This is page numbers 89 - 119 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.

Topics

Members Present

Honourable Roger Allen, Honourable Jim Antoine, Mr. Bell, Mr. Braden, Mr. Delorey, Mr. Dent, Mrs. Groenewegen, Honourable Joe Handley, Mr. Krutko, Mr. Lafferty, 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. Roland. Good morning, colleagues. Item 2, Ministers' statements. The honourable Minister responsible for Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Later today I will be giving notice of motion for first reading of a bill to amend the Adoption Act and the Family Law Act. These amendments reflect the requirements for equality under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Human rights legislation across Canada, including our own proposed NWT Human Rights Act, list sexual orientation as a prohibited ground of discrimination. As well, various courts across the country, including the Supreme Court of Canada, have ruled that legislation that discriminates on the basis of sexual orientation violates the Charter and has been found to be unconstitutional.

As a result, courts and Legislatures have been granting many of the same rights and responsibilities under the law to same-sex couples that are enjoyed by opposite sex common-law couples. This includes such areas as the right to spousal support, the right to equal division of property and the right to adopt.

Mr. Speaker, in the Northwest Territories, individuals involved in same-sex common-law relationships do not, in most cases, currently have the same legislated rights and responsibilities as do individuals in opposite sex common-law relationships. In order to ensure that our legislation complies with equality provisions under the Charter, and to avoid any costly legal challenges, we will be addressing this concern in two phases.

In phase one we will be introducing a bill to amend the Adoption Act and the Family Law Act. These amendments will change the definition of spouse to include, in addition to married couples, those who have lived in a conjugal relationship for two years. The definition will be gender neutral. As a consequence of these amendments, nine other acts that use the definition of spouse found in the Family Law Act would also be affected.

These amendments will ensure that those individuals living in a same-sex relationship will have the same rights and obligations under this legislation that are currently provided to those living in a common-law relationship. Specifically under the Family Law Act and the Adoption Act, they would be able to seek spousal support, division of property, restraining orders and be allowed to adopt.

Phase two of this project involves a review and amendment of all the remaining 35 pieces of legislation that use spouse or an equivalent.

Mr. Speaker, developments in Canadian law over the past ten years have resulted in the extension to unmarried couples many of the same rights and obligations that have been enjoyed by married couples. In addition, the courts have ruled that discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation is unconstitutional. These two developments have meant that laws that treat unmarried couples differently based on their sexual orientation have been found unconstitutional. By amending our NWT legislation to provide equal treatment under the law for individuals involved in same-sex relationships as for individuals in common-law relationships, we are simply bringing our legislation in line with the development of the law across the rest of Canada. This process will in no way impact on the institution of marriage in the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Item 2, Ministers' statements. The honourable Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As outlined by the Minister of Finance two days ago in the Budget Address, this government plans on investing an additional $1 million in the area of day care during the upcoming fiscal year.

Mr. Speaker, the NWT's economy is vibrant and generating new jobs. This activity translates into increased opportunities for northern residents. While part of this government's role is to create an environment for investment and growth, we must also take steps that allow our residents every opportunity to benefit from this prosperity. The goal, aptly articulated in Towards A Better Tomorrow, is one of the principles behind the decision to invest additional funds in this area.

Our plan, Mr. Speaker, is to invest new money in two critical areas. First we plan to increase the daily contribution we make to licensed day care programs. As an example, if the base rate for an infant space is $9.00 per child, we plan to increase it to $14.40 per child. As you can see, Mr. Speaker, this is a full 60 percent increase.

The second area, Mr. Speaker, where we will make a substantial increase is in the area of day care subsidies for low-income parents. Our present system does not cover parents who need day care services during the summer months, or parents who work shift work. If we are going to assist these Northerners in taking advantage of the opportunities before them, we must improve their access to day care services. It is our hope that this increased investment will do just that.

Early childhood is a priority for this government, Mr. Speaker. Investments in early childhood will help to realize our goal of a healthy, self-reliant territory as envisioned in Towards A Better Tomorrow. This investment will give NWT families greater access to affordable quality childcare and a greater opportunity to realize their own career dreams while making a productive contribution to society. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Braden.

Somba Ke Healing Lodge
Item 3: Members' Statements

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Bill Braden

Bill Braden Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Over the course of this Assembly and in the past, all Members have spoken at one time or another about the cost and devastation to the people of the North who have suffered through alcohol and drug addictions. The evidence is in our homes and schools and jails from fetal alcohol effect. We see the trauma from sexual abuse and molestation in residential schools. Spousal assault and victims of family violence are ever-present. It is not a pretty picture. In this respect, Mr. Speaker, we do not have a healthy society.

To capitalize on and benefit from the economic opportunities facing us, we have to make some significant process in dealing with the effects of these situations in our society.

Yesterday my colleague, Mr. Lafferty, the Member for North Slave, spoke passionately about the need for treatment and prevention facilities here in the North. Members of the Beaufort-Delta communities have on numerous occasions spoken about the lack of support in this area as evidenced by the closure of the Tl'oondih Healing Facility.

Mr. Speaker, just off the Detah road sits a substantive 28-bed facility built in 1991 with financing from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. It is an ideal place for healing and self-reflection.

In 2000, Mr. Speaker, the Somba Ke Healing Lodge was founded as a non-profit organization. The ironic situation seems that while the facility has survived, it has survived just barely with help from a number of organizations, but the GNWT Department of Health and Social Services and others should be there as well.

Corrections Services Canada, the federal agency, sends inmates from southern Canada. The Aboriginal Healing Foundation has provided substantial support. When I was there last week, I even encountered a group of Japanese tourists who were using the facilities.

Mr. Speaker, the current status of Somba Ke may be described as uncertain and troubled. Some of its healing programs are delivered to inmates from Corrections Canada and those programs are well regarded. There is a need for additional program definition and development.

Yesterday the Minister of Health and Social Services tabled his action plan for health and social services. Mr. Speaker, the Somba Ke healing centre can be part of the solution for improving quality services. I urge the Minister to positively consider what role the Somba Ke healing centre can play in his action plan in this region. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Somba Ke Healing Lodge
Item 3: Members' Statements

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The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

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

GNWT Position On The Kyoto Protocol
Item 3: Members' Statements

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David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as we all know, climates are changing and nowhere more than the Northwest Territories and the Arctic. Mr. Speaker, we have to have a position to deal with global warming. Our Minister will be attending a conference next week in British Columbia.

Mr. Speaker, I do not think we really understand what this government's position is on the Kyoto agreement, global warming and what we are doing to take on the challenge of the effects of global warming in the Northwest Territories.

We have seen the effects in the weather, the effect it has had on our transportation system, our winter roads and also the environment of the Northwest Territories. Mr. Speaker, I think as a government, we have to know what our position is. For the Members on this side, we would like to know -- do we actually have a position from the Government of the Northwest Territories regarding the Kyoto agreement and global warming?

We, the people in the North, are going to be greatly affected to a point that whatever happens in other parts of the world will have a major effect on the North, the people of the North, the animals and the environment. Mr. Speaker, it has been some time since we as a government have stood up to the rest of the world to say enough is enough. We have seen the effects. We are the ones being affected most greatly, yet we continue to hear the countries of the world, such as the United States, one of the highest producers and users of energy and they have the greatest effect on global warming.

As a government and as Canadians we have to set the examples. At the appropriate time, Mr. Speaker, I will be asking the Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development to really see, do we have a position on this matter and what stand is he going to take when he attends this conference next week in British Columbia.

GNWT Position On The Kyoto Protocol
Item 3: Members' Statements

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The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Nitah.

Inland Lake Fisheries
Item 3: Members' Statements

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Steven Nitah Tu Nedhe

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my statement this morning is dealing with fisheries, specifically inland lakes. Our elders are starting to recognize efficiencies in fisheries that come from smaller, inland lakes.

In the past, Mr. Speaker, when we had a trapping society before the arrival of the snowmobiles, dog teams were utilized to a great extent. Families would have anywhere between 14 and 20 dogs that needed to be fed. People used the inland lakes for fish products quite a bit.

Now that we do not have the dogs to be fed, we are starting to see fish that are overpopulating these lakes and reducing the food limit. Through global warming, the level of ice and snow is affecting the water tables and naturally occurring mercury may be a factor here as well.

I want to know what the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development is doing to monitor fish in the inland lakes near our communities. If they are monitoring, what have they discovered and what will they do about what they discovered? I will have questions for the appropriate Minister during question period. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Inland Lake Fisheries
Item 3: Members' Statements

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The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

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

Attendance At The Scott Tournament Of Hearts
Item 3: Members' Statements

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Paul Delorey

Paul Delorey Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this morning I would like to take a couple of minutes to talk about a topic that is very near and dear to my heart and that is sports. Mr. Speaker, a number of my colleagues and myself have been anxious to get to the TV sets these days to watch the Olympics and the goings on there. We have been entertained by some very exciting games in different sports.

I know that I want to congratulate the ladies team last night for coming out on top of the U.S. team in ladies hockey.

-- Applause

After going into that game, having lost eight consecutive times to the U.S., I am sure there was a lot of pressure on these girls. I guess we have been witness to quite a number of negative happenings when you mix politics and sports. We have seen that in a number of sports in the Olympics in the last couple of weeks.

I think that far too often, Mr. Speaker, we put too much importance on medals and the colour of medals being presented. I know that a number of athletes have been to the Olympics and different sporting events and have put in personal bests and have not come away with medals.

I think that we should be putting more emphasis on our athletes who do personal bests when they are in competition against other athletes and not worry about what colour medals they are getting.

I want to congratulate all Canadians who have taken part in the Olympics and who have represented Canada to the very best of their abilities. I also want to congratulate all the athletes across the North who have qualified to compete in the Arctic Winter Games. I know it is very important, having been involved in the games before, that the athletes receive support from families, from friends and also from government representatives.

I will not be personally going to the games this year, but I do hope that some of my colleagues will have the opportunity to attend and give our athletes some support and encouragement.

Mr. Speaker, next week, starting on Saturday, there is a team from the Northwest Territories that is going to be representing the Northwest Territories and the Yukon at the Scott Tournament of Hearts in Brandon, Manitoba. Mr. Speaker, this team consists of Monique Gagnier of Hay River, Kelly Kaylo of Yellowknife, Cheryl Burlington of Yellowknife, Sharon Cormier of Yellowknife...

Attendance At The Scott Tournament Of Hearts
Item 3: Members' Statements

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The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Mr. Delorey, the time for your Member's statement is over. Mr. Delorey.

Attendance At The Scott Tournament Of Hearts
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 91

Paul Delorey

Paul Delorey Hay River North

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

Attendance At The Scott Tournament Of Hearts
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 91

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

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

Attendance At The Scott Tournament Of Hearts
Item 3: Members' Statements

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Paul Delorey

Paul Delorey Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. Also, Kerri Cooley makes up the fifth player on this team. Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to inform the House that I as well am going to be part of this team. I have been coaching this team off and on this winter. I have also been coaching my daughter, Monique Gagnier, for probably the last 18 years or so.

-- Applause

It gives me great pleasure to be able to go to Manitoba and represent the NWT and Yukon as part of this team. I also want to take this opportunity, Mr. Speaker, to advise my constituents back in Hay River that I will be absent from the House from Monday, February 25th to March 1st so that I can coach this team in Manitoba. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Attendance At The Scott Tournament Of Hearts
Item 3: Members' Statements

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The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Delorey. Our good wishes go along with the team. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Yellowknife South, Mr. Bell.

Brendan Bell

Brendan Bell Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, last April, the Government of Canada created the Commission on the Future of Health Care in Canada. Roy Romanow was appointed to head up the commission. The end goal, Mr. Speaker, is to examine the state of public health care in this country and recommend ways to be made sustainable well into the next century.

The commission recognizes that providing practical and realistic recommendations will be an enormous task. To achieve this, the commission is analyzing submissions from health care providers, stakeholder groups and concerned Canadians who offer their views on challenges and opportunities facing public health care in Canada.

Mr. Speaker, this spring the commission will be visiting the Northwest Territories to hear from Northerners. I have every expectation that our government will be making a formal presentation highlighting our challenges. I also hope that the Standing Committee on Social Programs will be invited to contribute its views to the submission.

Mr. Speaker, we should urge all citizens of the Northwest Territories concerned with protecting our health care system to get involved and be heard. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for North Slave, Mr. Lafferty.

Leon Lafferty North Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My statement today is on the Budget Address, in the area of transportation, Mr. Speaker. I have a concern on how the funds will be allocated in the Northwest Territories. Mr. Speaker, too many times we have seen roads to campgrounds, like the Ingraham Trail, getting priority over the highways that have a safety need.

I see in the Budget Address an initiative for roads and infrastructure, a $33 million highway investment is proposed in this budget for 2002-2003. That includes $2.5 million for access roads. As I understand it, this money is to be spread evenly for all the regions. However, the needs of my region are more pressing.

I have driven every highway in the Northwest Territories as my committee travelled in the last year-and-a-half. Mr. Speaker, Highway No. 3 is in the worst condition compared to other highways. Add to that bad weather conditions, which can make the road difficult to drive.

I believe we need a new highway strategy. The way the funding is to be distributed, some will have it for a comfortable ride to cook their wieners and marshmallows while others are not getting it for safety. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

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

Transportation And Storage Of Ammonium Nitrate
Item 3: Members' Statements

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Michael McLeod

Michael McLeod Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring attention to the transportation and storage of ammonium nitrate in and through the community of Enterprise.

Mr. Speaker, this issue has been raised in the House before by Keelen Simpson, who was representing Hay River South during the Youth Parliament. She certainly demonstrated the importance that this issue has to all ages to the people in the North.

Ammonium nitrate is normally used as a chemical blasting agent, but it is also used as fertilizer. By itself, it is not dangerous but it can be detonated under high heat, confinement or severe shock. For example, if ammonium nitrate is mixed with diesel fuel and ignited, this can result in an explosion.

Mr. Speaker, any time there are dangerous goods being transported or stored within a community, the community council should be notified well in advance -- no exceptions. At the very least, the local fire department should be notified.

How dangerous is ammonium nitrate? It was a key part in a bomb used to destroy the federal government building in Oklahoma City in 1995, killing 168 people and wounding hundreds of others. How much ammonium nitrate was used? Less than two-and-a-half tons. Many times this amount is being transported on just one truck. These trucks, Mr. Speaker, frequently travel through or stop in the communities in my riding.

I have discussed this issue with the government on many occasions. However, they always explain that under our Dangerous Goods Act, it is not required to consult with the community, as the government does not consider ammonium nitrate to be a dangerous good.

Mr. Speaker, we all know that the highway patrol officers are charged to monitor dangerous goods that are being transported on the highway system. However, we have to ask ourselves who is monitoring the storage and the handling of these chemicals when they are in our communities without our knowledge and without our permission?

Mr. Speaker, given the potential dangers of ammonium nitrate, I find the government's position on this matter very distressing. Clearly when proper procedures are not established to adequately notify communities, we have a disaster in the making. We must take action now. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Transportation And Storage Of Ammonium Nitrate
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.