This is page numbers 1191 - 1224 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 going.

Topics

Members Present

Honourable Brendan Bell, Mr. Braden, Honourable Paul Delorey, Honourable Charles Dent, Mrs. Groenewegen, Honourable Joe Handley, Mr. Hawkins, Honourable David Krutko, Ms. Lee, Honourable Michael McLeod, Mr. McLeod, Mr. Menicoche, Honourable Michael Miltenberger, Mr. Pokiak, Mr. Ramsay, Honourable Floyd Roland, Mr. Villeneuve, Mr. Yakeleya, Mr. Zoe

---Prayer

Item 1: Prayer
Item 1: Prayer

Page 1191

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Good afternoon, colleagues. Happy Valentine's Day to all of you, especially to the Members from out of town who may not be at home with their favourite valentine this evening, including yours truly. Orders of the day. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. The Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee.

National Childcare Program
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1191

Sandy Lee

Sandy Lee Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to speak in favour of the National Childcare Program. Mr. Speaker, I am very excited about the debate going on across the country that has put this issue on top of the national agenda. This is long overdue, and I strongly urge the federal government and all provincial and territorial governments, including this government, to apply all of their energy and commitment necessary to make this happen once and for all.

Mr. Speaker, a recent survey has shown that, in Canada, more than 50 percent of children are taken care of by a person or persons other than their own parents; a huge jump in only a very short time. I venture to say that the percentage is even higher in a city like Yellowknife where the cost of living is very high and most families cannot afford to not have a double income and where most families do not have extended families to rely on for childcare needs.

Mr. Speaker, over the years, I have heard from my constituents and women of my generation about the need for the government to step in and give the working parents a financial break with the high cost of raising their children, whether they choose to do it themselves or obtain the service of others. I believe that any national childcare program must have appropriate flexibility for families to make the choices that work for them. Whatever this works out to be, it has to be one that puts in place good quality early child education, not just a babysitting service at a basic minimum level. In the end, Mr. Speaker, I really believe this is about our society making it clear once and for all that we really value the importance of good early education for all of our children that we, as a society -- whether it is done by parents staying at home or by those who we pay to do it -- value the work of childcare because it is about our children and their future. The work of childcare and those who do it have been undervalued and underappreciated by the governments for too long, and it is time now to say no more, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I really see much opportunity for this in the North as well. I am sure Minister Dent and the Cabinet see it as well. We need to implement a spectrum of quality early childcare education that begins as early as...Mr. Speaker, may I seek unanimous consent to finish my statement?

National Childcare Program
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1191

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

The Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude her statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. You may conclude your statement, Ms. Lee.

National Childcare Program
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1191

Sandy Lee

Sandy Lee Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. May I just conclude by saying that I really see this debate as an opportunity for all of us in the North. It is an opportunity to implement a spectrum of quality early childcare education that begins at the age of one, not at the age of five, so that we give our children a real head start in life. There is just no more important work for us to do. In closing, Mr. Speaker, I know that Minister Ken Dryden is a huge hero to the hockey fans all across Canada, but, oh boy, if he could score this one in the net, I know he will be a hero to all Canadians for ever and ever. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

National Childcare Program
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1191

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

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

Secondary Diamond Industry
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1191

David Ramsay

David Ramsay Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I am again going to use my Member's statement to talk about diamonds and the future of our secondary industry here in the Northwest Territories.

The Northwest Territories, as most of us know, produces 14 percent of the world's total production of diamonds by value. Our diamonds place Canada at number three in the world in terms of production by value. We have the diamonds. We must continue to forge ahead, trying to get all that we can for the economy and for the future of the Northwest Territories. I am still trying to understand why this government stood by and watched a deal to save Sirius go off the tracks. I would suggest, Mr. Speaker, that it is tantamount to leaving the scene of an accident. The GNWT stood by and watched the train wreck unfold. I believe that BHP has reneged on all of its implied or specific obligations and undertakings to the Northwest Territories with respect to the secondary industry. It has never supplied the 10 percent share of its productions that it was committed to, often under the false excuse that the buying company did not have the financial wherewithal to complete the transaction.

The Sirius factory had initially negotiated a 5,000 carat monthly supply which was agreed to, but subsequently, that was unilaterally decreased to 2,500 carats a month by

the producer. The people of the Northwest Territories cannot and should not accept this behaviour by the diamond mines. One would have expected that the mines would be interested in maintaining a good working relationship with the Government of the Northwest Territories. I see us as partners in trying to develop the secondary industry here. No one is asking the producers to give away their diamonds. They have only been asked to sell diamonds to manufacturers who want to be here doing business in the Northwest Territories. Mr. Leviev wanted to be here, and now he won't be. We are going to be paying a heavy price for it. It would seem clear that the producers here in the Northwest Territories are not interested in a successful secondary industry. Why does BHP Billiton charge local manufacturers some five to six percent higher prices for the goods in Yellowknife than they charge in Antwerp for comparable sales?

Mr. Speaker, I know I asked the Finance Minister questions on this topic last week. At the appropriate time on today's order paper, I will have some specific questions for the Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development. Thank you.

---Applause

Secondary Diamond Industry
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1192

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Inuvik, Twin Lakes, Mr. McLeod.

Need For Rental Controls
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1192

Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Later today, at the appropriate time, I will be tabling, on behalf of the residents of Inuvik, a petition related to the need for improved rent control legislation to protect the residents of the Northwest Territories from unreasonable rental increases. Our economy is booming, particularly in Inuvik and Yellowknife. With the boom, the price of rental accommodation is rising on an annual basis. Some of these increases are for legitimate things like power and electricity costs, but some increases, Mr. Speaker, seem to be only to take advantage of an over-stimulated economy. One of the problems is that as rental rates rise more and more, the working people will have a problem in making their rent payments and may have to rely on the social safety network.

Mr. Speaker, for this reason and for others, I urge the Department of Justice to examine the Residential Tenancy Act and make sure that it protects tenants from unreasonable rent increases while ensuring that landlords have the ability to recover their costs. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Need For Rental Controls
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1192

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.

NWT Housing Corporation Rent Scale
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1192

Kevin A. Menicoche

Kevin A. Menicoche Nahendeh

Mr. Speaker, today I want to talk to you about the Housing Corporation mortgage guidelines. They aren't making sense. I think it is time the Housing Corporation reviews them. Mortgage within the Housing Corporation is based on income. If your income goes up, your mortgage goes up. A constituent of mine has a mortgage with the Housing Corporation. Last year, the constituent was fortunate enough to receive an arts grant of $5,000 from this government, Mr. Speaker. This raised her income and her mortgage went up. My constituent went out and used the grant money to buy art supplies related to her art project; it wasn't used to supplement her income. The next year the Housing Corporation raises the mortgage and the grant money has all been spent. Now my constituent is deeper in the hole than before she got the grant.

Why is this government giving with one hand and taking with the other? Mortgages from the Housing Corporation should come with little warning signs, like cigarette packages, that say, "Warning, this mortgage may be detrimental to your financial health."

Furthermore, Mr. Speaker, if you own your own business, the better the business does, the higher your mortgage goes up. I have to wonder what incentive is there to work harder and try to make a better life for yourself in this country and territory. The higher your income, the more money the federal government will take and if you have a Housing Corporation mortgage, your mortgage will climb higher too.

Mr. Speaker, with these guidelines, isn't the Housing Corporation saying to people sit home on your hands and keep your income low, because the more money you earn the higher your mortgage will go? That is a real disincentive, Mr. Speaker, and that is real shame, because we all know that active, well-employed people make better lifestyle choices and, as a consequence, make better contributions to their community.

NWT Housing Corporation Rent Scale
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1192

Some Hon. Members

Hear! Hear!

NWT Housing Corporation Rent Scale
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1192

Kevin A. Menicoche

Kevin A. Menicoche Nahendeh

In honour of Valentine's Day, Mr. Speaker, I'm asking the government to have a heart.

NWT Housing Corporation Rent Scale
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1192

Some Hon. Members

Have a heart.

NWT Housing Corporation Rent Scale
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1192

Kevin A. Menicoche

Kevin A. Menicoche Nahendeh

It is time both the government and the Housing Corporation reviewed their financial policies and guidelines. Happy Valentine's Day and thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

NWT Housing Corporation Rent Scale
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1192

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.

Cultural Awareness Training For Teachers
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1192

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Many teachers who are new to the North get off to a very rough start in our northern communities, because they do not understand our northern culture. This is a highly stressful situation for them, Mr. Speaker, and it's often very disruptive to the community and the students-at-large. It prevents teachers from developing a relationship with parents, students in the community, and the general wellbeing of everyone, which causes a serious effect on the work that needs to be done. This is a highly negative situation that we need to learn from very quickly and to change.

Mr. Speaker, at present, there is no cross-cultural training program provided to the teachers by our government in

the communities. District education authorities and councils take on this task by themselves. This needs to be a government project led by the government in a way that we can ensure that our southern hires, although that sometimes has to happen, get cultural training for our northern people. We need this done.

Mr. Speaker, our government doesn't provide funding to district education councils directly related to funding to ensure that these teachers get cultural awareness training. Mr. Speaker, later this afternoon, I will have questions for the Minister appropriate with regard to implementing cultural training, not unlike the Government of the Yukon does as well as the Government of Alaska does to ensure that their teachers teach their students appropriately. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Cultural Awareness Training For Teachers
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1193

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Nunakput, Mr. Pokiak.

Recognition Of Nunakput Residents
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1193

Calvin Pokiak

Calvin Pokiak Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would just like to wish my wife, Mrs. Pokiak, back home all the best for Valentine's Day, along with my family. It's really tough being away from home, but we are down here working for the people and representing people of the NWT and our constituents.

I got a call this morning, Mr. Speaker, with regard to a long-time resident of Holman, requesting that I recognize Mr. Gary Bristow, the former mayor of Holman. They will be recognizing him with a supper tonight. On behalf of the people in Holman, Gary Bristow, we wish you the best of luck in the future.

Also, as the Premier said on Friday, Mr. Speaker, I would also like to recognize Mr. Andy Carpenter, Sr., who has done outstanding work for the Inuvialuit, both in negotiating for C.O.P.E. with regard to the environment and wildlife. Mr. Carpenter deserves something very special and I wish him well in his endeavours. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Recognition Of Nunakput Residents
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1193

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Pokiak. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Braden.

Resource Revenue Sharing
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1193

Bill Braden

Bill Braden Great Slave

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. A brand new day, this is what Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Danny Williams is proclaiming today.

During the ceremonies that were held earlier today, Mr. Speaker, to sign a new resource deal between his province and Ottawa, Prince Edward Island was also involved in that same historic deal, Mr. Speaker. After weeks of contentious debate, this province, Newfoundland and Labrador, is going to get $2 billion. Over the next eight years, they are going to be able to keep every dollar of their potentially enormous wealth coming off of their offshore energy fields. Mr. Speaker, they are going to escape the dreaded clawback from Ottawa and they will even get to keep the coveted safety net of equalization payments if their economy falters. It's a great deal for Newfoundland and Labrador and Prince Edward Island, Mr. Speaker, a bold and progressive step by the Prime Minister in recognizing the right and duty that each province has to protect their own resources.

How familiar this all sounds, for here we are in the NWT like those other two provinces watching billions of dollars, our legacy, shipped out of the NWT in the diamond packets and the oil and gas pipelines while Ottawa returns a paltry eight percent to us. Ottawa stands to reap billions from our lands over the next two decades. We are told that the Prime Minister understands our plight and that there are talks underway to redo the formula financing agreement and get a framework deal in place for resource revenue sharing by this spring.

I am concerned, Mr. Speaker, that with just about every other province now jumping on the bandwagon and declaring their demands for the same thing, that our situation is going to be left behind again in the face of overwhelming demands from other provinces.

On Friday, Mr. Speaker, the Premier said we must have a resource revenue sharing agreement in place before the pipeline is completed. I want to put my faith in the Premier and the Prime Minister to deliver, but we have a very brief time to make this work. In failing this, I am absolutely committed to supporting the words of our Premier in our interest for resource sharing. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Resource Revenue Sharing
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1193

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Property Assessment And Taxation Act
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1193

Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Property Assessment and Taxation Act is nearly 20 years old. A lot has happened in our territory since the act was passed in 1987. Land claim agreements have been signed, we've divided from Nunavut and there's been a tremendous surge in resource development with much more on the horizon. The Property Assessment and Taxation Act has not kept pace with these changes with our policy goals or with best practices across the country.

In the last few years, there seems to have been a general consensus that it needs to be rewritten and updated. There have been band-aid amendments from time to time to deal with specific issues, but the act has never been revisited. In March of last year, I welcomed indications to the Committee of the Whole that MACA would be doing a full review of the act.

Like other taxation legislation, PATA, as it's called, is a policy instrument. It needs to be designed to complement our view on things like what school and community programs and infrastructure we want to have and how we would pay for it, what share industry, small businesses and residents should pay and what defines agricultural land assessment and which sectors of our economy need a break so they can grow to their potential.

There was a need to bring clarity to the process of assessing larger parcels of land within the NWT, especially lands related to agriculture. Practically speaking, it needs to be written in a way that allows taxpayers and administrators to make sense of it. Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time today, I will be asking the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, for an update on this important initiative. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Property Assessment And Taxation Act
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1194

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.