This is page numbers 631 - 660 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 aboriginal.

Topics

Members Present

Honourable Jim Antoine, Honourable Charles Dent, Mr. Erasmus, Honourable Sam Gargan, Mrs. Groenewegen, Mr. Henry, Honourable Stephen Kakfwi, Mr. Krutko, Honourable Michael Miltenberger, Mr. Morin, Mr. Ootes, Mr. Rabesca, Honourable Floyd Roland, Honourable Vince Steen.

Oh, God, may your spirit and guidance be in us as we work for the benefit of all our people, for peace and justice in our land and for the constant recognition of the dignity and aspirations of those whom we serve. Amen.

Item 1: Prayer
Item 1: Prayer

Page 631

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Orders of the day, item 2, Ministers' statements. Mr. Dent.

Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to inform the Members of the Legislative Assembly that three long serving northern nurses have been honoured by their colleagues for their outstanding contribution to health care in the north. Ms. Mary Ellen Hoyles of Yellowknife, Ms. Rosalie Adams of Inuvik and Ms. Faye Stark of Fort Providence were nominated by nurses from across the NWT. Together, these three women have provided over 60 years of dedicated nursing service in the North.

To recognize their achievement, the Department of Health and Social Services sponsored the three nurses to attend the Centennial Conference of the International Council of Nurses in London, England, from June 27 to July 1, 1999. Ms. Sylvia Stard also attended the conference on behalf of the NWT Registered Nurses Association Board of Directors. Ms. Nell Vrolyk, manager of recruitment and retention, attended on behalf of the department. Ms. Vrolyk and Ms. Stard are also long serving northern nurses.

The International Council of Nurses (ICN) is an international organization of national nursing associations. It has over 90 member countries and represents over one and a half million nurses around the globe. ICN's mission is to provide leadership and assistance in resolving present and future health care needs.

Over 5,000 nurses from member countries attended this year's conference. London was chosen for this special 100th anniversary celebration of the ICN because it is the birthplace of Florence Nightingale; the founder of modern day nursing.

We also learned that we have the display materials, handouts and information packages to be competitive in the global marketplace. Our nurses received many compliments on the quality and attractiveness of our booth display and informational materials from other exhibitors, as well as conference participants. With our high quality recruitment materials, we have now gained exposure as an employer of nurses with the rest of the world.

Mr. Speaker, recognition of northern nurses is an important part of our Recruitment and Retention Strategy. I am happy that we were able to send these outstanding northern nurses to London. I would like to thank them for the job they did to help the department recruit nurses and promote nursing careers in the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Ministers' statements. Mr. Dent.

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good afternoon. Mr. Speaker, the annual meeting of Federal/Provincial/Territorial Ministers Responsible for the Status of Women was held in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, from July 7th to 9th, 1999.

The meeting was co-chaired by the Honourable Hedy Fry, Secretary of State (Status of Women) and the Honourable Patricia Mella, Minister Responsible for the Status of Women for Prince Edward Island. It gave Ministers an opportunity to address a number of issues that continue to work against women achieving full social and economic equality.

Women's economic security continues to be an important issue for Ministers across Canada. In reviewing the report of the House of Commons Finance Sub-Committee on Tax Equity for Canadian Families with Dependent Children, we agreed on the importance of ensuring that all public policy, in particular, tax policy, reflects and supports economic equality for women.

Ministers Responsible for the Status of Women reaffirmed their commitments to eliminating violence against women with the adoption of "Preventing Violence Against Women, A Strategic Framework". The framework was developed to guide policy and program development in the area of violence prevention. It is based on a common vision and shared goals and follows the Iqaluit Declaration released by Ministers in December, 1998. The framework describes strategies and initiatives that work across Canada, and the important work at the community level to eliminate violence against women as well as the many consequences of violence. Ministers also agreed to pursue a collaborative approach to address criminal harassment, more commonly known as "stalking".

We agreed to follow up on issues of concern to older women and aging. Some of the major challenges facing the well-being of older women today include low income, care giving responsibilities and health issues. This being the International Year of Older Persons, we discussed the diverse needs of older women and agreed to work collaboratively with Ministers Responsible for Seniors to address these challenges.

This was my first Federal/Provincial/Territorial meeting as Minister Responsible for the Status of Women. I will continue to work with my Cabinet colleagues and the Status of Woman Council of the NWT, the Native Women's Association, as well as representatives of other women's organizations in the NWT to do what we can to improve the lives of northern women. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Ministers' statements. Mr. Kakfwi.

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the economy of the Northwest Territories depends to a large extent on the development of our natural resources. Gold, diamonds, base metals, oil and gas all play a significant role in our economy. They will continue to play an increasing role in years to come. Mr. Speaker, the economy of the Northwest Territories depends to a large extent on the development of our natural resources. Gold, diamonds, base metals, oil and gas all play a significant role in our economy and they will continue to play an increasing role in years to come. We are entering a new era in resource development here in the Northwest Territories. Natural gas demand is growing in the United States and southern Canada. We fully expect the Northwest Territories will be a source of this much needed supply. We currently possess vast resources of natural gas ranging from those on land in the Deh Cho region to those near Colville Lake, the Mackenzie Delta and the Beaufort Sea. The time to develop these gas reserves is now upon us.

I would like to take this opportunity to recognize one of the men responsible for bringing about this new era in oil and gas development. Chief Harry Deneron of Fort Liard realized several years ago the potential for gas development in the Liard area. He actively encouraged its exploration and development. This activity has resulted in substantial jobs and opportunities for northern residents and businesses. Chief Deneron is to be commended for his vision and work.

Increased exploration and development activity is already occurring. Fourteen leases have been issued in the Liard area while the Sahtu has 15 active leases. The Mackenzie Beaufort Delta is drawing renewed interest. Bids are now being accepted for four parcels of land. Eleven new wells are expected to be drilled in the Northwest Territories during the 1999-2000 season.

Mr. Speaker, the government anticipates that within ten years, a gas pipeline will link the Beaufort, Deh Cho and Sahtu gas fields to southern markets. The construction of the main trunk, the gathering pipelines and the exploration to support this development will result in up to ten times the level of employment and business opportunities and resource revenue as the north's emerging diamond industry. The government must be prepared to address the many issues that will accompany this Mackenzie Valley development. We must ensure that development of northern resources results in the maximum employment, training, and business opportunities for Northerners, who must begin to prepare for the social impacts from this short-term, large-scale development. We must ensure that the Northwest Territories benefits from resource revenue sharing. We must maximize benefits to aboriginal organizations.

Mr. Speaker, we know the benefits and challenges that come with increased oil and gas exploration. As we move forward with development, we must prepare for what is to come. Resource development does not just happen. It must be encouraged. It must be managed, and it must result in significant benefits to Northerners.

The government has approved the formation of a deputy ministers' committee to identify issues and prepare recommendations relating to the management of Mackenzie Valley development. It will be chaired by the deputy Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development and include the Secretary to the Financial Management Board, the deputy ministers of Aboriginal Affairs, Education, Culture and Employment, Finance, Health and Social Services, Transportation and Municipal and Community Affairs.

Mr. Speaker, the government is taking a proactive approach to development in the Mackenzie Valley. We intend to maximize economic opportunities for Northerners while minimizing the social and environmental impacts associated with oil and gas development. Mahsi cho.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Ministers' statements. Mr. Steen.

Vince Steen

Vince Steen Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to report on the recent conference of elected community leaders held in Hay River to discuss the various self-government initiatives that are underway in the NWT.

Presentations to the conference outlined how constitutional development and aboriginal rights could result in new types of government at the community, regional, tribal and territorial levels. Conference delegates also heard about how self-government has been negotiated and implemented in Newfoundland, British Columbia, and the Yukon. The approaches taken by the Labrador Inuit, the Nisga'a Tribal Council in B.C., and Yukon First Nations were quite different from each other, and different from what is happening here.

The success of those different approaches demonstrates that while there is more than one way to implement self-government, we are all working towards the same thing. By working together we can bring more authority to our communities.

Mr. Speaker, self-government will also mean more powers and responsibility for aboriginal governments as the inherent right to self-government is implemented here in the Northwest Territories. This includes more control for aboriginal people over such things as education, health, social services, language and culture.

Conference delegates agreed that while these changes might make our system of governance look very different from the way it is now, most of the programs and services that are delivered in our communities today will still be needed tomorrow. Community governments will still have a big role to play in delivering them.

Mr. Speaker, the Premier, the Minister of Finance, and the Minister of RWED made presentations to the delegates. They outlined how the government's plan is to work with the Aboriginal Nations to advance aboriginal rights negotiations in all regions of the NWT and to work towards developing a new constitution.

Conference delegates were assured that as we engage in these processes, we will make sure that the result is an effective and workable system of government - a system that can deliver affordable programs to all residents. One of the priorities my department has set to make this happen is to bring proposals forward to make municipal programs work better, to be more effective, to be more efficient, and to bring more authority to the local level. To do this we are moving ahead with the municipal finance review and the municipal legislation review.

These two initiatives were also discussed at the Community Leaders' Conference. They should be seen as complementary to self-government and not as an alternative process. They are intended to provide more authority to community governments and to allow for more flexible, equitable, and transparent arrangements between the central government and community governments.

Mr. Speaker, while self-government may take those processes much further in some communities or regions, we will be moving ahead with legislative and financial reform, because the people want to have more authority at the local level. They want to have decisions made closer to home. They want to be making those decisions themselves.

At the end of the three days, delegates to the conference concluded that they need to be better informed as progress is made on the establishment of self-government authorities. Procedures need to be in place to provide this information and the department will attempt to address this issue. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Ministers' statements. Mr. Miltenberger.

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you. Mr. Speaker, it was my great pleasure to sign an agreement recently with the Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation. This will bring up to 4.3 million dollars to the NWT post-secondary students over the next ten years.

The first scholarships will be awarded in the coming school year. In 1999-2000, 133 awards of $3,000 each will be given to NWT students. This is an additional $413,000 available to post-secondary students. This number of scholarships will be available in each of the next three years for a total of $1.239 million. The 133 scholarships will be awarded based on financial need and academic merit.

There is also a category of awards for exceptional merit. These awards are based on leadership, academic excellence and community service. Five awards will be made at the community level and two more at the territorial level. The seven winners of these awards will also receive an additional $3,000.

The names of the territorial level award winners will be forwarded to the Foundation which will also select a single national level scholarship. Mr. Speaker, all of the awards will be provided to the successful student applicants on top of their existing student financial assistance entitlement.

The Canada Millennium Scholarships will be processed through the existing NWT student financial assistance program. All students who have successfully completed at least one year of post-secondary program with a 60 percent average or better are eligible to apply for the scholarships.

The Department of Education, Culture and Employment is currently informing students who have applied for student financial assistance about the scholarships and the application procedures for the financial need awards. The department is developing the guidelines for administering the exceptional merit awards and will be communicating the details to students and the public shortly.

Candidates for the scholarships will be identified by the end of October and the names forwarded to the foundation so that cheques can be produced and in the hands of students by January, 2000.

Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories is very pleased to be a partner with the Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation in this program to provide increased support to our post-secondary students. With the high cost of post-secondary education, these scholarships are a welcome addition to our existing student financial assistance program. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Morin.

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday in the Legislative Assembly we raised the issue of the brand new Yellowknife correctional centre. That is another capital project for our great city of Yellowknife. Along with that capital project, Mr. Speaker, comes a brand new paving project for the city of Yellowknife and the highway coming into Yellowknife. Along with that also comes millions of dollars of assistance to the gold mines in Yellowknife. Along with that comes the majority of effort of the economic development department and the Minister of RWED and that whole department in encouraging diamond-cutting facilities and polishing facilities in Yellowknife. On top of that, they are going to take a trade mission to Nunavut for the businesses in Yellowknife. I congratulate the government for all those things they are doing for our great capital.

Mr. Speaker, we have many, many other communities out there. We have many regions out there that are going through economic hard times. We do not have enough money to assist the fishermen who come off the lake after 40 below in the winter, frostbitten, skin-tight, working hard, pulling nets. What do we do with those people? We cut $150,000 from their subsidy. That is a whole winter freight subsidy for those poor hardworking men and women. We are cutting drug and alcohol programs. We cut funding to the small communities that harvest renewable resources and try to make a living by producing final products for those, but yet we can continually invest in our great capital city, Yellowknife, and we do that by putting budgets forward in this House that call for renovations. Then we change them to new projects. No debate, no process for Ordinary Members in this Assembly to have any input into making those decisions. I guess this is a new era, a new way of governing. It must be a government that cannot see beyond our city limits. There are people out there who depend heavily on this government. I would like to ask for unanimous consent to continue, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

The Member for Tu Nedhe is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Do we have any nays? There are no nays. Mr. Morin, you have unanimous consent.

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I thank the Members. Mr. Speaker, there are many regions out there, many different parts. We always say that we govern over a vast land, but there are places that exist other than Yellowknife. No disrespect to the fine citizens of this city, but also we have citizens south of the lake. We have citizens all the way up to Tuktoyaktuk and Holman. We have citizens all over the Northwest Territories and I urge this government to start looking at the other citizens in the regions of the Northwest Territories and to start giving a little bit of concentration to the other regions of the Northwest Territories and other communities. Do not base all your decisions on only your briefing papers and your studies because you can get all the briefing papers and studies that say everything should be built in Yellowknife. I bet you if you asked for a study on whether or not we should uproot Lutselk'e, maybe we should uproot Snare Lakes, maybe we should uproot Arctic Red and move it into Inuvik. It would make more economic sense.

I have been in Russia, Mr. Speaker, and I have seen the huge apartment buildings that they house their people in because it is economically smart to do that. You have to think about people and you have to think about people's lives. Maybe the next study will say to uproot one of our communities and move it into the city of Yellowknife if they have an empty apartment building. I encourage the government to have a little broader vision and look a little bit more into the future for all the Northwest Territories and not just the city of Yellowknife. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Krutko.

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, if I was able to travel through a historical window, you will view the significant contributions that small communities have made to the Northwest Territories. A snapshot of these small communities has a rich history in itself. We will head to the south side of Great Slave Lake to Fort Resolution. Did you know that the Metis voyageur historically played an important role in the establishment of Fort Resolution? Francois Beaulieu, a Metis, accompanied Alexander Mackenzie in 1789 in the fur trade era. Fort Resolution was one of the most important medical and educational regional centres in the Northwest Territories. A large TB hospital was built in 1938, and a boarding school operated in the same era.

Now we go towards the north arm of Great Slave Lake, to Rae-Edzo. The Hudson's Bay Company post was established at Old Fort Rae in 1852. The Dogrib, which is the largest Dene community in the Northwest Territories, began to trade there with other large settlements, and at this time in history this large Dene community still continues to operate and strive.

We will now head to the south bank of the Liard River, which is Fort Liard, which was established in 1805. There is an area of Fort Liard that is one of the oldest occupied aboriginal settlements in the Northwest Territories. Aboriginal people still fish at the same place where the small knife Indian culture fished 9,000 years ago. Now we travel towards the unity of two rivers, the Mackenzie and the Liard to Fort Simpson. The Northwest Company built Fort Simpson about 1804 and still operates as the oldest trading post in the Mackenzie River. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

The Member for Mackenzie Delta is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Do we have any nays? There are no nays, Mr. Krutko, you have unanimous consent.

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you,

colleagues. It used to be known as the fork of the forks before the Mackenzie highway operated. People grew their own vegetables, raised their own livestock and earned the title "Garden of the Mackenzie". In 1963, a record flood forced the evacuation of approximately 300 aboriginal people from the lowlands to higher ground. We are now going up the Mackenzie River to the east bank of the Mackenzie to Fort Good Hope. Did you know that Fort Good Hope is the oldest fur trading post on the lower Mackenzie Valley? Hudson Bay Company established the post in 1805.

Farther down the Mackenzie River, on the east banks of the Peel River, we come across the east edge of the Gwich'in territory, there lies Fort McPherson. Before the first Hudson Bay Company post was established in 1840, this tribe was the most dynamic and complex cultural in relation to their southern Dene brothers. Fort McPherson people have elements of cultural significance and usage of the clan system and potlatches and also traded with the Inuvaluit at the trading post.

On the Peel channel of the Mackenzie River Delta, towards the Arctic coast, the Beaufort Sea, is the community of Aklavik. Did you know that before all major facilities were transferred to Inuvik that Aklavik was one of the chief trappers, trading and transportation centres and also known as the muskrat rich capital of North America.

Trading posts were established around 1910. Aklavik is also the place where the infamous Albert Johnson is buried.

We have come to the end of the short journey and I want like to provide you with a snapshot of how these small communities contributed to the northern development and to the rich history we have to date. The point that I am trying to make is that small communities have as much to contribute as large communities. In regard to the political makeup of the Northwest Territories, we have to recognize the historical and cultural diversity of this territory and realize that these communities were here long before a lot of the larger centres were built. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Members' statement, Mr. Ootes.

Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I was interested in seeing Mr. Kakfwi's statement this morning because I have worked on a similar statement and want to make it in that particular area. Over the past two months, I attended several resource sector conferences that focused on mineral, oil and gas development in the Northwest Territories. Because mining, oil and gas have tremendous potential for the North, it is crucial we understand the current and future opportunities these sectors offer.

Several new mines, including diamond, gold and base metals mines could be opened over the next ten years if prices recover to historical levels and government assistance is provided to encourage development. Plus, of course, we will have the value-added industries, such as the diamond sorting and cutting. In the oil and gas sector, the NWT has approximately 18 billion barrels of reserves identified. Alberta has 18 billion barrels identified of which three quarters have already been extracted and the east coast of Canada has five billion barrels. That means we have more than double the east coast in reserves alone and half of the drilling has not been done yet in the Territories.

Similarly with gas in the NWT, we have identified 175 trillion cubic feet. Alberta has 210 trillion cubic feet to which one third has already been extracted. The east coast has 75 trillion cubic feet.

We have more reserves identified than Alberta and the east coast combined. What does that mean for us here in the future in the Northwest Territories? Increased oil and gas exploration and production has the potential to create 1,000 to 1,500 jobs over the next 10 years. A total of 3,000 to 4,500 new jobs could be created by the mineral, oil and gas sector over the next ten years.

As a result of such stimulation, the oil and gas sector must be accorded the highest priority by this government in order to achieve significant economic growth and job creation. We must focus on resource development as the foundation for our wealth and job development in the future. Our priority must be on aboriginal and northern corporate capacity to facilitate infrastructure projects, to accelerate geoscience activities, to assist industry, and we must provide leadership in training education initiatives. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Members' statement, Mr. Rabesca.

James Rabesca North Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, Mr. Speaker, I rise to talk about very real and dangerous issues that all areas of the NWT is feeling the effects of. This is, of course, the problem we have recruiting and retaining health professionals. This does not mean just nurses, it means all health professionals.

This problem exists in all areas of the Territories and it does not seem to be getting any better. Currently many health boards are experiencing staff shortages and as a result are forced to cut back services to its residents, close centres for anything other than emergencies. These types of measures are only affecting our residents and this situation will continue to worsen before it gets any better.

Solutions must be found to ensure we attract quality staff that will stay for a long term, or increase our northern training programs so that more northern residents can see this field as an excellent career choice. This is a very serious issue and we as MLAs must work with the health boards and the Minister to find a solution. All health boards are saying more resources are needed to adequately provide the services that our residents require. The boards cannot continue to receive less and try to do more. This is very crucial and it could have very serious consequences. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Members' statement, Mrs. Groenewegen.