This is page numbers 117 - 133 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.

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

Page 130

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

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

Page 130

Kevin O'Brien Kivallivik

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize my partner who has put up with me for the last three years while I was sitting in this House as a Member. Thank you.

--Applause

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

Page 131

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Barnabas.

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

Page 131

Levi Barnabas High Arctic

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (Translation) Mr. Speaker, I also would like to recognize Mr. Uriash Puqiqnak, the new Member in replacement of Mr. John Ningark who I would like to recognize as the new Deputy Speaker for Nunavut.

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

Page 131

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mrs. Groenewegen.

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

Page 131

Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I could have let Mr. Krutko do the honours. I would like to recognize Pat Thomas, President of the Northwest Territories Teachers' Association, who has been away for awhile but back again in the House. It is nice to have her back.

--Applause

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

Page 131

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Recognition of visitors in the gallery. For those that have not been recognized in the gallery, welcome to the Assembly. Before we move on to oral questions, I will take a short break.

--Break

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

Page 131

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

The House will come back to order. We are on item 6, oral questions. Item 7, written questions. Item 8, returns to written questions. Item 9, replies to opening address. Mr. Barnabas.

Reply 2-13(7)
Item 9: Replies To Opening Address

March 24th, 1999

Page 131

Levi Barnabas High Arctic

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In seven days the map of Canada will be changed for the last time this century. I would like to speak on how we got where we are today. The creation of Nunavut is the latest step in political growth for Canadian citizens. The Northwest Territories has gone from being known as Rupert's Land and being the so-called property of Hudson's Bay Company to the evolving political entity it is today.

At one time after the sale of Rupert's Land to the Government of Canada in 1870, the Northwest Territories also included the Yukon, Alberta, Saskatchewan, most of Manitoba, northern Ontario and northern Quebec. The last Arctic islands were added in 1880.

In 1898 the Yukon became a separate territory. In 1905 the boundaries were changed again as the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan were created. In 1912, in a spectacular land grab, the borders of Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec were extended northward to their present boundaries.

The last change of the map of Canada occurred in 1949 when the province of Newfoundland joined Confederation. After the creation of the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan, it would be many years before northerners would have a say in the running of the Northwest Territories. Members of the territorial council were appointed southern bureaucrats until 1941 when Jock McNiven from Yellowknife was appointed to the council. In 1951 the Northwest Territories Act was amended to allow three elected Members from the Mackenzie district to sit on the council. Gradually the Northwest Territories Council came more representative of the people it served. In 1967 the Ottawa bureaucracy moved north to Yellowknife. Many people will remember the benevolent dictatorship administered by the late Stewart Hodgson. Discussions were made on the spot with little or no regard for the legislative process.

This gradually changed until 1975 when the first fully elected territorial council since 1905 took office. The Commissioner, however, was still in charge of handling arenas and schools when the mood took over him. This gradually changed with elected Members starting to take over the responsibilities for the departments and sit on the Executive Council which was the equivalent of today's Cabinet.

The Commissioner, however, was still in charge in handling arenas and schools when the mood took over him. By 1979, five elected Members were on the Executive Council which constituted a majority. In 1984, the Commissioner, John Parker, announced that he would no longer sit in the House and participate in debate in order to promote a responsible elected government. In 1986, Mr. Parker gave up the chairmanship of the Executive Council.

In the meantime, forces were gathering in the east. Since the mid-1960s, there were Inuit and even some government bureaucrats that believed in a separate territory for the eastern part of the Northwest Territories. By 1970, many more Inuit had become to believe that the Yellowknife-based government was not responding to their needs. We Inuit have achieved our goal. Nunavut will be a reality. We will miss dealing with our western colleagues on a regular basis. We wish you and all the residents peace and prosperity in the years to come. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

Reply 2-13(7)
Item 9: Replies To Opening Address

Page 131

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you, Mr. Barnabas. Replies to opening address. Item 10, petitions. Item 11, reports of standing and special committees. Item 12, reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 13, tabling of documents. Mr. Roland.

Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document, entitled Minister of Transportation's Report to the Legislative Assembly for 1998 on the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act, 1990. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Tabling of documents. Mr. Ootes.

Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to table a document from Alexander Hook, President of the Northwest

Territories Library Association, in regard to questions I asked yesterday regarding the equal pay issue. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Tabling of documents. Item 14, notices of motion. Item 15, notices of motion for first reading of bills. Item 16, motions. Item 17, first reading of bills. Item 18, second reading of bills. Mr. Dent.

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Baffin South, that Bill 16, An Act to Amend the Supplementary Retiring Allowances Act, be read for the second time.

Mr. Speaker, this bill amends the Supplementary Retiring Allowances Act to terminate the payments of the payment of retiring allowances and benefits on December 1, 1999. Recipients are entitled to be paid the actuarial equivalent of the allowances and benefits as of November 30, 1999. This actuarial equivalent may be paid, at the option of the recipient, either as a lump sum at any time before April 1, 2005, or as 64 equal monthly payments. A recipient can designate a beneficiary who will be paid his or her lump sum payment or unpaid monthly payments in the event of the recipient's death. The bill also makes related adjustments to the regulation-making powers and provides that the Supplementary Retiring Allowances Act is repealed on December 30, 2005. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. The motion is in order. To the principle of the bill. Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried. Bill 16 has had second reading. Mr. Dent.

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to wave rule 69(2) and have Bill 16 moved directly into committee of the whole.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. The Member for Yellowknife Frame Lake is seeking unanimous consent to waive rule 69(2). Do we have any nays? You do not have unanimous consent, Mr. Dent. Bill 16 has had second reading and accordingly the bill is referred to a committee. Second reading of bills. Item 19, consideration in committee of the whole of bills and other matters. Item 20, report of committee of the whole. Item 21, third reading of bills. Mr. Arlooktoo.

Goo Arlooktoo Baffin South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Yellowknife Frame Lake that Bill 13, An Act to Amend the Financial Administration Act, be read for the third time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

The motion is in order. To the motion. Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried. Bill 13 has had third reading. Third reading of bills. Mr. Arlooktoo.

Goo Arlooktoo Baffin South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Yellowknife Frame Lake that Bill 14, An Act to Amend the Risk Capital Investment Tax Credits Act and the Income Tax Act be read for the third time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

The motion is in order. To the motion. Mr. Henry.

Seamus Henry Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to declare a conflict of interest in the Risk Capital Investment and will remove myself from discussion and voting on the matter.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. It is so noted, Mr. Henry. Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried. Bill 14 has had third reading. Third reading of bills. Item 22, orders of the day. Mr. Clerk.

Clerk Of The House Mr. David Hamilton

Mr. Speaker, there is a meeting of the Western Caucus at 4:30 p.m. today. Orders of the day for Friday, March 26, 1999: