This is page numbers 157 - 194 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 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, Ms. Lee, Mr. McLeod, Honourable Michael Miltenberger, Mr. Nitah, Honourable Jake Ootes, Mr. Roland, Honourable Vince Steen, Honourable Tony Whitford

-- Prayer

Item 1: Prayer
Item 1: Prayer

Page 157

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Item 2, Ministers' statements. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Handley.

Item 1: Prayer
Item 1: Prayer

Page 157

Joe Handley

Joe Handley Weledeh

Mr. Speaker, I have a point of order.

Item 1: Prayer
Item 1: Prayer

Page 157

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

The Minister has a point of order. Mr. Handley, what is your point of order?

Point Of Order

Item 1: Prayer
Item 1: Prayer

Page 157

Joe Handley

Joe Handley Weledeh

On page 278 of yesterday's unedited Hansard, Mr. Lafferty says: "I have to say the Minister is a total stranger to the truth." This comment clearly violates Rule 23(h) and (j). Rule 23(h) makes an allegation against another Member, House officer or witness and 23(j) is charging another Member with uttering deliberate falsehoods. Mr. Speaker, someone who is a total stranger to the truth, quite simply put, is a liar. I, at no time, have lied or misled the House as Mr. Lafferty has indicated in his Member's statement. Mr. Speaker, I ask that there be an apology and that this be withdrawn from the Hansard. Thank you.

Item 1: Prayer
Item 1: Prayer

Page 157

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Handley. The point of order is in order and the honourable Member has brought it to the Chair's attention at his earliest convenience. Does anyone want to make any comment on this point of order? Mr. Handley.

Item 1: Prayer
Item 1: Prayer

Page 157

Joe Handley

Joe Handley Weledeh

Mr. Speaker, the only comment I will make on it is I referred to the section and it is calling me a liar. I have had a look at what has happened in other parliaments in this kind of situation and find that others have certainly accepted this as a point of order. Thank you.

Item 1: Prayer
Item 1: Prayer

Page 157

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Any comments? Does Mr. Lafferty wish to make any comments further to what has been brought to the attention of the Speaker? Mr. Lafferty.

Item 1: Prayer
Item 1: Prayer

Page 157

Leon Lafferty North Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister has put a point of order on the Table. The definition of what one thinks or what one says differs for everyone. The words I used were to say that he didn't know the truth and he was travelling a separate highway from the truth. I could have used those words. What he is saying in this House and the truth are different. I am not calling him a liar. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Item 1: Prayer
Item 1: Prayer

Page 157

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Any further comment? I am not going to have a debate. If the honourable Members wish to comment, then we can do that, but we are not going to get into a debate. I have heard one side, I have heard the other side. If there is no further comment I am going to take this under advisement. The

Chair has the unedited Hansard. Mr. Handley, do you wish to make another Point of order?

Point Of Order

Item 1: Prayer
Item 1: Prayer

Page 157

Joe Handley

Joe Handley Weledeh

Mr. Speaker, yes, I will make another point of order. Without having read the Hansard, just on the Member's comments that what I say and what is the truth are two different things. I don't have the exact wording here, but in trying to explain himself, Mr. Lafferty just went on to give me grounds for another point of order. Thank you.

Item 1: Prayer
Item 1: Prayer

Page 157

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Handley. We will deal with that one when I come to it. I have to deal with these one at a time and I am dealing with this first point of order that's raised. If there are no further comments on this, no further debate on it, I will reserve judgment until I have reached the conclusion on it.

Item 2, Ministers' statements. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Handley.

Minister's Statement 17-14(6): 2003 Federal Budget
Item 2: Ministers' Statements

Page 157

Joe Handley

Joe Handley Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Minister of Finance for Canada, the Honourable John Manley, delivered the 2003 federal budget.

Mr. Manley presented Canadians with a balanced budget, the sixth in a row. In fact, before taking into account the Minister's contingency reserves, the federal budget projections show surpluses for the current and next two fiscal years.

The federal government's strong fiscal position also accords Mr. Manley the flexibility to announce a number of expenditure and tax measures -- investments in health care, in families, in research and education, in national security and in the economy. In total, Mr. Manley announced almost $6 billion in initiatives for the current fiscal year, and more than $10 billion over the next two fiscal years.

From a Northwest Territories perspective, however, the budget is a disappointment. Given the healthy federal fiscal position, given the billions of dollars available for investment in new initiatives, and given the fact that Canada receives the lion's share of the fiscal benefits of northern development, it is very disappointing that the federal government still cannot find its way clear to make the critical investments needed in the Northwest Territories. Beyond some resources for the federal government to increase its own capacity in the North, there is nothing that recognizes the unique needs of the Northwest Territories to prepare for and cope with resource development.

We have clearly identified what is needed. Our Non-Renewable Resource Development Strategy and our proposal for the Strategic Infrastructure Fund, Corridors of Canada, lay out the requirements for infrastructure, for training, for economic development funding, and for other necessary investments. We continue to be disappointed by the lack of federal response to opportunities in the Northwest Territories that would benefit all of Canada.

The federal budget does include a number of initiatives that will benefit all Canadians, including Northwest Territories residents. Increases in the National Child Benefit, including a new child disability credit, will benefit NWT families. New investments in housing, money for the environment and support for aboriginal languages are all steps in the right direction, and we hope that the needs of the NWT are included in these budget measures. The budget confirmed the additional dollars or health care that the Prime Minister committed to earlier this month. It did not address the special needs of the Territories. We are hopeful that the Prime Minister will address this shortfall in his meeting with Premiers Kakfwi, Okalik and Fentie later this week.

The budget did also include some measures of special interest to Northerners:

  • • Two new 10-year infrastructure funds will be created --one a strategic fund, the other for municipal infrastructure. However, the funding available in the early years is small, and we do not yet know how the money will be allocated across jurisdictions;
  • • The air travellers security charge will be reduced from $24 to $14 for a round trip ticket -- a measure that will directly benefit northern air travelers;
  • • Federal corporate income tax rates for mining and oil and gas companies will be reduced over the next five years, to match reductions announced for other corporations three years ago. This measure will benefit the resource sector that is driving our economic growth;
  • • The extension of the mineral exploration tax credit for an additional year will benefit the mining sector;
  • • Additional funding will be made available for aboriginal business development;
  • • And finally, $32 million will be allocated over the current and next two fiscal years to increase federal capacity to conduct environmental and regulatory assessment prior to the construction of a northern gas pipeline.

Unfortunately, there is nothing to address the needs of the other NWT governments to respond to northern development. We must continue to reinforce the message in Ottawa that investment in the Northwest Territories is a good investment and that our government, aboriginal governments and municipal governments need financial support to enhance their capacity to meet the demands of economic growth. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Minister's Statement 17-14(6): 2003 Federal Budget
Item 2: Ministers' Statements

Page 158

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Mr. Dent.

Medical Travel Co-payment Policy
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 158

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my statement today is around the co-payment for medical payment. The co-payment is a $250 charge that patients now have to pay for each direction of travel when they have to travel for medical reasons. Mr. Speaker, this payment was instituted by the last government because of the cash position we were facing; the large deficit. Since that time, this government has found money to put back into education and health. So we have restored much of what we cut in the 1990s when it came to health and education, but the co-payment lives on.

Mr. Speaker, the impact is mostly on poor, sick people. Maybe not really poor people, but low income people. It's not fair. The requirement for a patient to pay part of their travel does not reflect on their ability to pay. Yesterday, the Minister said we could not deal with issues like the co-payment in isolation of the whole basket of extended health benefit services. Yet, when it was pointed out that he was dealing with the issue of Metis co-payments for extended health benefits outside the whole basket, he said he saw that as a separate issue. Mr. Speaker, is this really a separate issue? This government is increasing Metis coverage to 100 percent for extended health benefits because it is the right thing to do, not because of any constitutional requirement to do it, although the Minister implied there was a constitutional connection in his reply to Mr. Bell yesterday. Mr. Speaker, I think Members on this side of the House agree it's the right thing to do for Metis people and it's the right thing to do for all of our residents. This government should end the policy requiring people to make co-payments for medical travel immediately. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Medical Travel Co-payment Policy
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 158

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

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

Passing Of Daniel Bouvier Of Fort Providence
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 158

Michael McLeod

Michael McLeod Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on January 27th of this year, elder Daniel Bouvier of Fort Providence passed away. He was born in Fort Providence on October 31, 1922, and was raised by Joseph and Celine Bouvier in Fort Providence and is survived by his siblings and numerous nieces and nephews. As a child, he attended the mission school in Fort Providence and like everyone else in those days, he attended school long enough to learn to read and write. He spent a lot of time reading and through reading he developed a good understanding of the English language. He was better known as Uncle Cap, and fluent in three languages; Michif, English and Slavey. He lived his whole life in Fort Providence. He had no desire to leave or travel out of his home community. The only travelling he did was to hunt, fish and trap in the immediate area. He kept a dog team and it was his main means of transportation to travel to his trapline and for all his supplies.

He was a humble man who did not have any interest in things of material value. He never sought recognition, attention or status of any kind. He believed the best things in life were free and he did not dwell on things he did not have. Mr. Speaker, Danny Bouvier was one of the greatest old time fiddlers along the Mackenzie, a title he deserved but did not acknowledge. In his own special way, he inspired his nephews who have become accomplished fiddlers. He played the real Metis style of music and he brought a lot of people happiness with his gift of music. His love for the fiddle was encouraged by his father, his brother and other relatives. His first fiddle was a homemade fiddle and although not a perfect copy, it resembled a fiddle and that was all that mattered.

Mr. Speaker, Danny Bouvier was kind to all that crossed his path, whether it was an animal, a bird or a family pet. His love for nature was apparent and though his health was deteriorating, he did not dwell on it and did what he could to keep his spirits up. Mr. Speaker, we are all thankful for all the wonderful years with him, his loving and kind nature will always live in the hearts of those who had the pleasure of knowing him. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Passing Of Daniel Bouvier Of Fort Providence
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 159

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Hay River North, Mr. Delorey.

Seniors' Prescription Drug Reimbursement Process
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 159

Paul Delorey

Paul Delorey Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to bring attention to a matter that affects a very important segment of our population, that being our seniors. Mr. Speaker, as you are no doubt aware, our population is aging and with the aging process, comes the inevitable decline in our health. Very often, Mr. Speaker, our elders are required to purchase a number of prescription drugs. This can prove to be a very costly and time consuming process. Mr. Speaker, the issue of seniors having to pay upfront for their prescriptions has been raised many times with me by my constituents. For many years, Mr. Speaker, long-time employees of the GNWT have been given the option to retain their medical insurance coverage upon their retirement. Mr. Speaker, the process that the Department of Health requires from these same seniors is that they first submit their prescription receipts to Sun Life. Normally, Sun Life will reimburse the seniors for 80 percent of the amount of their prescriptions. This process, Mr. Speaker, normally takes several weeks and can sometimes be quite lengthy. Once the senior receives the reimbursement of 80 percent from Sun Life, the senior then has to forward their original prescriptions to the Department of Health in Inuvik. Mr. Speaker, the senior then waits for the Department of Health to reimburse them for the remaining 20 percent of their prescription cost. Again, this process takes several weeks and, in some cases, months. Mr. Speaker, this whole process is far too lengthy and cumbersome for our seniors to endure.

It leaves many seniors currently covered under the Sun Life plan to question whether it is really worth their while in continuing with the plan. Very often, Mr. Speaker, our seniors are faced with living on a limited income. Should they also be burdened with the added aggravation of waiting several weeks, if not months, to be reimbursed for their prescriptions? At the appropriate time, Mr. Speaker, I will have some questions for the Minister on this matter. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Seniors' Prescription Drug Reimbursement Process
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 159

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

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

Equitable Distribution Of Government Resources
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 159

Steven Nitah Tu Nedhe

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, during the last Assembly, there was a court hearing because of constitutional rights. Seats in Yellowknife, Inuvik and Hay River were increased to reflect the population in the Northwest Territories, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, since the Government of the Northwest Territories was created, we've seen a top down government. A high government employment rate in the city of Yellowknife, central and regional centres, while the communities have no employment. Government seems to be created to keep people on welfare in our communities.

Now why is it that we have increased seats in Hay River, Yellowknife, Inuvik when the majority of the government is here? I recognize that we need to increase those seats, but shouldn't we recognize at the same time, Mr. Speaker, the need for employment in every community in the Northwest Territories? The need for a GNWT presence in every community in the Northwest Territories? In my reply to the Budget Address yesterday, I stated that when a person fills out an application in Tuktoyaktuk, he writes his name and he writes Tuktoyaktuk, NWT. In Fort Good Hope, it's Fort Good Hope, NWT. We need government employment there as well. We have all kinds of programs and services that we try to deliver effectively in the Northwest Territories, government programs and services, Mr. Speaker, but a lot of times we don't have the human resources or the financial resources to implement those programs and services. I say it's time that we follow the constitution and follow the examples taken when they gave extra seats in those communities that I mentioned and start devolving government positions to the communities so that we could eliminate and reduce the high unemployment rates in the communities and deliver programs and services effectively as a government. Spread out the wealth of government in the Northwest Territories. I bet we will see healthier people, happier people, a prosperous government, Mr. Speaker. I think as we go into the next Assembly, we are preparing a transitional document. We should develop a framework that will see that happen. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Equitable Distribution Of Government Resources
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 159

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Mahsi, Mr. Nitah. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for North Slave, Mr. Lafferty.

Restricted Load Schedule For Highway No. 3
Item 3: Members' Statements

February 18th, 2003

Page 159

Leon Lafferty North Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, a year ago today, I stood in this House and asked the Minister of Transportation to change the schedule of heavy wide loads travelling on Highway No. 3 during the morning hours. I pointed out that commercial traffic during this time affects my constituents and people from the Deh Cho who are going to Yellowknife for medical appointments. This morning's paper printed the restricted load schedule along Highway No. 3 and the Ingraham Trail for this winter road season. Between 9:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. heavy loads are allowed to drive between Rae and Yellowknife. Between midnight and 6:00 a.m. these trucks are scheduled to drive along the Ingraham Trail. After I read this, I immediately wrote to the department explaining that this time frame conflicts with all medical travel and public use of Highway No. 3 during business hours. Medical appointments can take up to six months, Mr. Speaker. It takes six months to book and people who do not own vehicles have no choice but to take the bus to Yellowknife. The bus leaves Rae during the week at 10:00 a.m. in the morning regardless of what time the appointments are and returns in the late afternoon, Mr. Speaker, this public transit schedule is consistent throughout the year for the many residents of Rae who don't own their own vehicles. Rae has over 800 households with close to 2,000 people who travel to Yellowknife frequently for shopping, medical needs and for a variety of other services. In contrast, there are only 22 people, federal leaseholders along the Ingraham Trail. The logical time for restricted loads to travel along Highway No. 3 between Rae and Yellowknife would be between midnight and 6:00 a.m. Mr. Speaker, just yesterday I received a call from a constituent. He stated that over the past few days, there have been three separate incidents where members of his family had been sandwiched between commercial trucks. He said that these trucks travel in sets of five or seven and when private vehicles get caught in between them, there is no way out and it is frightening and is a safety hazard. Mr. Speaker, whether it's along the Ingraham Trail or between Rae and Yellowknife, it is not fair that members of the public should be afraid to drive their vehicles along public roads because of commercial truck traffic. That is the reason for restricted hours for wide loads. I urge the Minister to change the hours his department selected for truck traffic along Highway No. 3. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Restricted Load Schedule For Highway No. 3
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 160

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, Mr. Roland.