Debates of March 12th, 2003

This is page numbers 701 - 746 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 community.

Topics

Members Present
Item 1: Prayer
Amendments To Workers' Compensation Act
Minister Absent From The House
Sittichinli Recreation Complex In Aklavik
Amendments To The Wildlife Act
Heavy Equipment Operator Training Program
All Weather Road To The Slave Geologic Province
Public Awareness Of New Drinking And Driving Legislation
High Cost Of Rent And Cost Of Living In Yellowknife
Recruitment And Retention Of Health Professionals At Stanton Territorial Hospital
Fiscal Legacy Of The 14th Legislative Assembly
Visit To K'alemi Dene School In Ndilo
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Repairs Required To The Aklavik Recreation Complex
Delay In Amendments To The Wildlife Act
Environmental Review Of Bathurst Road And Port
Update On Federal Health Funding
Benefits Generated From Government Activity
Improving Collection Of Mortgage Payments
Seniors' Home Heating Subsidy Program
Delay In Amendments To The Wildlife Act
Recognition Of Ndilo As A Separate Community
Gwich'in Amendments To The Wildlife Act
Written Question 4-14(6): Cost Of Wildlife Act And Species At Risk Act Consultations
Petition 4-14(6): Rental Rates And Affordable Housing In The Nwt
Tabled Document 47-14(6): List Of Interactivity Transfers Exceeding $250,000 - April 1, 2002 To January 31, 2003
Bill 15: An Act To Amend The Workers' Compensation Act
Bill 14: An Act To Amend The Public Service Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Committee Report 9-14(6): "one Land, Many Voices": The Final Report Of The Special Committee On The Review Of The Official Languages Act
Committee Motion 13-14(6) To Accept Recommendation No. 1 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report
Committee Motion 14-14(6) To Accept Recommendation No. 2 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report
To Accept Recommendation No. 3 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report
To Accept Recommendation No. 4 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report
To Accept Recommendation No. 5 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report
To Accept Recommendation No. 6 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report
To Accept Recommendation No. 7 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report
To Accept Recommendation No. 8 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report
To Accept Recommendation No. 9 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report
To Accept Recommendation No. 10 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report
To Accept Recommendation No. 11 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report
To Accept Recommendation No. 12 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report
To Accept Recommendation No. 13 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report
To Accept Recommendation No. 14 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report
To Accept Recommendation No. 15 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report
To Accept Recommendation No. 16 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report
To Accept Recommendation No. 17 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report
To Accept Recommendation No. 18 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report
To Accept Recommendation No. 19 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report
To Accept Recommendation No. 20 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report
To Accept Recommendation No. 21 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report
To Accept Recommendation No. 22 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report
To Accept Recommendation No. 23 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report
To Accept Recommendation No. 24 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report
To Accept Recommendation No. 25 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report
To Accept Recommendation No. 26 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report
To Accept Recommendation No. 27 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report
To Accept Recommendation No. 28 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report
To Accept Recommendation No. 29 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report
To Accept Recommendation No. 30 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report
To Accept Recommendation No. 31 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report
To Accept Recommendation No. 31 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report
To Accept Recommendation No. 33 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report
To Accept Recommendation No. 33 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report
To Accept Recommendation No. 35 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report
To Accept Recommendation No. 36 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report
To Accept Recommendation No. 37 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report
To Accept Recommendation No. 38 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report
To Accept Recommendation No. 39 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report
To Accept Recommendation No. 40 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report
To Accept Recommendation No. 41 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report
To Accept Recommendation No. 42 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report
To Accept Recommendation No. 43 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report
To Accept Recommendation No. 44 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report
To Accept Recommendation No. 45 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report
To Accept Recommendation No. 46 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report
To Accept Recommendation 47 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report
To Accept Recommendation No. 48 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report
To Accept Recommendation No. 49 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report
To Accept Recommendation No. 50 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report
To Accept Recommendation No. 51 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report
To Accept Recommendation No. 52 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report
To Accept Recommendation No. 53 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report
To Accept Recommendation No. 54 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report
To Accept Recommendation No. 55 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report
To Accept Recommendation No. 56 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report
To Accept Recommendation No. 57 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report
To Accept Recommendation No. 58 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report
To Accept Recommendation No. 59 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report
To Accept Recommendation No. 60 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report
To Accept Recommendation No. 61 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report
To Accept Recommendation No. 62 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report
To Accept Recommendation No. 63 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report
To Accept Recommendation No. 64 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report
To Accept Recommendation No. 65 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report
Bill 4: An Act To Amend The Consumer Protection Act
Bill 9: Youth Justice Statutes Amendment Act
Bill 11: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 3, 2002-2003
To Delete $378,000 From Bill 11: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 3, 2003-2003, Under Maca, Operations Expenditures, Regional Operations
Item 20: Report Of Committee Of The Whole
Bill 3: Appropriation Act, 2003-2004
Item 22: Orders Of The Day

Committee Motion 22-14(6): To Accept Recommendation No. 10 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 720

The Chair

The Chair Sandy Lee

Thank you, Mr. Nitah. We have a motion on the floor. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Committee Motion 22-14(6): To Accept Recommendation No. 10 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 720

Some Hon. Members

Question.

Committee Motion 22-14(6): To Accept Recommendation No. 10 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 720

The Chair

The Chair Sandy Lee

All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Mr. Nitah.

Committee Motion 23-14(6): To Accept Recommendation No. 11 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 720

Steven Nitah Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Madam Chair and colleagues. Madam Chair, I move that this committee recommends that, concurrent with the establishment of the aboriginal languages board, the broad promotional mandate of the Languages Commissioner be reduced through the repeal of the last phrase in Section 20(1) and Section 20(3) of the Official Languages Act;

Further that the Languages Commissioner's promotional role be transferred to the Minister responsible for official languages and the aboriginal languages board; and

Furthermore that the Languages Commissioner continue to ensure compliance with the strengthened Official Languages Act. Merci, Madam Chair.

Committee Motion 23-14(6): To Accept Recommendation No. 11 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 720

The Chair

The Chair Sandy Lee

Thank you, Mr. Nitah. We have a motion. The motion is in order. To the motion. Mr. Braden.

Committee Motion 23-14(6): To Accept Recommendation No. 11 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 720

Bill Braden

Bill Braden Great Slave

Thank you, Madam Chair. Through the series of motions that we're looking at, the committee has taken some very aggressive and some very bold and I think necessary recommendations here to help sustain official languages. Part of this, I guess by necessity, means that we need to set up more process and more bureaucracy to administer all of these additional desirabilities; the things that we want to achieve here. In looking at the motions that we've been through so far, we are creating a Minister with a portfolio for languages, we are creating what I think would be an advisory board to the Minister, and I believe -- perhaps it's coming a little bit further -- we're setting up a secretariat to administer all of these things.

I just want to put on record, Madam Chair, that I will be supporting the motion. But through this we seem to be loading up quite a bit on the bureaucratic, the government side of things. I'm not arguing that it's unnecessary. But along with the recommendations that committee is making to government in implementing this, I would like to add a note from my point of view that the leaner and the more efficient and the more results-oriented we can make this added bureaucracy, I think the better the job we will achieve. I'm getting a lot of signals of late, Madam Chair, from constituents and industry and the community at large that a number of the governance systems and structures that we have in place are not really delivering or seen to be delivering a lot of value. I do not want to see something like languages end up with that same kind of criticism. So I'll conclude my remarks here, Madam Chair. Again, I will be supporting the motion, but it is with a qualifier that these moves will be appreciated when they're done with a very lean and a very results-oriented approach. Thank you.

Committee Motion 23-14(6): To Accept Recommendation No. 11 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 720

The Chair

The Chair Sandy Lee

Thank you, Mr. Braden. To the motion. Any other comments to the motion?

Committee Motion 23-14(6): To Accept Recommendation No. 11 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 720

Some Hon. Members

Question.

Committee Motion 23-14(6): To Accept Recommendation No. 11 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 720

The Chair

The Chair Sandy Lee

Question is being called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Thank you. Mr. Nitah.

Committee Motion 24-14(6): To Accept Recommendation No. 12 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 720

Steven Nitah Tu Nedhe

Mahsi cho, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I move that this committee recommends that Section 19(2) and Section 19(3) of the Official Languages Act be repealed, allowing the Office of the Languages Commissioner to be independent of the public service; and

Further that the Legislative Assembly review the Office of the Languages Commissioner to clarify its management systems and administrative support relationships. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Committee Motion 24-14(6): To Accept Recommendation No. 12 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 721

The Chair

The Chair Sandy Lee

Thank you, Mr. Nitah. We have a motion on the floor. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Committee Motion 24-14(6): To Accept Recommendation No. 12 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 721

Some Hon. Members

Question.

Committee Motion 24-14(6): To Accept Recommendation No. 12 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 721

The Chair

The Chair Sandy Lee

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Mr. Nitah.

Committee Motion 25-14(6): To Accept Recommendation No. 13 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 721

Steven Nitah Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I move that this committee recommends that a provision be added to the Official Languages Act to allow for the appointment of an Acting Languages Commissioner between appointments or where the commissioner is otherwise unable to perform his or her functions. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Committee Motion 25-14(6): To Accept Recommendation No. 13 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 721

The Chair

The Chair Sandy Lee

Thank you, Mr. Nitah. We have a motion on the floor. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Committee Motion 25-14(6): To Accept Recommendation No. 13 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 721

Some Hon. Members

Question.

Committee Motion 25-14(6): To Accept Recommendation No. 13 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 721

The Chair

The Chair Sandy Lee

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Mr. Nitah.

Committee Motion 26-14(6): To Accept Recommendation No. 14 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 721

Steven Nitah Tu Nedhe

Mahsi cho, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I move that this committee recommends that a provision be added to the Official Languages Act requiring the Legislative Assembly to respond to the commissioner's annual report within 180 days of the tabling of that report. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Committee Motion 26-14(6): To Accept Recommendation No. 14 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 721

The Chair

The Chair Sandy Lee

Thank you, Mr. Nitah. We have a motion on the floor. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Committee Motion 26-14(6): To Accept Recommendation No. 14 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 721

Some Hon. Members

Question.

Committee Motion 26-14(6): To Accept Recommendation No. 14 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 721

The Chair

The Chair Sandy Lee

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Mr. Nitah.

Committee Motion 27-14(6): To Accept Recommendation No. 15 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

March 11th, 2003

Page 721

Steven Nitah Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Madam Chair and colleagues. Madam Chair, I move that this committee recommends that the Official Languages Act provide for the recognition of the collective language rights of aboriginal peoples within their homelands, consistent with current and pending land claims and self-government agreements. Mahsi cho, Madam Chair.

Committee Motion 27-14(6): To Accept Recommendation No. 15 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 721

The Chair

The Chair Sandy Lee

Thank you, Mr. Nitah. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Committee Motion 27-14(6): To Accept Recommendation No. 15 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 721

Some Hon. Members

Question.

Committee Motion 27-14(6): To Accept Recommendation No. 15 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 721

The Chair

The Chair Sandy Lee

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

The Chair recognizes Mr. Nitah.