This is page numbers 187 - 209 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 communities.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Morin.

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today on a Member's statement on a happy occasion for a couple from Fort Resolution, Tendah King and Rocky Lafferty. On April 12, 1999, at 1 p.m., they had triplets born to them from Fort Resolution. That is the first set of triplets in the 210-year existence of Fort Resolution, the oldest community in the Northwest Territories. They were three girls, Tanis, Tori and Tamara and they have all made it back to Fort Resolution safe and sound.

The community was happy for them to return home. Once again Fort Resolution showed to the rest of the Northwest Territories that they could pull together and help each other. They formed a big baby shower in the community hall, I understand this weekend, to help the couple out. As well, they are accepting donations of clothing and other things to help this young couple out. I just wish them the best of luck and a good sawing season for Rocky at the sawmill this summer. He needs the money to support these kids. Thank you.

--Applause

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Members' statements. Mr. Antoine.

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, (Translation) I would like to say something in my own language. Last week we had a little bit of time, so we spent three days in Fort Simpson. There are a lot of communities that I am MLA for. There are six communities that I represent in the Deh Cho region. I do not get an opportunity to travel back to the Deh Cho region a lot, so the three days that I spent there I appreciated. I spent two nights in Fort Liard and whoever wanted to meet with me, I had a chance to meet with them. If I have an opportunity in the future I will go back there and meet with more people.

In Fort Simpson we had a constituency meeting. There were a lot of people that attended that meeting. I explained what this new government is all about. There were a lot of questions and a lot of people went to these meetings. I had a chance to explain a little bit of our new government, so it was a worthwhile meeting.

There was also a leadership meeting a while ago I had a chance to attend, I was invited by the chiefs to that meeting, so I attended it for a while. There were a few things of concern that they raised and I was thankful I attended that meeting. Over the last three days I spent in the Deh Cho region I went to see three communities, so I still have three more communities to visit. The next time I go back there I will visit the remaining three communities. Thank you. (Translation ends)

--Applause

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Members' statements. Mr. Erasmus.

Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I also rise today to speak on a happy occasion for quite a few people. I am speaking particularly about the ratification of the offer at Con Mine. I would like to congratulate the workers on ratifying their contract offer. They have gone through a very difficult time in their lives. It was the longest strike at Con Mine in the history of the mine. Mr. Speaker, the members will be meeting with the company officials tomorrow to find out when they will be going back to work. I am sure the 150 workers there are happy that they will actually be going back to work, and I am sure that the Members here also join me in offering them congratulations. Hopefully they will be back on the job very quickly. Thank you.

--Applause

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Member's statements. Again, just to remind the Members about the rules regarding Members' statements. Most Members are within that two and a half minutes, but for those who go over two and a half minutes and require unanimous consent, the request for unanimous consent is to conclude this statement and is not there to carry on. I notice sometimes that Members go beyond another two and a half minutes, so it is like having two Members' statements in one day. Just to remind the Members that the purpose of unanimous consent is to conclude your statement, not to carry on. Members' statements. Item 5, returns to oral questions. Mr. Kakfwi.

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is in response to a question asked by Mr. Henry on March 29th in regard to input of the business community into the development of the Protected Area Strategy. It is anticipated that the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development will approve the strategy by June, 1999. Once approval is received, the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development will be printing copies of the strategy for public distribution. The department will also prepare an executive summary brochure for distribution throughout the Northwest Territories.

In response to another oral question asked by Mr. Ootes on March 24th, 1999, to the Minister of Justice regarding the administration of firearms program.

Return To Oral Question 35-13(7): Administration Of Firearms Program
Item 5: Returns To Oral Questions

April 18th, 1999

Page 198

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

On March 24, 1999, you asked several questions with respect to the administration of the Firearms Program in the Northwest Territories. The Government of the Northwest Territories is currently not involved in the administration of the Firearms Program. Consistent with our objections to the new legislation, the GNWT, like the Governments of Saskatchewan, Alberta and Manitoba, decided not to participate in the implementation or administration of Bill C-68, which is the federal legislation introducing the new Firearms Program. The Firearms Program was transferred to the federal government between July and September of 1998. Since the transfer, there have been no costs incurred and therefore no charges back to the federal government in this regard.

Within the federal government, Justice Canada is responsible for the administration of the Firearms Act. In order to administer the act, they entered into an agreement with the RCMP to deliver the program. The Office of the Chief Territorial Firearms Officer is operated by the RCMP under this agreement but does not employ RCMP officers. Accordingly, there are no costs incurred by the GNWT in the administration of the Firearms Act and therefore no charges back to the federal government.

At the local level the RCMP had intended to use a variety of arrangements to ensure that local firearms officers were available in each community. For example, they had hoped to be able to enter into an agreement with municipal governments to have by-law officers also appointed as local firearms officers. Where these arrangements are not yet in place, services are apparently provided directly by the Office of the Chief Firearms Officer. The Office of the Federal Chief Territorial Firearms Officer would be able to provide information on who has been appointed as local firearms officers in each community. Thank you.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Returns to oral questions. Item 6, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mrs. Groenewegen.

Item 6: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 6: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 198

Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize a constituent of mine from Enterprise, soon to be your constituent I am sure, Winnie Cadieux, the vice-chair of the Enterprise Settlement Council.

--Applause

Item 6: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 6: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 198

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Krutko.

Item 6: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 6: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 198

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it gives me an honour to present the mayor of Aklavik, Mr. Charlie Furlong, and also the newly elected chief from Aklavik, Mr. Charlie Furlong. Welcome to the Legislature.

--Applause

Item 6: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 6: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 198

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Item 7, oral questions. Mr. Ootes.

Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to address my question to the honourable Mr. Kakfwi, in relationship to my statement earlier today on the Giant Mine situation where I referenced the fact that I have tried to get a group of people together. A number of business people are interested, as well as the executive of CAW of Giant Mine in looking at the possibility of a consortium that would, down the road, be able to take over the operation of Giant Mine. This naturally would be of benefit to all, especially here in the north, if it is northern controlled, northern business people, northern employees. I wonder if the Minister could tell us, in relationship to that, what his discussions have been with the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs in regard to the continued operation of Giant Mine.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

The Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Kakfwi.

Return To Question 71-13(7): Continued Operations Of Giant Mine
Question 71-13(7): Continued Operations Of Giant Mine
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 198

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I had a meeting with DIAND Minister, Jane Stewart, last Monday afternoon in Ottawa. We both agreed that neither government is interested in taking over ownership or in operating the mine but that we are interested in helping whatever way we can to ensure that every possible opportunity is given to the private sector to continue to, for instance, to take ownership of the mine and/or to manage and operate that mine and that both governments will do what we can to make sure that is provided for. That is the agreement we had.

We have also said that the public should be assured that there is no immediate danger in regard to the arsenic that is stored underground. The federal government is committed to do what it can to ensure that and that, at some time or other, we will provide perhaps greater clarity on exactly what, if anything, will be done to address that particular problem. Thank you.

Return To Question 71-13(7): Continued Operations Of Giant Mine
Question 71-13(7): Continued Operations Of Giant Mine
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 198

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Oral questions. Supplementary. Mr. Ootes.

Supplementary To Question 71-13(7): Continued Operations Of Giant Mine
Question 71-13(7): Continued Operations Of Giant Mine
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 199

Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I understand that the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs has certainly expressed its interest in handling the mine on a maintenance basis but not on a reclamation basis. They certainly are not committing any funds to that which is contrary to what information I had received at an earlier time. Naturally, any group taking over this particular mine would be very concerned about that end. Could the Minister tell us exactly what this government's stand is and what the federal government's stand is with regard to the environmental problem. Will they accept the responsibility for that?

Supplementary To Question 71-13(7): Continued Operations Of Giant Mine
Question 71-13(7): Continued Operations Of Giant Mine
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 199

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Kakfwi.

Further Return To Question 71-13(7): Continued Operations Of Giant Mine
Question 71-13(7): Continued Operations Of Giant Mine
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 199

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is my understanding that if there is no one left in the room claiming responsibility for that particular mine the federal government may be in a position where we would have to address that question. At this time, because there are court proceedings underway and there are still some possibilities that there may be some way for the federal government to ensure that the private sector, in one form or another, could help address the environmental liability that is currently with the Giant Mine properties, they will not make any categorical statement in assuming liability for that situation. They are prepared to work with the private sector and in the course of discussions with the private sector, maybe in the course of negotiations about potential buyers of this property. The federal government may be in a position to address the liability question in a situation like that. So they are, in short, trying to keep close counsel. They are not prepared to say categorically that the $250 million liability created by the arsenic storage is clearly and categorically a federal responsibility at this time. But they see it as their responsibility to do what they can, working with the private sector if possible, to make sure that is addressed in one form or another. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 71-13(7): Continued Operations Of Giant Mine
Question 71-13(7): Continued Operations Of Giant Mine
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 199

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

I would like to remind the Members about issues that are in front of the courts and that what you ask or the kind of questions could lead to influencing the courts. I was not aware that the issue of Royal Oak is still in the courts. If it is, then Members are not allowed to ask any questions regarding Royal Oak until such a time as the courts have concluded their decision. Just so that I am clear, Mr. Kakfwi, is there still a court proceeding regarding Royal Oak?

Further Return To Question 71-13(7): Continued Operations Of Giant Mine
Question 71-13(7): Continued Operations Of Giant Mine
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 199

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Mr. Speaker, there was a court decision on Friday that said that the properties will be put in receivership, so the courts have appointed a receiver to take care of the business of Royal Oak and what to do with the assets of Royal Oak. In that sense, it is no longer in the courts. For anything to change, a receiver would have to go back to the courts to...

Further Return To Question 71-13(7): Continued Operations Of Giant Mine
Question 71-13(7): Continued Operations Of Giant Mine
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 199

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Ootes.

Supplementary To Question 71-13(7): Continued Operations Of Giant Mine
Question 71-13(7): Continued Operations Of Giant Mine
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 199

Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, thank you for your direction on that. It is in the interest of our government because of our Power Corporation, because of the many number of employees that are involved for us to do what we can. It is an investment, in my opinion, to ensure that this particular operation keeps going with the number of people, families, and indirect employment that are involved which could number 500 employees by the time we deal with the suppliers and services. My question for the Minister is, could he ensure that he dedicates some resources within his department to provide cooperation, certainly moral support, but possibly some financial resources, if feasible, to assist this potential consortium that I have been trying to help get off the ground? Thank you.