This is page numbers 579 - 604 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 chairperson.

Topics

Vince Steen

Vince Steen Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have a return to a question asked by Mr. Krutko on May 10, 1999, regarding designated aboriginal organizations.

Mr. Speaker, on Monday, May 10, 1999, the Member for Mackenzie Delta asked me if the Business Incentive Policy classified the ownership of a business or company as aboriginal.

Both the Business Incentive Policy and the Department of Transportation's Negotiated Contracts Policy qualify the government's procurement policies pursuant to the Contract Regulations and the Financial Administration Act. The government's procurement policies apply throughout the territory for the general public considered as all bona fide northern residents. These public policies do not differentiate between the aboriginal or non-aboriginal status of an individual or a company.

The term designated aboriginal organization is used in land claim settlements in defining the relationship and obligations between a claimant group and government. The meaning and application of the term varies from one agreement to another. The Inuvialuit Final Agreement, for instance, does not use the term. At the present time, there are just three land claim settlements in place with several others at various stages of resolution. For public policy purposes, the term, designated aboriginal organization, does not have a uniform or consistent meaning across the territory.

The government's public procurement policies are one thing and its obligations arising from land claim settlements are quite another. These are different legal and policy contexts that may cause confusion if they are mixed and should be kept separate. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

Thank you. Returns to oral questions. Mr. Kakfwi.

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this is in response to an oral question asked by Mr. Ootes on May 12, 1999, regarding the report on the Economic Development Strategy.

Mr. Speaker, although the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development assumed the lead for the economic strategy in February of this year, the cost to produce Harnessing Our Economic Potential, a public policy discussion paper, was paid by the Department of the Executive. Thank you.

The Speaker

Thank you. Returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Erasmus.

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

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Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize a couple of employees from First Air. First of all is Julia Mott, a well-known Yellowknifer, the manager of sales for First Air, and Mike Olson, the new director of sales. Mr. Olson, originally from Calgary, has been here for three weeks. I would like to welcome them to the Assembly and, to Mr. Olson, welcome to Yellowknife. Thank you.

--Applause

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

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The Speaker

Welcome to the Assembly. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. I would like to recognize Mr. Robert Clark. Mr. Clark is the acting NWT Conflict of Interest Commissioner. 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

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Seamus Henry Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to recognize Mr. Mike Mandeville in the Legislative Assembly. He is one of the NWT Power Corporation workers. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

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

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The Speaker

Thank you. 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

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David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize Vital Manual from Fort Good Hope.

--Applause

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

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The Speaker

Welcome to the Assembly. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Item 6, oral questions. Mrs. Groenewegen.

Question 201-13(7): Timber Harvesting Guidelines
Item 6: Oral Questions

May 12th, 1999

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Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions today are for the Minister responsible for Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development. Mr. Speaker, over the past three years I have, along with some of my constituents, experienced the frustration that they have had in getting timely responses to applications for timber to harvest for the requirements of their business. My question is, when it

comes to forestry management, should we be assured that there is a reasonable balance between conservation and environmental concerns and the need to assist sawmill operators in identifying harvestable timber for the benefit of the economic activity created by this resource? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

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

Return To Question 201-13(7): Timber Harvesting Guidelines
Question 201-13(7): Timber Harvesting Guidelines
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I like to think that all governments try to develop an acceptable balance between environmental concerns and business interests and the interests of industry. Thank you.

Return To Question 201-13(7): Timber Harvesting Guidelines
Question 201-13(7): Timber Harvesting Guidelines
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 201-13(7): Timber Harvesting Guidelines
Question 201-13(7): Timber Harvesting Guidelines
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on the subject of conservation and the environment, could the Minister please describe what the policy of this government is with respect to high- grading stands of timber?

Supplementary To Question 201-13(7): Timber Harvesting Guidelines
Question 201-13(7): Timber Harvesting Guidelines
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

Mr. Kakfwi.

Further Return To Question 201-13(7): Timber Harvesting Guidelines
Question 201-13(7): Timber Harvesting Guidelines
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it is the expectation of our government that timber licences or permits would be issued with very strict guidelines as to the method of harvesting the timber. That is agreed to before operations begin. High-grading, as it is called, is not an acceptable way of harvesting timber. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 201-13(7): Timber Harvesting Guidelines
Question 201-13(7): Timber Harvesting Guidelines
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 201-13(7): Timber Harvesting Guidelines
Question 201-13(7): Timber Harvesting Guidelines
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am very glad to hear that. Could the Minister also please describe for our information what the purpose is at present for what are called heritage stands? Who puts these stands into reserve, and is there any way that they can be clearly identified for us? Is there a map identifying heritage stands? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 201-13(7): Timber Harvesting Guidelines
Question 201-13(7): Timber Harvesting Guidelines
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

Mr. Kakfwi.

Further Return To Question 201-13(7): Timber Harvesting Guidelines
Question 201-13(7): Timber Harvesting Guidelines
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, heritage stands, as I understand it, are simply sections of the forest that are off limits to any harvesting. They are set aside for ecological reasons. We believe that some mature stands of timber are essential to the well-being of some of our wildlife species, such as mink, woodland caribou, as well as other species, and they need mature timber stands in order to thrive and continue to be in a state of well-being. These heritage stands, as we call them, are being designated at this time by the department as areas that we would like to see protected. They will be going into overall management plans and other information bases that will lead to the establishment of harvesting policies and forest management plans. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 201-13(7): Timber Harvesting Guidelines
Question 201-13(7): Timber Harvesting Guidelines
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 201-13(7): Timber Harvesting Guidelines
Question 201-13(7): Timber Harvesting Guidelines
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, when the Minister speaks of the strict guidelines governing things such as high grading and the off-limits nature of heritage stands, I was wondering if the Minister could tell us, please, what the process would be for lodging, who would you complain to if you felt these policies of the government, if there was any infraction of those? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 201-13(7): Timber Harvesting Guidelines
Question 201-13(7): Timber Harvesting Guidelines
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

Mr. Kakfwi.

Further Return To Question 201-13(7): Timber Harvesting Guidelines
Question 201-13(7): Timber Harvesting Guidelines
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I believe the complaint should be made to the closest Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development offices, perhaps the office of the regional superintendent should be the place to lodge complaints or concerns regarding what may be perceived as unacceptable timber harvesting. Thank you.