This is page numbers 169 - 202 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 chairman.

Topics

Supplementary To Question 93-14(2): Update On Ottawa Meetings
Question 93-14(2): Update On Ottawa Meetings
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 178

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Roland. The Minister responsible for the Department of Finance, Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 93-14(2): Update On Ottawa Meetings
Question 93-14(2): Update On Ottawa Meetings
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 178

Joe Handley

Joe Handley Weledeh

Mr. Speaker, the economic development strategy is really a strategy that is being developed through the direction and advice of the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development. I think that it is a question that might be referred to the Minister there. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 93-14(2): Update On Ottawa Meetings
Question 93-14(2): Update On Ottawa Meetings
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 178

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Final supplementary, Mr. Roland.

Supplementary To Question 93-14(2): Update On Ottawa Meetings
Question 93-14(2): Update On Ottawa Meetings
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 178

Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Regarding the finances and potential debt wall that is sitting out there for us in the near future, is this Minister confident the meeting that will take place will positively impact our bottom line so we do not hit that debt wall? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 93-14(2): Update On Ottawa Meetings
Question 93-14(2): Update On Ottawa Meetings
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 178

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Roland. The Minister responsible for the Department of Finance, Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 93-14(2): Update On Ottawa Meetings
Question 93-14(2): Update On Ottawa Meetings
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 178

Joe Handley

Joe Handley Weledeh

Mr. Speaker, I am optimistic that our discussions will be fruitful for us. I cannot say with any certainty that we will be successful in our negotiations regarding the financing formula. The federal Minister of Finance was very clear with us that it would be a tough sell and all we can do is do our best at it. In any case, I can assure the Member I am very confident we are not going to hit our borrowing limit. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 93-14(2): Update On Ottawa Meetings
Question 93-14(2): Update On Ottawa Meetings
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 178

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for North Slave, Mr. Lafferty.

Leon Lafferty North Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister responsible for the Department of Transportation, the Honourable Mr. Steen.

Mr. Speaker, on Friday a constituent of mine was almost killed on Highway No. 3 while driving home. That is the road between Rae and Yellowknife. A van collided with his truck. The van was going northbound The accident occurred because the visibility was very poor, since the road was not ploughed after the snowfall on Thursday.

On March 10th, I sent a letter to the Minister sharing my constituents' concern about the lack of maintenance on Highway No. 3. As I pointed out in the letter, there were already two accidents on the road in February. Now there has been a third. I also know of a few other single vehicle accidents. My constituents are concerned about the safety of the road.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister why is the department not maintaining this road? Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Minister for the Department of Transportation, Mr. Steen.

Return To Question 94-14(2): Highway No. 3 Safety Concerns
Question 94-14(2): Highway No. 3 Safety Concerns
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 178

Vince Steen

Vince Steen Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am not aware that the department is not maintaining the road. I believe the department has a maintenance schedule for all aspects of the highway, in particular Highway No. 3, which is heavily impacted with truck traffic.

I could take the question to the department and get a response to the Member to see exactly what our maintenance schedule is on the road. I believe the department does perform what they believe is sufficient maintenance on that particular stretch of highway. Thank you.

Return To Question 94-14(2): Highway No. 3 Safety Concerns
Question 94-14(2): Highway No. 3 Safety Concerns
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 179

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Steen. Supplementary, Mr. Lafferty.

Supplementary To Question 94-14(2): Highway No. 3 Safety Concerns
Question 94-14(2): Highway No. 3 Safety Concerns
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 179

Leon Lafferty North Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would also like to ask the Minister, what priority is this road to the Department of Transportation compared to that of the Ingraham Trail, or the Dettah road to the Yellowknife beat?

Supplementary To Question 94-14(2): Highway No. 3 Safety Concerns
Question 94-14(2): Highway No. 3 Safety Concerns
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 179

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The Minister responsible for Transportation, Mr. Steen.

Further Return To Question 94-14(2): Highway No. 3 Safety Concerns
Question 94-14(2): Highway No. 3 Safety Concerns
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 179

Vince Steen

Vince Steen Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, Highway No. 3 has a high priority, probably the highest priority of the highways as far as the department is concerned, which is relative to the amount of traffic on this particular stretch of highway.

Again, to be more specific, I will ask the department to respond in writing to the Member and identify what the priority rating of that highway is. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 94-14(2): Highway No. 3 Safety Concerns
Question 94-14(2): Highway No. 3 Safety Concerns
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 179

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Steen. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Hay River North, Mr. Delorey.

Question 95-14(2): Arctic Winter Games Concerns
Item 6: Oral Questions

March 20th, 2000

Page 179

Paul Delorey

Paul Delorey Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I stated in my opening remarks, there were some aspects of the Arctic Winter Games that did not shine such a positive light on the games, as did the statements that were made in this House so far. I would like to address a few of them with the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs.

There has been concern in the House that we look at the Arctic Winter Games and the size they are getting to be and the problems associated with organizing the games.

I think we have reached a point with the Arctic Winter Games where there are very few centres that are capable of hosting the games. I would suspect Yellowknife would be a hard stretch to host the games and cover all the aspects, as was Whitehorse.

When we hear stories like two coaches, one from Yellowknife, Natasha McGage and Jack Keith from Hay River, who had their clothing stolen as well as wallets, personal effects and money simply because they did not have any security on duty at that time.

You hear stories about the games having a $100,000 budget for food and by midweek they were already $5,000 over budget. It really raises some questions as to the size of the games. I suppose we all heard about the sexual charges that were laid against a security guard at the games in Whitehorse.

There were a number of concerns within organizational meetings that the international committee, that sets most of the rules for the games, is very close to listening to remarks from other bodies as far as setting up the games.

I was wondering if the Minister could tell me what he sees as the Municipal and Community Affairs role in setting rules and regulations and organizational procedure for the games? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Delorey. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. Antoine.

Return To Question 95-14(2): Arctic Winter Games Concerns
Question 95-14(2): Arctic Winter Games Concerns
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 179

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Arctic Winter Games in Whitehorse is done and over with. I think we successfully concluded it. There have been some problems in the actual administration and running of the games. There were some flaws in it. I would like to examine that as the Minister responsible for Sports and Recreation for the Northwest Territories.

In my statement, I mentioned what we would like to do in Municipal and Community Affairs with regards to sports and recreation is take a close look at it and work with the other sports participants to see how we could improve on what we have.

Now that this Arctic Winter Games is over, the next Arctic Winter Games will be two years from now. We already talked to the deputy minister as to how we could analyze what we have to date. Listening to different inputs from this House, perhaps we could look at the games and analyze sports and recreation as a whole in the North.

At this point in time, this is where we are. We are in the discussion stage. We know there are concerns out there, and we would like to address them. Thank you.

Return To Question 95-14(2): Arctic Winter Games Concerns
Question 95-14(2): Arctic Winter Games Concerns
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 179

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Minister Antoine. Supplementary, Mr. Delorey.

Supplementary To Question 95-14(2): Arctic Winter Games Concerns
Question 95-14(2): Arctic Winter Games Concerns
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 179

Paul Delorey

Paul Delorey Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The sexual charges that I mentioned, I consider them to be very serious. Although when I heard them on the radio, they were not a surprise to me.

I would like to mention the situation the junior girls curling team was put in the venue in Whitehorse. They were put in a school where it was an all female venue. They were in with female hockey players and female curlers. The security staff that was on duty in that school was all male.

To make the situation worse, my wife was the chaperone of our team and was very uncomfortable with the situation there. When any of the girls wanted to go to the washroom or the showers, they had to walk directly by the security desk at the front of the school. Having all male staff made for an uncomfortable situation .

Additionally, if I wanted to check with my team, I had to check with the desk. They would not let me pass that because it was all female. Yet the male guard that was down hall would walk right into the classrooms to check with somebody. It created a very uncomfortable situation.

I would like confirmation from the Minister that he will address that particular situation and look into how they could better that situation.

Supplementary To Question 95-14(2): Arctic Winter Games Concerns
Question 95-14(2): Arctic Winter Games Concerns
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 180

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Delorey. Members are reminded to keep the preamble to the first part of the question, and refrain from too long of a preamble in the subsequent supplementary questions. The Minister responsible for Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. Antoine.

Further Return To Question 95-14(2): Arctic Winter Games Concerns
Question 95-14(2): Arctic Winter Games Concerns
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 180

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we have mission staff for the Northwest Territories team that were involved in helping our athletes in Whitehorse. I will check with them. We have representatives that sit on the Arctic Winter Games International Committee. I will also check with them and relay these concerns to them. We will get to the bottom of this and make sure this situation no longer exists with any other participation of our athletes in the future. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 95-14(2): Arctic Winter Games Concerns
Question 95-14(2): Arctic Winter Games Concerns
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 180

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Antoine. Supplementary, Mr. Delorey.

Supplementary To Question 95-14(2): Arctic Winter Games Concerns
Question 95-14(2): Arctic Winter Games Concerns
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 180

Paul Delorey

Paul Delorey Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The next Arctic Winter Games are scheduled to go in Nunavut and Greenland. There is already talk about dropping some sports from the games because they are unable to host them. One of the sports that is being considered to be dropped form the venue is the biathlon. The biathlon has been involved in the sports since 1974. It is a sport that has the potential to allow some of our smaller communities to participate.

I was wondering if the Minister could inform us if he indeed knows that this sport is being eliminated from the Arctic Winter Games?

Supplementary To Question 95-14(2): Arctic Winter Games Concerns
Question 95-14(2): Arctic Winter Games Concerns
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 180

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Delorey. The Minister responsible for the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. Antoine.