This is page numbers 91 - 116 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 aboriginal.

Topics

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

Page 94

Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize Marina Devine, the executive director of the Aboriginal Summit.

--Applause

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

Page 94

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Welcome to the Assembly. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. I would like to also welcome anybody else that has not been recognized. Welcome to the Assembly. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Ootes.

Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, yesterday I had the opportunity to review the gun law situation and the fact that the territorial government has handed back responsibility for the administration of the gun law back to the federal government. I dealt with the question of who is administering and issuing permits in the communities. My question would be for the Minister of Justice, are the RCMP issuing permits and handling the gun legislation in the communities? Thank you.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

The Minister of Justice, Mr. Arlooktoo.

Return To Question 35-13(7): Administration Of Federal Gun Law
Question 35-13(7): Administration Of Federal Gun Law
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 94

Goo Arlooktoo Baffin South

Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would be very pleased to provide the Member and all Members of the House with the latest information on the exact administration procedures occurring in the communities presently. What I can pass on also right now is that the Government of the Northwest Territories has joined as we announced during the last session the Government of Alberta, who was taking the issue to the Supreme Court. We have joined

the Yukon Territory, the provinces of Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario in supporting Alberta in opposing certain parts of the gun law as it relates to the division of powers and responsibilities in administering such a law, and that this issue will be going to the Supreme Court in the not too distant future. Unfortunately, on the administrative areas I do not have that information on hand, but I will be more than pleased to fax it to all Members of the House.

Return To Question 35-13(7): Administration Of Federal Gun Law
Question 35-13(7): Administration Of Federal Gun Law
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 95

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Questions. Supplementary, Mr. Ootes.

Supplementary To Question 35-13(7): Administration Of Federal Gun Law
Question 35-13(7): Administration Of Federal Gun Law
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 95

Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The concern I had relates to the cost to this territorial government. Any costs incurred I understand are billed back to the federal government. For example, the administration of the head office to take care of this, what I am wondering is, the question of the police services throughout the territory are handling the administration of gun permits and so forth, presumably; are we billing back that portion, or is that an oversight on the part of the government? I would like to know if we are following through with ensuring that all areas that cost us money are being billed back to the federal government.

Supplementary To Question 35-13(7): Administration Of Federal Gun Law
Question 35-13(7): Administration Of Federal Gun Law
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 95

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Arlooktoo.

Further Return To Question 35-13(7): Administration Of Federal Gun Law
Question 35-13(7): Administration Of Federal Gun Law
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 95

Goo Arlooktoo Baffin South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, I do not have that information right in front of me, but I can confirm to the Member that there are specific programs that the federal government does in partnership with the territorial government in the policing program, different training and enforcement programs that are cost-shared and some that we charge back to the federal government. I would think that this would be one area, but once again, I will have to confirm that and provide it to the Member.

Further Return To Question 35-13(7): Administration Of Federal Gun Law
Question 35-13(7): Administration Of Federal Gun Law
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 95

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Ootes.

Supplementary To Question 35-13(7): Administration Of Federal Gun Law
Question 35-13(7): Administration Of Federal Gun Law
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 95

Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Thank you. One further area, Mr. Speaker, is the staff that are administering this particular program, are they regular RCMP members that are seconded to this particular office, or are they non-members? I am all in support of whoever that may be, I am not trying to speak against it being RCMP members, I am trying to get at the fact, are we billing back for this? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 35-13(7): Administration Of Federal Gun Law
Question 35-13(7): Administration Of Federal Gun Law
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 95

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Arlooktoo.

Further Return To Question 35-13(7): Administration Of Federal Gun Law
Question 35-13(7): Administration Of Federal Gun Law
Item 6: Oral Questions

March 23rd, 1999

Page 95

Goo Arlooktoo Baffin South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Once again, that will be the type of information that I will be only to happy to provide. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 35-13(7): Administration Of Federal Gun Law
Question 35-13(7): Administration Of Federal Gun Law
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 95

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Oral questions. Mrs. Groenewegen.

Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. The education councils and districts which operate here in our territory are sometimes successful at accumulating surpluses in various areas. Until recently, it had been my understanding that when this occurred these councils could then have the reward of retaining those surpluses and spending them on priorities within their area. It has come to my attention that just recently for the year ended June 30, 1998, the South Slave Division Education Council had to return $7,004 to this government. Subsequent to that, initiatives were announced for spending what I would say are probably the surpluses, but in a very narrow scope of initiatives. My question to the Minister is, does he foresee his department changing this to allow councils to retain these and spend them on the priorities which they see as a priority in their regions? Thank you.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

The Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Mr. Dent.

Return To Question 36-13(7): Disposition Of Education Board Surpluses
Question 36-13(7): Disposition Of Education Board Surpluses
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 95

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The answer is yes, we do intend to change the process to ensure that funds transferred to divisional education councils are left to their discretion. What has happened is that with user pay/user say, there has been a change in the way utilities are paid for in public buildings and, as a result of not having enough history to know what constitutes a fair amount of money needed to pay for utilities and some infrastructure costs, it was felt that we would recover under-expenditures and work to develop a better understanding of what the requirements will be in the formula funding that is provided to all divisional education councils. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Return To Question 36-13(7): Disposition Of Education Board Surpluses
Question 36-13(7): Disposition Of Education Board Surpluses
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 95

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Oral questions. Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 36-13(7): Disposition Of Education Board Surpluses
Question 36-13(7): Disposition Of Education Board Surpluses
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 95

Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So, I could offer some assurance to the Divisional Education Council of South Slave that if they were successful in cost savings in various areas, they could re-profile those funds into areas such as more teachers to reduce the student/teacher ratio, and other such important priorities that the regions have, is that to my understanding of the Minister's comments?

Supplementary To Question 36-13(7): Disposition Of Education Board Surpluses
Question 36-13(7): Disposition Of Education Board Surpluses
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 95

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 36-13(7): Disposition Of Education Board Surpluses
Question 36-13(7): Disposition Of Education Board Surpluses
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 95

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, we need to develop some baseline understanding of what communities require throughout the north for funding things like

utilities. Once we have that and work the figures into the formula, it will then be up to the divisional education councils to deal with the yearly fluctuations that can occur. We would hope that things would average out over a period of time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Further Return To Question 36-13(7): Disposition Of Education Board Surpluses
Question 36-13(7): Disposition Of Education Board Surpluses
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 96

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 36-13(7): Disposition Of Education Board Surpluses
Question 36-13(7): Disposition Of Education Board Surpluses
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 96

Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. How soon does the Minister think that this kind of baseline information data would be available? Would it be during the next fiscal year that we could expect this discretion on surplus dollars to be given to the boards? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 36-13(7): Disposition Of Education Board Surpluses
Question 36-13(7): Disposition Of Education Board Surpluses
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 96

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 36-13(7): Disposition Of Education Board Surpluses
Question 36-13(7): Disposition Of Education Board Surpluses
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 96

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. For the record, divisional education councils already have that kind of discretion on surplus dollars if they are able to find ways to save monies. I would expect that utilities will be worked into the formula within the next two fiscal years and we will be able to ensure that all funds are transferred by way of formula. Boards will then have complete jurisdiction in all areas. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.