This is page numbers 833 - 910 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

Passing Of Noah Selamio
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 840

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Allen. Indeed, the condolences of the House go to the Selamio family. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Thebacha, Mr. Miltenberger.

National Aboriginal Day
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 840

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as has already been noted in this House by my colleagues, Friday the 21st is the first statutory holiday to formally recognize National Aboriginal Day. In my constituency, which is a multi-cultural constituency with an aboriginal majority, this particular time has a special significance.

Mr. Speaker, in addition to a full slate of community activities, of which I encourage all constituents to attend, the 21st will set the stage for the 22nd, where there will be a signing of the Salt River First Nations Land Claim Agreement through the TLE process, a process that has been 100 years in the works, falling on the Smiths Landing Settlement of slightly over a year ago.

This is a very historic day for the Salt River people and I want to commend them for their perseverance and diligence. They have chosen a path to a goal, of which they have reached. They have seen that their families and friends in Smiths Landing have benefited from the approach they have taken. It has been a very long struggle. While the land claim was actually ratified in February, this will be the formal signing with Minister Nault, the Premier and Minister Antoine.

In addition to that, Mr. Speaker, it is also a good day on the 22nd because the South Slave Metis plan to sign an interim agreement that will help move their claims process along. Mr. Speaker, that is two claims settled with one to go. For us, that will be a singular achievement and something that we all look forward to. The Salt River First Nations will be like their companions in Smiths Landing. They will have lands, they will have cash, they will have economic means to engage in development as they see fit. Now the people from Salt River will have that benefit.

National Aboriginal Day for our community is going to have a special significance. It will be a milestone for many people. I would like to congratulate all people of the Salt River First Nations and thank them for their perseverance. I would like to thank the federal government and, of course, the territorial government for being there to make sure the process reached the conclusion that it did. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

National Aboriginal Day
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 840

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Do we hear an invitation in there somewhere? Item 3, Members' statements. No further Members' statements, no further invitations. Item 4, returns to oral questions. The honourable Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation, Mr. Allen.

Return To Question 224-14(5): Critical Social Housing Needs
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

Page 840

Roger Allen

Roger Allen Inuvik Twin Lakes

Mr. Speaker, I have a Return to Oral Question asked by Mr. Nitah on June 11, 2002, regarding critical social housing needs.

Specifically, the Member enquired as to the top six communities that have been identified by the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation as being in critical need. Mr. Speaker, these six communities are Lutselk'e, Hay River Reserve, Fort Providence, Fort Liard, Wha Ti and Fort Good Hope. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Return To Question 224-14(5): Critical Social Housing Needs
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

Page 840

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery.

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

Page 840

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Colleagues, I would like to direct your attention to the visitors gallery and the presence today of a former Government Leader, Minister and MLA, Mr. Dennis Patterson.

-- Applause

Also accompanying him is Mr. Ian Waddell. He is the former MP and Minister of the Environment in British Columbia, and special counsel to Judge Berger during the Berger Inquiry some years ago. Mr. Waddell.

-- Applause

As well, we have Diana Crosbie from Toronto who was also involved with the Berger Inquiry of some time ago. Ms. Crosbie.

-- Applause

Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Kakfwi.

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

Page 841

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize Melody Morrison, the principal secretary to Cabinet and her father, Frank, from Ontario.

-- Applause

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

Page 841

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you. At this point as well, colleagues, I take this opportunity to introduce to you and to thank the pages, because this is their last day of sitting. We have from the Range Lake School: Samantha Digness, Tegan Holmes, Norah McNaughton, Dustin Mercredi, Justin Russell, Jamie Ross and Ivy Yoder. Thank you pages for all the help you have given us. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Mr. Dent.

Question 284-14(5): GNWT Knowledge Management Strategy
Item 6: Oral Questions

June 17th, 2002

Page 841

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister responsible for the Financial Management Board Secretariat. Mr. Speaker, could the Minister please advise this House when the Knowledge Management Strategy is expected to get final approval? Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Dent. The honourable Minister responsible for the Financial Management Board Secretariat, Mr. Handley.

Return To Question 284-14(5): GNWT Knowledge Management Strategy
Question 284-14(5): GNWT Knowledge Management Strategy
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 841

Joe Handley

Joe Handley Weledeh

Mr. Speaker, the Knowledge Management Strategy just recently went to Cabinet for approval within the last week. Thank you.

Return To Question 284-14(5): GNWT Knowledge Management Strategy
Question 284-14(5): GNWT Knowledge Management Strategy
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 841

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Dent.

Supplementary To Question 284-14(5): GNWT Knowledge Management Strategy
Question 284-14(5): GNWT Knowledge Management Strategy
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 841

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister did not say specifically that the policy has been approved, but if it has now been approved, will the Minister make sure that it is publicized and that copies are made available for public comment?

Supplementary To Question 284-14(5): GNWT Knowledge Management Strategy
Question 284-14(5): GNWT Knowledge Management Strategy
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 841

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Dent. The honourable Minister responsible for the Financial Management Board Secretariat, Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 284-14(5): GNWT Knowledge Management Strategy
Question 284-14(5): GNWT Knowledge Management Strategy
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 841

Joe Handley

Joe Handley Weledeh

Mr. Speaker, when copies are available, then yes, we will make it available to the public. I want to point out that it is a document and a strategy that deals with how we manage knowledge internally within the government. I assume it will be of interest to some of the public. Yes, it will be available.

Further Return To Question 284-14(5): GNWT Knowledge Management Strategy
Question 284-14(5): GNWT Knowledge Management Strategy
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 841

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Dent.

Supplementary To Question 284-14(5): GNWT Knowledge Management Strategy
Question 284-14(5): GNWT Knowledge Management Strategy
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 841

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I expect that the issues of centralization and some other things will be of interest to Members in this House as well. Mr. Speaker, a year ago, I expressed some concern about the way in which the chief information officer's position was being staffed on an interim basis. When will the government decide whether or not the recommendation from the strategy to implement a permanent officer will be either approved or not approved, and then staffed?

Supplementary To Question 284-14(5): GNWT Knowledge Management Strategy
Question 284-14(5): GNWT Knowledge Management Strategy
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 841

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Dent. The honourable Minister responsible for the Financial Management Board Secretariat, Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 284-14(5): GNWT Knowledge Management Strategy
Question 284-14(5): GNWT Knowledge Management Strategy
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 841

Joe Handley

Joe Handley Weledeh

Mr. Speaker, I think the Knowledge Management Strategy is a very positive document that will lead to a lot of cost savings as well as coordination among departments on how we manage our information. My intention right now is to make the position permanent and to have a much more streamlined, coordinated system of knowledge management in our government.

I would be pleased as well, Mr. Speaker, to share the final knowledge management document with the Member and any committees that may be interested, and certainly I am receptive to any feedback we may receive. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 284-14(5): GNWT Knowledge Management Strategy
Question 284-14(5): GNWT Knowledge Management Strategy
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 841

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Final supplementary, Mr. Dent.

Supplementary To Question 284-14(5): GNWT Knowledge Management Strategy
Question 284-14(5): GNWT Knowledge Management Strategy
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 841

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I look forward to seeing that final strategy and I am sure that my colleagues will be interested in making comments on it as well. I would like to note that my office asked for a copy of the strategy a week ago and was told that it was still not final and therefore not available to the public.

If that is the case, why in the June 3rd News/North was there a request for proposals for consulting services on the development of a technology service centre, which is one of the recommendations found in the strategy?

Supplementary To Question 284-14(5): GNWT Knowledge Management Strategy
Question 284-14(5): GNWT Knowledge Management Strategy
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 841

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Dent. The honourable Minister responsible for the Financial Management Board Secretariat, Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 284-14(5): GNWT Knowledge Management Strategy
Question 284-14(5): GNWT Knowledge Management Strategy
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 841

Joe Handley

Joe Handley Weledeh

Mr. Speaker, the strategy was approved in principle in June 2001. Since that time, we have taken a number of steps to streamline our knowledge management. This was shared with the Members a year ago. There are a number of things we have done that have streamlined what we are doing and certainly made things much less expensive and much better coordinated.

The establishment of a territorial service centre is one of the steps that I would like to go ahead with. Yes, there is an ad in the paper to see what interest there is for a position to manage that territorial service centre.

Further Return To Question 284-14(5): GNWT Knowledge Management Strategy
Question 284-14(5): GNWT Knowledge Management Strategy
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 842

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, Mr. Roland.

Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question at this time is directed to the Minister of Health and Social Services and is in the area of drug and alcohol programming. I have worked with the Minister and his staff to try to find out what it would take to have clients referred to, for example, the Salvation Army facility here in Yellowknife, if that is a program that clients would like to take, as their programming is somewhat differently structured. It is the only one we have right now operating in the Northwest Territories that is approved by the department.

I would like to know from the Minister, what does it require to have an alcohol and drug program approved, or go on the department's approved list? Thank you.