This is page numbers 357 - 395 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 highway.

Topics

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

Page 361

Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to recognize a guest who has travelled to the Northwest Territories, the Honourable Flora McDonald, co-chair of the National Committee for the International Year of Older Persons. As well, joining us in the Gallery is Mr. Lloyd Brunes, chairman of the NWT Seniors Advisory Council and Mr. Dusty Miller, member of the NWT Seniors Advisory Council. I must apologize for not having the names of many of the others that joined us for our luncheon that we had, but I would like to welcome them to the gallery.

--Applause

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

Page 361

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Welcome to the Assembly. 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 361

Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would also like to recognize a constituent of mine from Hay River, Mr. Lloyd Brunes, and thank him for his work with the seniors. Also, my new constituency assistant, Wendy Morgan from Hay River, who has just come to Yellowknife for the first time. Thank you.

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

Page 361

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Welcome to the Assembly. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Ootes.

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

Page 361

Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize a number of people, but first I would like to recognize several of my constituents first. Dr. George Gibson and I believe Dusty and Mrs. Miller, but I believe they are in Mr. Henry's riding, so forgive me for that. I will introduce several other people and then Mr. Henry may wish to introduce some. Pete Fraser, Bea Campbell, Lloyd Brunes, who Mrs. Groenewegen has referenced, Dusty and Mrs. Miller, Gladys Eggenberger, Annie Yourchenko, Diane Mercredi and Cathy Praamsma and that is all we can see from down here, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

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

Page 361

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Miltenberger.

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

Page 361

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am no longer sitting beside my colleague, Mr. Ootes, but he still recognizes some of my constituents. I would also like to rise to recognize Mrs. Bea Campbell, president of the NWT Seniors Society and a long-time resident of Fort Smith.

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

Page 361

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Welcome to the Assembly. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Henry.

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

Page 361

Seamus Henry Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I do not have a great viewing position from this location, but for all the wonderful residents of Yellowknife South that my colleague, Mr. Ootes, neglected to mention, I would recognize them. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

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

Page 361

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Dent.

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

Page 361

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think there may be only two other people left that Mr. Ootes forgot to mention.

--Laughter

They are most probably Mr. Ootes's constituents so I had better recognize them on his behalf.

--Laughter

I would like to recognize a pioneer from Yellowknife, Mr. D'arcy Arden, and his wife, June Van Dine.

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

Page 361

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Welcome to the Assembly. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Krutko.

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

Page 361

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just in case we missed somebody, I would like to recognize those people that have not been recognized.

--Applause

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

Page 361

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Rabesca.

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

Page 361

James Rabesca North Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I, too would like to recognize some long-time associates with some of the elders in Yellowknife, such members as Dusty Miller and a long-time resident of Yellowknife, and no stranger to this Assembly, Mr. Pete Fraser from Yellowknife. Thank you, Mr. Speaker

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

Page 361

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Recognitions of visitors in the gallery, Mr. Erasmus.

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

Page 361

Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. While I do not have the opportunity to see who is in the gallery as well as Mr. Henry, I would like to welcome all of the guests up there who are from the Yellowknife North constituency. Thank you.

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

Page 361

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Recognition of visitors in the gallery, Mr. Morin.

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

Page 361

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would also like to recognize Pete Fraser, a former Member of the House, a

resident of Fort Resolution who just moved to Yellowknife, as well as the other elders in the gallery. Thank you.

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

Page 362

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Item 5, Oral questions. Mr. Erasmus.

Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development. Mr. Speaker, we heard the other day that the NWT Development Corporation Act stipulates that there must be a minimum of seven board members appointed at any one time. On Friday, the Minister for the NWT Development Corporation said that it was not really a breach to have less than a full board, that Members have resigned because of division, so the board has less than the minimum required. When he was asked when there last was a minimum of seven board members, he indicated he did not know so he took the question as notice.

On Monday, in reply to another question, he said that there had only been five board members since 1996, which of course we all know is less then seven. There had been only five board members since 1996 even thought the staff had brought this up several times. What he was saying, is that since he is the person responsible for appointing board members, is that he had refused to adhere to the act for at least two years. He deliberately disregarded the act where it says there are supposed to be seven board members, so what I would like to ask the Minister is, who advises the Minister which parts of the act to adhere to and which parts to disregard? Thank you.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

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

Return To Question 132-13(7): Vacancies On Nwt Development Corporation Board Of Directors
Question 132-13(7): Vacancies On NWT Development Corporation Board Of Directors
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 362

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the board members of the Development Corporation are appointed by the Commissioner, Executive Council. My job as a Minister is to politically ask Members of the Legislature to forward names for consideration by Cabinet for appointment to the board. I have been doing that since my appointment to this portfolio, and Members have not always come up with names. We have waited, sometimes months, for good names to come forward. The president of the Development Corporation, in my view, is the chief executive officer of the Corporation and it is the president that has been advising me over the last few years when we have not had a minimum of seven appointed. Each time that was done, letters were sent out to Members of the Legislature asking for nominees to be put forward.

My understanding is that a breach is considered, at least by the legal advice I have received to date, perhaps too strong a term. Not complying with the act is much more my preference. So we have not been complying with the act in making sure the minimum of seven were, but there is absolutely no doubt there has been a concerted effort on my part to make sure the Executive Council was able to comply with the act by trying to advance names, by soliciting names from Members, and by sending letters out. That has been, in summary, what we have been doing. It is my view that Cabinet is responsible for ensuring that the board is properly constituted at all times. It is not the prerogative of the president or myself as a Minister to advance names, appoint names without politically seeking the support and nominees from the Members of the Legislature, and we also require that the Cabinet endorses and appoints those members. Thank you.

Return To Question 132-13(7): Vacancies On Nwt Development Corporation Board Of Directors
Question 132-13(7): Vacancies On NWT Development Corporation Board Of Directors
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 362

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Erasmus.

Supplementary To Question 132-13(7): Vacancies On Nwt Development Corporation Board Of Directors
Question 132-13(7): Vacancies On NWT Development Corporation Board Of Directors
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 362

Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I had asked the Minister who advises him on which parts of the act to adhere to and which parts to disregard, but he disregarded that question and did not answer it, so what I will ask him now, is what criteria he uses when he wants to disregard an act that governs his department or Crown corporation that he is responsible for? Thank you.