Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am starting to get a grasp of the complexities of permits in the Northwest Territories. Why would one government provide permits for a fishing operation that requires an airport, and yet that permit comes from a different place? Mr. Speaker, the Minister is working with DIAND. What kind of progress has he made with the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs on this issue? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Debates of July 23rd, 2001
This is page numbers 261 - 313 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 process.
Topics
Supplementary To Question 102-14(4): Location Of Lodge Operator's Airstrip
Question 102-14(4): Location Of Lodge Operator's Airstrip
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 276
Steven Nitah Tu Nedhe
Supplementary To Question 102-14(4): Location Of Lodge Operator's Airstrip
Question 102-14(4): Location Of Lodge Operator's Airstrip
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 276
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 102-14(4): Location Of Lodge Operator's Airstrip
Question 102-14(4): Location Of Lodge Operator's Airstrip
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 276
Joe Handley Weledeh
Mr. Speaker, as the Member points out, it is a very complex situation in the Territories and that is one of the reasons why we would like to see a lot of this responsibility devolve to the GNWT, so that any lodge operator gets all his permits from one government and we can then have full responsibility for it.
In terms of progress with the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs, let us say that I have not had a response from them so, essentially, I have made no progress with them at this point. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 102-14(4): Location Of Lodge Operator's Airstrip
Question 102-14(4): Location Of Lodge Operator's Airstrip
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 276
Supplementary To Question 102-14(4): Location Of Lodge Operator's Airstrip
Question 102-14(4): Location Of Lodge Operator's Airstrip
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 276
Steven Nitah Tu Nedhe
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, Plummer's Lodge - all the permits for fishing include the Northwest Territories. Other than that, it does not benefit the people of the Northwest Territories. It certainly does not benefit my constituents. They have an airport there that they fly their tourists directly from Winnipeg. I do not know if they buy supplies up here. What I would like to know is can RWED withhold permits from this lodge until this very serious matter is resolved and restitution is paid to the people that the damage is done to? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Supplementary To Question 102-14(4): Location Of Lodge Operator's Airstrip
Question 102-14(4): Location Of Lodge Operator's Airstrip
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 277
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 102-14(4): Location Of Lodge Operator's Airstrip
Question 102-14(4): Location Of Lodge Operator's Airstrip
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 277
Joe Handley Weledeh
Mr. Speaker, the answer is no. Once the lodge has the permits issued to them, then we cannot take them back or withhold renewing them unless something changes in their operation. As long as they continue as is, and as frustrated as we may be that benefits are very, very limited in this case...to my knowledge, I believe they fly tourists in and out of Winnipeg. I believe they fly in a lot of their supplies. I believe they bring in a lot of their workers from the south. There is nothing we can do. This lodge has been in operation for many years.
I do not like it any more than the Member does in terms of its very limited benefits to the Northwest Territories, but we cannot use the airport extension that happened a number of years ago as a reason to not continue to renew the tourism licence. Legally, we just cannot do that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Further Return To Question 102-14(4): Location Of Lodge Operator's Airstrip
Question 102-14(4): Location Of Lodge Operator's Airstrip
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 277
The Speaker Tony Whitford
Thank you, Mr. Minister. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee.
Question 103-14(4): Benefits For Same-sex Couples
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 277
Sandy Lee Range Lake
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Justice and it follows up on the questions and answers regarding adoption privileges for same-sex couples. I am asking this question because I was surprised at the attentiveness with which the Minister answered the questions, and there were lots of maybes and uncertainty about what this government is planning on doing to make sure that our laws are in line with the supreme law of the land, that being the decision of the Supreme Court of Canada.
My question to the Minister of Justice is, has the Minister reviewed the laws of our Territories to see what is out of sync with the Supreme Court decision with regard to same-sex couple benefits? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Question 103-14(4): Benefits For Same-sex Couples
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 277
The Speaker Tony Whitford
Thank you, Ms. Lee. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Justice, Mr. Antoine.
Return To Question 103-14(4): Benefits For Same-sex Couples
Question 103-14(4): Benefits For Same-sex Couples
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 277
Jim Antoine Nahendeh
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Department of Justice has looked at the Supreme Court decision, the M. versus H. decision. The Supreme Court of Canada decided that the definition of "spouse" in the Ontario Family Law Act did not meet the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. We have done some work in the Department of Justice. We have looked at what Canada has done and what other provinces have done in order to get their legislation in line with the Supreme Court decision. We have done that, and we are currently drafting some legislation to amend the Family Law Act. This is to apply to same-sex couples for spousal support.
The question earlier was with regard to adoption, which is under the Health and Social Services Adoption Act legislation. What we need to do here is to look at all our laws that deal with this whole issue of same-sex couples and try to take a comprehensive approach, rather than just trying to meet the requirements of M. versus H. Thank you.
Return To Question 103-14(4): Benefits For Same-sex Couples
Question 103-14(4): Benefits For Same-sex Couples
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 277
Supplementary To Question 103-14(4): Benefits For Same-sex Couples
Question 103-14(4): Benefits For Same-sex Couples
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 277
Sandy Lee Range Lake
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, based on the answer that the Minister has just given, is it safe for us to assume that the Minister is pursuing the option of changing the legislation, rather than waiting for someone to challenge the law in court? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Supplementary To Question 103-14(4): Benefits For Same-sex Couples
Question 103-14(4): Benefits For Same-sex Couples
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 277
The Speaker Tony Whitford
Thank you, Ms. Lee. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Justice, Mr. Antoine.
Further Return To Question 103-14(4): Benefits For Same-sex Couples
Question 103-14(4): Benefits For Same-sex Couples
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 277
Jim Antoine Nahendeh
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yes, we have done some work. We have drafted legislation to amend the Family Law Act, but the recent court decisions and the different approaches that we see in other jurisdictions, as well as the question of adoption by same-sex couples, which is a different act, which is the Adoption Act. These new developments cause us to hold back of moving forward with legislation right now until we do a comprehensive review and, hopefully by this fall, we will have something in place. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 103-14(4): Benefits For Same-sex Couples
Question 103-14(4): Benefits For Same-sex Couples
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 277
Supplementary To Question 103-14(4): Benefits For Same-sex Couples
Question 103-14(4): Benefits For Same-sex Couples
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 277
Sandy Lee Range Lake
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to think that the Minister's desire to review the law is to do it right and not to prolong the process. I would like to ask the Minister if he is already aware of the fact that there is a defect in the Adoption Act, would he not be prepared to deal with that first and then deal with other ones that may come up? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Supplementary To Question 103-14(4): Benefits For Same-sex Couples
Question 103-14(4): Benefits For Same-sex Couples
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 277
The Speaker Tony Whitford
Thank you, Ms. Lee. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Justice, Mr. Antoine.
Further Return To Question 103-14(4): Benefits For Same-sex Couples
Question 103-14(4): Benefits For Same-sex Couples
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 277
Jim Antoine Nahendeh
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, if we deal with just specific requirements of the M. versus H. court decision, that leaves out other areas and other legislation of our government that have to be looked at. We could do a comprehensive review, which may take a little longer, but if we deal specifically with a specific issue, some of the work has already been done.
I would prefer to do more of a comprehensive review and look at what other jurisdictions are doing so that we do not have to reinvent the wheel as we move through this. I think there is a substantial amount of work being done by the Department of Justice. I think we might be in a position to introduce legislation by this fall during session. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 103-14(4): Benefits For Same-sex Couples
Question 103-14(4): Benefits For Same-sex Couples
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 278
Supplementary To Question 103-14(4): Benefits For Same-sex Couples
Question 103-14(4): Benefits For Same-sex Couples
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 278
Sandy Lee Range Lake
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to take the words of the Minister for what it is and I would just like to ask for his commitment that he does everything in his power to bring the legislative proposals back by the fall session, given the crowded agenda that we have. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Supplementary To Question 103-14(4): Benefits For Same-sex Couples
Question 103-14(4): Benefits For Same-sex Couples
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 278
The Speaker Tony Whitford
Thank you, Ms. Lee. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Justice, Mr. Antoine.
Further Return To Question 103-14(4): Benefits For Same-sex Couples
Question 103-14(4): Benefits For Same-sex Couples
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 278
Jim Antoine Nahendeh
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I will do that. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 103-14(4): Benefits For Same-sex Couples
Question 103-14(4): Benefits For Same-sex Couples
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 278
The Speaker Tony Whitford
Thank you, Minister Antoine. The time for question period is over. Mr. Krutko.
Further Return To Question 103-14(4): Benefits For Same-sex Couples
Question 103-14(4): Benefits For Same-sex Couples
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 278
David Krutko Mackenzie Delta
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to go back to item 6.