Debates of May 27th, 1998

This is page numbers 1433 - 1457 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 judicial.

Topics

Members Present

Item 1: Prayer

Ministers Absent From The House

Hook Lake Bison Recovery Project

Small Boat Safety Awareness Program

Oil And Gas Activity In The Sahtu And Liard Regions

Tribute To Arctic Co-operatives Limited

Unwarranted Criticism Of The Nunavut Interim Commissioner's Office

Northwestel Rate Subsidy Application

Concerns Regarding State Of Education In The Nwt

Sudden Deaths In The Amittuq Constituency

Range Lake Low Water Level

Global Climate Change

Turning Point Alcohol And Drug Facility

Promotion And Usage Of Official Languages

Reflections On Good Government

Equitable Division Of Assets And Liabilities

Return To Oral Question 536-13(5): GNWT Final Settlement Offer

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Keewatin Airport Transfer Project

Arctic Co-operative Marketing Strategy

Telecommunication Services In The Nwt

Addressing Education Concerns

Potential Increase In Market Rents

Possible Closure Of Turning Point Centre

Strategy To Address Global Climate Change

Keewatin Pilot Project

Meeting On Keewatin Pilot Project

Highway Strategy Development

Constitutional Consultation Package

Revert To Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Written Question 14-13(5): Highwood Resources Project Proposal

Written Question 15-13(5): Discussions Regarding Nunavut Civil Servants

Written Question 16-13(5): Baffin Driver Examiner

Item 12: Reports Of Committees On The Review Of Bills

Tabled Document 100-13(5): Letter Regarding A Shortage Of Affordable Housing In Clyde River

Item 17: First Reading Of Bills

Item 18: Second Reading Of Bills

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

To Amend Clause 10 Of Bill 7

To Amend Clause 11 Of Bill 7

Item 20: Report Of Committee Of The Whole

Item 22: Orders Of The Day

Member's Statement 443-13(5): Global Climate Change
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1437

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to briefly speak to the issue raised by the Minister of RWED a couple of days ago in the House when he made a Minister's statement on global climate change. I do not think this particular Minister's statement and issue has received the attention it deserves in the Northwest Territories. This is a situation that has worldwide implications. I have raised it in the House before, as well, in terms of the need to control our carbon gas emissions and the need for energy planning and energy strategies at a time when costs are rising and greenhouse gases are having a significant detrimental effect on our environment. I think that is fairly obvious when you look at the news reports on the growing hole in the ozone layer over the Arctic which puts all of us at risk and increases the chances of cancer and any number of other negative implications.

Mr. Speaker, because of our cold climate, the NWT is one of the heaviest users of petroleum products on a per capita basis. As a result, we are also one of the biggest emitters of carbon gases which contribute to the whole problem of greenhouse gases and things like the ozone layer. As the Minister indicated, Mr. Speaker, I would just like to quote from his statement, "A recent forecast conducted by my department indicates that in the Northwest Territories alone, if action is not taken, emissions could be 30 percent higher in 15 years' time. That figure could be even higher with the development of our oil and gas reserves." This has tremendous implications for any planning that we do, the kind of energy strategies we need in our territory, in the east and west, we have an incredible dependence on petroleum products. It is going to be critical for this Legislature and the new Legislature of Nunavut to come to grips with this. In the west, I am going to be pushing very hard for a territory-wide energy strategy that is going to address not only consumption, but what do we do to control these emissions? There is going to be worldwide pressure on Canada by virtue of the fact that we are a northern country and we use so many petroleum products, especially compared to the rest of the known world. We all have a responsibility, as northerners, to deal with this issue for our own sakes. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

Member's Statement 443-13(5): Global Climate Change
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1437

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Roland.

Member's Statement 444-13(5): Turning Point Alcohol And Drug Facility
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1437

Floyd Roland Inuvik

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, Turning Point in Inuvik has gone through many difficult times and changes over the last number of years. Turning Point used to be called Delta House, a drug and alcohol facility which was closed down due to the downsizing within our government. The Turning Point staff and the Inuvik Alcohol Committee Board have worked hard to reorganize and restructure to try and provide a program that would continue to benefit the residents of the community, as well as keep some of the workers employed. They refocussed and turned toward early release programs with the corrections facilities in the territories. When things looked like they were out of the woods, recently some distressing news came my way that a number of employees had received temporary layoff notices due to the lack of inmates or early release of people coming out of facilities going into their program. I had forwarded this concern on to the Minister of Justice and I would like to thank him for looking into this matter. I would also, later on, like to ask him a number of questions to try and get more information. I would like to commend the board and the staff of the Turning Point. They have come a long way and I hope that we will see them succeed in providing services for those people who are most in need and to try to reintegrate those coming out of our correctional facilities in the community of Inuvik. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

Member's Statement 444-13(5): Turning Point Alcohol And Drug Facility
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1437

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Rabesca.

Member's Statement 445-13(5): Promotion And Usage Of Official Languages
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1437

James Rabesca North Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to express my concern over the lack of use of all of our official aboriginal languages in public by our leaders. I agree with the Language Commissioner's Report, as we leaders do not use or promote our languages as much as we should. To this end, I can say that I do not use my language as often as I should as a leader. Considering most of my life, I have promoted and used my language as a communicator, as well as to ensure that my family does not lose this valuable piece of our culture.

It is important to know your language, so that we can communicate with elders to learn the old ways and stories, as well as, to know our roots and where we come from. Language, in all forms, is one component that makes up our diverse cultures and by having this government recognize the eight different languages as official languages is an important part of our lives. However, to ensure our languages do not die, we must use and promote them in public whenever we can. I also realize that with this government's cutbacks, we have allowed our language programs to suffer. It is up to us as leaders to ensure our future generations know and use our languages. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

Member's Statement 445-13(5): Promotion And Usage Of Official Languages
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1437

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Members' statements. Mr. Ootes.

Member's Statement 446-13(5): Reflections On Good Government
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1437

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Thank you. Mr. Speaker, I want to talk today about good government. Good government means public service renewal is urgent. No government can realize its objectives without the support of a dynamic and supportive civil service. Yet, as we all know and have observed, our public

service is under great stress. This is not surprising.

Over the past two and a half years our public service has taken a great deal of the brunt of our difficulties, whether it has been the budget cutting exercise, the division issue or the ongoing pay equity issue.

Number two, good government also means financial health, not just a balanced budget. Just because there is a balanced budget does not mask the fact that we have a disturbing economic picture on our hands. Just look at our housing needs, demands for more money for education and the need for jobs.

Finally, good government is about: openness, transparency and accountability. The government has introduced many new programs such as: P3 Initiatives, new contracting processes, down loading of services through community empowerment. As we move further and further away from the traditional ways in which things were done, the questions of democratic accountability, openness and transparency come repeatedly to the fore.

What about responsiveness? The government has not been open about many of the motions and questions we have introduced and asked, some of which are no doubt thorny, but they need to be asked and they need to be answered. For example, on Monday, I made a statement and followed up with questions about money in the budget that are now P3 projects. Mr. Todd told me to read my mail. Mr. Speaker, I read my mail. How can I read my mail when it lands on my desk a half an hour after I come into this House?

Improved accountability, a renewed public service, sensitivity to our motions and questions and concerns go the heart of my comments today and while we need to focus on matters of long-term significance to the health of northern democracy. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

Member's Statement 446-13(5): Reflections On Good Government
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1438

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Picco.

Member's Statement 447-13(5): Equitable Division Of Assets And Liabilities
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1438

Edward Picco Iqaluit

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, considerable time and effort have been put into discussions surrounding the NWT Power Corporation. Recently, public hearings were held in Iqaluit and Yellowknife. Because of concerns with the process of what to do with the Power Corporation after division, the legislation proposal has been delayed.

Mr. Speaker, maybe we should review some of the history of the Power Corporation. Basically, the Northern Canada Power Commission was set up to provide electricity to northern residents and was a federal Crown corporation. Today, the NTPC is a territorially controlled corporation that delivers an essential service to all residents of the Northwest Territories. Some would have us believe that the Power Corporation's customers in the west are subsidizing Nunavut communities. Yesterday, the Minister responsible said, and I quote from the unedited Hansard: "Western communities are in no way subsidizing any Nunavut communities." That is from the unedited Hansard from yesterday, Mr. Speaker.

The Power Corporation is owned by all territorial residents. It was paid for by all residents. A majority of territorial residents voted for division. We did not vote to treat one area of the territories differently or unfairly. We decided as residents, endorsed by a public vote, to divide, Mr. Speaker, to divide equally. Mr. Speaker, that includes liabilities and, Mr. Speaker, that includes assets like the Power Corporation. Mr. Speaker, it is time to move past east/west rhetoric and do what is right for all residents - east and west. The Power Corporation is an asset shared equally by all residents. That is what has to be remembered after division. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

Member's Statement 447-13(5): Equitable Division Of Assets And Liabilities
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1438

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Mr. Todd.

Return To Oral Question 536-13(5): GNWT Final Settlement Offer
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

Page 1438

John Todd Keewatin Central

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Return to an oral question asked by Mr. Erasmus on May 25, 1998, with respect to red-circling under the proposed collective agreement.

The Final Settlement Offer includes the following paragraph describing what happens to employees who are red-circled:

-Employees whose March 31, 1998 salaries are greater than the salaries on the new pay schedules will have their current salary level protected by a conversion salary. This conversion salary will make up the difference between their March 31, 1998 salary and their salary on the new pay plan and will be received in addition to their base salary. As employees progress through the steps on the new grid, this conversion salary will continue to be added to their base salary.

Future increases to the new pay grid will correspondingly reduce the conversion salary, therefore gradually eliminating it.

Red-circling will work as follows:

1. If an employee's rate of pay under the proposed new job evaluation system is less than their current rate of pay at the same step on their pay range (i.e., if an employee is at step 3, and step 3 in the new pay range for the position is lower than the employees' current pay) then the new rate of pay for the employee remains the same as their current pay under the old system, but is calculated as follows:

April 1, 1998 pay = rate in new pay plan + (old rate pay - new rate of pay) For example:

Custodial Worker - Currently at Pay Level 12, Step 4 - Current Salary $36,383

Step 3 old range - Step 3 new range = $36,383 - $34,828 = $1,555.00 (conversion pay)

April 1, 1998 pay = $36,383

In addition, employees who are red-circled will receive a 2% increase in pay in 1998-99 as outlined below:

Employees whose March 31, 1998 annual salaries are greater than the April 1, 1998 annual salaries will be paid an annual amount equivalent to 2% of their March 31, 1998 annual salaries which will not be added to their March 31, 1998 salaries but which will be paid in bi-weekly instalments for the period of April 1, 1998 to March 31, 1999.

April 1, 1998 pay = $34,828 + $1,555. (conversion pay) + 2%

April 1, 1998 pay = $36,383 + $727.66

April 1, 1998 pay = $37,565.66

In addition, this employee will also be eligible for an annual increment in the year. The increment does not reduce the conversion salary.

Return To Oral Question 536-13(5): GNWT Final Settlement Offer
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

Page 1439

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Ningark.