Debates of March 22nd, 1999

This is page numbers 39 - 61 of the Hansard for the 13th Assembly, 7th 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 nunavut.

Topics

Members Present
Item 1: Prayer
Ratification Of The Collective Agreement And Equal Pay Update
30th Anniversary Of Aurora College Teacher Education Program
Western Health And Social Services Review
Climate Change
Minister's Forum On Education
Minister Absent From The House
Tribute To Ruth Webb
Opposition To Boundaries Revision
Electoral Boundaries Issues
Congratulations To Stanton Hospital Foundation
Fort Smith Midwife Proposal
Review Of GNWT Contracting Processes
Thanks To Colleagues And Staff
Condolences To Bereaved Friends
Acknowledgement Of Constituents And Colleagues' Support
Return To Oral Question 13-13(7): Purpose Of T5-007 Tax Forms
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Petition 1-13(7): Delivery Of Health And Social Services
Item 12: Reports Of Committees On The Review Of Bills
Item 13: Tabling Of Documents
Appeal Of Supreme Court Decision On Electoral Boundaries
Bill 8: Interim Appropriation Act, 1999-00
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

Member's Statement 34-13(7): Fort Smith Midwife Proposal
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 44

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the community I represent we are still not capable of delivering babies in a formal way. We have them occasionally by circumstance as opposed to good planning. Normally the expectant mothers have to go to Hay River or Yellowknife. This is an outstanding issue for the community I represent and has been for a number of years. I have raised it in this House before and it has been constantly brought to my attention in Fort Smith. We finally have movement on this particular issue.

We have a certified midwife, Ms. Lesley Paulette, who put together a proposal to look at this issue working with the Department of Health and Social Services and with the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs to get some funding to actually take a look at how could we, in fact, bring all our resources to bear to start having children born in Fort Smith. Tonight there will be the first start in this process of consultation with the community to see, in fact, how we do this.

Mr. Speaker, I cannot stress enough how important it is for communities to have the ability to have children born in their community. It is an integral part of the circle of life and death and when you are not there at birth, when you are in a different community, your family is disrupted and things are not the same. I would like to thank the Department of Health and Social Services and MACA for their support in this issue, and I would encourage the people of Fort Smith to come out tonight to the workshop that will be held and provide the input that we need to be able to move this process along so that soon we could have children born in Fort Smith as a matter of natural course. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

BApplause

Member's Statement 34-13(7): Fort Smith Midwife Proposal
Item 3: Members' Statements

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Ootes.

Member's Statement 35-13(7): Review Of GNWT Contracting Processes
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 44

Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is good to be back. On many occasions in the past, I have spoken about the need for the government to review the RFP and the negotiated contract processes. In this past week I was provided a letter from the Premier in response to my previous concerns, and he advised that the government has assembled a committee to review the current practices on negotiated contracts. This committee is to be made up of senior government officials from various departments and is to report back by March 31, 1999. This certainly is welcome news, Mr. Speaker, and I thank the Premier for this initial step.

I would encourage the Premier to take this matter several steps further, distribute these recommendations to the various contractors, consultants, landlords and other stakeholders. The mandate should be to receive feedback, read the pulse of those directly affected by our contracting systems. Also, I would recommend the expansion of the committee's mandate to include requests for proposals. I have received specific complaints from people who have participated in RFPs.

People who have become very frustrated with the lack of feedback for their unsuccessful bids. Recently the Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses surveyed Northwest Territories members and asked the question, should full financial information on government subsidies and grants paid to businesses be more readily available and understandable to the public? The result of that survey was 90 percent from the Northwest Territories voted yes to that question. Of course, the question may as well have read and included the words, negotiated contracts and RFPs, because many of the contracts have been used to influence the development of regional economies and specific industry sectors. That may be quite acceptable and desirable by many people in the territories, but we need to improve the public confidence in the processes of this government. The way to do that is to understand and respond to the public's concerns be they perceptions or real. Thank you.

--Applause

Member's Statement 35-13(7): Review Of GNWT Contracting Processes
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 44

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Picco.

Member's Statement 36-13(7): Thanks To Colleagues And Staff
Item 3: Members' Statements

March 21st, 1999

Page 44

Edward Picco Iqaluit

Thank you. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this, my first opportunity in this Assembly, to thank the people of Iqaluit for their second strong vote of confidence in me on February 15, 1999. Mr. Speaker, I have learned many things in this House over the past three and a half years. I have developed some strong friendships and seemingly stumbled with some animosity with my honourable colleagues. Mr. Speaker, I can honestly say that the learning curve in here in this House, the stress, the hard work and at times, good humour, will not be soon forgotten.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the staff, the Clerk's office and the good people of Yellowknife for their friendship, professionalism and hospitality and invite one and all to join us in Iqaluit, the capital of Nunavut, at their earliest convenience. I would like to take this opportunity also, Mr. Speaker, to issue a special invitation to my colleague from Thebacha to visit Nunavut so that he can finally speak with some authority on the subject. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

Member's Statement 36-13(7): Thanks To Colleagues And Staff
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 44

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Barnabas.

Member's Statement 37-13(7): Condolences To Bereaved Friends
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 44

Levi Barnabas High Arctic

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I

would like to take this opportunity to stand and recognize two people who have lost some loved ones, particularly Mr. Enuaraq. Tommy Enuaraq has been absent in the House due to a death in the family Mary Kautaq died March 7, 1999, of cancer. Mary Kautaq was born in 1918, she died at the age of 81 years. Also a good friend who has also lost a loved one on March 13, 1999, James Qillaq, who is the Mayor of Clyde River. John Qillaq died during the night of March 13, 1999, and he was born March 31, 1918. They held the funeral on Saturday for these two people in Clyde River. I want to ask my colleagues to remember those people through prayer and in particular, Mr. Enuaraq's family. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (Translation ends)

Member's Statement 37-13(7): Condolences To Bereaved Friends
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 45

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Ng.

Member's Statement 38-13(7): Acknowledgement Of Constituents And Colleagues' Support
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 45

Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to also recognize and thank first the residents of Kugluktuk who since May of 1993 up until next week, have given me the mandate to serve as their MLA. I would like to also, by the same token, recognize and thank the residents of Cambridge Bay, Umingmaktok and Bathurst Inlet for their support over the past six years and particularly, more recently for the February 15th decisive mandate that they gave me to once again have the honour of representing them.

To my Nunavut Caucus colleagues who chose to run and were elected to the first Nunavut Assembly, I look forward to working with you. To those of my Nunavut Caucus colleagues who chose not to run or who were not successful in their election bid, I wish them all the best wishes as they go on to other pursuits. To all Members elected in the historic first Nunavut Assembly, to Premier Elect, Paul Ookalik, my Cabinet elect colleagues, I congratulate all of them. I look forward to working with all as we embark on our important task of guiding the establishment of the new Nunavut territory. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

Member's Statement 38-13(7): Acknowledgement Of Constituents And Colleagues' Support
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 45

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

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

Return To Oral Question 13-13(7): Purpose Of T5-007 Tax Forms
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

Page 45

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a reply to a question asked by Mrs. Groenewegen on March 16, 1999, regarding the purpose of T5-007 Tax Forms.

Mr. Speaker, the T5-007 is required by Revenue Canada to report taxable income received in social assistance under the Income Support Program. This includes only the amounts of assistance that people receive for the basic needs of food, shelter and clothing.

Recently some seniors in Hay River were inadvertently included in a T5-007 mail-out that was issued to social assistance recipients. The seniors received a T5-007 for seniors' fuel subsidies that they received from the department. Officials of the department are in the process of identifying those seniors and advising them that the T5-007 for the seniors' fuel subsidy is in fact not a taxable benefit so it will not affect their income tax. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Return To Oral Question 13-13(7): Purpose Of T5-007 Tax Forms
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

Page 45

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

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

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 45

John Ningark Natilikmiot

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to recognize in the public gallery a friend, former member of the territorial council, long time president of the Arctic Coop Limited, Bill Lyall.

--Applause

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 45

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Welcome to the Assembly. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Ootes.

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 45

Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Mr. Speaker, it gives me a great deal of pleasure to introduce and recognize one of my constituents, a person who has been a diligent follower of our deliberations here in the Assembly, Mr. Bill Powless.

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 45

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Welcome to the Assembly. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Evaloarjuk.

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 45

Mark Evaloarjuk Amittuq

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize Mr. Bill Lyall, he was a former Member in 1975 and he has also been a member and president of ACL and I have also been a member with him. I just wanted to recognize him in the House. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (Translation ends)

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 45

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Welcome to the Assembly. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Ng.

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 45

Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I too would like to recognize Mr. Bill Lyall, a long-time resident and prominent individual from the community of Cambridge Bay. Thank you.

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 45

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. I would like to recognize the rest of the people who are there. Welcome to the Assembly. Item 6, oral questions. Item 7, written questions. Item 8, returns to written questions. Item 9, replies to opening address. Item 10, petitions. Mr. Krutko.

Petition 1-13(7): Delivery Of Health And Social Services
Item 10: Petitions

Page 45

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to present a petition dealing with the matter of the delivery of Health and Social Services. Mr. Speaker, the petition contains 95 signatures from the residents in the Mackenzie Delta. Mr. Speaker, the petition requests that the Premier request the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories to cause a public inquiry to be held into the delivery of Health and Social Services in the Northwest Territories.

Petition 1-13(7): Delivery Of Health And Social Services
Item 10: Petitions

Page 45

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Petitions. Item 11, reports of standing and special committees. Item 12, reports of

committees on the review of bills. Mr. Barnabas.

Item 12: Reports Of Committees On The Review Of Bills
Item 12: Reports Of Committees On The Review Of Bills

Page 46

Levi Barnabas High Arctic

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to report to the Legislative Assembly that the Special Committee on Nunavut Legislation has reviewed Bill 2, Nunavut Statutes Amendment Act, 1999, and Bill 5, Nunavut Power Utilities Statutes Amendment Act, and wishes to report that Bill 2 and Bill 5 are ready for consideration in committee of the whole. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to waive rule 70(5) and have Bill 2 and Bill 5 moved into committee of the whole for today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Item 12: Reports Of Committees On The Review Of Bills
Item 12: Reports Of Committees On The Review Of Bills

Page 46

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. The Member for the High Arctic is seeking unanimous consent to waive rule 70(5) to deal with Bill 2 and Bill 5. Do we have any nays? There are no nays. Mr. Barnabas, you have unanimous consent. Bill 2 and Bill 5 will be moved into committee of the whole for today. Reports of committees on the review of bills. Mr. Erasmus.

Item 12: Reports Of Committees On The Review Of Bills
Item 12: Reports Of Committees On The Review Of Bills

Page 46

Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to report to the Legislative Assembly that the Standing Committee on Government Operations has reviewed Bill 1, Divisions Measures Act, 1999, and wishes to report that Bill 1 is now ready for committee of the whole as amended and reprinted. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to waive rule 70(5) and have this bill moved into committee of the whole for today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.