This is page numbers 541 - 567 of the Hansard for the 14th Assembly, 4th 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 communities.

Topics

Members Present

Honourable Roger Allen, Honourable Jim Antoine, Mr. Bell, Mr. Braden, Mr. Delorey, Mr. Dent, Mrs. Groenewegen, Honourable Joe Handley, Honourable Stephen Kakfwi, Mr. Krutko, Mr. Lafferty, Ms. Lee, Mr. McLeod, Mr. Miltenberger, Mr. Nitah, Honourable Jake Ootes, Mr. Roland, Honourable Vince Steen, Honourable Tony Whitford.

-- Prayer

Item 1: Prayer
Item 1: Prayer

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The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Ootes. Please be seated. Just by way of a little bit of trivia, I understand today is the first full moon in 40 some odd years. I understand it is also a blue moon. It is the third moon in October -- I mean, it is the first full moon to fall on Halloween. That is what I meant. Item 2, Minister's statements. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.

Support For The Secondary Fur Industry
Item 3: Members' Statements

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David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, at this time, I would like to thank a friend of mine in Sachs Harbour for sending me this tie to wear in this House. Along with wearing this tie, he also asked me to send a message to the Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development to make Mr. Handley aware that we can do some amazing things when we put our minds to it, especially items that we can make out of fur such as muskox.

However, Mr. Speaker, I think we have to realize we do have renewable resources out there. Realizing it is Halloween and all -- and this is not part of my costume for this evening -- but I think it is important if we have the initiative to do something with different products and try different things that we can. I think in this case, Mr. Floyd Sydney of Sachs Harbour has shown me we can make products such as ties and we can even make underwear with fur products.

-- Laughter

We should take the time to consider those types of endeavours. With that, Mr. Speaker, I will ask the Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development what he is doing to ensure we consider these initiatives and we maybe consider financing some of these projects.

-- Applause

Support For The Secondary Fur Industry
Item 3: Members' Statements

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The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Krutko for explaining that. I thought it was your beard.

-- Laughter

Support For The Secondary Fur Industry
Item 3: Members' Statements

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The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

A little long in the tooth there. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for North Slave, Mr. Lafferty.

The Need For An Nwt-based Tannery
Item 3: Members' Statements

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Leon Lafferty North Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, when our people have animal hides they want tanned, they have a choice. They can either try to do it themselves or they can send the hide out of the Northwest Territories to be tanned. I have always felt that we should have an NWT-based tannery for our people. There are thousands of muskox in Sachs Harbour where Mr. Floyd Sydney sent the hide from. Where do they send their hides? They send their hides south.

There is a history in the North Slave where I come from where we have had tanning hides, tanneries, private tanneries and we have had training facilities where there no longer is training for tanning. We have had people like internationally known D'Arcy Moses who could use northern tanned hides for fashion creations. We have many aboriginal women in the North who are making garments with tanned hides such as Berna Beaulieu, Alice Sangris-Wifladt and Karen Wright-Fraser, to name a few. Would it not be economically sound to have a northern-based tannery? There are many cottage industry northern workers who could use the benefits of northern tanneries.

In the past, there have been concerns raised about the environment in using conventional tanning methods. However, it is good to know there are new environmentally friendly tanning processes developed. The demand for leather products is still there. The fashion industry uses leather for shoes, coats, belts, gloves and neck ties. There is also sheared fur. That is another trend gaining popularity in the North.

Mr. Speaker, we have prime examples in the Legislative Assembly of the use of tanned hides, such as the vest I am wearing and the jacket Mr. Krutko is wearing.

What we need in the North is a real plan for a tannery that can train and employ people in our communities. We have been concentrating on oil and gas and diamonds and we have been moving away from the traditional economic lifestyles that we have had in the past. I will have questions for the Minister later on this subject, Mr. Speaker.

The Need For An Nwt-based Tannery
Item 3: Members' Statements

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The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee.

Wishes For A Safe And Bountiful Halloween
Item 3: Members' Statements

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Sandy Lee

Sandy Lee Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as we leave this month behind and start a new tomorrow, I would like to take this opportunity to wish the children of Range Lake and all of the North a very safe and bountiful Halloween evening.

Mr. Speaker, one of my constituents experiencing this age-old tradition of Halloween for the first time in Canada is a family of my cousin and his two children. With the busy schedule I have had the last week or so, I have not had a chance to explain to my niece and nephew, who are two and four, the meaning of trick or treating and goblins and ghosts and so on but I expect to be able to do that tonight, as I will be spending my evening with them and hope to meet the children of Range Lake as they come to our door.

Mr. Speaker, I am not sure if they will believe me because while they were planning to move to Yellowknife, I had assured them that by October 31st, we would be experiencing very, very cold weather and in all of my 23 years, I am not sure if we have had a Halloween as warm as this. I might have a little difficulty explaining everything but I do look forward to being in my riding. I also want to tell the people that I will be in number 1 Ward Crescent, which is right across from the stop sign from Wal-Mart. If any of my constituents want to talk to me about what has transpired in the House in the last couple of weeks, I will be there until at least nine o'clock and I do hope to talk to my constituents.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to close wishing everyone a very safe and happy Halloween. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Wishes For A Safe And Bountiful Halloween
Item 3: Members' Statements

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The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Ms. Lee. We can expect treats when we knock on your door? Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Thebacha, Mr. Miltenberger.

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would just like to thank this Legislature and the Members in it for the confidence they have placed in me this morning. I will do my utmost to do the job that I have been given as best it can be done. I would just like to point out that this has been a long process, as has been mentioned before. I think the fact that we are here today ready to move on with the business of government is a demonstration of how consensus government works. It may not be perfect. It may not be without its warts and wrinkles but I believe it is an effective form of government and I would like to thank everybody. I look forward to continuing to work with everyone. Thank you.

-- Applause

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Hay River North, Mr. Delorey.

Paul Delorey

Paul Delorey Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to speak on a part of my life that was very important to me before I became a Member of this Legislative Assembly.

As most of you know, Mr. Speaker, curling was a very big part of my life and I put in a lot of years playing the sport and also coaching and encouraging younger people to take up the sport. My accomplishments in curling have not been all that great but the rewards that I have received from the sport of curling have been quite amazing.

Mr. Speaker, in 1998, for example, I was nominated to represent Canada in a tour of Scotland along with 39 other Canadians to curl in a competition called the Strathcona Cup. I was over in Scotland for 28 days representing Canada and curling against Scottish teams. I am proud to say, Mr. Speaker, that at that time we won the Strathcona Cup for Canada.

About two months ago, Mr. Speaker, I was nominated for membership in the Governor General of Canada's curling club. The Governor General's Curling Club of Canada has only 100 members Canada-wide and it was quite an honour, Mr. Speaker, for me to be nominated to that curling club for my achievements and my input into the sport of curling.

In the recent events in the House, I was uncertain as to whether I was going to take a trip to Ottawa to receive the membership into this curling club. The membership is being presented on November 2nd, which is Friday. Now that things have been settled in the House, I want to inform the House and my constituents at home that I will be absent from this House for the next couple of days. I have decided to go to Ottawa and receive the membership in the Governor General's Curling Club of Canada. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Congratulations, Mr. Delorey. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Deh Cho, Mr. McLeod.

GNWT Role In Crime Prevention
Item 3: Members' Statements

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Michael McLeod

Michael McLeod Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I want to talk about the Government of the Northwest Territories' role in supporting by-law enforcement and crime prevention in the communities.

Mr. Speaker, it is one of the stated roles of the Department of Justice to increase the capacity, role, scope and impact of communities in addressing their own justice issues. This is a very worthy goal, Mr. Speaker. However, Mr. Speaker, the community constable program has seen its funding decreased to zero this year, according to the main estimates of the Department of Justice.

This decrease to zero is presumably the result of the community constable pilot project coming to an end. This program was jointly funded by the federal government and according to the RCMP web page on the InterNorth site, the program has been a success in the North. The web page goes on to state that we are a role model for the south in this area. Mr. Speaker, this program was a success and I would like to know if the Department of Justice has taken steps to set up this program permanently.

Mr. Speaker, as the honourable Members are aware, the main funding for by-law officers for communities traditionally comes from the Department of MACA under community block funding agreements. Block funding arrangements tend to lead to situations where communities are forced to make difficult decisions with ever decreasing amounts of funding.

Mr. Speaker, at the present time, communities are forced to make decisions as to whether to hire by-law officers or recreation workers. They know that they cannot afford both. Yet there are ever increasing incidents of vandalism and crime in our communities, Mr. Speaker, and without specific focus on crime prevention at the community level, these crime levels will continue to escalate. It is very important, Mr. Speaker, that the Department of Justice and MACA work closely together to ensure there is a coordinated effort on crime prevention and enforcement in our communities. There is little point in the Department of Justice devoting so much in the way of resources -- community justice circles $733,000 in the current fiscal year -- if the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs does not give the communities sufficient resources to hire local enforcement officers. The community justice circles are in danger of sitting around in circles with nothing to do.

My understanding is that the RCMP is willing to help with training and facilities, Mr. Speaker, yet the communities struggle to find the funding for wages.

GNWT Role In Crime Prevention
Item 3: Members' Statements

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The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Mr. McLeod, your time for Member's statement has expired.

GNWT Role In Crime Prevention
Item 3: Members' Statements

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Michael McLeod

Michael McLeod Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I ask for consent to conclude.

GNWT Role In Crime Prevention
Item 3: Members' Statements

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The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you. The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays, Mr. McLeod, you may conclude.

GNWT Role In Crime Prevention
Item 3: Members' Statements

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Michael McLeod

Michael McLeod Deh Cho

Mr. Speaker, the current budgets provided by the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs are simply not enough. It is time for a more integrated approach to community policing, Mr. Speaker. A more integrated approach that will lead to a more seamless and accountable delivery of community policing and program delivery. An approach that would see the Department of Justice take on a specific role of administering and providing community law enforcement, funding and program delivery in a close, working relationship with the existing community justice service and community governments. In this way, communities will be able to see with certainty where responsibilities for local crime prevention and enforcement lie and take comfort from the fact that there is a continuum of law enforcement in place at all times. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

GNWT Role In Crime Prevention
Item 3: Members' Statements

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The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, Mr. Roland.

Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to speak on an event happening across the Territories as we have hit the end of the month, October 31st, traditionally known as Halloween.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to make one comment that in Inuvik, there is something slightly different than what is traditionally practiced. It is being practiced this year in the Inuvik Community Lighthouse Church. It is called Hallelujah Night.

This is an event that is put on for children from the community to take part in activities that are safe and also promote a lighter hearted atmosphere than one that has traditionally been expressed through Halloween, that being evil spirits, Mr. Speaker, something that they try and encourage their children in a way that is somewhat different from the normal practice. I think it is an opportunity and it is open to the community. I hope they have a fun night as they will be having games. I believe the younger children will come dressed up as characters from Noah's Ark.

I wish them all the best in that. To all those that are partaking in the events of Halloween and trick and treating, I wish them a safe evening as well. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Yellowknife South, Mr. Bell.

NWT Physician Shortage
Item 3: Members' Statements

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Brendan Bell

Brendan Bell Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise here today to talk a little bit about the sustainability of our health care system in the Northwest Territories and specifically about the physician shortage that we currently face. Members of the Social Programs Committee have had a recent presentation from the Northwest Territories Medical Association and we discussed the number of physicians that we currently have in the Northwest Territories and what it would require for us to get up to what they consider a full complement of physicians. Currently across the Territories, we have 51 physicians. The numbers from the NWTMA would indicate that we need somewhere in the neighbourhood of 80 to 85 physicians just to provide basic services in the North.

Mr. Speaker, it is important to remember that that is simply talking about the number of physicians we need in the larger centres who would then fly into the smallest and remote communities to provide service, so we are not talking about permanent physicians even in the smallest communities. If we were to go there, we would need even further numbers.

Mr. Speaker, one number that is often analyzed when we look at jurisdictions in Canada to see whether or not we have adequate numbers of physicians is the national physician to population ratio. The average in Canada is 185 physicians to 100,000. Mr. Speaker, we have the worst ratio in the country in the Northwest Territories at 92 to 100,000 people. The problem with not having enough physicians is that the ones who are here are drastically overworked, Mr. Speaker, and that generally means that they are not willing to stick around very long with those kinds of conditions.

Mr. Speaker, locally in Yellowknife, we did move from fee for service to salary, which has provided some help to physicians but it has not seemed to help us in the area of recruitment numbers. We have a lot of work to do here, Mr. Speaker. I know the NWTMA provided the Department of Health with an MD resource plan and as of yet, has had no official response to this plan. They delivered it last February, I believe, so today in question period, I will have questions for the Minister of Health and will specifically ask him when he plans to respond to this resource plan. Thank you.

-- Applause

NWT Physician Shortage
Item 3: Members' Statements

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The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Mr. Dent.

Yellowknife Homeless Coalition
Item 3: Members' Statements

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Charles Dent

Charles Dent Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, homelessness has become a big issue across Canada and we are not immune here in the North. I think it is becoming more and more apparent to the casual observer walking through downtown Yellowknife that we have a growing problem. If you talk to the non-government organizations involved, the situation has indeed become critical.

Over the summer, Members may have heard a concern about emergency family housing and a request from the YWCA to have the Housing Corporation fund some additional units in Yellowknife. I would like to thank Minister Allen and the Housing Corporation for recently signing a contract with the YWCA for ongoing funding for an additional three emergency family housing units.

It is really important, Mr. Speaker, to hear the word "ongoing" in there because this is not just a one-year agreement. It is an ongoing agreement. For NGOs, that is the most critical issue. It is more critical, in some cases, than getting the amount of money that they asked for in the first place.

Mr. Speaker, I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate the non-government organizations of Yellowknife and their partners in government who have been working together as the Homelessness Coalition and who have developed the Yellowknife Community Plan to Address Homelessness.

The coalition is made up of a broad cross-section of NGOs and government agencies. This type of cooperative effort is remarkable. It should be recognized and encouraged.

I am happy to see that some government departments have joined the initial small group to work together. It is only with this kind of coordinated approach that our resources are maximized to find real solutions to the homeless situation.

Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories needs to ensure a higher level of participation and more cross-departmental cooperation. Like other governments in Canada, we need to recognize the problem of homelessness and how it is growing. It has become so serious that I think we need to take a look at making a Minister responsible for homelessness in the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, later today I will take this opportunity to table the Yellowknife Community Plan to Address Homelessness, as developed by the Homelessness Coalition, dated July 1, 2001. The document was developed following extensive community consultation and research. The plan consists of three primary components: first, community planning, capacity building and research; two, programs and services for the homeless; and three, housing capital projects.

Mr. Speaker, it is important to note that the federal government has agreed to fund this program over a three-year period but that three-year period is almost half finished.

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.