who allocates more than $250,000 a year to the Alberta Native Friendship Centres, plus an additional $25,000 to $30,000 to each of their 20 centres to offset the operational costs. The same thing applies in British Columbia which allocates $100,000 to provincial friendship centres and up to $30,000 to each friendship centre to offset the operational costs.

Mr. Speaker, it is critical that we support these organizations with the initiatives that we see. I think where we have gone with this government with the deficits and the cuts we see in our community, more and more people do not have the services and agencies that they had at one time. The demand on these organizations, such as the friendship centres, is coming to the point where they are dealing with not only social issues, but justice issues and assisting people where a lot of the systems and programs we had in place before are no longer there. Mr. Speaker, it is critical that this government and other colleagues of this House seriously look into the delivery of programs and services that this government offers. Such an organization like the friendship centre has to be allowed the benefit of the doubt and have the opportunity to seriously play an active role in what happens in this government. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Roland.

Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Inuvik has a long history with the Ingamo Hall Friendship Centre. The Ingamo Hall Friendship Centre has seen and been faced with many continued cuts over the past few years. These cuts have affected the way they offer programs and services for the community and surrounding communities. Last year they gave up the Alcohol and Drug Program due to the continuous cuts. Ingamo Hall could not offer this program effectively with the amount of funds they were given. The Literacy Program is another program that Ingamo Hall offers in the community and each year the funding is being cut. This past year Ingamo has had to fund raise over $40,000 to carry this program. This is another program they may have to let go if the funding is not secured. The Ingamo Hall also operates an HIV/AIDS awareness project that is currently funded through Health Canada. This project receives $45,000 a year to operate. Once again, these limited funds prevent them from offering a viable program. Mr. Speaker, we know that many groups, organizations and individuals throughout the Northwest Territories have had to deal with reductions. It has made ongoing difficulties for volunteers to continue to provide the level of programs they once were able to do. Mr. Speaker, we have heard on many occasions how volunteers wear thin after a while and there are few people to take over the places once those people move on. I urge this government to look through its budgets to try and find some available funding to help out these groups because it is these groups that help out the children and families on the lower income scales. We have heard so much about them in this forum. I urge my Cabinet colleagues to review what they can and try and find some appropriate funding so we can ensure the people of the territories have an equal opportunity to receive help that will benefit them in the long run. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Rabesca.

James Rabesca North Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to congratulate a man from Rae Lakes that saw a dream and pursued it. As you may have seen in yesterday's News North, Alphonse Apples sought an opportunity to live his traditional lifestyle and at the same time help his fellow community and regional members. Alphonse has set up the Faber Lake Outpost Camp which helps minor offenders integrate back into their communities without the need to house them in the YCC. Mr. Speaker, at the present, I understand he only has two inmates at the camp, but he is hoping to get more. Camp life is hard and living is basic, bringing back the traditional Dene way of life. Alphonse teaches the inmates how to hunt, fish and do other camp duties. They also learn how to

skin all types of animals and treat our mother earth with respect. Alphonse's camp is one of the eight camps currently operated across the north. I feel this is an excellent way to teach the inmates the traditional way of life and to bring them back to their home communities. I would like to congratulate Alphonse for his helpfulness and caring for his fellow men. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Miltenberger.

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The record and honourable history of the friendship centres are very clear and undeniable across Canada. Part of that comes from the contribution of the Uncle Gabe's Friendship Centre in Fort Smith which is a long running institution that has had the benefit of a very good board and management, over the many years they have been in existence, allowing them to deliver critical programs in the community within their budget. As well, they have developed the skills over the years to be very effective in going after third party funding, Mr. Speaker.

Very clearly in Fort Smith, the Friendship Centre has become one of the major players in the inter-agency group that delivers and oversees programs in the community. They, as well, have suffered over the years from budget cuts, reductions to core funding, cutbacks in other areas through Health and Social Services. It is going to be critical that the communities, through the health board of management and the department work with the friendship centres, not only in Fort Smith but across the north, to try to come to a greater and more formal work relationship that recognizes the contribution of friendship centres and could, hopefully, in the not too distant future, deal with issues like core funding for northern friendship centres, as we are one of the only jurisdictions that in fact do not provide core funding. So I, as well, would like to pay my tribute and compliments to the friendship centres across the north and, of course, specifically to the one in Fort Smith, which is a very, very important organization in our community. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Erasmus.

Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to speak about the Arctic Winter Games midget hockey team selection. Mr. Speaker, a constituent of mine contacted me yesterday and wanted me to set the record straight. Apparently, there have been some facts that have not been relayed consistently to the public. There has been a lot of media attention to this, as well as, statements and questions in the House. My constituent wanted me to make it clear the team that won the territorials was not a Fort Smith hockey team, in fact, it was not even a South Slave hockey team, it was a conglomerate of the South Slave and Mackenzie region. There were ten players from Hay River and Fort Smith, there were five players from Mackenzie region. The team did win the territorials, but people knew that it would be an all-star Arctic Winter Games team and that the Arctic Winter Games team would go to the Air Canada Cup tournament.

Unfortunately, it appears that an important fact has been overlooked. The fact is that five players in total from the winning team were selected to the Arctic Winter Games team. My constituent wanted this emphasized that five players were, in fact, selected; there was one from Fort Smith, one from Hay River and three from the Mackenzie region.

Mr. Speaker, I have checked and selecting an all-star team for the Arctic Winter Games is consistent with the past three or four Arctic Winter Games. I have been informed that an all-star format is used in order to keep the larger centres from dominating the games and from sending all the teams. This allows the smaller communities to get their children into the games. Mr. Speaker, this is well demonstrated in the facts that there are ten communities represented on this midget team. Thank you.

--Applause

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Picco.

Edward Picco Iqaluit

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this past weekend, I was home in Iqaluit. It was the first time I was able to return home since the 16th of January. Mr. Speaker, while here in the Legislative Assembly sometimes this becomes the focus of our entire lives, and we lose sight of the real reason we came here in the first place.

Mr. Speaker, going home this weekend and spending time with my family and seeing the work my wife has to do being mother and father, raising our three children while I am absent, made me reflect on why someone would seek political office. Mr. Speaker, the role of a political spouse is very demanding and full of sacrifice. To go home and be welcomed back by the community, to be phoned, stopped at the Bay while getting our groceries, of neighbours stopping by, of sincere thanks after church on Sunday, makes the job and the responsibilities worthwhile.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the many people in Iqaluit who have given my wife and I support through their kind words and actions. Mr. Speaker, I would also like to thank my wife for the sacrifices she has made. I will continue to represent my home and my constituency to the best of my abilities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Ootes.