This is page numbers 863 - 898 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, Nr. Nitah, Honourable Jake Ootes, Mr. Roland, Honourable Vince Steen, Honourable Tony Whitford

---Prayer

Item 1: Prayer
Item 1: Prayer

Page 863

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Please be seated. Good afternoon. Item 2, Ministers' statements. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Antoine.

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to report to this Legislative Assembly that negotiations on the Deline self-government agreement-in-principle were completed on May 17, 2003. The GNWT Chief negotiator, along with the chief negotiators for Deline and the Government of Canada, plan to initial the agreement-in-principle at a ceremony in Deline later this month. Following that, the GNWT, Deline and the Government of Canada plan to formally sign the Deline self-government agreement-in-principle in the summer, setting the stage for final agreement negotiations.

Mr. Speaker, this agreement-in-principle is another expression of this government's support for implementation of the aboriginal inherent right of self-government in the NWT. It will form the basis for the first self-government agreement in the NWT at the community or district level. It proposes the creation of a government that will represent and serve all residents of Deline, while protecting a role for the Dene and Metis of Deline.

The agreement-in-principle describes the potential law-making authority of the Deline First Nation government over a number of territorial-type jurisdictions and clarifies the ongoing relationship between the Deline government, the GNWT and Canada.

Mr. Speaker, with formal approval of the agreement-in-principle, the parties can continue the hard work of concluding a final agreement. I would ask Members to join me in extending congratulations to the three chief negotiators; Fred Talen for the GNWT, Danny Gaudet of Deline and Kevan Flood for Canada, and to their negotiating teams, for a job well done. Most importantly, I would like to congratulate the people of Deline for achieving this important and historic milestone. Mahsi Cho, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Mahsi, Mr. Minister. Item 2, Ministers' statements. The honourable Member for Nunakput, Mr. Steen.

Vince Steen

Vince Steen Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize the excellent work of the emergency personnel from the town of Hay River and the Hay River Reserve during the flood of the Hay River, which occurred in both communities beginning on April 30th.

I visited both communities on May 1st, where I met with evacuated residents and viewed the damage caused by flooding. Seeing the affected areas in the West Channel area on Vale Island and in the Old Village on the reserve, showed me the difficult situation emergency workers faced evacuating the affected residents when it was realized the area would flood.

Mr. Speaker, the town and the Hay River Reserve's emergency response teams are familiar with responding to flood emergencies during the spring breakup period. However, every emergency response requires coordinated and speedy action.

Both emergency teams worked effectively together monitoring the flood, responding to the flood and organizing and carrying out the evacuation. Each community's follow-up with the residents, while they were displaced from their homes, ensured all were provided adequate emergency food and shelter.

Both communities also worked hard to assist the evacuees to recover from the flood by restoring their property to a livable state. I greatly appreciate the hard work and the concern shown by the emergency teams for ensuring the safety and comfort of the evacuees.

Mr. Speaker, emergency response work is difficult and trying. Emergency officials and volunteers must act quickly to ensure an appropriate response is mounted against every threat or situation. The threat that was posed by the flood required fast action on the part of both emergency response teams to keep residents safe.

Mr. Speaker, I have written to Mayor McNeill and to Chief Fabian to personally acknowledge the good work of their community emergency response teams.

---Applause

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Item 2, Ministers' statements. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Ootes.

Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as announced in the House last week, I attended a joint federal/provincial/territorial meeting of the Council of Ministers of Education and the Forum of Labour Market Ministers with the Honourable Jane Stewart, Minister of Human Resources Development Canada. Our meetings were held in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where I was joined by my colleague, MLA Steven Nitah.

This was an especially timely meeting for our territory. The focus of discussions centered on how governments can strengthen their priorities and ensure that Canadians are well educated and prepared to take their place in the global economy.

Ministers recognized that while people are our greatest resource, we need to focus our efforts to strengthen post-secondary education and labour market training. To do this, Ministers discussed the need for a cooperative approach with the federal government to secure additional financial resources.

As Members are aware, my department has been working with the federal government to secure financial resources to expand human resource development in the NWT. Mr. Speaker, this need is not going unnoticed in other areas of the country. In fact, the Minister of Education in New Brunswick made the comment during last week's meeting that the territories must have a more supportive financial arrangement with the federal government. It appears our message is getting through.

In Halifax, Mr. Nitah and I had the opportunity to meet with Minister Stewart. During this meeting, we were able to discuss the proposals placed before her department on oil/gas and mining training human resource development. Members will recall that these two proposals, requesting a federal investment of some $25 million over five years, were developed and submitted in partnership with various agencies, industry and aboriginal governments.

Minister Stewart was very familiar with these proposals and the need for significant investment in the NWT. During our discussions, she identified the recent federal government commitment of $25 million over two years for aboriginal skills and employment programs. While the amount of $25 million is allotted for the entire country, it is not unreasonable, after our meeting with Minister Stewart, to assume the NWT will receive a portion of this funding.

Minister Stewart advised us that any projects approved for funding must be results oriented and targeted to those groups where the need is the greatest. This expectation is not a problem for us. We have a mine training committee in place that offers training for guaranteed job placements for successful participants. As well, we can demonstrate results in our oil and gas sector.

Mr. Speaker, in anticipation of this federal commitment, I have directed my deputy minister, Dr. Loretta Foley, to continue working with HRDC and the mine training committee to ensure success in these collaborative training initiatives.

While these developments are indeed good news, Mr. Speaker, I want to stress that this is not the end, but rather the beginning. As a Legislature, we must continue to press the federal government for continued, ongoing and multi-year investments in this extremely important area. I look forward to keeping the House informed of our progress, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

---Applause

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Item 2, Ministers' statements. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Antoine.

Minister's Statement 54-14(6): Diamond Roundtable
Item 2: Ministers' Statements

Page 864

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, last month, I attended the National Roundtable on Canada's Diamond Industry hosted and organized by the Honourable Herb Dhaliwal, federal Minister of Natural Resources Canada.

The roundtable brought together representatives from the diamond industry, federal, provincial and territorial governments to discuss the potential economic and social contributions of the industry to Canada from now until 2015.

Mr. Speaker, I believe this roundtable is a good indication that our efforts to raise the profile and issues associated with diamonds with the federal government are bearing fruit.

The Honourable Robert Nault, Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs and the Minister of State, Honourable Ethel Blondin-Andrew, also attended the roundtable.

Diamond industry representation included exploration companies, mining companies, cutters and polishers, jewellery manufacturers and retailers from across Canada.

Delegates to the roundtable participated in a number of workshops addressing a number of issues facing the diamond industry in Canada. These include valuation, security, marketing of rough diamonds, marketing of polished diamonds, labour force development, business opportunities for aboriginal people and financing.

Observations, conclusions and recommendations were developed. One recommendation dealt with increasing cooperation among governments and industry to develop a skilled labour force, build aboriginal business capacity and ensure coordination, harmonization and financing of activities to build sustainable activities.

Another recommendation dealt with encouraging industry growth through changes to the existing tax structure and the importance of developing systems to maintain the credibility/integrity of the industry.

Delegates also agreed that infrastructure needs in remote northern areas need to be assessed. There was clear support for taking advantage of opportunities to market Canadian diamonds and industry expertise.

A complete report will be tabled at the upcoming federal/provincial/territorial Mines Ministers' conference in September.

Mr. Speaker, while this roundtable is a step forward in identifying issues and opportunities, we must continue to press the federal government and industry to take action. We cannot allow the momentum created by the roundtable to be wasted.

Our government will continue to move forward on the issue of labour force development. We will continue to work with the departments of Immigration and Human Resource Development Canada to develop a plan to address the needs of the diamond industry in the Northwest Territories.

I have also offered to host the next national roundtable on Canada's diamond industry. This will ensure that Northerners, and all Canadians, are able to explore the benefits and opportunities from the development of our natural resources. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Minister's Statement 54-14(6): Diamond Roundtable
Item 2: Ministers' Statements

Page 864

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Mahsi, Mr. Minister. Item 2, Ministers' statements. The honourable Member for Nunakput, Mr. Steen.

Minister's Statement 55-14(5): Safe Drinking Water
Item 2: Ministers' Statements

Page 865

Vince Steen

Vince Steen Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as a result of the tragic events in Walkerton, Ontario and North Battleford, Saskatchewan, governments across the country have focused on reviewing and improving the systems they have in place to provide safe drinking water to their residents. This government is no different.

While the front line for provision of safe drinking water is the local community government, a number of territorial departments also play a part. Health and Social Services establishes the health standards and monitors the quality of drinking water. Municipal and Community Affairs provides financial resources for reconstruction and operation of community water systems and provides operator training through the School of Community Government.

Public Works and Services provides technical support for the construction and operation of water system infrastructure. Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development contributes to the protection of our water sources. Together, the departments developed and in June 2001, received Cabinet approval for the safe drinking water initiative.

Under this initiative, the departments have completed a review of the roles and responsibilities the various organizations and agencies involved in the NWT drinking water system. They have completed inspections and assessment of all water treatment facilities in all non-tax-based communities with the exception of those where facility upgrades are already underway. They are nearing completion of a good engineering practices manual to guide the design and construction of northern drinking water and sewer systems. They have created a data base of drinking water test results and made those results available online at the Public Works and Services web site.

Municipal and Community Affairs is providing five training and certification courses this year for community water system operators in the communities of Hay River, Fort Simpson, Norman Wells, Fort Smith and Yellowknife. Public Works and Services is providing onsite training and technical support to communities delivering water services. Health and Social Services is monitoring community drinking water quality test results to identify and address potential problems. Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development is working with the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment in updating and developing national water quality guidelines to protect the sources of our drinking water.

Pilot testing of membrane filtration technology has been undertaken to develop cost-effective treatment methods for water plants. Projects are currently in the planning and design stage for Rae-Edzo, Tsiigehtchic, Colville Lake and Fort Good Hope. All these efforts are enforcing a water supply system that is blessed with good quality water sources and a lack of agriculture pressure such as those that contribute to the problems in Ontario and Saskatchewan.

Recent media reports might lead you to believe there are problems with the NWT drinking water. This is not the case. The system is working. However, we cannot take the safety of our drinking water for granted. We all have a role to play, whether it is to protect the community water sources from contamination, providing effective treatment processes, or as local building owners who have a responsibility to clean their water storage tanks.

Significant improvements have been made to the NWT water system over the past few years and it is working effectively to provide safe drinking water to residents. Health and Social Services, MACA, Public Works and Services and RWED are continuing to look at the structure of the NWT drinking water system to identify areas that can be further strengthened. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Minister's Statement 55-14(5): Safe Drinking Water
Item 2: Ministers' Statements

Page 865

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Any further Minister's statements? Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Nitah.

Challenges Of Education In The Nwt
Item 3: Members' Statements

June 8th, 2003

Page 865

Steven Nitah Tu Nedhe

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it is certainly a pleasure to be back in the chamber after a brief absence. As Mr. Ootes indicated, I just returned from a Council of Ministers of Education conference in Halifax last week. I feel that the North's active participation in these national planning and strategy conferences are essential to education in the North and Canada, if we are to meet the human resources requirements that will make this country one of the best places to live for years to come, Mr. Speaker. Certainly that's a challenge for us here in the North.

Mr. Speaker, this school year there will be two students graduating from Grade 12 in my riding. I am happy to announce that Roland Catholique from Lutselk'e and Amy Miersch from Fort Resolution are graduating from Grade 12 this year. I am pleased to see these individuals persevere and become role models for others in their communities. I would like to thank them and their families for supporting them.

Mr. Speaker, we still have a long ways to go towards improving our education system. We need a system that balances putting the onus on students and families, providing better infrastructure and a system of education that can be delivered at the same standards that we find in our capital and regional centres in the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, I have been working with Minister Ootes for the last three years on the educational issues in my riding, to address inefficiencies in the delivery of these programs and services. I would like to thank the Minister for his commitment the last few years and towards that end, Mr. Speaker, I have been informed that we will have five graduates coming out of my riding next year and that's a great improvement from the last three years. I would like to thank the Minister and the staff at the schools in Lutselk'e and Fort Resolution for making that happen, but we have a long way to go and I hope that we can improve on these five by at least 100 percent in the following years. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Challenges Of Education In The Nwt
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 865

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Nitah. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.

Tribute To The Late Mike Zubko
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 865

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to pay tribute to the grandfather of northern aviation, the late Mike Zubko, former resident of the Mackenzie Delta, Aklavik and Inuvik. This weekend, Mr. Speaker, Mike Zubko was inducted into the Aviation Hall of Fame in Halifax.

He started his career in the North in 1942 with Canadian Pacific, flying into remote communities in the Northwest Territories and the Beaufort-Delta. In 1947, with experience as a mechanic and pilot, he started his own business based out of Aklavik, called Aklavik Flying Service. With a single engine, two-seater aircraft, he flew out of Aklavik, which was the only scheduled aircraft for year-round service. Previously the only service was through Canadian Pacific.

Mike Zubko changed the history of northern aviation. He was the first to offer service north of the Arctic Circle, even though that meant venturing into unmapped territory with no technical or communication support services.

Mike Zubko saved the lives of many people across the North, by providing the first northern medevac service that became essential during the late 1940s with the measles epidemic. In the 1950s, Dawn Smith was the first nurse to be posted in Fort McPherson, and later married Mike Zubko and raised six children. They later moved to Inuvik and Aklavik.

Mike Zubko was highly respected throughout the region and he will always be known for his kind-heartedness. He played a key role in putting Inuvik on the map, and in 1959 the town opened its first airport which is now known as the Mike Zubko Air Terminal, which is greatly recognized by such a distinguished person.

Fifty years later, his son Tom joined his father in the aviation field, and they worked together until Mike retired in 1985. After retiring, Mike Zubko remained grounded to the aviation field. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

Tribute To The Late Mike Zubko
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 866

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you. The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his Member's statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays, Mr. Krutko, you may conclude your statement.

Tribute To The Late Mike Zubko
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 866

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. After retiring, Mr. Mike Zubko remained grounded in the aviation field. He sat on the federal Civil Aviation Tribunal, and was a member of the Northwest Territories Workers' Compensation Board.

The late Mike Zubko passed away in the fall of 1990. His widow Dawn and his family members were present this weekend to see the distinguished honour which is laid upon him by being inducted into the Aviation Hall of Fall in Halifax. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Tribute To The Late Mike Zubko
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 866

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

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

Alarming Impacts Of Breast Cancer
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 866

Paul Delorey

Paul Delorey Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to focus on what unfortunately continues to be a recurring health problem that affects far too many women in Hay River. Mr. Speaker, the health problem that I am referring to is the large number of women in Hay River who suffer from the ravaging effects of breast cancer. I am pleased to report, Mr. Speaker, that a number of women have gone on to beat this insidious form of cancer, but we have had to bury far too many women in Hay River as a result of breast cancer.

Mr. Speaker, while I was compiling research on the subject of breast cancer, I came across some very alarming statistics. In 2003, an estimated 21,200 women in Canada will be diagnosed with breast cancer, and 5,300 women will die of this disease. On average, 407 Canadian women will be diagnosed with breast cancer every week, and 102 Canadian women will die of breast cancer every week. In addition, breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in Canada in women today.

Mr. Speaker, I know from speaking to a number of Hay River women that the incidence of breast cancer amongst the Hay River women appears to be alarmingly high. I know of women in Hay River, Mr. Speaker, whose breast cancer went undetected for over a year. In this day and age that should not be allowed to happen, Mr. Speaker. Early detection of breast cancer is key to being able to successfully diagnose and treat this disease.

Mr. Speaker, I believe that it is imperative given the high incidence of breast cancer among women in Hay River, that a mammogram machine be placed in Hay River. In this way, early detection could take place for women throughout the South Slave region.

Mr. Speaker, the point was raised to me by a constituent of mine who is a breast cancer survivor. She stated that the cost to the Department of Health and Social Services for flying her back and forth from Hay River to Edmonton for her cancer treatments could have gone a long way towards paying for a mammography machine in Hay River. Mr. Speaker, we, as elected representatives, are very much aware of our fiscal situation in the Northwest Territories. However, I don't think that you can put a price on saving a life, as this machine would most certainly do. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Alarming Impacts Of Breast Cancer
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 866

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Delorey. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee.

Seniors' "walk For Memories" In Yellowknife
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 866

Sandy Lee

Sandy Lee Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this past Saturday I joined the members of the Yellowknife Seniors' Society and the Alberta Alzheimer's Society NWT Chapter for a Walk for Memory. The weather didn't cooperate with us, but the importance of this cause and the urgency did not go unnoticed.

As has been mentioned many times in the House, Mr. Speaker, the need for a facility that would provide programs and services for the elders who are inflicted with Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia is becoming urgent. I understand that the Minister has a proposal from the Yellowknife Association for Concerned Citizens for Seniors to expand the Avens Seniors' Centre to accommodate this need, and I would like him and the government to give this serious consideration and find a way to work with YACCS to see this proposal become a reality.

Mr. Speaker, the proposal is sound and it will not cost the government extra money. It's about having the vision and foresight to spend the dollars wisely, and I believe it speaks very strongly to the need for the government to work cooperatively and in partnership with community groups like YACCS to serve the section of the population who is most vulnerable, as well as their families.

The facts are very compelling, Mr. Speaker. The annual growth rate of seniors in the NWT is high at eight percent, higher than any other parts of Canada. By 2012, we will have 2,635 seniors. In 20 years, we will have 4,600 seniors. Sixty-five percent of seniors will be aboriginal and many are moving to Yellowknife to be closer to their families. We also know that one out of every three Canadians over 80 years of age is affected by Alzheimer's disease, and twice as many women as men have it. Currently, Mr. Speaker, 58 percent of all residents in long-term care facilities in the NWT have some form of dementia. A significant portion of that are in moderate to advanced stages.

Mr. Speaker, these numbers should steer us in the right direction. We will need to take care of these elders and a hospital setting is not the answer. It costs a lot more money and it doesn't give the elders the respect and quality of life that they deserve while living with this affliction, and we cannot continue to place all the burden on the families and on facilities not designed for this purpose. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Seniors' "walk For Memories" In Yellowknife
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 867

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

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

Commercial Fishing Authority On Great Slave Lake
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 867

Michael McLeod

Michael McLeod Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the issue of commercial fishing on Great Slave Lake has become a concern of many constituents in my riding. Firstly, Mr. Speaker, there appears to be no process for consultation, other than through the Great Slave Lake Advisory Council. As a result, communities in my riding do not appear to be consulted, nor is information getting back from the representatives sitting on the advisory council. People are questioning who is responsible for ensuring proper consultation with communities having claim to the lake's resources. Who is responsible for enforcement with respect to harvesting, and are current enforcement capabilities sufficient? Who is responsible for the overall management of the lake's resources, and does management include aboriginal participation? Is there a long-term management plan in place? Are there closed seasons for protection of fish during spawning? These are some of the questions being asked in the communities for which answers are required.

Mr. Speaker, I recognize that the Great Slave Commercial Fishery has been operating for many years, however the reality is that the aboriginal people have rights to resources and management of those resources in traditional territories. Although the Deh Cho process and other claims are not settled, this does not eliminate the territorial or federal governments' responsibility to consult with and include those communities in the management of the lake and the resources being harvested.

Mr. Speaker, when we hear about the closure of the cod fishery on the East Coast and Nunavut's concern with the allocation of the shrimp quotas, this government should also be concerned with our commercial fishery and the impact of the mismanagement of its resources.

Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for the Minister of RWED during question period. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Commercial Fishing Authority On Great Slave Lake
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 867

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

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