This is page numbers 331 - 364 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, Honourable Stephen Kakfwi, Mr. Krutko, Mr. Lafferty, Ms. Lee, Mr. McLeod, Honourable Michael Miltenberger, Mr. Nitah, Honourable Jake Ootes, Mr. Roland, Honourable Vince Steen

-- Prayer

Item 1: Prayer
Item 1: Prayer

Page 331

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker David Krutko

Thank you. Before going to orders of the day, I would like to take this opportunity to recognize a new clerk at the Table today, Mr. Andrew Stewart.

---Applause

Andrew is taking up duties at the Table which will add to his experience as an assistant committee clerk as he has been working for the Special Committee on the Review of the Official Languages Act and on the Implementation of Self-Government and the Sunset Clause.

---Applause

For those Members who were with us at the community feast and dance in Fort McPherson this summer, this is not the Andrew Stewart from Fort McPherson, but the Andrew Stewart from Yellowknife.

---Laughter

Join me in welcoming Mr. Stewart to the Clerk's Table.

---Applause

Item 2, Ministers' statements.

Roger Allen

Roger Allen Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to speak to the matter of family violence legislation in the Northwest Territories.

This has been and is an issue of importance to each and every Member of this Legislature as evidenced most recently by our unanimous endorsement of the protocol agreement to support the development of an action plan on family violence in the NWT presented by the Status of Women. It is important to all of us in the House, and after hearing the Members' statements, I believe it is important to many, many people of the Northwest Territories.

As a government, we must act and we, as Members, must act together to develop and pass effective family violence legislation within the term of this Legislative Assembly. We must also strive to ensure that, within the limited time available to achieve this, the legislation is relevant to our jurisdiction, works for our people and communities and represents the input from important stakeholders dealing with and affected by this issue.

Mr. Speaker, Members of this House have referred to the legislation developed and relied upon in other Canadian jurisdictions and indicated their approval of that legislation on behalf of the people of the NWT. The legislation of and the experience in other jurisdictions can be very useful as a tool and will be relied upon in development of NWT legislation.

Mr. Speaker, there are a number of issues which must be addressed through timely consultations and policy development, and those include the definition of family violence, the remedies we include in such legislation, determining who can apply for relief under the legislation and the best delivery model for the NWT. The department plans to conduct its consultations and start its policy work immediately with a view to determining these questions. Our goal, Mr. Speaker, is to ensure that we develop legislation that works for all NWT residents, whether they live in large centres or small isolated communities, whether they have RCMP or not.

Mr. Speaker, this work will require the cooperation of all Members of this House to assist in ensuring that we produce an act and a process that most appropriately meets the needs of victims of family violence. We are committed to moving ahead with this legislation as soon as possible.

There will be costs associated with the development and the implementation of this legislation, the extent of which have not been fully determined. The proper delivery of this legislation will involve the RCMP, shelter workers, social workers, court staff, judges and justices of the peace. Additional staff may be required to properly implement and deliver the legislation.

The process is not a simple one, given the complexity of family violence and the diversity of our people and our jurisdictions. However, we can do it and we can do it well, Mr. Speaker, if we have the cooperation and assistance of all Members of this House. The overwhelming sense I have gathered over the past weeks in this House is that the government has your approval and can expect your assistance. What I have heard in this House, Mr. Speaker, is an overwhelming commitment to family violence legislation and on that basis I will commit to introducing a bill at the June sitting of the 14th Legislative Assembly.

---Applause

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker David Krutko

Thank you. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Deh Cho.

Michael McLeod

Michael McLeod Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I want to, once again, voice my concerns over the harmonization strategy. This initiative was introduced and adopted by the 13th Assembly and I have watched with great interest as this program has been deferred, time and time again. It's been changed. It has been transferred from one Minister to another and, in the end, I was hoping it would go away. However, it's very evident that this government is determined to implement this program April 1st of this year.

Mr. Speaker, I question the intent of this initiative. It's certainly not intended to improve the health and conditions in our communities. It is not designed to raise revenues for this government. It is not part of the seniors' strategy. My understanding of this program is that it was to harmonize the income support program with the social housing program. If that was the goal, then why are the seniors and the students rolled into the mix? Most of the seniors and students live on a fixed monthly income, an income that is usually accounted for before they receive it. Mr. Speaker, I hear from the NWT housing staff that seniors across the North are welcoming and embracing this program. If that's the case, I ask why are seniors in the small communities complaining about this new initiative?

Mr. Speaker, the Minister promised in this House there would be a clear communication strategy and an implementation schedule. I have copies of letters sent out to the seniors in my riding as part of the communication strategy. The letter simply states that a new scale is being introduced April 1st. The new maximum rent is at a certain level and on April 1st, the rent would be calculated in a different manner and it gives another lump sum. It doesn't indicate the actual rent that will be charged. The Housing Corporation may have met the letter of the law by mailing out notices of intent of the potential rent increases, but they sure didn't meet the intent of the law.

I contacted every band and municipal council in the NWT, Mr. Speaker, and 87 percent have responded by saying they are not familiar with this program and they needed more information. Fifty-five percent have requested that this whole initiative be abandoned. Mr. Speaker, I was recently reminded that the NWT Housing Corporation was initially formed in the early 1970s under the name of the Mackenzie Valley...Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker David Krutko

The Member is seeking unanimous consent. Do I hear any nays? You have unanimous consent, Mr. McLeod.

Michael McLeod

Michael McLeod Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and colleagues. Mr. Speaker, it was recently that the NWT Housing Corporation was initially formed in the early 1970s under the name Mackenzie Valley Housing and their mandate was to deliver housing to Aboriginal and low income families. We have certainly deviated from that mandate. Mr. Speaker, once again I ask that the Minister responsible table a copy of the harmonization strategy in order for us to debate this issue in this Assembly and publicly. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker David Krutko

Item 3, Members' statements. Member for Hay River North, Mr. Delorey.

Education Week 2003
Item 3: Members' Statements

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Paul Delorey

Paul Delorey Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to recognize Education Week being held this week across the NWT. Mr. Speaker, I am particularly encouraged by the fact that this year, Education Week is an interdepartmental endeavor between the departments of Education, Culture and Employment, Health and Social Services, Municipal and Community Affairs, Sport North and the new Recreation and Parks Association. The theme for Education Week is "Choose to Move...Move for Health." This is an example for residents of all ages throughout the NWT that productive choices with regard to fitness can be made and how we can all benefit from the effects of being more physically active.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to commend the Honourable Jake Ootes for the various initiatives introduced by his department over the last year. However, Mr. Speaker, more work needs to be done. I would like to remind the Minister and his department officials of what should be their prime focus, that being our students. We should never lose sight of that fact, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, at this time, I would also like to pay tribute to the parent volunteers that spend countless hours in our classrooms. The parent volunteers contribute greatly to our schools and I don't know that we do enough to recognize their efforts.

Mr. Speaker, I was pleased to hear of the $2.8 million investment announced in our budget to lower pupil/teacher ratios and to raise student support services in the classroom where it is needed most. We need to be diligent and continue this path in order to provide our students with the quality of education they so deserve. While it is all nice and good, Mr. Speaker, to recognize Education Week once a year, we need to be diligent everyday to remember that we, as a government, need to focus our efforts in the classroom, so the students can directly benefit. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Education Week 2003
Item 3: Members' Statements

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The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker David Krutko

Item 3, Members' statements. The Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, Mr. Roland.

Healing The Problems Of Families And Youth
Item 3: Members' Statements

February 25th, 2003

Page 332

Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to rise and speak to the issue of children in the North. Mr. Speaker, that's not something that we go into great detail in the North with the problems we have with our families, or crime rates and what we sometimes find unfortunately in our communities in the North.

Mr. Speaker, today I want to raise the issue of what we are doing as a government or what we can be doing. Not only that, the government deals with programs and services trying to fix people from the outside. Mr. Speaker, a lot of times I have come to work with individuals in my community trying to help them through our programs and services, whether it's income support, health and social services, education, but a lot of times we are trying to fix people and work with people from the outside. There is little that is being done from the inside and many people, Mr. Speaker, would say that's an issue that's got to be separate. Government, state, as it can be called, and religion should be separate. Many people will say that.

Mr. Speaker, what I found with our programs and services in the social area, all we've done is tried to work with people from an outside perspective, not dealing with them from the inside or their spirit, Mr. Speaker. That's why today I would like to raise awareness from work done by Dr. Clair Schnupp, and Mrs. Clara Schnupp. Dr. Clair Schnupp has his doctorate of philosophy and Master of Arts. His wife has a bachelor's and master's degree. They are both members of the Association of Professional Christian Counsellors and they've traveled the Arctic for 42 years, Mr. Speaker, working with youth and family. In a stretch from Nuuk, Greenland, to Nome, Alaska, they have met with many families and individuals, dealing with the situations that they find themselves in. Dr. Schnupp had talked to me a few months back and asked if I would consider looking at some of the work he's done. It's come to a point now where he's put it forward in a final pamphlet and he's seeking to try to put it out there to raise awareness.

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

Healing The Problems Of Families And Youth
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 333

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker David Krutko

The Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Do we have any nays? You have unanimous consent.

Healing The Problems Of Families And Youth
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 333

Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. Mr. Speaker, the work that's been done in this pamphlet is the cold, stark reality of what happens from time to time in our communities. It's something that, as I have become aware, is difficult to try to deal with, to try to put a finger on because government deals with programs and services that deal with levels of education, with health care, things that we can try to fix from the outside and it's difficult, Mr. Speaker, to speak to these issues because a lot of us when we come through life have run into our own problems, but have difficulty reaching to the inside, and as I said earlier, to the spirit side of the person.

We've heard lots about traditional knowledge and trying to go back to some of those strengths. I agree, we must do more in that area. I think it has to start at a community or personal level. Hopefully this work that's done, which I will table later today, will raise awareness. It's difficult to deal with in some of the issues, but I think it needs to be done to try to raise the awareness of individuals in the North, to see how we can further deal with these issues. As we heard in the Minister's statement earlier about putting family violence legislation forward, that's a piece of the puzzle and an important piece. On those things we need to continue to work. With that, thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Healing The Problems Of Families And Youth
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 333

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker David Krutko

Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee.

Need For A Northern Academic Research Centre
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 333

Sandy Lee

Sandy Lee Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in debate of the budget for Education, Culture and Employment, much of the discussion has centred on various topics about Aurora College. I would like to speak again about what has been on my mind lately, as well as that of some of my constituents. This has to do with the long-term vision, but I would really like to see Aurora College becoming a fully accredited university in the not-too-distant future. One of my constituents even wrote to tell me that in fact there is land set aside for such a university north of Frame Lake.

Mr. Speaker, we have so much happening in the North that should be of academic interest. People from all over the world come here already, not just to admire the aurora borealis, but to study the wonders and sciences of it, yet we do not have a research centre studying it. We also have had teams of scientists and engineers studying cold weather technology, whether it be for automobiles, road building or construction of houses. We have been a testing ground for all these, as well as an importer of the technology. We could become a world leader in this regard.

The mineral development in the gold and diamonds of modern times is only the tip of the iceberg in the way of mineral and geological findings, studies of interest to academia. I recently watched a program on TV where a team of geologists and engineers from all over the world converged on the Inuvik area because that's where the most pure form of frozen gas samples can be had, but they spent much of their time talking about how excited they were to send these samples to their colleagues in the U.S., German, Russian and Japanese universities. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we had an academic research centre in a university setting right here where these samples could be analyzed and written about, so that the scholars would fly here to learn and spread the knowledge out into the world?

The topic of interest for academic research doesn't just end there, Mr. Speaker. There are a lot of unique and groundbreaking discoveries going on here politically and socially as well. The evolution of our government and the unique challenges we face in our consensus system could only benefit from political scientists who enjoy the privilege of independent minds and affiliations, not from the southern perspective, but from the intimate knowledge they would have from living and teaching here.

We are also on the frontier of developing governance models as a number of self-government agreements are becoming a reality more and more everyday. I have no doubt that a lot of knowledge can be had in this area that would contribute greatly to the age old world dialogue about how and why a society chooses to govern itself the way it does. The list is endless. Mr. Speaker, may I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement? Thank you.

Need For A Northern Academic Research Centre
Item 3: Members' Statements

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The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker David Krutko

The Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude her statement. Are there any nays? You have unanimous consent, Ms. Lee.

Need For A Northern Academic Research Centre
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 333

Sandy Lee

Sandy Lee Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The list for academic research is endless and it should be noted that a good critical economic study is not just for making big bucks in ivory towers. It is an essential element of good public policy making in civil society. It is my hope that our government and college officials and leaders from all over the North would work together to achieve this goal in the not-too-distant future. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Need For A Northern Academic Research Centre
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 334

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker David Krutko

Item 3, Members' statements. Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Nitah.

Steven Nitah Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this being Education Week, I would like to talk about the challenges teachers face in the Northwest Territories. Mr. Speaker, in Monday's paper, an article titled "Searching for Solutions" talks about how the Department of Education, Culture and Employment hired a consultant to do surveys with teachers and the Teachers' Association to determine if housing is an issue in their becoming teachers in the Northwest Territories. Mr. Speaker, the results wouldn't be completed until mid-March, and by that time this House will be likely adjourned.

But, I've said it, Members of this House have said it, people have told us that housing is a major issue when it comes to educators coming and staying in the North. We all know a comfort level has to be reached between the student and the teacher for a student to have optimum learning capacity. But they have an average turn around of five years and, in some cases, every year you see numerous teachers resign because of housing shortages. We know they are living together. Teachers are forced to live together, live in the schools, in health centres and in churches. These are not places where people are intended to live and we should not expect our teachers to live in those environments.

Knowing the facts of this housing shortage, I'm going to be asking the Minister what his department is doing in partnership with other departments to address this very huge issue.

We need good teachers to have good students. We need good students to prepare for the economic realities of today and tomorrow. In my constituency, the graduation rate leaves something to be desired. In Lutselk'e we haven't had a graduate in a long time and a lot of this is a result of the high turnover of teachers. With new relationships being built, even when they get here and agree to the cost of their units, often because of the new policy and regulations that are regulating the housing market, a person could increase the rent and falsify the information to the teachers and by the time they get here, what are they going to do, go back? Mr. Speaker, I will be asking the Minister some questions on this issue. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker David Krutko

Item 3, Members' statements. Member for Yellowknife South, Mr. Bell.

Family Violence Protection Legislation
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 334

Brendan Bell

Brendan Bell Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to take the opportunity today to respond to the Minister of Justice, Minister Allen's statement on family violence legislation because I think it is important to do so, Mr. Speaker.

I think what we've seen here today is a perfect example that our form of government, the consensus form of government, can work, and the next time somebody asks me about consensus and its advantages. I'm going to point to today because I truly believe that what we've seen here is an example of a Minister who understands, Mr. Speaker, what leadership is all about and has always been one that said, listen, I really want to get this job done, I want to roll up my sleeves and do good things, my door is open and if you have suggestions and ideas and priorities that you want to see hit the floor, come and talk to me. This Minister understood that family violence legislation was a key priority for this House and he is willing to work with us in order to get that done.

There are a million and one reasons why this might not have happened. There are consultation concerns, given the amount of time we have left, Mr. Speaker. There are resource concerns that will require additional resources. There is no shortage of reasons why this could have failed but this Minister wouldn't let it fail and I think that really isn't much of a surprise, given this Minister's track record.

We look at the Human Rights Act. This Minister was key in delivering on that piece of legislation and he got done by being willing to work with the standing committee behind the scenes, making sure that if we had suggestions coming from the public, that we were going to make this thing better. Well, he was going to get them done and get them implemented.

If you look at housing bridge financing, a recent program, the Minister was able to get the program raised from $10 million to $30 million, but still the criteria weren't adequate to allow people to access this money. A number of Members sat down with the Minister, raised this point and he said, well, you know I didn't come up with this program because I didn't want it to work so let's sit down and talk about how we can make this thing work. He has done that and now when we look at family violence legislation, he said, and I will quote, "We can do it and we can do it well, Mr. Speaker, if we have the cooperation and assistance of all Members of this House." Mr. Speaker, that is leadership. I think Minister Allen is demonstrating that here for us today. I am very proud of the work he is doing and I hope my colleagues will join me in thanking him.

---Applause

Family Violence Protection Legislation
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 334

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker David Krutko

Item 3, Members' statements. Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Diamond Jenness Handbell Choir
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 334

Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to tell you about a unique group of students that together make a sound that you rarely hear. These students are the Diamond Jenness Handbell Choir from Hay River, and the delightful sound is the ringing of handbells.

In 1997, a trio of staff members from Diamond Jenness School in Hay River had a dream: what if they could purchase musical instruments of a different sort and create a new club in the school. With a lot of hard work, dedication and fundraising, handbells were added to the music department of DJ. There has been an active group of young musicians ringing the bells ever since.

The DJ Handbell Choir has the distinction of being the only one of its kind in the Northwest Territories. They have gained appreciation and overwhelming reviews for their performances, exhibiting their skills and talent. They have performed at schools, the Woodland Manor, extended care at the hospital and for various community events such as Remembrance Day services, Festival of Trees, Canada Day celebrations and numerous other events.

Since 1997, these young choir members, with the support of the community, have set many goals and attained them. Recently, they have added a third octave of bells to their existing equipment and today they continue to rehearse and practice to perfect their skills. With the leadership of their director, Jennifer Tweedie, the Handbell Choir is planning to attend the We've Got Rhythm conference in London, Ontario in May. As the title suggests, this conference will feature the timeless music of George and Ira Gershwin. What a great experience for this young choir!

I have just received notice today that the Minister of Youth, the Honourable Roger Allen, has provided support for the Handbell Choir to attend this conference and they will be receiving $5,000 towards this initiative and I would like to thank the Minister for this contribution and for his recognition of the creativity and enthusiasm of these young Northern students.

Finally, Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to announce that the DJ Handbell Choir will be here, in the Legislative Assembly in the Great Hall, tomorrow. They are driving from Hay River to Yellowknife today, and will arrive here this evening eager to entertain with their handbells tomorrow. They will be playing from 12:45 to 1:15 and I urge you to either stay for lunch or return early so that you can be sure to hear them when they begin their program. Please join me in welcoming them tomorrow as they come to the Great Hall. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Diamond Jenness Handbell Choir
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 335

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker David Krutko

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Item 3, Members' statements. Member for North Slave, Mr. Lafferty.