This is page numbers 25 - 46 of the Hansard for the 14th Assembly, 2nd 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 services.

Topics

The Unique Communities Of Fort Rae And Edzo
Item 3: Members' Statements

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Leon Lafferty North Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as a new Member, I would like to make a statement about the unique community I come from.

Rae Edzo is a one-of-a-kind municipality in the western Arctic. It is the largest hamlet in the Northwest Territories and consists of two communities connected by 16 kilometres of road.

The communities can be seen across the lake from each other. In the winter, the communities are connected by four and a half kilometres of winter road, and relatives reside in both communities.

The local municipality in Rae duplicates services in both communities. But the residents of Edzo are concerned about the level of services provided. The community of Rae Edzo is growing. With the addition of an airport, service needs are changing.

At the appropriate time, I will be asking questions concerning the need for funding services in Rae Edzo. Thank you.

The Unique Communities Of Fort Rae And Edzo
Item 3: Members' Statements

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The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Item 3, Members' statements. The Member for Sahtu, Mr. Kakfwi.

Participation In Trans-canada Water Relay
Item 3: Members' Statements

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Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As we heard on the radio, the journey for the water of the Arctic Ocean to meet up with the waters of the Pacific and Atlantic oceans began in Tuktoyaktuk on February 19th.

This is in keeping with the plans of the Trans-Canada water relay, to lead up to the official opening of this national trail in September of this year. Today the water passed through the town of Norman Wells. 30 residents officially took turns carrying the water from the Arctic Ocean. I would like to congratulate the residents of the Sahtu for their enthusiastic support in celebrating the Trans-Canada Trail water relay. I look forward to seeing the water as it travels from Rae to Yellowknife on March 3rd and 4th. I would like to say a special thank you to all Northern Rangers who have taken on the responsibility of ensuring the water and carriers travel safely through our Territory.

Mr. Speaker, it is the intent of this relay to have the water of the Atlantic, Pacific and the Arctic oceans all meet somewhere in the capital region in early September. Thank you.

Participation In Trans-canada Water Relay
Item 3: Members' Statements

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The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Kakfwi. Item 3, Members' statements. The Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Nitah.

Importance Of Sports And Recreation
Item 3: Members' Statements

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Steven Nitah Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also wish to acknowledge the importance sports and recreation plays in the communities. I am sure we are all concerned about community wellness. This is a key element in shaping our youth for tomorrow. Sports provide an environment for developing learning and leadership abilities, and also provides excellent role models. Not only do recreational activities promote team-building and sportsmanship, but promote healthy individuals.

With that in mind, I wish to recognize the following Arctic Winter Games participants from my constituency of Tu Nedhe. From Fort Resolution, Travis Guild in badminton, Dexter Lafferty and Frank Lafferty for dog-mushing, and Tausia Kaitu'u' Lal, an official at badminton. Also, from Lutsel K'e, Jesse Michelle for Dene games. I would like to wish these and all of the other fine athletes all the best at the Arctic Winter Games in Whitehorse.

I would also like to take this opportunity to express my concern on the lack of funding and recreational facilities available in small communities. Small communities have very tight-knit people, but the communities do not have access to a lot of recreational facilities. If there are recreational facilities, there is no money in the community to really take full advantage of it.

I think sport and recreation boards and Municipal and Community Affairs could do a little bit more to guarantee that adequate funding levels are available in small communities where it is very difficult to raise money from industry and corporations. There are no industry and corporations in small communities. Everything is based on proposal writing to the federal and territorial governments. It is very hard to raise money in the communities. I think this government has to be conscious of that.

The representation from small, rural communities in the Northwest Territories at this Arctic Winter Games will be a good example of those problems. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Importance Of Sports And Recreation
Item 3: Members' Statements

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The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Nitah. Item 3, Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery.

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

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The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Before we go to the Members, I would like to take this opportunity to recognize in the gallery Mr. Robert Clark, Acting Conflict of Interest Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, and accompanying Mr. Clark is Mr. Frank Work, Queen's Counsel and Legal Advisor to the Conflict of Interest Commissioner.

Welcome, gentlemen, to the Legislative Assembly.

Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The Member for Mackenzie Delta, 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. I would like to recognize the board of directors of the Arctic Cooperative Limited who are here with us today, and also the president, Mr. Bill Lyall. I would also like to recognize the president for the Co-op in Fort McPherson, Mr. Piet Van Loon.

-- Applause

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

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The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery, Mr. Ootes.

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

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Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would also like to recognize the board of directors of the Arctic Cooperatives Limited and the Arctic Cooperative Development Fund, as well as the two service federations of the community owned cooperatives of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.

Mr. Krutko has mentioned several, and I would like to recognize them again. Mr. Bill Lyall, the chair; Piet Van Loon, Lucassie Arragutainaq, Gina Dolphus, Guy Enuapik, Bernie Putulik, Andrew Goussaert, Danny Yakeleya, Solomon Mikki, Nick Nichol, Greg O'Neill, and Andy Morrison, who is the CEO. Welcome.

-- Applause

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

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The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery, the Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee.

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

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Sandy Lee

Sandy Lee Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I cannot see him from where I sit, but I am told that Mr. Gerard Mulders is in the gallery. I would like to recognize Mr. Mulders who is a long-term resident of Yellowknife, formerly the regional director for the Keewatin region for this government before his retirement. He now lives in British Columbia and he took time out of his retirement to help me in my campaign. He worked really hard for me.

-- Applause

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

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The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Welcome, Mr. Mulders. Thank you, Ms. Lee. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. I guess this time Ms. Thomas is going to go unrecognized. Item 6, oral questions. The Member for Yellowknife South, Mr. Bell.

Brendan Bell

Brendan Bell Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to follow up on my line of questioning from yesterday in my question to the Minister for Education, Culture and Employment. Yesterday I was asking questions about summer hiring for returning university students and I was reassured to hear the Minister say that he planned to see if he could coordinate the efforts with other government departments to identify opportunities for students and youths for the coming summer.

I would like some clarification. I am wondering if the Minister can tell me which government departments he was coordinating with or planning to coordinate with. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Bell. The Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment, the Honourable Jake Ootes.

Return To Question 13-14(2): Working Together Student Employment Program
Question 13-14(2): Working Together Student Employment Program
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will do my best to answer the question, as I did yesterday. Just to mention I have had three weeks in this department, Mr. Speaker, and it has been a hectic situation for me because I am new to this particular department.

I am being briefed as we go. It is a large department. I am very pleased to be there. The Premier expressed his confidence in me to take on this department, but it is new to me.

As I mentioned, getting up to speed on it is going to take me a bit of time when it comes to the technical matters.

Some of the Members on the other side are former Ministers of this particular department and some have also been on the Social Envelope committees for four years. If I cannot answer the question, Mr. Speaker, I may have to give notice for anything that may be technical. I will do my best, and I do appreciate the questions, but I would appreciate some understanding if I have to give notice.

Regarding the Member's question, it is true that the government, through the Executive, is trying to coordinate an employment program for summer students so that we do have an opportunity for students returning to the North to be employed by at least the territorial government. I hope that answers the Member's question. Thank you.

Return To Question 13-14(2): Working Together Student Employment Program
Question 13-14(2): Working Together Student Employment Program
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Ootes. The Ministers do have the option to either take the question as notice or respond to the question. Supplementary, Mr. Bell.

Supplementary To Question 13-14(2): Working Together Student Employment Program
Question 13-14(2): Working Together Student Employment Program
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Brendan Bell

Brendan Bell Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just a little more clarification is required. You mentioned that the Executive is going to take the lead on hiring summer students. I am wondering if that means they will set up an office for students to report to when they return home to check in and see where the employment opportunities might be. Even if that office is not handling the hiring directly, will that office be coordinating job opportunities with the other departments then?

Supplementary To Question 13-14(2): Working Together Student Employment Program
Question 13-14(2): Working Together Student Employment Program
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Bell. The Minister for Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Further Return To Question 13-14(2): Working Together Student Employment Program
Question 13-14(2): Working Together Student Employment Program
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Yes, that is correct. It will be coordinated by the Department of the Executive. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 13-14(2): Working Together Student Employment Program
Question 13-14(2): Working Together Student Employment Program
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Item 6, oral questions. Second supplementary, Mr. Bell.

Supplementary To Question 13-14(2): Working Together Student Employment Program
Question 13-14(2): Working Together Student Employment Program
Item 6: Oral Questions

February 22nd, 2000

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Brendan Bell

Brendan Bell Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just one more thing; is that for Yellowknife or is that for the entire Territories, based in Yellowknife? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 13-14(2): Working Together Student Employment Program
Question 13-14(2): Working Together Student Employment Program
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Bell. The Minister for Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Further Return To Question 13-14(2): Working Together Student Employment Program
Question 13-14(2): Working Together Student Employment Program
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It will be for all of the Northwest Territories.

Further Return To Question 13-14(2): Working Together Student Employment Program
Question 13-14(2): Working Together Student Employment Program
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Ootes. Item 6, oral questions. The Member for Thebacha, Mr. Miltenberger.