This is page numbers 61 - 86 of the Hansard for the 14th Assembly, 6th 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 standing.

Topics

Further Return To Question 14-14(6): Wildlife Act Compliance With Land Claim Agreements
Question 14-14(6): Wildlife Act Compliance With Land Claim Agreements
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 67

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Supplementary To Question 14-14(6): Wildlife Act Compliance With Land Claim Agreements
Question 14-14(6): Wildlife Act Compliance With Land Claim Agreements
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 67

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this is a copy of the Gwich'in Land Claim Agreement. A large portion of this agreement is the wildlife chapter. The Sahtu agreement has similar provisions and the Sahtu and the Gwich'in agreements are similar. So why is it that, time and time again, you stated in this House and also in committees that this legislation was going to be introduced and enacted during the term of this Legislature. That statement was made, yet you can't live up to that obligation.

Supplementary To Question 14-14(6): Wildlife Act Compliance With Land Claim Agreements
Question 14-14(6): Wildlife Act Compliance With Land Claim Agreements
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 67

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Minister of RWED, Mr. Antoine.

Further Return To Question 14-14(6): Wildlife Act Compliance With Land Claim Agreements
Question 14-14(6): Wildlife Act Compliance With Land Claim Agreements
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 67

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yes, I did say that. I also said I was going to consult with the claimant groups. As a government, we can move ahead and introduce legislation at the pace that we would like to. However, if you are going to consult, and then if a partnership with different aboriginal groups is not ready to move ahead, do you move ahead anyways? I don't think so. We said we were going to work in partnership. Yes, my intention was to table and introduce legislation in the life of this government. I had made those commitments. However, I have to work at the pace of the claimant groups. If they are not prepared to move as quickly as we are, then we cannot go ahead and introduce legislation. So consultation is very important. As the Member indicated, there are provisions in the claims, the Inuvialuit, the Gwich'in, and the Sahtu Dene-Metis. We have to honour that. If they are not prepared to move as quickly as you are, then we cannot move ahead until they are ready. That is where the problem is. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 14-14(6): Wildlife Act Compliance With Land Claim Agreements
Question 14-14(6): Wildlife Act Compliance With Land Claim Agreements
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 67

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you. Your final supplementary, Mr. Krutko

Supplementary To Question 14-14(6): Wildlife Act Compliance With Land Claim Agreements
Question 14-14(6): Wildlife Act Compliance With Land Claim Agreements
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 67

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, myself, I have always pushed the notion that we implement our responsibilities which we have been given by land claim agreements, signatures to those agreements. Yet, Mr. Speaker, we have done it by the Inuvialuit agreement by passing Bill 12. I would like to ask the Minister, will you pass similar legislation to enact the Gwich'in land claim wildlife provisions so that we can have a bill come forth dealing with the Gwich'in comprehensive land claim obligations?

Supplementary To Question 14-14(6): Wildlife Act Compliance With Land Claim Agreements
Question 14-14(6): Wildlife Act Compliance With Land Claim Agreements
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 67

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Minister of RWED, Mr. Antoine.

Further Return To Question 14-14(6): Wildlife Act Compliance With Land Claim Agreements
Question 14-14(6): Wildlife Act Compliance With Land Claim Agreements
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 68

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Mr. Speaker, our plan here is to do what we said we were going to do, consult. Currently, we are continuing to work with representatives of different land claim organizations. As the government, we have provided funding to the Gwich'in, Inuvialuit and Sahtu to be involved in the consultation process with legal help to look at the draft legislation as we move forward. So there is work going on. We didn't just put it aside. Currently, there is work going on. There are meetings and consultations going back and forth. That is the process we have entered into and we will stay in this process because this is a very complicated and complex piece of legislation that cannot be pushed through without everybody that has major concerns through their claims provisions being left out. We have to include everybody. So at this point in time, although as a government we could move ahead and introduce legislation, we cannot do that. We have to wait for partners from the land claims organizations. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 14-14(6): Wildlife Act Compliance With Land Claim Agreements
Question 14-14(6): Wildlife Act Compliance With Land Claim Agreements
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 68

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. 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 will be directed to the Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development. From his Minister's statement today regarding the DIAND announcement on the federal pipeline commitment, Mr. Speaker, it's good to hear that the federal government is finally starting to come to the table with some resources. One serious concern that I have is, in fact, they seem to have already selected where that DIAND office will go to, and it seems to be selected as Yellowknife. Mr. Speaker, it's been a concern from many Members of this House about the growth that the capital has, and it seems to feed on itself. It seems once again that this is occurring here. I'd like to know from the Minister if he's had any discussions with the Minister of DIAND on where that office location should go. Mr. Speaker, I believe, and a number of Members in this House believe, an office like this should be set up where the activity is. Seeing that the pipeline discussion talk started out of the Mackenzie Delta, I'd like to know if the Minister has had any discussions with the Minister of DIAND on that.

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Roland. The honourable Minister of RWED, Mr. Antoine.

Return To Question 15-14(6): Location Of Federal Pipeline Readiness Office
Question 15-14(6): Location Of Federal Pipeline Readiness Office
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 68

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there were discussions with Minister Nault, the federal Minister of DIAND, over two years ago. During that time, as well, I understand that we're talking about the Premier and the Premier had this discussion with Nault at that time and the Premier had indicated that if there's going to be a pipeline office, it should not be in Yellowknife, it should be identified for possible locations of Hay River, Fort Simpson, Norman Wells or Inuvik. The decision to put this office in Yellowknife was Minister Nault's decision, but we did have input and it's up to him to make that decision, I guess. Thank you.

Return To Question 15-14(6): Location Of Federal Pipeline Readiness Office
Question 15-14(6): Location Of Federal Pipeline Readiness Office
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 68

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Roland.

Supplementary To Question 15-14(6): Location Of Federal Pipeline Readiness Office
Question 15-14(6): Location Of Federal Pipeline Readiness Office
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 68

Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I hope that, as we continue to talk with the Ministers of the federal government, that we pursue the fact that the whole North would like to develop together and not become one central location. I'd like to know if the Minister would contact the Minister of DIAND to see if there's any opportunity to look at locations other than the one that's been voted. Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 15-14(6): Location Of Federal Pipeline Readiness Office
Question 15-14(6): Location Of Federal Pipeline Readiness Office
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 68

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Roland. The honourable Minister of RWED, Mr. Antoine.

Further Return To Question 15-14(6): Location Of Federal Pipeline Readiness Office
Question 15-14(6): Location Of Federal Pipeline Readiness Office
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 68

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this government has been in contact with Minister Nault, I think as recently as December, to emphasize the point that if there's going to be expansion of that office, that it should be considered outside of Yellowknife where the route of the pipeline is going to be. Yes, we will relay the message to the Minister that there is concern about it, and that he should reconsider whatever the decision is. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 15-14(6): Location Of Federal Pipeline Readiness Office
Question 15-14(6): Location Of Federal Pipeline Readiness Office
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 68

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Oral questions. The honourable Member for Hay River North, Mr. Delorey.

Paul Delorey

Paul Delorey Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to clarify something that came out of my Member's statement. My question, by the way, is for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. I want to make it clear to my colleagues that I am not against more funding going to smaller communities in the North when it comes to education. As a matter of fact, quite the contrary. I am in full support of more dollars going to all education bodies. But I think that my point is that the kids in Hay River going to school are just as important as any kids going to school anywhere else, and I don't want to see any funding decreases in order for other kids to get more funding.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister if he's aware of what took place in the meeting last Saturday, February 8th, with the DEA in Fort Smith and what the outcome of the voting was on that $190,000. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Delorey. The honourable Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Return To Question 16-14(6): Hay River District Education Authority
Question 16-14(6): Hay River District Education Authority
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 68

Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My understanding is that there was a question of how to distribute $190,000 in funding. Apparently the funding was put towards funding of some positions in a number of communities, but I don't have a lot of the details at hand, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Return To Question 16-14(6): Hay River District Education Authority
Question 16-14(6): Hay River District Education Authority
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 68

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Delorey.

Supplementary To Question 16-14(6): Hay River District Education Authority
Question 16-14(6): Hay River District Education Authority
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 69

Paul Delorey

Paul Delorey Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, is the Minister aware of where the money they were voting on is coming from? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary To Question 16-14(6): Hay River District Education Authority
Question 16-14(6): Hay River District Education Authority
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 69

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Delorey. The honourable Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Further Return To Question 16-14(6): Hay River District Education Authority
Question 16-14(6): Hay River District Education Authority
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 69

Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm not sure of how the money was allocated, but it was DEC money, Mr. Speaker, from the district education council funding.

Further Return To Question 16-14(6): Hay River District Education Authority
Question 16-14(6): Hay River District Education Authority
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 69

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Delorey.