Debates of March 5th, 2001

This is page numbers 1501 - 1541 of the Hansard for the 14th Assembly, 3rd 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
Meeting With The Honourable Paul Martin
Dogrib Land Claim And Self-government Negotiations
Aurora College Programs Successful
Nursing Education In The Nwt
Voices Of Constituents
Clawback Of Income Support Payments
International Women's Day
Aklavik's Request For A Curling Rink
Slate Of Cabinet Minister Meeting In Fort Smith
Inuvik Transition House
Recognition Of Community Language Award Recipient Margaret Vandell
Time Lines For The Reopening Of The Stanton Regional Hospital Surgery Ward
Accidental Deaths Related To Alcohol
The Marriage Of Hay River To The South Slave Region
Inuvik Annual Career Fair
Oil And Gas Activity In The Beaufort Delta Region
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Federal Fuel Subsidy Recovery
Funding For NWT Shelters
Aklavik Curling Rink
Metis Health Benefits Administration
Decentralization Of Student Financial Assistance
Iba Payments Classified As Income
Outdated Website For GNWT Boards
Federal Highway Infrastructure Funding
Public Works Recommendations To Maca
Petition 7-14(3): The Need For A New Curling Rink In Aklavik
Bill 21: An Act To Amend The Labour Standards Act
Tabled Document 115-14(3): Aurora College Annual Report, 1999-2000
Tabled Document 116-14(3): Minister Of Transportation's Report To The Legislative Assembly For 2000 - Transportation Of Dangerous Goods Act (1990)
Tabled Document 117-14(3): Business Credit Corporation 2000 Annual Report
Tabled Document 118-14(3): Legal Opinion On Impact Benefit Agreement Payments Relative To The Social Assistance Act
Support For The Protection Of The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
Terms Of Reference For The Special Committee On The Implementation Of Self-government And The Sunset Clause
Terms Of Reference For The Special Committee To Review The Official Languages Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 20: Report Of The Committee Of The Whole
Item 22: Orders Of The Day

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

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Sandy Lee

Sandy Lee Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Could the Minister assure me that this office does what it has to do to enforce a judgement when it comes to maintenance payments? In cases where the debtor does not have a salary, his wages cannot be garnisheed, that they always look at other options including seizure of property wherever possible? That any delay in this process is just a matter of this person getting her turn?

I just want to be assured that as a matter of routine procedure within this office, this office looks at all options to collect the maintenance payments, including the seizure of property. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

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

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The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Mr. Minister.

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

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Jim Antoine Nahendeh

I would like to assure the honourable Member that the maintenance enforcement office will look at all of the options available to them according to the Maintenance Orders Enforcement Act, so that they enforce payments for spousal and child support according to the act. Thank you.

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

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The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Registries and court services, grants and contributions, grants, total grants, $3,000.

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

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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

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

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The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Total grants and contributions, $3,000.

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

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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

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

March 4th, 2001

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The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Page 7-25, community justice and corrections, budget summary. Mr. Delorey.

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

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Paul Delorey

Paul Delorey Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I had a question about the community-based programs or projects that are involved in corrections centres. I was wondering if I could get some information on how many correction centres run programs or projects that are of a fundraising nature in communities where they are set up?

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

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The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

The honourable Minister responsible for Justice, Mr. Antoine.

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

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Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, in Hay River, the Mackenzie Correctional Centre does programs and projects that raise money, like firewood and other projects that they do. I am not too sure about Yellowknife. I know they use some of the crews on different projects, whether it is fundraising or not. I will have to get back to the honourable Member on exactly how many of the centres are doing these projects to raise money in the different communities. Thank you.

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

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The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Mr. Delorey.

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

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Paul Delorey

Paul Delorey Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. These programs that are run within correctional centres, are they meant to be a business program? What I am getting at is, is it their intent to set up as a business, to get a business licence and run in competition with the private enterprise? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

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

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The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

The deputy minister, Mr. Sutton.

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

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Sutton

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. No, it is not the intent to set up business to compete with private enterprises. Thank you very much.

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

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The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Mr. Delorey.

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

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Paul Delorey

Paul Delorey Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. So they are not businesses then, they do not have business licences and operate as businesses?

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

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The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Mr. Sutton.

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

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Sutton

I do not know if I can answer that, Mr. Chairman. I am not sure if they have the business licences or not. I would have to get back to the Member.

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

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The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Mr. Delorey, could you just clarify your question? I do not think it was clear.

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

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Paul Delorey

Paul Delorey Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. What I am trying to get at is this; I understand the programs that they run for inmates, they are make-work projects, basically. Sometimes they benefit the community. The concern I have is there have been a number of complaints, going back over quite some time, that projects that are run through the centre oftentimes compete with private enterprise. They obviously do a lot of work cheaper than what private enterprise can do.

For example, the woodcutting business, lawn maintenance, brushing, whatever, if they have equipment paid for by the corrections centre, have crews that go out for $4.50 a day, private enterprise cannot compete with that.

It is my understanding, and I am not sure, but there may even be a business licence involved in the one in Hay River, so I am wondering if that is the intent, or should the program operate at arm's length? Private enterprise should be able to set the price for services, and if there is room, go in and sell products. Where does this money go and what is it used for?

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

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The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

The deputy minister, Mr. Sutton.

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

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Sutton

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I understand that the money that is raised goes into the inmate welfare funds in each institution. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

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

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The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Mr. Delorey.

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

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Paul Delorey

Paul Delorey Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. With the wood business, it has been brought to my attention that the centre in Yellowknife is going to get involved in the wood business. I was wondering if and when they do get set up, they are going to be going with the going prices in Yellowknife or are they going to be undercutting the operation that is here now?