Debates of March 26th, 2004

This is page numbers 349 - 402 of the Hansard for the 15th Assembly, 3rd 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
Item 1: Prayer
Kids' Helpline Bowlathon
All-weather Road In The Sahtu Region
Closure Of The Paulatuk Community Freezer
Accomplishments Of Hay River Biathlete Brendan Green
49th Annual Caribou Carnival
Congratulations To Tammy Cazon On The Birth Of Her New Daughter
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
All-weather Road Connecting Sahtu
Deh Cho Bridge Project
Community Freezer Program
Waiving The Business Incentive Policy
Flat Rate Rent Scale
Highway Maintenance Priorities
GNWT Rent Scale Policies
Business Incentive Policy Discussion
Including Land Claims And Treaties In Curriculum
Benefits Of Waiving The Business Incentive Policy
Written Question 11-15(3): Statistical Data For Sahtu Schools
Bill 2: An Act To Amend The Income Tax ActBill 3: An Act To Amend The Income Tax Act, No. 2
Tabled Document 14-15(3): NWT Power Corporation 2003 Annual Report
Tabled Document 15-15(3): Public Utilities Board 2003 Annual Report
Tabled Document 16-15(3): Second Year Activities Of The Maximizing Northern Employment Strategy - March 8, 2004
Tabled Document 17-15(3): Official Voting Results Of The General Election Of The 15th Legislative Assembly
Bill 5: Tlicho Community Government Act
Bill 6: An Act To Amend The Payroll Tax Act, 1993 And The Income Tax Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Recommendation To Remove Funding For New Property Assessors From 2004-05 Main Estimates
Residential Tenancies Act
Item 21: Report Of Committee Of The Whole
Item 23: Orders Of The Day

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Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

March 26th, 2004

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Roger Allen

Roger Allen Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I want to ask the Minister of MACA a question in regard to the land titles registry. He had referred that the administrative hiccup seems to be between his department and the Department of Justice in the preparation of land disposition documents. So I am going to ask the department if they will work cooperatively with the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs to speed up the processes. The demand for land transactions has occurred in my riding. So, Mr. Chairman, I would ask the Minister if he would

commit to that administration so that we can see faster movement on the land title registries. Thank you.

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The Chair

The Chair Calvin Pokiak

Thank you, Mr. Allen. Mr. Dent.

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Charles Dent

Charles Dent Frame Lake

Mr. Chairman, yes.

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The Chair

The Chair Calvin Pokiak

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Mr. Allen. Thank you. Mr. Yakeleya.

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Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I want to ask a few more questions about the court translators and the translation that is being used in the communities. Does the Minister have some information in regard to how many translators are being used? I am speaking mostly of the Sahtu region in terms of the court parties that go through there, and how much of the translators are used in the communities, such as Deline, Fort Good Hope. I am not sure if the court goes into Colville and Tulita.

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The Chair

The Chair Calvin Pokiak

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Dent.

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Charles Dent

Charles Dent Frame Lake

Mr. Chairman, perhaps I could ask the deputy minister to answer that question.

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The Chair

The Chair Calvin Pokiak

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Mr. Cooper.

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Cooper

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. My information is in days past there used to be a group of trained court translators that were utilized considerably, but as education levels have increased and the knowledge of English, the demands for translations has dropped significantly. My understanding of what transpires now is that in any case where it is identified that translation will be required, our court personnel arrange for the best qualified interpreter they can find to accompany the court party and to provide translation on a contract basis, but it is on an as-required basis. Thank you.

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The Chair

The Chair Calvin Pokiak

Thank you, Mr. Cooper. Mr. Yakeleya.

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Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Cooper. I am not too sure if this is the time, however, about half-an-hour ago I received a message from Fort Good Hope, and my community contact informed me that yesterday one of the local members in Fort Good Hope got sworn in as an auxiliary member there, so you see an increase of the policing in the community. Either it is the powers that be of this government or just the luck of the draw, or the power of AOC, it is a good sign that we are going to see this...

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An Hon. Member

We asked for it, we got it.

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Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu

So I just wanted to let the Minister know that it is a good sign for us. I want to ask about the support for the Justice of the Peace down the valley, and what type of support does this department give to the Justices of the Peace in dollars and cents in terms of training them, and keeping them informed of the new laws and legislation, and the way they conduct their courts? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

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The Chair

The Chair Calvin Pokiak

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Dent.

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Charles Dent

Charles Dent Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, we just finished a one-week training program for the Justices of the Peace. We recently increased the hourly per diem for them. That was something that was done before they even asked for it. So we think we are being responsive. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

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The Chair

The Chair Calvin Pokiak

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Mr. Yakeleya.

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Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I believe that the government is being responsive too. So it is good move and I welcome that. Easter is coming up so maybe the Easter Bunny will come. I want to just say that. However, I have some other questions but I will wait until we move on further, Mr. Chair. Thank you.

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The Chair

The Chair Calvin Pokiak

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Villeneuve.

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Robert Villeneuve

Robert Villeneuve Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Chair. It is good to hear that the honorariums for the JPs have gone up. For my information, what is the criteria that the department uses for selecting their Justices of the Peace for the various communities? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

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The Chair

The Chair Calvin Pokiak

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Mr. Dent.

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Charles Dent

Charles Dent Frame Lake

Perhaps I could ask Mr. Cooper to do it please?

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The Chair

The Chair Calvin Pokiak

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Mr. Cooper.

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Cooper

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The eligibility requirements for becoming a Justice of the Peace are set out in the Justice of the Peace Act. I believe they involve being of the age of majority, a Canadian Citizen, no prior criminal record, and all interested parties are at liberty to apply to the Justice of the Peace Review Committee, which is comprised of one judge, and I believe someone from the Bar, and a layperson, and they make recommendations for appointments as JPs.

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The Chair

The Chair Calvin Pokiak

Thank you, Mr. Cooper. Mr. Villeneuve.

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Robert Villeneuve

Robert Villeneuve Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Chair. How much weight and consideration in the selection of these Justices of the Peace is given to community consultation and such for who the people select as their JP? Thank you.