Debates of July 30th, 1999
This is page numbers 721 - 753 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 housing.
Topics
- Members Present
- Item 1: Prayer
- Member's Statement 200-13(7): Recognition Of The Establishment Of The Aboriginal Sports Circle
- Member's Statement 201-13(7): Studies To Improve Northern Health Care Systems
- Member's Statement 202-13(7): Economic Potential Of NWT Forest Resources
- Member's Statement 203-13(7): Comparison Between Politics And Hockey
- Member's Statement 204-13(7): Negotiated Contracts For Housing Units
- Member's Statement 205-13(7): Acknowledgement Of The Yellowknife Association For Community Living
- Member's Statement 206-13(7): Observations On Summer Session
- Member's Statement 207-13(7): Growing Shortage Of Health Care Professionals
- Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
- Item 8: Returns To Written Questions
- Return To Written Question 9-13(7): Update On Education Funding
- Item 12: Reports Of Committees On The Review Of Bills
- Tabled Document 63-13(7): NWT Housing Corporation Annual Report, 1997-98
- Tabled Document 64-13(7): A Framework For Community Justice In The Western Arctic, June 1999
- Tabled Document 65-13(7): Letter From Mayor Of Tsiigehtchic To Honourable Floyd Roland Re: Housing Shortage
- Tabled Document 66-13(7): Report On The Payment Of Indemnities, Allowances And Expenses To Mlas For The Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 1999
- Tabled Document 67-13(7): Report On 1999 Youth Parliament
- Motion 26-13(7): Resolution Of Land Claims And Self-government In The Nwt
- Motion 27-13(7): Censuring The Actions Of The Executive Council
- Item 16: Motions
- Motion 26-13(7): Resolution Of Land Claims And Self-government In The Nwt
- Motion 24-13(7): Dissolution Of The 13th Legislative Assembly
- Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
- Motion 44-13(7): Termination Of Planning For New Yellowknife Correctional Centre
- Item 20: Report Of Committee Of The Whole
- Bill 15: An Act To Amend The Legislative Assembly And Executive Council Act
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 721
Samuel Gargan Deh Cho
Thank you, Mr. Rabesca. Good morning. Mr. Antoine, your point of order.
Point of Order
Item 1: Prayer
Item 1: Prayer
Page 721
Jim Antoine Nahendeh
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in reviewing unedited Hansard, I noticed yesterday in his Member's statement, the honourable Member from Yellowknife North used the phrase "proverbial wooden Indian" in regards to Members of this House attending committee hearings this summer. Mr. Speaker, I am not quite sure from reading the unedited Hansard which Member the honourable Member was referring to.
I find the reference itself quite offensive and unparliamentary. I would like to ask the honourable Member if he would withdraw the remarks so that it does not remain as part of our public records. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Item 1: Prayer
Item 1: Prayer
Page 721
Speaker
Proverbial - proverb - the word itself is not unparliamentary. The Members of the Executive can take offence in the context in which the word has been used and I will allow debate on the point. Mr. Erasmus.
Item 1: Prayer
Item 1: Prayer
Page 721
Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I do not believe there is a point of order there. Mr. Speaker, I have no problem with removing that. What would the Premier wish to replace those words with? The sentence is still there. There has to be something, we cannot just leave it blank.
Item 1: Prayer
Item 1: Prayer
Page 721
Speaker
I think if the Members would look at the Hansard, page 1170, you look at the first sentence before the point of order was raised, following the sentence after that, that it does not affect the reading. "It is obvious that the Ministers present at the community hearings did not listen to their constituents' presentations. They did not hear the constituents saying we are afraid". So removing that is what the Minister is requesting. The sentence still makes sense. Mr. Erasmus.
Item 1: Prayer
Item 1: Prayer
Page 721
Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North
Mr. Speaker, it loses some of the meaning. I do not mind taking out those three words. If he wants to tell me what else he wants to have sit there like I do not mind. I will take out the proverbial wooden Indian. He can put whatever else he wants to sit there like. Thank you.
Item 1: Prayer
Item 1: Prayer
Page 721
Speaker
It is not up to the Premier to make suggestions on what should replace those three words. Eventually, it is still the Speaker who will decide whether or not the Premier does have a point of order. Mr. Kakfwi.
Item 1: Prayer
Item 1: Prayer
Page 721
Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There have been a lot of remarks made in the course of this Assembly in the session this week. There have been many remarks made about the rift that is existing or going to be created between the non-aboriginal and the aboriginal people of the North if this government does not take decisive action and provide leadership and whatever other remarks were made. I believe that the remark "wooden Indian" is stereotyping with racial overtones. It is a racial slight on those of us that sit in this House that of are aboriginal decent. I do not believe that the point is to get into grammatical discussion about what should replace those remarks. The point is an apology and a withdrawal of those remarks will correct the record that they were said, they are not acceptable, and there should be an apology and an acknowledgement that they should not have been said. That would, I believe, help to correct the record and the perception of the public about how we do business in this House. Thank you.
Item 1: Prayer
Item 1: Prayer
Page 721
Speaker
Thank you. To the point of order. Mrs. Groenewegen.
Item 1: Prayer
Item 1: Prayer
Page 721
Jane Groenewegen Hay River
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to indicate that those words, in reference to our Premier, as a Member of this House, I find offensive and insulting. I agree they were made by an aboriginal person. Just to put them in context, if they had come from one of the non-aboriginal Members, I think that there would have been a huge uproar. I think just because Mr. Erasmus is also a First Nations person does not excuse that, and I take offence as an insult against our Premier. Thank you.
Item 1: Prayer
Item 1: Prayer
Page 721
Speaker
Thank you. To the point of order. Mr. Dent.
Item 1: Prayer
Item 1: Prayer
Page 721
Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would argue that the Premier does have a point of order under either section 23(k) or perhaps 23(h) of our rules. I believe that the Premier, in raising the point of order, indicated that he was not certain that it was to him that the words were referring, but if I correctly heard the Member from Yellowknife North in his initial response to this, he asked "What would the Premier like me to replace those words with, what did he sit there like?", which makes it very clear to me that this sentence does, in fact, refer to the Premier and, therefore, if the Premier believes that he has been slighted under rule 23(k), I believe that there is a point of order.
Item 1: Prayer
Item 1: Prayer
Page 721
Speaker
Thank you. On the point of order. Mr. Erasmus.
Help us improve OpenNWT
Please only include contact information if you would like to hear back.