This is page numbers 63 - 90 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 social.

Topics

Edward Picco Iqaluit

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good afternoon. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the good people of Rankin Inlet, who recently hosted several Atom hockey teams for a tournament over there. Mr. Speaker, the Iqaluit team was ably coached by Craig Dunphy and Carl McLean and assisted by parents, Ben Kovic and Brian Aglukark, who also made the trip to Rankin Inlet. Mr. Speaker, the volunteers who worked tirelessly to pull off these tournaments, the coaches and the officials, need to be recognized.

The Iqaluit team pulled an early upset by defeating the eventual champion, Hay River. I understand from my son, Wally, who played with the Iqaluit team, that the highlight in Rankin Inlet was the Red Top. I will make it a point the next time I am in Rankin Inlet to drop by the Red Top and see what it is all about. I guess in conclusion, Mr. Speaker, I would again like to thank the people of Rankin Inlet for the hospitality that they showed during the team's stay in the community.

--Applause

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Erasmus.

Member's Statement 46-13(7): GNWT Hiring Process
Item 3: Members' Statements

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Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about restoring faith in the government hiring process. Mr. Speaker, as other Members in this House have had occasion to travel to other communities and it seems that no matter where I go, whether it is Fort Smith, Hay River, Fort Providence, people are concerned with the hiring process. They are concerned with the inconsistencies between the different departments, the different processes that they use to hire people. They are concerned that people who have been laid off are supposed to have a priority when hiring is done, but they cannot even apply on most jobs because most of the jobs are internal competitions.

People are concerned that there is no central agency, that there is no independent person in the hiring process to ensure fairness. People are complaining that they get an interview, but that they have been told that they blew the interview even though they are well qualified for the job, therefore no job. People are complaining that there is no sense of fairness, that the only people in the hiring process are from the department itself and it is too easy to manipulate the end result. Mr. Speaker, plain and simply, the public has lost faith in our hiring process. We need to restore that faith.

Recently the Premier went on television and addressed the NWT and indicated he wanted to restore public confidence in our government, he wanted an open, accountable and transparent government. One of the best ways to do this is to restore faith in the hiring process. Mr. Speaker, it is important that our hiring process not only be fair, but it must appear to be fair. What I am saying is that it may be fair now, but it does not seem accountable, it does not seem to be fair. If we put an independent body into the hiring process from the start to the finish, this will verify fairness and accountability. Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time I will be asking the Premier questions in this area. Thank you.

Member's Statement 46-13(7): GNWT Hiring Process
Item 3: Members' Statements

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Mr. Arlooktoo.

Goo Arlooktoo Baffin South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a return to an oral question asked by Mr. Steen on March 16, 1999, on the Down Payment Assistance Program. Mr. Steen asked whether there was a residency requirement attached to the Minimum Down Payment Assistance Pilot Program (MDAPP).

Mr. Speaker, the objective of the MDAPP is to provide financial incentives to individuals or families, regardless of income, to become homeowners as a means of stimulating economic activity. The target audiences for this pilot program are NWT residents who lack the savings required for a down payment, those residents who may wish to move from one community to another in order to access employment or training opportunities and workers on rotational shifts who work in the NWT, but live in the south.

Mr. Speaker, because the NWT Housing Corporation is trying to attract these rotational workers to take up residence in the NWT, there is no residency requirement for this pilot program. If there was a residency requirement, Mr. Speaker, then these workers who earn a living in the NWT, but pay their taxes and spend their wages down south, would not be attracted to move up here.

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

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John Ningark Natilikmiot

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to recognize a number of people in the gallery, returning officers during Nunavut's first election. We have, bear with me, if I misread your names here, from Akulliq, Ms. Sarah Kidlapik; Amittuq; Ms. Catherine Piugattuk; Cambridge Bay, Ms. Jean Kaniak; Iqaluit Center, Ms. Annie Nooshoota; Iqaluit East, Ms. Meakie Pudlat; Iqaluit West, Ms. Wende Halonen; Kugluktuk, Ms. Agnes Allen; Nanulik, Ms. Liveena Kudluk; Nattilik, Ms. Nee Porter; Pangnirtung, Mr. Bill Kilabuk; Quttiktuq, Mr. Dan Leaman; Rankin Inlet North, Ms. Sandy Kusugak; Rankin Inlet South-Whale Cove, Ms. Elizabeth Dunkerley; South Baffin, Ms. Nina Manning Toonoo; Tunnuniq, Mr. Silas Takawgak; Uqqummiut, Mr. Peter Iqalukjuak; Nunavut Elections Office - Iqaluit, Deputy Chief Electoral Officer, Mr. Joshie Teemotee Mitsima; Administration Assistant, Ms. Kooyoo Nooshoota; Deputy Chief Electoral Officer of the NWT, Mr. Speaker, Glen McLean; and finally, Mr. Speaker, Coordinator of Training and Information, Mr. Brian Armstrong.

--Applause

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

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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

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Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize Commissioner Helen Maksagak; her eldest son Harry, who is accompanying her; two constituents have been pointed out by my honourable colleague, Mr. Ningark, Agnes Aklok from Kugluktuk and Jean Kuneyuna from Cambridge Bay; and also I would like to recognize Deputy Commissioner Dan Marion. Thank you.

--Applause

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

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Henry.

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

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Seamus Henry Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, probably someone that really does not need to be recognized, I think we all know him, but I would like to take this opportunity to recognize Mr. Tony Whitford, constituent of Yellowknife South

and assistant to the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

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

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Picco.

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

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Edward Picco Iqaluit

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to welcome to the gallery a well known Iqaluit resident, Wende Halonen, who is a tireless worker for Iqaluit daycares and a well known writer of the Iqaluit Tea Talk column in News North and our Iqaluit returning officers just mentioned by Mr. Ningark. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Antoine.

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

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Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, all MLAs, especially when you are a Minister, you spend a lot of time in Yellowknife and we usually have constituency assistants that take care of things for you in the community, so I would like to recognize Mr. Bob Villeneuve, he is my constituency assistant from Nahendeh.

--Applause

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

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Barnabas.

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

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Levi Barnabas High Arctic

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would also like to recognize Mr. Dan Leaman, he is the Returning officer in Resolute Bay and also the SAO in Resolute Bay. I would also like to recognize Bill Kilabuk, my long time colleague and friend, Returning officer from Pangnirtung. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. O'Brien.

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

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Kevin O'Brien Kivallivik

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I cannot really see up there, but I would like to recognize, if she is there, Nancy Kalluak, Returning officer for Arviat. Thank you.

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

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Evaloarjuk.

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Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

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Mark Evaloarjuk Amittuq

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I recognize the Amittuq constituents sitting with the people from Iqaluit and the elections officers from Hall Beach, also.(Translation ends)

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

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. For those that have not been recognized in the gallery, welcome to the Assembly. Item 6, oral questions. Mrs. Groenewegen.

Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, at a recent meeting of the NWT Chamber of Commerce in Hay River, a motion was passed and it went to this effect: that the GNWT be encouraged to publish in local newspapers, and perhaps post on a Web site, intention to negotiate a contract, the name of the sponsoring department and the supporting MLA, and these should all be identified in a short ad together with the rationale for the negotiated contract and the budget allocation forecasted as the cost of the contract. Apparently this is a methodology that is used in Nunavut already for negotiated contracts. It seems like a reasonable suggestion on the transparency issue.

I was wondering, Mr. Speaker, if the Minister responsible for business development would be the appropriate Minister to say, has the government had an opportunity to consider the suggestion yet? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Mr. Premier.

Return To Question 19-13(7): Negotiated Contract Policy
Question 19-13(7): Negotiated Contract Policy
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think the honourable Member asked for the Minister responsible for business development, but I would like to respond and say that this government does have a negotiated contract policy and the request that the honourable Member is asking for is not included in the negotiated policy guidelines. It is something that we will have to review and any suggestions that come forward we would have to take a look at. Thank you.