This is page numbers 597 - 648 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, Mr. Krutko, Mr. Lafferty, Ms. Lee, Mr. McLeod, Honourable Michael Miltenberger, Mr. Nitah, Honourable Jake Ootes, Mr. Roland, Honourable Vince Steen, Honourable Tony Whitford.
-- Prayer
The Speaker Tony Whitford
Thank you, Mr. Allen. Please be seated. Good afternoon, colleagues. Before we begin today's agenda, I wish to provide my ruling on the point of order raised on March 12, 2002 by the honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Handley.
Speaker's Ruling
Prior to addressing this specific point of order I would like to make some comment on the purpose of a point of order, since we have had a number of those points of order in the last session and again in this session. A point of order is a question raised by a Member who believes that the rules or customary procedures of the House have been incorrectly applied or overlooked during the proceedings. Members may rise on points of order to bring to the attention of the Chair any breach of the relevance or repetition of the rules, unparliamentary remarks or any of our rules. Members are able to do so at virtually any time in the proceedings, provided the point of order is raised and concisely argued as soon as the irregularity occurs or as soon as practicable thereafter.
As a point of order concerns the interpretation of the rules, it is the responsibility of the Speaker, or Chair in committee of the whole, to determine its merits and to resolve the issue. Although Members frequently rise claiming a point of order, genuine points of order rarely occur. Indeed, points of order are often used by Members in an attempt to gain the floor to participate in debate, and in such cases, the Speaker will not allow the Member intervening to continue. This is the reason that when a Member is recognized on a point of order, you should only state which rule or practice you consider has been breached.
Our rules provide for brief debate on the point of order at the Speaker or Chair's discretion. I wish to advise that the Chairs have a responsibility to ensure impartiality and fairness when considering a point of order and will hear from Members if it is not clear whether a breach has occurred. When a point of order is raised, the Speaker attempts to rule on the matter immediately. However, if necessary, the matter may be taken under advisement and the Chair will come back to the House later with a formal ruling. As has been the case, there are occasions that when hearing the point of order, I do not need to reserve on my decision but can rule at the time of the occurrence. When this happens, I am of the view that this assists the House in dealing with its deliberations without being hampered by debate on points of order and waiting for a ruling. Once the Speaker's decision is rendered, the matter is no longer open to debate or discussion and the ruling cannot be appealed to the House.
I would now like to provide my ruling on the point of order raised by the honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Handley, with respect to remarks made by the honourable Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee, on March 11, 2002. The statements in question are, referring to unedited Hansard, page 1229:
The point that I was making is that -- and I have stated in there that I am not saying that the Minister did any wrong-doing or anything like that -- but it is the Minister who put this into the supplementary appropriation, and the headline on Friday said $500,000 for the pay out. That came from a public document, which is Supp 3.
If it is true, as he has been saying, that he knows his obligations under this contract and that he was not to do anything that would reveal it, for him to have put into a supplementary appropriation is a ground for questioning his conduct.
In raising the point of order, the honourable Member referred to Rules 23(h) and 23(i), which state:
23 In debate, a Member will be called to order by the Speaker if the Member:
(h) makes allegations against another Member, a House officer or a witness;
(i) imputes false or hidden motives to another Member.
The Member for Weledeh, in making his point of order, stated that the information put forward by the Member for Range Lake was both factually incorrect, in that the Supp 3 was not for $500,000 but for $695,000 or so, and that he had a statutory obligation as Minister of Finance to put into the supplementary appropriations anything that is going to require additional spending. That appropriation is put in there because the Department of the Executive does not have the money to handle it.
Mr. Handley also stated in speaking to the point of order, and I quote from page 1239 of unedited Hansard, "She (Ms. Lee) is clearly imputing motives to me and second, is questioning my integrity."
I find that the statement of the Member for Range Lake does question the integrity and motives of Mr. Handley, and further suggests that in bringing forward the Supplementary Appropriation No. 3, he was doing so in a manner which breached confidential agreements.
I reviewed the comments of the honourable Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee, in speaking to the point of order and found she did not offer any comment that would convince me to rule otherwise.
Therefore I rule that the honourable Member for Weledeh has a point of order; the statements made by the Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee, being a contravention of Rules 23(h) and (i) of the Rules of the Legislative Assembly. Such questioning of integrity is a serious matter with respect to any Member of this House, but it is particularly serious to level such allegations at the Minister of Finance, who has specific and statutory duties to this House. I therefore ask the Member for Range Lake whether she is prepared to retract the offending statements. Ms. Lee.
Item 1: Prayer
Item 1: Prayer
Page 598
Sandy Lee Range Lake
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have no problem with retracting the offending statement. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Item 1: Prayer
Item 1: Prayer
Page 598
The Speaker Tony Whitford
The House will then consider that statement retracted. This ends the matter. Item 2, Ministers' statements. The honourable Deputy Premier, Mr. Antoine.
Minister's Statement 38-14(5): Premier Absent From The House
Item 2: Ministers' Statements
Page 598
Jim Antoine Nahendeh
Mr. Speaker, I wish to advise Members that the honourable Stephen Kakfwi will be absent from the House for the remainder of this week to participate in the GLOBE 2002 Conference in Vancouver, British Columbia. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Minister's Statement 38-14(5): Premier Absent From The House
Item 2: Ministers' Statements
Page 598
The Speaker Tony Whitford
Thank you, Mr. Antoine. Item 2, Ministers' statements. The honourable Minister responsible for Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Antoine.
Minister's Statement 39-14(5): Northern Mines Ministers Conference
Item 2: Ministers' Statements
Page 598
Jim Antoine Nahendeh
Mr. Speaker, on April 4th, I will be co-chairing the first Northern Mines Ministers Conference in Yellowknife with Robert Nault, the federal Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development.
My counterparts in the Yukon and Nunavut agree there is a need to develop a healthy northern mining industry that will strengthen business and employment opportunities for northern communities and aboriginal people. This conference will provide an opportunity to review the key issues facing the northern mining industry in the North and to develop a plan to encourage northern mineral investment.
The conference will include a morning session with presentations from key stakeholders. Representatives from aboriginal economic development corporations, the National Round Table on the Environment and Economy, and mining companies such as BHP Billiton and Diavik have been invited to attend the session. A closed session in the afternoon will allow the Ministers to hold government-to-government discussions.
Mr. Speaker, the mining industry has been an important sector of our economy for many years. The Northwest Territories has the potential for new mineral discoveries. This government supports the responsible development of our mineral resources. We know key policy and investment initiatives are needed for balanced development to occur. I believe the Northern Mines Ministers Conference is a first step in ensuring this occurs. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
-- Applause
Minister's Statement 39-14(5): Northern Mines Ministers Conference
Item 2: Ministers' Statements
Page 598
The Speaker Tony Whitford
Thank you, Mr. Minister. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee.
Operation Of The Stanton Regional Hospital Ct Scan Machine
Item 3: Members' Statements
Page 598
Sandy Lee Range Lake
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, I would like to talk about the tremendous contribution being made by the CT scan machine at the Stanton hospital in serving every resident in the Northwest Territories, as well as the hundreds of thousands of dollars it is saving the Government of the Northwest Territories and the taxpayers.
As you are well aware, Mr. Speaker, this machine was purchased with the $2.3 million raised by the Stanton Hospital Foundation about three years ago. We were also fortunate to obtain a mammography and two colour ultrasound machines at the same time.
In its very short life, the statistics on the performance of this machine are absolutely astounding. I have learned that the machine has seen about 3,000 people and has taken approximately 1.2 million images. I am also advised that the cost of each visit, or a person seen by this machine, is calculated at between $500 and $800.
Mr. Speaker, before we had this machine, we had to send out residents to Edmonton or other centres to get the CT scans done. The simple math will tell us that just in cost savings for the actual procedure of taking the images, we have saved upwards of $1.5 million. If we added the cost of travel, accommodations and incidentals that Health would have paid to send all these people south, we are talking about millions in savings. This machine has paid for itself over and over again. It is the money from the private residents and corporate donors that has made this possible.
Mr. Speaker, I have also learned that about 10 to 15 percent of the work being done with this scan machine is done on behalf of the Government of Nunavut, which is billed back to the Government of Nunavut. All in all, this has become a cash cow for the government, probably adding to its current surplus.
Mr. Speaker, I am afraid I must report the less than perfect ending to this story. I have also learned there is only one person funded to run this machine, and only one person has been doing it since its inception. I do not know of any other position in the Territories that places such a burden on one person.
Furthermore, Mr. Speaker, I have learned that there is no program or resources in place at the moment that would provide for training of additional people to operate this machine, other than the very basic...
Operation Of The Stanton Regional Hospital Ct Scan Machine
Item 3: Members' Statements
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Operation Of The Stanton Regional Hospital Ct Scan Machine
Item 3: Members' Statements
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Operation Of The Stanton Regional Hospital Ct Scan Machine
Item 3: Members' Statements
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The Speaker Tony Whitford
Thank you. The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude her statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. You may conclude your statement, Ms. Lee.
Operation Of The Stanton Regional Hospital Ct Scan Machine
Item 3: Members' Statements
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Sandy Lee Range Lake
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, colleagues. Mr. Speaker, lack of training and resources for training means that when this person has to be absent for any reason, this machine is not being used at optimal capacity. This should raise serious questions in our mind. Why is the government not funding more money to find more people to run this machine? There is a waiting list for the procedure, so it cannot be that there is no demand. Besides, the machine is capable of running more than eight hours per day, but having one person staffed to operate the machine and do all the paperwork, we are really not recognizing the value of this machine or the person who operates it. Most of all, the tremendous cost savings that this machine is accruing to the government and our health system.
Mr. Speaker, I urge the Minister to look at this situation. The residents and corporate donors have done their part. It is now time for the Minister and the government to do their share. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will be pursuing questions on this matter later. Thank you.
-- Applause
Operation Of The Stanton Regional Hospital Ct Scan Machine
Item 3: Members' Statements
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The Speaker Tony Whitford
Thank you, Ms. Lee. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, Mr. Roland.
Northern Pipeline Development
Item 3: Members' Statements
Page 599
Floyd Roland Inuvik Boot Lake
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak on the issue around economic development, especially pipelines. Mr. Speaker, coming from a region that a number of years ago was considered to be on the brink of shutdown, the community of Inuvik, when after the last oil and gas boom in the Delta, the oil companies had shut down and pulled out. The Canadian Forces Services shut down the base there. Then, the Government of the Northwest Territories started pulling out positions.
You could walk down the streets of Inuvik and you would rarely run into anyone with excitement and a jump in their footsteps. Nowadays, we have that, Mr. Speaker. Again, it is because of the private sector and somewhat to this government as well.
Mr. Speaker, the issue around pipelines, as we know, there is a real push in the Northwest Territories now for development and developing a pipeline that would go down the valley. Involved in that is the aboriginal people of the Northwest Territories, who were not before. Twenty-five years ago when the Berger Inquiry went around the valley and said no more development until the people are ready to go, Mr. Speaker, the people of the Delta have been able to take advantage of what they have been able to do over the last 25 years. Yet we now have people in the business sector involved in joint ventures with a lot of the companies. Mr. Speaker, I think that potential is there throughout the Northwest Territories if we take the right steps.
One of the concerns that I would have, Mr. Speaker, is again because I am up from the northern part of this country, is that we are ready to go and different places in the Northwest Territories, the groups are at different levels of self-government discussions and land claims. That could once again possibly shut the door.
I think we need to get information out there for ourselves and residents of the Northwest Territories to ensure that we have all the information, the accurate information, when it comes to dealing with these mega-projects. I will have questions for the appropriate Minister during question period. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
-- Applause
Northern Pipeline Development
Item 3: Members' Statements
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The Speaker Tony Whitford
Thank you, Mr. Roland. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Hay River North, Mr. Delorey.
Hay River North Arctic Winter Games Participants
Item 3: Members' Statements
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Paul Delorey Hay River North
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, from March 17th to the 23rd, athletes and coaches from across the Northwest Territories will gather in Iqaluit, Nunavut, and Nuuk, Greenland, to participate in the 17th annual Arctic Winter Games.
In the past few weeks, Mr. Speaker, we have seen a lot of hype on TV about the Olympics. Although these Games might not match the same calibre as the Olympics that we have seen on TV, as far as our northern athletes are concerned, these are our Olympic Games.
I am a very strong supporter of the Arctic Winter Games, Mr. Speaker, having been involved with them for many years. My first involvement with the Games was back during the 5th Arctic Winter Games in 1978. At that time, I took part in moving athletes and spectators back and forth between Pine Point and Hay River, probably the only passenger train service that was ever available in the Northwest Territories. The passenger train was called the Inukshuk Express, and I have many fond memories of that train.
Mr. Speaker, it takes a lot of commitment and dedication from many organizations, athletes, coaches, volunteers and administrators to make the Arctic Winter Games a success. Of course, I cannot forget the parents. They play a very large role in transporting athletes, billeting, helping at camps and supporting our athletes as they go through the regional trials and at the Games themselves.
I want to commend and congratulate everyone involved in making the 17th annual Arctic Winter Games possible. I would especially like to congratulate the following athletes from my constituency: Meagan Cooke, ice hockey; Meagan Delorey, basketball; Rick Leonard, wrestling; Corey Coady, ice hockey; Danny Brown, ice hockey; Jeremy Planidin, ice hockey; Joey Hiebert, ice hockey; Erin Hiebert, volleyball; Danny Jackson, wrestling; Kris Desjarlais, ice hockey; Andy McKay, Dene Games; and Matthew Davies, cross country skiing.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to remind these athletes about the Games, what they are and what they stand for, and I would like to wish them all the best. I would like to quote the words of Minister Vince Steen: "The Arctic Winter Games are not only an athletic competition, but also an international celebration of friendship under the banner of sportsmanship and fair play. Our athletes are encouraged and supported to do their...
Hay River North Arctic Winter Games Participants
Item 3: Members' Statements
Page 600
Hay River North Arctic Winter Games Participants
Item 3: Members' Statements
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Hay River North Arctic Winter Games Participants
Item 3: Members' Statements
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The Speaker Tony Whitford
Thank you. The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his important statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Mr. Delorey.
Hay River North Arctic Winter Games Participants
Item 3: Members' Statements
Page 600
Paul Delorey Hay River North
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, colleagues. "Our athletes are encouraged and supported to do their best as representatives of the Northwest Territories at this international competition."
Mr. Speaker, I would like to wish the athletes and everyone involved in the Arctic Winter Games success and hope they make many lasting friendships. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
-- Applause
Hay River North Arctic Winter Games Participants
Item 3: Members' Statements
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The Speaker Tony Whitford
Thank you, Mr. Delorey. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Deh Cho, Mr. McLeod.
Access To Business Programs And Services In Small Communities
Item 3: Members' Statements
Page 600
Michael McLeod Deh Cho
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. At this time, I would like to bring attention to the matter of access to development capital, access to loans and access to basic business services in the communities outside the major centres.
Mr. Speaker, I have previously brought this matter to the attention of this government and I see the need to once again raise the issue. The Business Program Review Committee completed a review on the single window concept that would see the amalgamation of the business programs offered by the NWT Business Credit Corporation, the NWT Development Corporation, Community Futures and RWED.
Mr. Speaker, I am concerned that this single window will not work unless another option is provided to persons or businesses seeking development capital, loans and support services. Mr. Speaker, as an example, if I am turned down by one of the banks for a loan, I have an option to go to another commercial lender. However, with this one-window concept, if I am turned down by this new agency, I will then have no options.
Mr. Speaker, with the increased business opportunities it is now possible for persons in business in the aboriginal communities to participate in the development that is occurring around us. Therefore, it is important that these communities have access and options to programs that support new businesses. The organizations that provide development services must also consider the political environment of the community and the individual character of the applicant when conducting evaluations. In the absence of this approach, many businesses in our small communities were not provided for or even considered by the banks.
Mr. Speaker, it is here that I wish to inform and make this government aware of another development lender in the Northwest Territories. This other developmental lender has been around for approximately 11 years. It is 100 percent owned and operated by the Metis and Dene of the Northwest Territories. All of the regions in the Northwest Territories are represented on its board of directors. It administers loans, contributions and aftercare programs for aboriginal businesses.
It has an agency relationship with Aboriginal Business Canada, and most importantly, in addition to conducting a formal business evaluation, it considers the person or persons involved to ensure the application is given due consideration.
Mr. Speaker, this organization is the NWT Dene-Metis Development Fund, an aboriginal capital corporation that commenced operation in 1991. Seed capital from this organization was provided by the Government of Canada. Today, this organization finds...
Access To Business Programs And Services In Small Communities
Item 3: Members' Statements
Page 600
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