This is page numbers 135 - 148 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 decision.

Further Return To Question 41-13(7): Cabinet Decisions
Question 41-13(7): Cabinet Decisions
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Morin.

Supplementary To Question 41-13(7): Cabinet Decisions
Question 41-13(7): Cabinet Decisions
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, if it is allowable can I redirect the question to the Premier?

Supplementary To Question 41-13(7): Cabinet Decisions
Question 41-13(7): Cabinet Decisions
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

You can have your supplementary to the Minister of Justice. Any redirection will be considered a new question. Mr. Morin.

Supplementary To Question 41-13(7): Cabinet Decisions
Question 41-13(7): Cabinet Decisions
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on the firearm registration of Canada, Cabinet must have decided to appeal that case or to join a court case. What type of advice did you get from the Department of Justice, and possibly, one of the Ministers can answer that, or the Premier? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 41-13(7): Cabinet Decisions
Question 41-13(7): Cabinet Decisions
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Arlooktoo.

Further Return To Question 41-13(7): Cabinet Decisions
Question 41-13(7): Cabinet Decisions
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Goo Arlooktoo Baffin South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I previously stated, I was not Minister of Justice; however, from records and discussions, I understand that the general advice was not to go forward with supporting an appeal. As I said earlier, sometimes we do not follow exactly all the advice we get. Cabinet at that time, as far as I am aware, made a political decision to support the province of Alberta in an appeal. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Further Return To Question 41-13(7): Cabinet Decisions
Question 41-13(7): Cabinet Decisions
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Oral questions. Final Supplementary, Mr. Morin.

Supplementary To Question 41-13(7): Cabinet Decisions
Question 41-13(7): Cabinet Decisions
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On the advice of the lawyers in the Department of Justice to Cabinet as the Minister just said, an advice of not joining the appeal because you would probably be highly unlikely of success, Cabinet made a political decision still to join Alberta in that appeal case. It must have been on principle to protect the rights of northern residents. Is this a true statement I just made, Mr. Minister, that Cabinet made this decision on the principle of protecting the rights of the northern residents. Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 41-13(7): Cabinet Decisions
Question 41-13(7): Cabinet Decisions
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

May I ask the Member to rephrase his question. The Cabinet decision that has been made is not open for debate in this House. It was a Cabinet decision. Mr. Morin.

Supplementary To Question 41-13(7): Cabinet Decisions
Question 41-13(7): Cabinet Decisions
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With the greatest of respect, I did not understand what you have just said. No Cabinet decision is open for debate in the House, is that correct?

Supplementary To Question 41-13(7): Cabinet Decisions
Question 41-13(7): Cabinet Decisions
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

The Member can ask a question regarding how Cabinet reached a decision. But you cannot ask how discussions went in Cabinet regarding that decision. Mr. Morin.

Supplementary To Question 41-13(7): Cabinet Decisions
Question 41-13(7): Cabinet Decisions
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Don Morin Tu Nedhe

I thank you for that clarification, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Minister, how did Cabinet decide to join the Government of Alberta and the Government of Saskatchewan on the court case of the firearms legislation of this country when you had advice, as you said earlier, from your legal advisors not to do it. Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 41-13(7): Cabinet Decisions
Question 41-13(7): Cabinet Decisions
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Arlooktoo.

Further Return To Question 41-13(7): Cabinet Decisions
Question 41-13(7): Cabinet Decisions
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Goo Arlooktoo Baffin South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Unfortunately, it is very difficult for me to comment on that. As I said earlier, the decision was made before my time as Minister. I would imagine that as with all Cabinet decisions that the Cabinet is given different forms of advice and looks at all sides of the issue and makes a decision on the best course of action to take. I would feel confident that that was the process that was used, as it always is. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Further Return To Question 41-13(7): Cabinet Decisions
Question 41-13(7): Cabinet Decisions
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Oral questions. Mr. Miltenberger.

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is directed to the Minister of Transportation. It is in regard to an issue raised with me by the Metis Nation of Fort Smith. They send students out to Edmonton for class one driver training. When they successfully complete the course they get an Alberta licence. Unfortunately, to do that they have to give up their territorial licence and have to buy it back when they come back to the Northwest Territories. I was wondering if the Minister would be in a position to clarify the issue and maybe expand on why that is the case or can that issue be dealt with so that in fact the holders of Northwest Territories licences, when they go out for a course, do not have to buy their licence back that they own prior to going out to the course. Thank you.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

The Minister of Transportation. Mr. Roland.

Return To Question 42-13(7): Motor Vehicle Operator Licencing
Question 42-13(7): Motor Vehicle Operator Licencing
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Member raises a very good issue here. Since Aurora College no longer provides that class one driver training, the people who want to take that would have to travel to Alberta. Right now we do not have a process or an agreement with Alberta to transfer back and forth and therefore the people that go into Alberta to take that would have to take the course and pay for the course and the licence there, and when they come back would have to change their first class licence to a NWT one as well. That is where the problem arises. I have discussed this with my department officials and we are going to look at what we can do to try and alleviate that concern and hopefully we will be able to come up to an agreement. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Return To Question 42-13(7): Motor Vehicle Operator Licencing
Question 42-13(7): Motor Vehicle Operator Licencing
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Miltenberger.

Supplementary To Question 42-13(7): Motor Vehicle Operator Licencing
Question 42-13(7): Motor Vehicle Operator Licencing
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I was wondering if the Minister could elaborate on what type of options he thinks may be appropriate. Is it a procedural issue; the key question being, will it in fact do away with the necessity of the NWT residents having to buy their licence back? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 42-13(7): Motor Vehicle Operator Licencing
Question 42-13(7): Motor Vehicle Operator Licencing
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 42-13(7): Motor Vehicle Operator Licencing
Question 42-13(7): Motor Vehicle Operator Licencing
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There are a couple of options, Mr. Speaker. There are companies in the Northwest Territories that do provide class one training for drivers. The only concern is that, in fact, there is a need for a larger number of students that would make the training possible here in the NWT. I am informed that actually in the City of Yellowknife, there are two companies. Actually one in Yellowknife, the Arctic Defensive Driving School. It all depends on the number of students that they can take in. That would eliminate the need for going into Alberta and take care of that problem altogether. The second option is for this government to enter into a reciprocal agreement with the Government of Alberta so that we can reduce those costs and reduce the need for buying back the licence in the NWT, so that is an option. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Further Return To Question 42-13(7): Motor Vehicle Operator Licencing
Question 42-13(7): Motor Vehicle Operator Licencing
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Miltenberger.

Supplementary To Question 42-13(7): Motor Vehicle Operator Licencing
Question 42-13(7): Motor Vehicle Operator Licencing
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Given the fact that this is an issue that already has some history to it, and that it was just brought up to my attention, but they have already had students going south, could the Minister indicate what he anticipates in terms of a timeframe in dealing with the second option of arranging something with the Province of Alberta to resolve this issue in an administrative way to avoid paying double?

Supplementary To Question 42-13(7): Motor Vehicle Operator Licencing
Question 42-13(7): Motor Vehicle Operator Licencing
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Roland.