Debates of Nov. 6th, 2001

This is page numbers 659 - 727 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 chairman.

Topics

Members Present

Item 1: Prayer

Amendments To Highway Investment Strategy

The Proposed Human Rights Act

The Highway Troll Fairy Tale

Hay River Family Support Centre

Support For The Oil And Gas Industry

Support For Wildlife Harvesters

Highway Investment Issues

Plans To Return Home To The Inuvik Boot Lake Constituency

St. John Ambulance Investiture Ceremonies

Gwich'in Tribal Council Meetings In Ottawa

Human Organ And Tissue Donor Program

Highway Taxation Limitations

Clawback Of The Federal Child Benefit Supplement

Deh Cho First Nations Leadership Meeting

Acknowledgement Of Canadian Rangers And Junior Rangers

Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Costs Of Community Harvests

Redesign Of The Highway Investment Strategy

GNWT Contracting Policies

Oil And Gas Training In The South Mackenzie

Organ Donor Identification

Family Support Centre Funding

Examination Of The Highway Investment Strategy

Status Of Forest Resources Inventory

Protecting The Safety Of Highway Users

GNWT Contract Budgeting Process

Rental Accommodation For Income Support Clients

Organ Donor Identification

Community-based Resource Development Funding

Approach For Investing In Highways

Written Question 9-14(4): Workers' Compensation Board Fiscal Policies

Item 11: Reports Of Standing And Special Committees

Tabled Document 73-14(4): Northwest Territories Emergency Plan

Tabled Document 74-14(4): Investing In The Future Of Northerners, Northwest Territories Development Corporation 2000-2001 Annual Report

Tabled Document 75-14(4): Interim Manufacturing Directive

Tabled Document 76-14(4): Evolving Education For An Evolving North: Aurora College Annual Report, 2000-2001

Tabled Document 77-14(4): Letters Of Support For The Premier And Staff

Tabled Document 78-14(4): Comments By Sheila Macpherson, Solicitor For Premier Kakfwi, Regarding The Report Of The Special Committee On Conflict Process

Tabled Document 79-14(4): Northwest Territories Power Corporation Annual Report 2000-2001

Appointment To The Standing Committee On Accountability And Oversight And The Board Of Management

Setting Of Sitting Hours By The Speaker

Appointment To The Standing Committee On Accountability And Oversight And The Board Of Management (carried)

Setting Of Sitting Hours By The Speaker (carried)

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

To Adopt Tabled Document 42-14(4)

To Institute A Supplementary Pension Plan (carried)

To Repeal Section 32 Of The Elections Act (carried)

That Elections NWT Develop A Permanent List Of Electors (carried)

That Elections NWT Develop An Automated Enumeration Data Entry And Retrieval System (carried)

To Amend The Elections Act To Reduce The Nomination Period To Five Days (carried)

To Amend The Elections Act Respecting Candidates Withdrawing Their Nomination (carried)

To Amend The Elections Act To Repeal Revision Day And Substitute Revision Period (carried)

To Amend The Elections Act To Eliminate Photo Placards (carried)

To Amend The Elections Act To Provide Write-in Ballots For Voting By Mail (carried)

To Amend The Elections Act Respecting Advance Polls (carried)

To Amend The Elections Act To Eliminate Proxy Voting (carried)

To Amend The Elections Act To Permit Returning Officers To Vote (carried)

To Amend The Elections Act To Establish Special Mobile Voting Stations (carried)

To Amend The Elections Act Respecting Refund Of Candidates' Deposit (carried)

To Amend The Elections Act To Provide For A 28 Day Electoral Event (carried)

To Adopt The General And Technical Recommendations In Cr 7-14(4), Pp 10-11 (carried)

To Amend The Elections Act To Provide For The Appointment Of A Deputy Chief Electoral Officer (carried)

To Amend The Elections Act Respecting Returning Officer Appointment Expiration (carried)

That The Chief Electoral Officer May Re-appoint A Returning Officer (carried)

That The Preliminary List Of Electors No Longer Be Posted (carried)

That Special Ballots Be Available (carried)

That Candidate Returns Be Available For Public Inspection (carried)

That An Elector May Decline To Vote (carried)

That An Elector Must Swear Or Affirm Eligibility To Vote (carried)

That An Elector May Vote In Polling Division Where Resident (carried)

To Repeal Section 51(3)(a) Of The Elections Act (carried)

That The Poll Clerk Shall Witness Deputy Returning Officer Providing Assistance (carried)

That Mail-in Ballots Be Changed To Special Ballots (carried)

That Incarcerated Electors Vote By Special Ballot (carried)

Eligibility Of Electors In A By-election (carried)

To Amend The Rules Of The Legislative Assembly To Add Rule 27(3) (carried)

To Amend Rule 85 (2)(c) Of The Rules Of The Legislative Assembly (carried)

Item 20: Report Of The Committee Of The Whole

To Amend Rule 85(2)(c) Of The Rules Of The Legislative Assembly

To Amend The Rules Of The Legislative Assembly

To Amend Rule 85(2)(c) Of The Rules Of The Legislative Assembly (carried)

To Amend The Rules Of The Legislative Assembly (carried)

Bill 8: An Act To Amend The Motor Vehicles Act

Bill 14: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 2, 2001-2002

Assent To Bills

Return To Question 231-14(4): Status Of Forest Resources Inventory
Question 231-14(4): Status Of Forest Resources Inventory
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 673

Joe Handley Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, as the Member has indicated, doing a forest inventory is to undertake a very thorough and comprehensive review of all aspects of a forest. That includes the age, the health, the different types of trees, the amount of commercial timber, the amount of habitat per wildlife, looking at all of the aspects of it and providing a picture that is useful not only from a commercial perspective but also from people who are dealing with subsistence.

We do forest inventory on an ongoing basis in various regions of the Territories so it is an ongoing process that is at different stages in different regions.

In the South Slave, the Member's area, we are looking at a four or five-year process. We are basically at year one right now. Thank you.

Return To Question 231-14(4): Status Of Forest Resources Inventory
Question 231-14(4): Status Of Forest Resources Inventory
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 673

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Nitah.

Supplementary To Question 231-14(4): Status Of Forest Resources Inventory
Question 231-14(4): Status Of Forest Resources Inventory
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 673

Steven Nitah Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As part of the inventory done on forestry, I imagine they are using satellite imagery and so on to get a complete picture of vegetation, soil, et cetera, that could be used for wildlife management as well. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary To Question 231-14(4): Status Of Forest Resources Inventory
Question 231-14(4): Status Of Forest Resources Inventory
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 673

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Nitah. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 231-14(4): Status Of Forest Resources Inventory
Question 231-14(4): Status Of Forest Resources Inventory
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 673

Joe Handley Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yes, that is correct. We do rely quite heavily on satellite imagery to complete a forest inventory. It will indicate the type of trees, vegetation and growth that are suitable for various species of wildlife. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 231-14(4): Status Of Forest Resources Inventory
Question 231-14(4): Status Of Forest Resources Inventory
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 673

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Nitah.

Supplementary To Question 231-14(4): Status Of Forest Resources Inventory
Question 231-14(4): Status Of Forest Resources Inventory
Item 6: Oral Questions

November 5th, 2001

Page 673

Steven Nitah Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as part of the inventory, I believe the department is also doing a timber supply analysis, which combines forest growth information, current inventory information and land resource management objectives. One of the objectives is, as I understand it, to develop recommendations for an annual harvest level sustainable on a long-term basis, and others to identify exclusions of areas from forest harvesting to maintain other uses. Can the Minister tell me if the timber supply analysis for the North Slave and South Slave river areas have been completed? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 231-14(4): Status Of Forest Resources Inventory
Question 231-14(4): Status Of Forest Resources Inventory
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 673

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Nitah. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 231-14(4): Status Of Forest Resources Inventory
Question 231-14(4): Status Of Forest Resources Inventory
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 674

Joe Handley Weledeh

Mr. Speaker, the Member is correct. The timber supply analysis is more focused on what would be allowable as a commercial harvest in an area. It could be for wood lots. It could be for timber for producing lumber. The timber supply analysis in the South Slave and the Slave River areas, as I understood the Member asking, is not complete. It is underway by the department. The department is using that information to determine what we call an annual allowable cut, or annual allowable harvest. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 231-14(4): Status Of Forest Resources Inventory
Question 231-14(4): Status Of Forest Resources Inventory
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 674

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Final supplementary, Mr. Nitah.

Supplementary To Question 231-14(4): Status Of Forest Resources Inventory
Question 231-14(4): Status Of Forest Resources Inventory
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 674

Steven Nitah Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In determining the annual allowable cut, I also understand that it is also...(inaudible)...to go to the communities to see if there is support for any kind of development in the forestry area in the immediate community area. My understanding is that the timber supply analysis will not be completed until 2003 for the South Slave, the North Slave River area. Although that is still in progress, the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act has pretty much cleared Mr. Patterson to develop areas in the South Slave River area and the North Slave River area for cutting. Does the department routinely grant permits, which they have not yet, to companies in areas for development where there is still an ongoing study to determine the viability of that area? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary To Question 231-14(4): Status Of Forest Resources Inventory
Question 231-14(4): Status Of Forest Resources Inventory
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 674

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Nitah. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 231-14(4): Status Of Forest Resources Inventory
Question 231-14(4): Status Of Forest Resources Inventory
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 674

Joe Handley Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, no, we will not give an annual cutting license or a longer-term permit for anyone unless we are sure that the harvesting being requested is within sustainable levels. We would not give it to anyone until that allowable cut is determined. I believe the Member is right, although I would have to check on the exact guidelines, but I believe that there is a requirement for consultation with communities as part of that process. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 231-14(4): Status Of Forest Resources Inventory
Question 231-14(4): Status Of Forest Resources Inventory
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 674

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Yellowknife South, Mr. Bell.