This is page numbers 781 - 810 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 ---agreed.

Topics

Increases To Power And Gas Rates
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 785

Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, since our last days of sitting in this House I've had an opportunity to speak to constituents of Inuvik. Mr. Speaker, many of the constituents raise issues around the cost of living in Inuvik, around the cost of power, for example, the rate rider that all residents are now paying, and the impact of that increase in their household bills. In a number of cases now, I thought this was rare but it seems to be more often now that I'm hearing from constituents saying that their power bill has jumped from $200 to $500, and feeling that they haven't had adequate responses when they've made enquiries.

As well, Mr. Speaker, the news that the natural gas price in Inuvik was going to jump 45 percent and has jumped as of May 1st, a 45 percent increase. I'm waiting to hear what the PUB is going to do about that as the Town of Inuvik has asked that the PUB have a look into it.

Mr. Speaker, as well, the Public Utilities Board held a meeting in Inuvik regarding the power situation and the rate increase they've applied for, and the Town of Inuvik as well as many other community leaders from the region spoke to the Public Utilities Board speaking against any further increases. Along with that, Mr. Speaker, is the uncertainty of what will happen in future years. As an example, Mr. Speaker, there is less seismic being done in the Delta this winter and people are wondering if there will be further work coming up this winter to ensure that they can earn more money to make sure that they can pay their bills that are continuing to climb.

So, Mr. Speaker, with that during this session I will be approaching different Ministers and asking Ministers questions as to what's happening as a result of some of the enquiries made by residents of Inuvik. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Increases To Power And Gas Rates
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 785

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

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

National Seniors' Week
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 785

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I too would like to recognize Seniors' Week in the Northwest Territories. As several colleagues, including Minister Miltenberger, have announced and noted earlier it is Senior Citizens' Week, a time to highlight the contributions that seniors and elders have made to our culture, heritage and northern society. We did so in part today with the luncheon recognizing seniors and the launching of the government's seniors' action plan status report.

Mr. Speaker, there are many, many respected seniors in the NWT who truly deserve our gratitude, admiration and thanks for bringing us to where we are today. We also need to thank those organizations and groups who work on behalf of seniors, including the NWT Seniors' Society. They provide information and act as a resource for seniors across the Northwest Territories. The Yellowknife Seniors' Society run the Baker's Centre and offer social, recreation and educational programs for seniors.

Mr. Speaker, at the luncheon today I was reminded that my membership was due, so I'm pleased to advise that I am now, once again, a paid-up member in good standing.

Another organization that deserves a lot of credit in Yellowknife is YACCS, the Yellowknife Association of Concerned Citizens for Seniors, who have been working tirelessly towards a new facility for Alzheimer and dementia patients.

Mr. Speaker, most of those active in these organizations are volunteers. Our volunteer seniors compared to seniors nationally, spend more of their time helping. They are a remarkable group here in the North. Despite, Mr. Speaker, all they have given and continue to give, however, NWT seniors live on less income on average than seniors do nationally. In 1999, more than half of all seniors here in the Northwest Territories had an income of less than $15,000 a year. Mr. Speaker, we must do something about looking at that issue, particularly, Mr. Speaker, because our numbers of seniors are increasing quickly.

As the Minister has indicated in his status report, numbers are expected to double by the year 2020, so we need to be prepared, we need to plan for this and be ready to support the needs of seniors. We need Alzheimer and dementia care facilities in place soon. We already know, for instance, that one in three of us can expect to need special care in our old age.

Mr. Speaker, let's show our elders the respect they deserve. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

National Seniors' Week
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 785

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

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

NWT Track And Field Championships
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 786

Paul Delorey

Paul Delorey Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it is indeed my pleasure to be back here in this chamber with you and the rest of my esteemed colleagues. Mr. Speaker, while this may be the first day of our session, I'm going to be flying home to Hay River tonight so that I can attend the opening ceremonies of the 2003 NWT Track and Field Championships. The championships will be held tomorrow and Friday, June 5th and 6th, and promises it to be a fantastic event.

Mr. Speaker, this is the 13th year that Hay River has hosted this event that showcases athletes from all around the Northwest Territories. Right from the start of the opening ceremonies, Mr. Speaker, to the moment that the flame is extinguished to signify the end of the championships, it is wonderful to see the look of pride on the athletes' faces as they represent their respective school and communities. Mr. Speaker, the spirit and enthusiasm, camaraderie and sportsmanship shown by these kids is truly something to behold.

I continue, Mr. Speaker, to be in awe of the logistics involved in organizing such a large event. Last year there were approximately 1200 athletes and coaches involved. Mr. Speaker, an event of this magnitude would not be possible without a tremendous amount of volunteers. Volunteers are the engine that drive events such as this. Every year at this time, Hay River showcases its volunteer drive engine by hosting such events as the NWT Track and Field Championships and the Knights of Columbus Lobster Fest. Combined, these two events require the dedicated, hard work of some 350 volunteers. Mr. Speaker, time does not permit me today to list all of the volunteers from Hay River who help to make the NWT Track and Field Championships such a success year after year. I would like to collectively thank all of our volunteers and the business community of Hay River who always step up to the plate to ensure this event is an overwhelming success.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would like to thank the coordinators, Gordon Miller and Tim Borchuk, all the success possible in this year's track and field championships. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

NWT Track And Field Championships
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 786

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Delorey. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for North Slave, Mr. Lafferty.

Leon Lafferty North Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to welcome everybody back to the House and take the opportunity today to talk about the capital planning process which this government uses.

Mr. Speaker, I was relieved when Cabinet made a commitment at the end of April to reinstate the practice of consulting with communities and MLAs to decide what projects go into which community. I think this is a positive step in ensuring the needs of all Northerners are being considered.

Mr. Speaker, in the past few weeks I have travelled with the government representatives to three of the four communities in my riding. Meetings were held in Rae-Edzo, Wha Ti and Gameti to discuss what capital planning is, what types of projects are funded and how much money is not available. As we all know, this government is in serious financial difficulty. Mr. Speaker, people in my communities were very pleased to see the government officials and to be asked for their input into the projects. Mr. Speaker, I enjoyed these meetings myself and I am looking forward to travelling to Wekweti on June 16th with these same officials.

Mr. Speaker, as useful as these meetings are, I am concerned that false hopes are being raised. I say this because decisions about which projects are going to be funded in the Territories are made at the deputy minister level, but it is not the deputy ministers who are going to the communities and hearing the needs of the people. I'm also concerned that, as long as deputy ministers continue to select the projects based on the same five criteria that were already in place, these community meetings are merely a front. I am worried that they might be a look good-feel good exercise with no actual changes made to help projects be selected.

Mr. Speaker, during the February session I mentioned that the first criteria in selecting projects to fund is the protection of people, the second criteria is the protection of assets. Despite these guidelines, we see money allocated and priority given to a campground when there is not enough for a health centre in Wekweti which could save lives.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage Cabinet to continue to seek input from the public and from Members when the actual decisions are made about which projects are funded. By doing this, the community consultations that have already occurred will be of benefit and the needs of all Northerners will be considered fairly. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Yellowknife South, Mr. Bell.

Canadian Forces Day
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 786

Brendan Bell

Brendan Bell Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we heard a number of good events recognized here today: Seniors' Week, Clean Air Day. I'd like to add another, Mr. Speaker, and I have a lapel pin commemorating that the first Sunday in June has now been proclaimed Canadian Forces Day, and it recognizes contributions of our navy, army, air force in Canada and the good work they do around the world, Mr. Speaker. These folks are involved in defense of Canada, NATO, humanitarian and disaster assistance, search and rescue and peacekeeping. On June 1st Canadians recognize members for their service, and these folks are present in every province and territory across Canada. Here in the North, Canadian Forces Northern Area 440 Squadron took part in an open house at the YK Airport as part of National Transportation Week.

There are over 100,000 members who form the National Defense family across the country, Mr. Speaker, made up of a regular force of about 60,000 men and women, 19,000 civilians, 400 rangers, 2000 junior rangers, 60,000 Cadets, and 130,000 military families. Canadian Forces Northern Area personnel have the task of protecting our northern sovereignty. The CFNA headquarters is located in Yellowknife and it does conduct operations for the entire Arctic, including Nunavut and the Yukon. In town there are 150 northern personnel who manage an area of almost four million square kilometres, Mr. Speaker. In the North, we have 23 Cadet Corps involving 400 youth, and I was fortunate enough, Mr. Speaker, last May 10th to attend the 30th annual inspection of the Royal Canadian Air Cadets at the 440 hangar here in Yellowknife. There were a lot of proud families and parents there. It was a very nice event.

The Northern Canadian Rangers, Mr. Speaker, also do patrols of remote and isolated areas, and the Junior Canadian Rangers promote traditional cultures and lifestyles through youth activities. Something probably not very well known, Mr. Speaker, this northern presence that we have in the Northwest Territories puts more than $29 million into the northern economy. So I'd like to ask my fellow Members, Mr. Speaker, to join me in acknowledging the contributions of the Canadian Forces in the North, in Canada and, indeed, internationally. Thank you.

---Applause

Canadian Forces Day
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 787

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

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

Settlement Of Physician Specialist Negotiations
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 787

Sandy Lee

Sandy Lee Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as you and the Members of this House are aware, I have been working hard to encourage the government to settle the contract with the specialists. With the information he released to the public yesterday, the Minister and the government are now engaged in a full-scale public relations war with the specialist doctors. It is highly regrettable that it has come to this, Mr. Speaker, but it is still my fervent hope that the two parties will come to a negotiated settlement in the time still remaining.

The cost of not reaching a deal, in my view, will be deep and wide reaching with long-term consequences. As one of my constituents put it in one of her e-mails to me, the cost of replacing these fine physicians is going to be astronomical. The cost of sending patients south to simply have a baby or have a heart stress test is going to be astronomical.

Mr. Speaker, this is a very serious issue and one that everyone in this House and our communities should get involved in, in order to resolve this paralysis situation. I intend to pursue this vigorously during the session inside and outside of this House, and this is just day one, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I'm especially concerned about the contingency plan the Minister has put forward and, frankly speaking, Mr. Speaker, this is no plan at all. In fact, I believe it poses a real potential for risk and danger to the health of our residents. I feel strongly that not settling a contract with specialists is not an option. We would have been put 100 steps backward in the progression of medicine in the North, Mr. Speaker, and I believe we will continue to hear more from the people out there about this and they will make sure that the Minister and the government and this House do the right thing, and they do everything in their power to settle the contract with the specialists so that we maintain and improve our healthcare system we have now. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Settlement Of Physician Specialist Negotiations
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 787

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Antoine.

National Seniors' Week
Item 3: Members' Statements

June 3rd, 2003

Page 787

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to also recognize this week as being Seniors' Week. Coming from my Dene background, as you know, our elders play a key role in our society; not only in Dene, but society in general. So I'd like to recognize and say mahsi, thank you to all the elders for the work that you've done to prepare us here in the North. I'm speaking specifically about the Dene in the Deh Cho. The elders in the Deh Cho government play a big key role. As you know, publicly there's going to be a Deh Cho assembly coming up in Kakisa pretty soon, and the elders are going to be screening the different candidates that are going to be putting their names forward to see whether they're living a suitable lifestyle according to the elders. From that process the candidates will be selected to be Grand Chief of the Deh Cho. In this way, in our culture and in other cultures in the North as well, we place our elders, the seniors in a very important role. We continue to do that in the North and we should continue to do that, because for the elders we are very young here. Some of us are very, very young and some of aren't that young, but we are getting closer to being seniors as well. In fact, one Member here says he has his membership paid up. So we are in the age of getting closer as well. But the point here, Mr. Speaker, is that our elders are there. They are there for us and I would like to commend the Minister and the department and all the different agencies that help the elders to play a meaningful role here in the North and we will continue to do so. Mahsi to all the elders and seniors. Mahsi.

---Applause

National Seniors' Week
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 787

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Mahsi, Mr. Antoine. Item 3, Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. The honourable Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, Mr. Allen.

Further Return To Question 142-(6): GNWT Harmonization Initiative
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

Page 787

Roger Allen

Roger Allen Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have a Return to Oral Question asked by Mr. Lafferty on March 3, 2003, regarding the GNWT harmonization initiative.

Specifically Mr. Lafferty asked me whether the implementation of this program would continue even if the majority of the Members were against the program. Mr. Speaker, on March 11, 2003, the Members of the Assembly voted to defer the implementation of the harmonization initiative until no later than March 31, 2004. The harmonization initiative is currently under comprehensive review by a working group of Regular Members and Ministers. I trust this working group will come to a consensus on this initiative. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Further Return To Question 142-(6): GNWT Harmonization Initiative
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

Page 787

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Item 4, returns to oral questions. The honourable Member for Thebacha, Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 201-14(6): Status Of The Stanton Intensive Care Unit
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

Page 787

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a Return to Oral Question asked by Mr. Bell on March 10, 2003 regarding the number and cost of medevacs resulting from closure of the intensive care unit at Stanton Territorial Hospital.

From June 14, 2002 to March 31, 2003 35 NWT patients were medevaced south as a result of the closure of the intensive care unit. The cost of these medevacs was $514,500. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 201-14(6): Status Of The Stanton Intensive Care Unit
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

Page 788

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Item 4, returns to oral questions. the honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Antoine.

Return To Question 239-14(6): Polar Bear Logo Agreement
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

Page 788

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Mr. Speaker, I have a Return to Oral Question asked by Mr. Bill Braden, MLA, Great Slave, on March 13, 2003, regarding the polar bear logo agreement between the Government of the Northwest Territories and Sirius Diamonds Limited.

As the Member had indicated in the House, the settlement agreement between the GNWT and Sirius Diamonds Limited is a business arrangement. As with many such business arrangements, there are some confidential elements, which need to be respected. Whether or not there was a payment made by Sirius Diamonds Limited for the exclusive right to use a polar bear on the girdle of a polished diamond is one such element of the agreement that is confidential.

I can assure you that, through this agreement, the interests and trademark assets of the GNWT have been protected and we have ensured the ability of the GNWT to manage and control the polar bear trademarks globally. Mahsi cho.

Return To Question 239-14(6): Polar Bear Logo Agreement
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

Page 788

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee.

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

Page 788

Sandy Lee

Sandy Lee Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to recognize one of the most respected orthopedic surgeons at Stanton, a fine man and, most importantly, one of my constituents, Dr. Jim Corkal.

---Applause

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

Page 788

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Handley.

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

Page 788

Joe Handley

Joe Handley Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am pleased to recognize the house leader at home, my wife Theresa, and Barb Saunders at the Status of Women and the others ladies with the council. Thank you.

---Applause

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

Page 788

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. I would like to say welcome to all those people who have come to see their government and the Assembly. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mrs. Groenewegen.

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

Page 788

Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would also like to recognize Theresa Handley, the house leader from Prelude Lake and thank her for opening her home last night to Members of the Assembly for a lovely evening. Thank you.

---Applause