This is page numbers 211 - 240 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 business.

Supplementary To Question 79-13(7): Class Sizes In The Nwt
Question 79-13(7): Class Sizes In The Nwt
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 213

Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Minister for the answer. So, it really is a freedom of the boards to allow classes to be larger and in many cases, no doubt, it does accede the 1 to 18, but additionally, we have the problem, Mr.

Speaker, of the diversity of the classes. They may be teaching at three or four different levels. It is extremely difficult for teachers, the size, no doubt, is beyond the 18 to 1 in many cases, but also the diversity. I guess my question, Mr. Speaker, would be how does our government monitor that the boards do stick to a limited number of students per class?

Supplementary To Question 79-13(7): Class Sizes In The Nwt
Question 79-13(7): Class Sizes In The Nwt
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 214

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 79-13(7): Class Sizes In The Nwt
Question 79-13(7): Class Sizes In The Nwt
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 214

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Department of Education, Culture and Employment is currently in the process of developing an accountability framework that will apply to divisional boards and DEAs to address some of those very specific issues that the Member has raised. This is currently underway. The Member raises a good point and it is one of the factors that are going to be included in this accountability framework, graduation rates, class sizes, how the money is effectively spent in communities and by the divisional boards. That will be one of the factors addressed. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 79-13(7): Class Sizes In The Nwt
Question 79-13(7): Class Sizes In The Nwt
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 214

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Oral questions. Final supplementary, Mr. Ootes.

Supplementary To Question 79-13(7): Class Sizes In The Nwt
Question 79-13(7): Class Sizes In The Nwt
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 214

Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Thank you. I am glad that is underway because it is of concern and we do need to address it. I had understood that we did not have such statistics available to us at the moment. Could the Minister also tell us if he will address, in this compilation, the whole question of the diversity of classrooms because you may have 18, meet the ratio, but still have a tremendous diversity in there of different levels that need to be taught? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary To Question 79-13(7): Class Sizes In The Nwt
Question 79-13(7): Class Sizes In The Nwt
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 214

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 79-13(7): Class Sizes In The Nwt
Question 79-13(7): Class Sizes In The Nwt
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 214

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Once again, it is a legitimate concern that we are, as well, concerned about as a department. The issue of social paths, special needs and inclusive schooling approach, those are factors that are taken under serious consideration in the short term as we look at the money we do have and how we are spending it and, of course, more specifically in the longer term as we look for increased revenues to, in fact, address those issues, lower the classroom sizes, be able to pay better attention to special needs and then the issue of social paths is another issue that has come up, I know, in committee. As well, it is a concern, I think, by parents in general, the quality of education in that regard. Those are all important points that the Member has raised and they are going to be given serious consideration.

Further Return To Question 79-13(7): Class Sizes In The Nwt
Question 79-13(7): Class Sizes In The Nwt
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 214

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. Krutko.

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism, especially in regard to the resource sector. We have heard a lot of talk of the question about trying to generate new revenues in the Northwest Territories and the possibility of the amount of money that the federal government gets for royalties and other things. I would like to ask the Minister what is happening in regard to the progress of the Northern Accord negotiations? There was no mention of it in the budget speech, yet the aboriginal groups play a big role.

In regard to the Gwich'in Agreement, subsection resources, section 21.1.6 states, the Government of the Northwest Territories shall involve the Gwich'in in the development and implementation of Northern Accord of oil and gas in the Northwest Territories, which is being negotiated pursuing to an enabling agreement dated September 5, 1988, between the Government of Canada and the Government of the Northwest Territories which is the Northern Accord Agreement. Can the Minister tell me what progress has been made to date in regard to the Northern Accord negotiations between the aboriginal groups?

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

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

Return To Question 80-13(7): Northern Accord Negotiations
Question 80-13(7): Northern Accord Negotiations
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 214

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In January of this year, Premier Jim Antoine announced and offered to meet with the aboriginal leaders, chiefs, members of the Aboriginal Summit to discuss the possibility of advancing the devolution file, that is the ownership and management of northern resources, northern lands and waters. The proposal suggested that we would look at joint ownership of lands and resources and the sharing of revenues as essential elements for the aboriginal leaders to consider.

The Premier and myself have met with the Inuvialuit, the Gwich'in, members of the Sahtu Secretariat and the Sahtu Dene Council. We met with representatives of the Deh Cho, Dogrib Treaty 11, Akaitcho territory leaders, members of the Aboriginal Summit, and the Aboriginal Summit itself is still a file that needs to be clarified with one-on-one discussions with a number of individuals; however, it is my view that there is movement toward entertaining setting up an intergovernmental forum that could be seen as the avenue through which progress could be made on the devolution file. It would require probably some work on the political protocol, so that aboriginal governments and this government would outline how we would relate to one another, what items and subject matters we would work on together and some mention of a process that could be used to develop that relationship and a work plan. Devolution, economic strategy, would be specific items, I think, that would flow from such an agreement, such an arrangement. At this time, as I understand it, there are officials meeting to look at a possible agenda that could begin, for instance, with a chiefs meeting, which could lead to an intergovernmental forum sometime this spring. A chiefs meeting is tentatively scheduled for the first week of May. That is the stage at which the talks are.

In relation to the specific reference in the Gwich'in claim to the economic measures, it is our proposal that we would go beyond what is called for in that chapter by offering to develop, in partnership with the Gwich'in and with every aboriginal group in the valley, an overall economic strategy so that the entire resources of government, every program, every resource that this government has, could be linked in support of whatever economic strategy the aboriginal peoples choose to design for themselves. Thank you.

Return To Question 80-13(7): Northern Accord Negotiations
Question 80-13(7): Northern Accord Negotiations
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 215

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Supplementary To Question 80-13(7): Northern Accord Negotiations
Question 80-13(7): Northern Accord Negotiations
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 215

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am not too sure where to go with this. I think it is kind of hard to understand exactly, this commitment is implemented in the land claim agreement which is constitutionally protected. There is an agreement signed between the federal government and this government for the Northern Accord to transfer resources to this government and to the aboriginal groups in the Northwest Territories. Yet, Mr. Speaker, it is clearly stated they shall be involved in all negotiations in the development of a Northern Accord. Have the aboriginal groups been involved with the discussion between this government and the government in Ottawa in regard to Indian affairs?

Supplementary To Question 80-13(7): Northern Accord Negotiations
Question 80-13(7): Northern Accord Negotiations
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 215

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Kakfwi.

Further Return To Question 80-13(7): Northern Accord Negotiations
Question 80-13(7): Northern Accord Negotiations
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 215

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think it is imperative that we understand categorically. The Government of Canada has said consistently for the last four or five years for devolution to happen, for any chance for it to happen, the support of aboriginal peoples is essential. The federal government has said that. This government has also said the support of aboriginal peoples is necessary for us to proceed on any discussions regarding transfer of responsibility from the federal government to the north. That has been categorical. There have been some preliminary overtures to say to the federal government that we may, if the aboriginal peoples agree or are in support of such an approach, that we would undertake to set up discussions with the full involvement and support of aboriginal governments, to begin discussions with the federal government on the transfer of ownership of lands and resources in the Northwest Territories to the people and governments of the north. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 80-13(7): Northern Accord Negotiations
Question 80-13(7): Northern Accord Negotiations
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 215

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Supplementary To Question 80-13(7): Northern Accord Negotiations
Question 80-13(7): Northern Accord Negotiations
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 215

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As most people know, there are presently negotiations going on for self-government agreements, but there is also a question about costs to implement those agreements. In the case of the Northern Accord agreements, a lot of the aboriginal groups are looking at the whole area of generating revenues for themselves to implement the self-government agreements. Yet, Mr. Speaker, there is no real statement anywhere in the budget or upon this government in regard to having the aboriginal groups have that ability to take on those own revenues and resources from their regions or their ridings where those land claims have been settled. I would like to ask the Minister has there been anything in writing that says this government will take over lands and resources in the Northwest Territories?

Supplementary To Question 80-13(7): Northern Accord Negotiations
Question 80-13(7): Northern Accord Negotiations
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 215

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Kakfwi.

Further Return To Question 80-13(7): Northern Accord Negotiations
Question 80-13(7): Northern Accord Negotiations
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 215

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Mr. Speaker, this has been a point that seems to be difficult to get clear or get across to everyone, and it is unfortunate. What the Premier has been saying, and the Minister of Finance and myself, since January, is that we are prepared to look at sharing the ownership of the lands and resources in the north with aboriginal governments. So the Government of the Northwest Territories with the aboriginal governments should propose together to assume ownership of resources of the north, that is the land and the sub-surface resources, including the waters.

We have also proposed, on a number of occasions, that we are prepared to discuss sharing the revenue that would flow from the development of these resources. We are prepared to discuss sharing the revenue and that the revenue should be shared between aboriginal governments and the Government of the Northwest Territories. That is what Premier Jim Antoine, Finance Minister Todd, now Minister Dent, and myself as the lead Minister have been offering as a basis to start discussions with aboriginal governments since January. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 80-13(7): Northern Accord Negotiations
Question 80-13(7): Northern Accord Negotiations
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 215

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Oral questions. Final supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Supplementary To Question 80-13(7): Northern Accord Negotiations
Question 80-13(7): Northern Accord Negotiations
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 215

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In regard to the whole concept of sharing, it sounds great, but at the end of the day, usually when you share something there is a breakdown of how you break down a dollar or whatnot, the distribution of what percent each group gets. Does the Minister have any documentation to clearly stipulate or basically lay out the sharing mechanism, how it is going to be distributed and exactly how it is going to be allocated to the aboriginal groups and the different claimant groups that presently have a land claims agreement in regard to certain rights for resources within those areas?

Supplementary To Question 80-13(7): Northern Accord Negotiations
Question 80-13(7): Northern Accord Negotiations
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 215

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Kakfwi.

Further Return To Question 80-13(7): Northern Accord Negotiations
Question 80-13(7): Northern Accord Negotiations
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 215

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we have been very careful in the way we make the overtures and the approaches. As you know, based on what was written about a visit that I made to Calgary with the Premier at the beginning of this year, certain members of the Aboriginal Summit abruptly called for my resignation and that of the Premier as well, based on what they perceived for me to have said based on the newspaper article. We have said to the Aboriginal Summit, and we have said to the Inuvialuit and the

Gwich'in leaders, the chiefs of the Sahtu and the Sahtu Secretariat earlier this year that we are offering to share the ownership of land and resources with them. We are offering to share the revenues from subsurface resources with them.

How do we do it? How much is their share? We have not done any work, not even preliminary work, to look at that because it is, at this time, a suggestion. We would not want the aboriginal leaders to think that this is a preplanned, pre-programmed agenda that we are offering to work with them. We can compile with them the information needed so they can make decisions about what should be the mechanism for sharing of revenues and whether it should be done region by region, whether it should be done as a general interest, whatever approach it is, it will be done through joint discussions. So, Mr. Speaker, there are no documents, there is no preliminary research done on this. We are waiting for a positive response, a definitive response from the aboriginal governments, and we are proceeding and waiting to move with them as they would indicate. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 80-13(7): Northern Accord Negotiations
Question 80-13(7): Northern Accord Negotiations
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 216

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Oral questions. Before we continue on, I would like to welcome and recognize the deputy Sergeant-at-Arms, Mr. Guy Gonneville. Welcome to the Assembly. I understand it is your birthday, too, so happy birthday.

--Applause

Oral questions. Mr. Henry.

Question 81-13(7): Nwtpc Employees Union Status
Item 6: Oral Questions

April 19th, 1999

Page 216

Seamus Henry Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister responsible for the Public Service Act, regarding the NWT Power Corporation employees' union representation. Mr. Speaker, it has dawned on me again that life has just one circle and I intend to demonstrate what I mean by those words.

Concerns were brought to my attention regarding the dissatisfaction of unionized employees of the NWT Power Corporation regarding their representation by the Union of Northern Workers. Originally when I received these concerns, I wrote to the Minister responsible for the NWT Power Corporation, which is Mr. Dent. He responded by indicating that the matter of representation of bargaining unit employees of the Government of the Northwest Territories would be best addressed by the Minister responsible for the Public Service Act, who was Mr. Todd at the time. I would have liked to address these concerns to Mr. Todd, but Mr. Todd is no longer in that position, so I have come full circle now and I would address the concerns back to Mr. Dent.

Could the Minister responsible for the Public Service Act indicate if it is possible for a group of unionized employees of the Government of the Northwest Territories, in particular, the NWT Power Corporation to have separate representation from the association other than the Union of Northern Workers? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.