Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the CRTC will be starting to hold hearings across the country, and in the north, starting in May of this year. We recommended to the CRTC that they consider introducing subsidies for areas like the Northwest Territories, especially areas where the cost of providing the service is very high.
Debates of Feb. 17th, 1998
Topics
Further Return To Question 343-13(5): GNWT Role Regarding Telephone Rates
Question 343-13(5): GNWT Role Regarding Telephone Rates
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 853
Jim Antoine Nahendeh
Further Return To Question 343-13(5): GNWT Role Regarding Telephone Rates
Question 343-13(5): GNWT Role Regarding Telephone Rates
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 853
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Ootes.
Supplementary To Question 343-13(5): GNWT Role Regarding Telephone Rates
Question 343-13(5): GNWT Role Regarding Telephone Rates
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 853
Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre
I take it that the Minister is really speaking of areas such as the isolated communities where it does not pay for the telephone company to operate as to the larger communities like Yellowknife. Could the Minister tell us, what specifically are they asking the CRTC for a subsidy for, is it for a telephone company to operate in isolated areas or is it for individuals to obtain reduced rates?
Supplementary To Question 343-13(5): GNWT Role Regarding Telephone Rates
Question 343-13(5): GNWT Role Regarding Telephone Rates
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 853
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Antoine.
Further Return To Question 343-13(5): GNWT Role Regarding Telephone Rates
Question 343-13(5): GNWT Role Regarding Telephone Rates
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 853
Jim Antoine Nahendeh
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, previously, before this change by CRTC and the billing of the telephones started, the long distance telephone rates were subsidizing the local telephone rates. Now, with long distance competition that is going to be implemented in the Northwest Territories, is going to change. The cost of long distance telephone services will decrease and the cost of local telephone services will increase. In a lot of the smaller communities, there is a volume that is very small to try to subsidize themselves, so we will be looking at the smaller communities more so than Yellowknife. It is just in the beginning stage, we really do not know how it is going to go. The CRTC will be holding hearings to listen to all the interested parties in the north. As a result, hopefully, that will influence them in how they are going to be implementing the telephone rates. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 343-13(5): GNWT Role Regarding Telephone Rates
Question 343-13(5): GNWT Role Regarding Telephone Rates
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 853
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Final supplementary, Mr. Ootes.
Supplementary To Question 343-13(5): GNWT Role Regarding Telephone Rates
Question 343-13(5): GNWT Role Regarding Telephone Rates
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 853
Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the hearings will start in May of 1998, which is only several months away. Does the Minister have an indication yet, of where the CRTC will be holding hearings?
Supplementary To Question 343-13(5): GNWT Role Regarding Telephone Rates
Question 343-13(5): GNWT Role Regarding Telephone Rates
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 853
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Antoine.
Further Return To Question 343-13(5): GNWT Role Regarding Telephone Rates
Question 343-13(5): GNWT Role Regarding Telephone Rates
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 853
Jim Antoine Nahendeh
No, we do not know where they are going to start. We will find out. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 343-13(5): GNWT Role Regarding Telephone Rates
Question 343-13(5): GNWT Role Regarding Telephone Rates
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 853
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. Roland.
Question 344-13(5): Recognition Of Friendship Centres
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 853
Floyd Roland Inuvik
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question would be directed to the Premier at this time. Mr. Speaker, as I had mentioned in my Member's statement, the concerns and the work the Ingamo Hall Friendship Centre has provided, it has had a long history in Inuvik in dealing with individuals from seniors in our community, right down to the infants and has provided much help to many individuals through the long history it has had in Inuvik. One of the things I would like to ask the Premier about is the issue of the community empowerment and transfer initiatives. Would this government recognize a group such as the friendship centres as one of the groups that can take part in community empowerment initiatives? Thank you.
Question 344-13(5): Recognition Of Friendship Centres
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 853
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Premier.
Return To Question 344-13(5): Recognition Of Friendship Centres
Question 344-13(5): Recognition Of Friendship Centres
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 853
Don Morin Tu Nedhe
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I know that this government does recognize the hamlets, the city or settlement councils in the communities on an equal basis to band councils and Metis locals, but whether or not it recognizes the friendship centres on that same level, I do not know. I would have to find out for the Member what element is involved in the recognition of local governments. Thank you.
Return To Question 344-13(5): Recognition Of Friendship Centres
Question 344-13(5): Recognition Of Friendship Centres
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 853
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Roland.
Supplementary To Question 344-13(5): Recognition Of Friendship Centres
Question 344-13(5): Recognition Of Friendship Centres
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 853
Floyd Roland Inuvik
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Could the Premier inform us once he looks into this if, for example, right now recognizing community transfers, our community governments and in Inuvik we have three, the Town of Inuvik, the Nihtat Gwich'in Council and the Inuvik Community Corporation, being the Inuvialuit group, if that system is not functioning, will they look at some alternative forms? Thank you.
Supplementary To Question 344-13(5): Recognition Of Friendship Centres
Question 344-13(5): Recognition Of Friendship Centres
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 853
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Morin.
Further Return To Question 344-13(5): Recognition Of Friendship Centres
Question 344-13(5): Recognition Of Friendship Centres
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 853
Don Morin Tu Nedhe
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We are committed to working with local elected officials in every community. For example in Inuvik, the town council, the Gwich'in, the Inuvialuit people and the community empowerment. I do not think it would be proper for us, as a government, to say if that does not work, we are going to do it another way. We are totally committed to working with the local
community groups to achieve community empowerment. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 344-13(5): Recognition Of Friendship Centres
Question 344-13(5): Recognition Of Friendship Centres
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 854
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Two questions. Supplementary, Mr. Roland.
Supplementary To Question 344-13(5): Recognition Of Friendship Centres
Question 344-13(5): Recognition Of Friendship Centres
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 854
Floyd Roland Inuvik
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Premier inform this House if the group gets a letter of agreement or a signed letter from the other community governments, if an organization such as Ingamo Hall Friendship Centre in Inuvik, is pursuing an avenue of community empowerment or one of the initiatives, will it be looked at and dealt with? Thank you.
Supplementary To Question 344-13(5): Recognition Of Friendship Centres
Question 344-13(5): Recognition Of Friendship Centres
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 854
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Morin.
Further Return To Question 344-13(5): Recognition Of Friendship Centres
Question 344-13(5): Recognition Of Friendship Centres
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 854
Don Morin Tu Nedhe
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That would be completely up to the community. They know best what function, avenue or vehicle they would use to deliver services to their community members. For example, in Inuvik, if the local government organizations decided that the friendship centre would be the best vehicle used to deliver a service to the people, then, by all means, we agree with local organizations. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 344-13(5): Recognition Of Friendship Centres
Question 344-13(5): Recognition Of Friendship Centres
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 854
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. Krutko.
Question 345-13(5): Funding Friendship Centres
Item 6: Oral Questions
February 16th, 1998
Page 854
David Krutko Mackenzie Delta
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Premier regarding grants and contributions within the executive. I was wondering if it is possible for the Minister and Cabinet to consider looking at the way grants and contributions are distributed and if there is a possibility of looking at some way funds can be allocated to the friendship centres through these grants and contributions.
Question 345-13(5): Funding Friendship Centres
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 854
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Premier.
Return To Question 345-13(5): Funding Friendship Centres
Question 345-13(5): Funding Friendship Centres
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 854
Don Morin Tu Nedhe
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the Member is well aware, the grants and contributions of this government have a very limited amount of dollars. I would be quite willing to look at that. I am not even sure, offhand, Mr. Speaker, how much grants and contributions we do have. I will take a look at that and get back to the Member. Thank you.