This is page numbers 1169 - 1196 of the Hansard for the 14th Assembly, 5th 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.

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, Honourable Michael Miltenberger, Nr. Nitah, Honourable Jake Ootes, Mr. Roland, Honourable Vince Steen, Honourable Tony Whitford.

-- Prayer

Item 1: Prayer
Item 1: Prayer

Page 1169

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee.

Lack Of Resources In The Legal Aid Office
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1169

Sandy Lee

Sandy Lee Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to discuss and inform this House about an issue that keeps being brought up to my attention by my constituents, and it has to do with the lack of resources in our legal aid office.

Mr. Speaker, it appears that with the under-funded resources we have with the legal aid, a lot of people in need of legal help are without a lawyer, and when they do finally get one after a prolonged period of waiting, they do not seem to get enough time with the lawyer, so it takes a very long time for them to have their case heard and processed and obtain a decision. Once the decision is reached, the battle continues on with respect to enforcing the decision. Many of these cases are child support cases where many single parents, usually women, are having to do everything they can and make numerous phone calls and write letters to make sure that the office is doing what is required to enforce those decisions.

Mr. Speaker, I have many many calls in this regard and these under-funded resources have some of them to lose some of the payments or money that is available to the opposing spouse that they could have had on behalf of their children. I believe that this is an issue I brought up many many times before in this House. The lack of resources in this office is a serious concern and it is really having an effect on the families and mothers with children who really need the money every month to support them.

Mr. Speaker, I have asked this question before in this House to the Minister and I ask that Minister again, and I will ask later today, to see what can be done to better resource this office so that those in need of legal aid help can achieve them in a speedy manner and that they get the necessary support they need. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Lack Of Resources In The Legal Aid Office
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1169

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.

Ineffectiveness Of The Affirmative Action Policy
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1169

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with regard to an individual who I have been talking to with respect to the whole affirmative action policy that we have in place in this government. This individual has worked for this government for many years yet, Mr. Speaker, she has not seen any movement in regard to enhancing her abilities to move up the ladder and be able to succeed in her career path to be able to take on the challenges of the different areas of responsibility in this government.

Mr. Speaker, the affirmative action policy that we have in place is to ensure that we have a make-up of the government that reflects the population of the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, I think that this government the has to take on a more important role of enhancing the people we do have working for the Government of the Northwest Territories to ensure that they do succeed in enhancing themselves to move on in the government and move up the ladder, instead of seeing them sitting at the bottom of the wage scale, being the administrative staff and not taking on the responsibility of senior management, middle management, and ensuring that we do not continue the cycle of dependency on southern Canada. We have to develop our human resources within the government and the people that decided to make a career in this government.

Yet, Mr. Speaker, a lot of employees in this government are frustrated to the point of applying for jobs time and time again and being turned down, saying you are either not qualified or the structure of the advertisement of those positions in such a way that you need practically a university degree, or a bachelor of science or what not in different areas.

I think as a government, we have to do more to develop the human resources that we have within our government, but also ensure that we make a career for those people who have made a decision to come work for this government. I think for First Nations people, the whole idea of the affirmative action policy was to do such by way of making sure that this government allows those opportunities to be offered to First Nations people in the Northwest Territories, to really have a role to play in this government, especially where you look at management, senior management, where the big dollars are being made. Yet they continue to be filled from people from southern Canada.

Mr. Speaker, I will be asking the Minister questions on this matter later.

Ineffectiveness Of The Affirmative Action Policy
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1169

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Deh Cho, Mr. McLeod.

Michael McLeod

Michael McLeod Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I want to make some general comments about the Deh Cho today, especially towards the youth in my riding. Last week, as I announced in the House, last weekend I attended a Dream Catchers Conference in Edmonton. I was very impressed with the whole conference. It was very well-attended. We had several hundred youth from the Northwest Territories, many different types of workshops and presentations and events happening, and I wanted to commend all of the youth, especially the youth from my riding of the Hay River Reserve, Fort Providence and the youth that we have in the leadership program. They were all well-behaved and were eager participants in all of the events.

I happened to take part and ended up chaperoning for one of the groups and attended the youth dance. I cannot say I did any dancing. I was waiting for a song that I recognized. However, none played for the full four hours that I was there.

I am hoping next year that we will see more people take part, especially the leaders from the North and my colleagues here. I encourage them to come. It is a great time.

This time of the year is also a time for our students in the North and the students in post-secondary institutions, they are all taking mid-term exams. They are all studying hard. I wanted to wish them well and encourage them to stick to their books. I know it is very difficult in our smaller communities to be in the higher classes. However, I encourage them to do their best.

I was talking to an elder the other day and he was indicating that all the challenges and all the different things that are facing our youth, the list is growing. We have AIDS, we have all kinds of diseases. He was saying we should include a lack of education as a part of one, because you cannot, in this day and age, make a healthy living without a good education.

Today I also want to recognize the two pages that we have with us. We have from Kakisa, two hard-working young gentlemen. Dennis Chico and Jeremy Simba. They have been with us all week and will be leaving today. I want to thank them for doing a good job. Also, their chaperone, Elainie Simba.

I also want to welcome two new constituents who were just born in the last couple of days, Kelly Leechman and Gerard Compton.

-- Applause

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Sorry, Mr. McLeod, your time wasn't up, but you have hit already three subjects in the one statement. The Chair sort of recognizes the pages as a learning experience, but when we start hitting new constituents...Mr. McLeod, if you wish to continue your member's statement, you need unanimous consent.

Michael McLeod

Michael McLeod Deh Cho

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

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you. The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his Member's statement on the first subject. Are there any nays? There are no nays, Mr. McLeod, you may continue.

Michael McLeod

Michael McLeod Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My comments were on the youth of the Deh Cho. I want to conclude by reminding the people of this House that we need to invest in our youth. Our youth are our biggest resource. I want to encourage this government to do more in terms of setting up more northern conferences where we can get our youth together and have similar types of activities as the Dream Catchers. We can have our own home-grown northern conference. We also are hearing some of our youth centres are having difficulties, and some communities do not even have them. We need to pay some attention to that.

Also, we should be...we have a Minister of Youth. Maybe we should be giving him a cheque-book so he can do some activities and financial...thank you.

-- Applause

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, Mr. Allen.

Old Tyme Family Fiddle Dance
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1170

Roger Allen

Roger Allen Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is customary for the Gwich'in and Inuvialuit people of my riding to celebrate special occasions with a feast and dance. We find that this period in our Assembly is no better time than to kick up our heel and toe. This evening, Mr. Speaker, our people will be hosting an old time family dance, fiddle dance at the N'dilo gym.

Our group of friends will be importing the Delta Good Time Band from Inuvik to play the many tunes that were introduced to us by traders, trappers, and those who were invited into our northern homeland. We dealt with many types of those dances, which will be performed by many ethnicities throughout the Northwest Territories tonight.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the organizers, we would like to invite all Members of this Assembly, family and friends of yours, to come and join us. The potluck dinner will commence around 7:00 p.m. with a dance beginning at 9:00 p.m. and it will end at 2:00 a.m.

Mr. Speaker, it is important to extend our gratitude to the sponsors. I would like to thank First Air, Julia Mott, Gwich'in Tribal Council president, Fred Carmicheal, Super 8 Motel, and especially our colleague from Hay River South, who will be sponsoring the youth jigging contest.

Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I look forward to seeing you all at the gala tonight. Please feel welcome to come. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Old Tyme Family Fiddle Dance
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1170

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Allen. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Tribute To Heroic Hay River Constituents
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1170

Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would just like to pay a quick tribute to three Hay River South constituents for the heroic actions taken on board an Air Canada flight bound for Calgary on Wednesday afternoon of this week. Brian Stewart and his sons, Chad and Travis, were returning from a trip to Frankfurt, Germany. During their flight, about one hour out of Calgary, a man aboard the aircraft lost his senses and began to attack another passenger, striking the other passenger in the face and holding his hands around the other passenger's neck, screaming and yelling.

Apparently, when a person snaps like this, they can have incredible strength, and it took eight passengers and flight crew to subdue this man. But Brian, Chad and Travis Stewart led the group of passengers who apprehended the attacker. They struggled in the area of the seat and the aisle, using seatbelts to constrain him.

Mr. Speaker, this is the type of incident that many people fear will happen in flight, and there is a subtle feeling that something could go wrong, some kind of disturbance and the situation could get out of control, especially in light of what happened on September 11th.

Mr. Speaker, thanks to Brian, Chad and Travis Stewart and the other people like them that are willing to risk their personal safety to protect those around them, even strangers on the airplane, this flight terminated in Calgary safely.

I would like today to just honour their bravery and their courage for rising to defend someone in need of help and join Hay River residents in congratulating these three men for their heroic actions, and also, Mr. Speaker, I know that their grandfather, the Honourable Don Stewart, former Speaker and Member of this House, would have been very proud of their actions and that is just the kind of people that the Stewarts are. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Tribute To Heroic Hay River Constituents
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1171

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Item 3, Members' statements. Any further Member's statements? The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Antoine.

Tribute To Fort Simpson's Political Leadership
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1171

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have been trying to speak on behalf of some of the communities I represent. Today, Mr. Speaker, I would like to speak about the largest community in my constituency, which is the community that I represent, Fort Simpson, or Liidlii Kue.

Mr. Speaker, Liidlii Kue is at the confluence of the Liard and Mackenzie Rivers and it is a historical community. This community has seen many changes over the years and, Mr. Speaker, Fort Simpson is my home community as well. However, as a Dene I grew up about 30 kilometres up the Mackenzie River at a place called...(inaudible)...or Rabbit Skin. Whenever we used to go to town we always were very excited in anticipation of going to Fort Simpson.

Today, Mr. Speaker, Fort Simpson is the hub of much of the Deh Cho region. There are very busy people there. They are in the middle of negotiations on the Deh Cho process, and as well the community is very busy in anticipation of a pipeline and oil and gas exploration.

Today I would like to recognize the men and women who have put their names forward to be leaders in the community. First of all on September 3rd the Metis local had an election and Randy Sibbeston has become the president of the Metis Local 52, along with Danny Peterson, Doris Erasmus, Cheryl Sibbeston, Jonas Lafferty, Denise Alger and Murray Sibbeston. I would like to congratulate them for putting their names forward to serve their people.

I would also like to recognize the leadership of the Liidlii Kue First Nation with Chief Rita Cli, Gerald Antoine, Ernest Cazon, Ron Hardisty, Kevin Menicosh, Keyina Norwegian, Hazel Tanchi and Isiah Tsetso. As well, Mr. Speaker, the mayor and some of the village councillors are planning to come here next week and they represent the community here very well. Tom Wilson as the mayor, Bob Hanna is deputy mayor, Betty Hardisty, Dieter Cazon, Shone Whelly, Kirby Groat, Duncan Cameron and Andrew Goule.

Mr. Speaker, with this kind of leadership in our communities we have to work with them here as the Legislature, and as every community that we travel to has good leadership I just wanted to recognize those people in my constituency today. Mahsi. Thank you.

-- Applause

Tribute To Fort Simpson's Political Leadership
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1171

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Mahsi, Mr. Antoine. Item 3, Members' statements. No further Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Hay River North, Mr. Delorey.

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 1171

Paul Delorey

Paul Delorey Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to recognize two very special individuals, Ms. Jenna Hordal and Mr. Matthew Davies. These two individuals have been with us all week as pages in the House and have done a terrific job, very well behaved kids and it has been my pleasure to have them here as Pages. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 1171

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Delorey. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Handley.

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 1171

Joe Handley

Joe Handley Weledeh

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to recognize Major Karen Hoeft from the Salvation Army and a good constituent of mine. Thank you.

-- Applause

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 1171

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee.

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 1171

Sandy Lee

Sandy Lee Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would also like to recognize someone in the gallery who has been desperately waiting for us to deal with social issues; a well known social activist, Major Karen Hoeft. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 1171

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Welcome to the gallery. Any further recognitions in the visitors gallery. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee.