This is page numbers 551 - 577 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 chairman.

Topics

Seamus Henry Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Minister of RWED. Mr. Speaker, a number of times in the life of this Legislature I have questioned the Minister on making changes to the Wildlife Act, which would permit RCMP and armed forces personnel to be able to hunt in the Northwest Territories. Mr. Speaker, the Minister informed me over the last four years that there was quite a backlog of legislation to prepare for Nunavut and now that division has taken place, I would like the Minister to tell me when the changes that he committed to a review of the Wildlife Act, when those changes would be presented for public consultation or for review of this House? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker David Krutko

The Minister responsible for Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Kakfwi.

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Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As we have indicated a number of times, we had elected to wait until division to begin work on drafting a discussion paper that would lead to the drafting of a new Wildlife Act for the new Western Territory. Our officials have begun discussions that would lead to the development of a discussion paper, which I hope will be released later this year that could lead to work, for instance, with the aboriginal communities because of their constitutional rights to bind to a process, to draft a new Wildlife Act and have that perhaps ready to be considered as new legislation sometime in the year 2000. The specific request made by the Member, I think, would be considered in that process. Thank you.

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The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker David Krutko

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Henry.

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Seamus Henry Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my information indicates that, in fact, the RCMP and DND personnel who are posted to other parts of the country are permitted to hunt much sooner than a normal person moving to an area. The Minister had indicated that it is under review right now, but I do not believe he indicated as to when he would be bringing it forward in legislation. Could the Minister indicate again if he did not do it in the past, when will the legislation or the discussion paper be brought forward? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker David Krutko

Mr. Minister.

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Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Mr. Speaker, the Wildlife Act that we have now is very outdated. It does not adequately reflect, for instance, the land claims agreements of the Inuvialuit, Gwich'in, Sahtu. It does not reflect the fact that we have a Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. There are sections of it that are extremely outdated. When we undertake the drafting of new legislation, it would have to be preceded by extensive discussions with the aboriginal stakeholders, as well as the overall community of the Northwest Territories. The initial part of the work, the consultation, will probably be the most extensive part. I am sure the point that the Member raised will be considered in that process. I hope that with the initial positive response by the Dene chiefs to setting up an intergovernmental forum and the commitment to work with this government through that forum, as well as interest by the other aboriginal leaders in working on common issues with this government, that we can see a discussion process start this year and, as I have said, with legislation being drafted for consideration some time next year, in the year 2000. Thank you.

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The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker David Krutko

Oral questions. Final supplementary, Mr. Henry.

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Seamus Henry Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. What I am talking about is extending these hunting privileges to RCMP and DND personnel while stationed in the Northwest Territories and I accept the fact that where there are already settled claims, they should have the permission of that particular group to hunt or to be on that particular land. It is the public lands that I am talking about, Mr. Speaker, that allowing these particular groups of individuals who are not necessarily here because of choice, but because they are posted here, to have them given the right to hunt on these public lands. Could the Minister tell me if, in fact, the GNWT has the responsibility over those lands, not the aboriginal claimant lands, to allow hunting? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker David Krutko

Mr. Kakfwi.

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Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The most elementary of all aboriginal rights, I think, as, even former Prime Minister Trudeau said back in 1973, is hunting and trapping. Those are constitutionally entrenched rights within the claims, within the treaties. It is important that, when we talk about access to hunting and harvesting of wildlife anywhere in the Northwest Territories, we must always take into consideration the rights of aboriginal people. It is our obligation to consult with them on any changes that we make in regard to management, harvesting and anything that would have an impact on the hunting and trapping rights of aboriginal people. We would have to take an overall approach to ensure that everything is balanced and consistent and considered in developing the legislation. We have to stop doing patchwork and remedial work on this rather outdated act. I am unable, unfortunately, to give a specific response to the Member. I know he has been raising it for some time. Thank you.

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The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker David Krutko

Oral questions. Mrs. Groenewegen.

Question 199-13(7): Ministerial Compensation And Benefits
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May 11th, 1999

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Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Premier. Before I ask my questions, I would like to commend the Premier for his Minister's statement today on ministerial compensation and benefits. This is another indication of the forthright and responsive way that this Premier responds to concerns from this side of the House, so I want to thank you for that statement.

--Applause

I would like to ask a couple of questions with regard to that statement. Mr. Speaker, is it only Cabinet Ministers who decide on ministerial benefits? Thank you.

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker David Krutko

Mr. Premier.

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Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Thank you. Yes.

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The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker David Krutko

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

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Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River

Thank you. I understand, then, that benefits available to the Cabinet Ministers are not brought to the House and decided on by the whole Legislative Assembly, that, in fact, it is determined from within the Cabinet and decided there and there alone, is that what I am hearing? Thank you.

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The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker David Krutko

Mr. Premier.

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Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Thank you. Some of the benefits are from policies that govern Cabinet. Thank you.

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The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker David Krutko

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mrs.

Groenewegen.

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Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Then, further to that, who actually approves the expenditures with respect to ministerial benefits, for example, these severance packages which were approved for the Nunavut Members. Who would actually approve that within the policy? Would that go to Cabinet or is it approved by the Secretary of Cabinet, or how is that handled? Thank you.

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The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker David Krutko

Mr. Premier.

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Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the severance packages for the Ministers just follows the policy so it does not necessarily come from Cabinet, the decision, it just follows the policy. Thank you.

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The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker David Krutko

Oral questions. Final supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

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Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to know then, if in the specific instance of the Nunavut Cabinet Ministers who retired days before the end of their term, whether or not that was approved by Cabinet and whether or not, in fact, in essence, the Nunavut Members who are now re-elected to the Nunavut government, are not on both payrolls at this time? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.