Thank you. Welcome to the Assembly. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Ootes.
Debates of Sept. 23rd, 1998
This is page numbers 155 - 185 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 education.
Topics
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Page 164
The Deputy Speaker John Ningark
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Page 164
Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I want to acknowledge the presence of a good friend, a poet, raconteur, radio commentator, Mr. Jim Green, from Fort Smith.
--Applause
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Page 164
The Deputy Speaker John Ningark
Thank you. Welcome to the Assembly, Mr. Green. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Miltenberger.
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Page 164
Michael Miltenberger Thebacha
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize as well from Fort Smith, Shannon Cumming and Mr. Jim Green, even though my colleagues from Yellowknife, as they want to, take even that from the small communities. They both work for the South Slave Metis Tribal Council and I am proud to have them here today. Thank you.
--Applause
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Page 164
The Deputy Speaker John Ningark
Thank you. Welcome to the Assembly. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Rabesca.
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
September 22nd, 1998
Page 164
James Rabesca North Slave
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it gives me great privilege to introduce some of my constituency members coming to visit the gallery and to participate and
listen to the Premier deliver his position on the new Western Territory. The visiting delegates from my constituency are one of the former Chiefs from the Dogrib region, John Nitsiza. Also along with former Chief of Fort Rae, Joe Migwi. Friends of mine, Morris Lafferty, Johnny Dryneck, Susie Joe Mackenzie, Paul Rabesca, Francis William, Alphonse Eronchic, Charlie Mackenzie, Pierre Tlokka, Jimmy Mantla, Phillip Whane and Joe Williah, all from my constituency. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
--Applause
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Page 165
The Deputy Speaker John Ningark
Thank you. It is an honour to have you here. Welcome to the Assembly. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Steen.
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Page 165
Vince Steen Nunakput
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize one of my constituents from my home community in Tuktoyaktuk, Mr. Donald Kuptana Jr. Mr. Kuptana is the husband of Lucy Kuptana who is one of our Boundaries Commissioners. Thank you.
--Applause
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Page 165
The Deputy Speaker John Ningark
Thank you. Welcome to the Assembly. Recognition of visitors in the gallery, Mr. Krutko.
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Page 165
David Krutko Mackenzie Delta
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize Pat Scott, Executive Director of the CWG. Pat.
--Applause
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Page 165
The Deputy Speaker John Ningark
Welcome to the Assembly. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. I would like to recognize, on behalf of the Members of this Legislative Assembly, former MLA, Mr. Wah-Shee.
--Applause
Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Miltenberger.
Question 91-13(6): Vision Of Western Governance
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 165
Michael Miltenberger Thebacha
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to address my questions to the Premier. It is regarding his statement. I would like the Premier to elaborate, if he could, what he sees as a role for a central public government and the issue of better defining what is meant by partnership relationships? Thank you.
Question 91-13(6): Vision Of Western Governance
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 165
The Deputy Speaker John Ningark
Thank you. Mr. Premier.
Return To Question 91-13(6): Vision Of Western Governance
Question 91-13(6): Vision Of Western Governance
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 165
Don Morin Tu Nedhe
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe the new western territories should work together in partnership. We have to negotiate with aboriginal governments to develop those partnerships. We, as a government, believe that is the best way we as a people in the western Arctic can achieve our greatest potential. We also believe you need a strong central government and by the support of the people and you get that by the support through negotiations. We have to vacate as a government certain legislative authority and certain authorities at community and regional levels. Ultimately, you have to have standards set throughout the Northwest Territories. Those would be minimum standards that all governments would have to meet.
For example, in the health care system you have five basic principles of the Health Care Act in Canada, no matter who you are, whether you are aboriginal or non-aboriginal governments, you have to meet those standards. Our job as a strong, central government, will also be to maintain that we do have a unified voice in the western territories. We have to supply the glue that holds the west together. The Dogrib people, for example, are negotiating their inherent right of self-government. The Delta area are negotiating for the Gwich'in, Inuvialuit and other people in that area for a partnership approach, government approach. Other peoples will be negotiating as well. We have to ensure that people in the Northwest Territories, the new Western Territory, will understand that what happens in Fort Smith affects what happens in Fort Rae and Tuktoyaktuk. You do need a strong central government that looks after and cares for all the people of the Northwest Territories. Thank you.
--Applause
Return To Question 91-13(6): Vision Of Western Governance
Question 91-13(6): Vision Of Western Governance
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 165
The Deputy Speaker John Ningark
Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Miltenberger.
Supplementary To Question 91-13(6): Vision Of Western Governance
Question 91-13(6): Vision Of Western Governance
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 165
Michael Miltenberger Thebacha
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to thank the Premier for that response. Could the Premier also indicate what steps or documents are going to be prepared or crafted which will outline the statements and direction that himself and Minister Antoine have laid out in their statements today? Thank you.
Supplementary To Question 91-13(6): Vision Of Western Governance
Question 91-13(6): Vision Of Western Governance
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 165
The Deputy Speaker John Ningark
Thank you. Mr. Premier.
Further Return To Question 91-13(6): Vision Of Western Governance
Question 91-13(6): Vision Of Western Governance
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 165
Don Morin Tu Nedhe
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We will continue to consult with people and talk to people about our vision, our clear commitment to a partnership arrangement with aboriginal governments and the Northwest Territories government as well as the federal government. We will be developing a comprehensive communication strategy which will go to every northerner in the Northwest Territories and to every community and region. We will continue to be a party at negotiation tables as well, and we will be considering the work of the Constitutional Working Committee. We have instructed our staff already to put together a package, and that will be shared with all the Members of this Legislative Assembly, also
shared with all aboriginal leaders and all people in the Northwest Territories, with what we see is the best direction to go for the creation of the new Western Territory. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 91-13(6): Vision Of Western Governance
Question 91-13(6): Vision Of Western Governance
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 166
The Deputy Speaker John Ningark
Thank you. Second supplementary, Mr. Miltenberger.
Supplementary To Question 91-13(6): Vision Of Western Governance
Question 91-13(6): Vision Of Western Governance
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 166
Michael Miltenberger Thebacha
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. One of the important issues mentioned today by both the Premier and Minister Antoine was the whole issue of negotiating an arrangement with the aboriginal governments through the inherent right of self-government tables. A key component of that is going to be money. Could the Premier indicate whether, in fact, we will be able to hold the federal government to honouring their shared responsibility in paying for all the costs involved in negotiating these very important agreements? Thank you.
Supplementary To Question 91-13(6): Vision Of Western Governance
Question 91-13(6): Vision Of Western Governance
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 166
The Deputy Speaker John Ningark
Thank you. Mr. Premier.
Further Return To Question 91-13(6): Vision Of Western Governance
Question 91-13(6): Vision Of Western Governance
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 166
Don Morin Tu Nedhe
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. One of the key principles of moving ahead in the creation of a new western governance, a new Western Territory, very key, is it has to be affordable and workable. One of the bottom lines for this government is the federal government has the fiduciary responsibility for aboriginal people. They have the responsibility to pick up the costs of any self-government agreement. That is not this government's responsibility. That is the federal government's responsibility. For Members' information, we do have a disagreement with the federal government on this issue. It is to be negotiated, but Cabinet has taken the position that the federal government is responsible for 100 percent of the incremental and transitional costs of self-government agreements. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 91-13(6): Vision Of Western Governance
Question 91-13(6): Vision Of Western Governance
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 166
The Deputy Speaker John Ningark
Thank you. Final supplementary, Mr. Miltenberger.
Supplementary To Question 91-13(6): Vision Of Western Governance
Question 91-13(6): Vision Of Western Governance
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 166
Michael Miltenberger Thebacha
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like the Premier to elaborate a bit on this critical component. He indicated it will be negotiated. With seven months to division and seven months to the Western Territory striking off on its own, could the Premier outline anticipated time-frames that this issue will possibly be brought to any kind of satisfactory conclusion? Thank you.
Supplementary To Question 91-13(6): Vision Of Western Governance
Question 91-13(6): Vision Of Western Governance
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 166
The Deputy Speaker John Ningark
Thank you. The honourable Premier, Mr. Morin.