This is page numbers 1715 - 1769 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 housing.

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

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The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Good afternoon, colleagues. Before we begin the business of the day, I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge a special day for some of our Members. It happens to be the birthday of the Member for Range Lake, Sandy Lee.

---Applause

We also have another birthday in the House, the Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, Mr. Robert McLeod.

---Applause

Orders of the day. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Villeneuve.

Robert Villeneuve

Robert Villeneuve Tu Nedhe

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to try to raise a little more awareness in this House about this government's human resource activity and the direction it's heading.

Mr. Speaker, the 4,000 plus public servants that the GNWT employs are good people who are committed to serving the public and we must be grateful for all the good work they perform every day. Yet, because less than one out of every three of our government employees is aboriginal, we are not coming close to achieving the goal of this government's affirmative action policy which clearly states that this policy reflects the GNWT's commitment to a competent public service that is representative of the population it serves.

In one report in a local newspaper, Mr. Speaker, it was stated that for adult aboriginal persons in the NWT, the total employment rate is only 53 percent; whereas, for all others, the rate of employment is 83 percent. This is a concern for me, Mr. Speaker.

The population of the NWT is 50 percent aboriginal, yet, according to the most current report of our affirmative action policy, only 31 percent of our territorial government employees are aboriginal and only 13 percent of all GNWT employees in Yellowknife are aboriginal. So basically one in three of our employees is aboriginal where one in two of our people in the NWT are aboriginal.

To retain the current levels, if we are content with the situation, for every three new hires, one would have to be aboriginal just to keep in pace, Mr. Speaker. However, according to an affirmative action report, only one out of every four persons hired or transferred are affirmative action candidates. Mr. Speaker, we already have less than the representative number of aboriginals on our GNWT workforce and having as a percentage many more non-aboriginals being hired each year, within 16 years the GNWT would have a totally non-aboriginal workforce.

Now we can and should take this perspective with a grain of salt because, as Mr. Twain said, "There are lies, damn lies, and then there are statistics."

---Laughter

Regardless of how we view this, surely we can all agree that this situation cannot continue.

Mr. Speaker, prior to 1995, this government had a Department of Personnel. That department was responsible for the affirmative action policy. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

The Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays, Mr. Villeneuve. You may conclude.

Robert Villeneuve

Robert Villeneuve Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. Mr. Speaker, prior to 1995, this government had a Department of Personnel. That department was responsible for the affirmative action policy. Since then, each department has been responsible for its own recruitment. I have no doubt that each department is working to the best of its ability to hire a representative workforce, but clearly this is not enough and a more concerted effort must be made. We must not let the situation continue whereby our workforce is less and less representative of our population every year. There is no mention in the budget about this situation and it is getting worse. We need to address this trend and find ways to turn this situation around before it spirals out of control. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Kam Lake, Mr. Ramsay.

Alarming NWT Crime Rates
Item 3: Members' Statements

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David Ramsay

David Ramsay Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my Member's statement today is about crime in the Northwest Territories. According to an RCMP report that came out in 2001, the Northwest Territories was 27 positions short of having enough staff to address its policing needs.

The Minister of Finance recently announced in his budget address that the government would be allocating an additional $1.4 million for 10 new RCMP positions to address the shortfall. To meet the target outlined in the

2001 report, the department will provide additional financing for more positions again next year. But, Mr. Speaker, six years have passed since the report was written. Even if we meet the targets set in 2001, crime has continued to rise and it's only getting worse. We would be na‹ve to think there won't be an increase associated with the potential pipeline development, and here in the city, endemic use of crack cocaine has had an exponential impact on the incidence of crime. Resources, Mr. Speaker, are just not keeping up.

Mr. Speaker, from 2001 to 2003, the last year for which crime statistics are available, incidents of crime have increased territory-wide by almost 25 percent. In Yellowknife, for the same period, crime increased by 21 percent. The headlines from the Yellowknife's biweekly crime report indicate there has been no slowdown. From December 27th to January 9th, 624 complaints to police, 18 break-and-enters, 40 incidents of common assault and another three assaults with a weapon. January 10th to 23rd, 427 calls to police, 16 break-and-enters, 42 assaults and one assault with a weapon. January 25th to February 7th, 366 calls, 27 assaults, three assaults with weapons. February 8th to 21st, 406 calls, five break-and-enters, 20 common assaults and five assaults with weapons.

Mr. Speaker, in 2003, again the last year for which stats are available, the situation in the Northwest Territories for all incidents of crime is well over four times the national average. Incidents of impaired driving are five times the national average. Incidents of sexual assault are six times the national average. Incidents of crimes of violence, as a whole, are well over seven times the national average. I find these statistics absolutely shocking, Mr. Speaker, and I hope that Members sitting on the other side of this House are paying close attention.

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

Alarming NWT Crime Rates
Item 3: Members' Statements

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The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

The Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays, Mr. Ramsay. You may conclude.

Alarming NWT Crime Rates
Item 3: Members' Statements

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David Ramsay

David Ramsay Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. An increase to policing is one way to get a handle on crime. Another way is to ensure there are hefty penalties to act as deterrents. Unfortunately, I do not see either. I was appalled at the two-year conditional sentence recently handed down to the Yellowknife man convicted of sexually abusing his young daughter for nearly a decade. What does a sentence like this say, Mr. Speaker? We are sending the wrong message to criminals. Mr. Speaker, I implore this government to make crime prevention a top priority. We must do more to get a handle on the crime around us. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Alarming NWT Crime Rates
Item 3: Members' Statements

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The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

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

Police Resources In Small Communities
Item 3: Members' Statements

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Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, what would it take to wake up the RCMP at headquarters here in Yellowknife or the Department of Justice to get full-time officers in small communities in the North? Do we need to revive the Community Constable Program, Mr. Speaker? I read in the Yellowknifer newspaper yesterday, Wednesday, March 2, 2005, Police go Back to Schoolyard, and heard on the CBC special report at 7:15 a.m. this morning about the same subject and noted it with interest.

Mr. Speaker, any type of violent incidents and the protection of the safety of the public is a real concern, especially when children are involved. Mr. Speaker, I thank God that no one was physically hurt. Mr. Speaker, what do we have to do to have the added push to have full-time officers or the some type of police presence in those communities where there is none? We have 11 communities, Mr. Speaker, in the Northwest Territories without full-time RCMP officers. However, we have a full-time officer dedicated to 11 schools in Yellowknife. Mr. Speaker, in the newspaper, it was noted that a personnel increase in the Yellowknife detachment of the RCMP would like to have two full-time members in the schools in Yellowknife.

Mr. Speaker, in our small communities we have incidents that require full-time officers in our communities. However, we are told the cost of stationing them in our communities is high, and a recent voting from Labour Canada is RCMP are no longer allowed to have single-member detachments. In our smaller communities, we have RCMP officers cover from time to time in these places without RCMP members. Mr. Speaker, we are talking about entire communities -- entire communities -- that deal with alcohol abuse, violence and other criminal activities. Mr. Speaker, when will this government put full-time officers in small communities? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Police Resources In Small Communities
Item 3: Members' Statements

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The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

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

Distribution Of Police Resources
Item 3: Members' Statements

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Calvin Pokiak

Calvin Pokiak Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I listened with interest to CBC Radio this morning to the announcement that the RCMP in Yellowknife had appointed an officer to do nothing but work with schools in Yellowknife. Obviously with the community of Sachs Harbour having no regular RCMP presence, I have a fundamental problem with the logic that lead the RCMP to appoint a school liaison officer. Mr. Speaker, there are many communities in the Northwest Territories without an RCMP presence. The residents of these communities should be entitled to the same level of protection that most residents of Canada enjoy.

---Applause

I realize that it will cost money, but I believe it is a necessary expense for this government to bear. A community like Sachs Harbour that is isolated and only accessible by air should have an RCMP presence. By the time the RCMP organize a response team, charter an airplane and fly to Sachs Harbour, the question becomes whether or not they will be there in time to be of assistance in an emergency situation.

Now I know, Mr. Speaker, that the Minister of Justice will stand in this Assembly and tell us that they cannot afford to put RCMP in every community in the Northwest Territories. I know he will tell us that the recent Labour

Canada ruling directed the RCMP to have, as a minimum, a two-person detachment. What I do not know, Mr. Speaker, is what the Minister of Justice will tell the residents of Sachs Harbour when someone is hurt or killed because of a lack of RCMP presence. I will ask questions at the appropriate time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Distribution Of Police Resources
Item 3: Members' Statements

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The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

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

Effectiveness Of The Current Justice System
Item 3: Members' Statements

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Bill Braden

Bill Braden Great Slave

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I am pleased to follow my colleagues and talk about issues related to our justice system and the delivery of justice in the NWT. Mr. Speaker, one of the things that I think is fundamental to a healthy society is the ability at the community level, at levels closest to the people, to be able to deal with offenders and victims and consequences of actions by people when they do the wrong thing.

We have the opportunity here and, indeed, for a number of years we've been exercising it through community justice committees, Mr. Speaker. This kind of innovation is really not all that original. I think it's practiced in many countries around the world and it is certainly something that goes along with the principles of attaining self-government and growing the responsibility that communities and individuals need to take on with this kind of situation. We have so many repeat offenders in the Northwest Territories. Mr. Speaker. I wonder if this is a consequence of the failure in some respects of the British style of justice that we have where once offences are dealt with, the offender is taken out of the society and the places where he or she has responsibilities, put away for a little while and then returned. Then everything is deemed to be okay. Well, you know it's not. If we really are to pursue the idea of rehabilitation and restoration, the offender has to be able to take responsibility and be put into a situation where that can happen. I believe that the more effort and the more resources and the more significance we put on community justice committees and bringing the delivery and the appearance of delivering good justice at the community level, our communities will be healthier places. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Effectiveness Of The Current Justice System
Item 3: Members' Statements

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The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

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

Hay River Reserve Kamba Carnival
Item 3: Members' Statements

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Michael McLeod

Michael McLeod Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to recognize the official opening of the Kamba Carnival hosted by the Katlodeeche First Nations on the Hay River Reserve. From its modest beginning 22 years ago, the carnival has become a tremendously popular and successful event, attracting visitors from across the North from as far as away as places like Manitoba and other parts of Canada. One of the objectives of the Kamba Carnival is to foster a spirit of cross-cultural awareness. People of all ages are encouraged to test their northern skills in a variety of events for the whole family, including snowshoe races, tea boiling, axe throwing, log sawing, dog races, hand games, drum dances and talent shows. Speaking from personal experience, the Kamba Carnival is a guaranteed good time for all. I am very regretful that I am unable to be there today to help kick off the festivities. However, I would like to extend an invitation to the Members here and to northerners everywhere to come to Hay River this weekend.

Mr. Speaker, in recognizing this popular event, it's important to recognize the hard work and dedication of its organizations, the carnival committee, who work year-round to make the Kamba Carnival a success, and not only the carnival committee, but many volunteers, sponsors and supporters who help make it possible. I want to wish them another successful year. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Hay River Reserve Kamba Carnival
Item 3: Members' Statements

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The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Item 3, the honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Progressive Justice System For The Nwt
Item 3: Members' Statements

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Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am so pleased that we are having a justice theme day today. I have youth on the mind. It is so timely and relevant in light of issues that I have been dealing with in Hay River. When you consider our statistics related to justice and corrections in the North, it must be a topic of very high priority to us as a government. Mr. Speaker, I feel that we were on a course that was cutting edge and progressive with justice, but during the past few years, the system as it relates to community involvement, the Justice of the Peace program, community justice committees, elder and youth sentencing panels, traditional incarceration alternatives, we have significantly regressed. There are some things such as the Criminal Code and the Youth Criminal Justice Act, in which it may appear we have very little jurisdiction to influence. The truth, Mr. Speaker, is that these pieces of legislation do provide us with many opportunities and significant latitude to bring a made-in-the-north philosophy to bear.

We have unique realities in the North related to culture, language, tradition, values and the age of our population. We cannot build monuments to justice in which to merely warehouse our citizens who find themselves on the wrong side of the law. If we do, we had better be prepared to build bigger and more jails. We need to recognize and quantify the amount of our crime related to other problems, such as alcoholism and preventable and treatable things such as FASD. How many of our offenders incarcerated today are, in fact, victims? Mr. Speaker, we can invest on the front end in treatment, counselling, education and prevention, or we can keep dealing with the broken, devastated lives of our people. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Progressive Justice System For The Nwt
Item 3: Members' Statements

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The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for North Slave, Mr. Zoe.

Taking Action Against Crack Cocaine
Item 3: Members' Statements

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Henry Zoe

Henry Zoe North Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I want to speak about the violent impact of crack cocaine. My colleague from Kam Lake raised this issue yesterday. Today I want to join him to urge this government to do everything within its power to prevent this dangerous drug from taking hold on our communities.

Mr. Speaker, crack cocaine does not discriminate. It is as much a threat to small communities as it is to larger centres, perhaps more so. Many of the small communities in the Northwest Territories already have widespread problems associated with abuse of other substances, often starting as young as 12 or 13 years old.

Mr. Speaker, I am frightened to think what will happen if crack cocaine becomes readily available in smaller communities. It is cheap and highly addictive from the very first start. As my colleague pointed out yesterday, drug traffickers, often users themselves, have no scruples. They do not hesitate to sell, even target youth. If the thought of this makes you shudder, Mr. Speaker, it should.

Cocaine is already present in outlying communities. This morning on the CBC regional news, we learned that last week a man in Rae was arrested and charged for an unprovoked attack on a police officer causing bodily harm. He was found to be in possession of crack cocaine and marijuana. If we fail to take action, it is only a matter of time until crack cocaine devastates small communities across the Northwest Territories.

The RCMP have recently appointed a liaison officer to work in Yellowknife schools on the Drug Abuse Resistance Education Program, called the DARE program. This is a good step, but does not address the problem of drugs in the smaller communities. Drug education in schools in small communities is absolutely essential, Mr. Speaker. I urge the government to make drug education in schools a priority. Prevention, Mr. Speaker, is the only chance we have against crack cocaine.

The strategic plan of this government sets out the goal of "Healthy, educated people living in safe communities, who are able to contribute and take advantage of life's opportunities." If the government hopes to achieve this, I suggest quick action to provide more resources.

Taking Action Against Crack Cocaine
Item 3: Members' Statements

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The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Mr. Zoe, your time for your Member's statement has expired.

Taking Action Against Crack Cocaine
Item 3: Members' Statements

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Henry Zoe

Henry Zoe North Slave

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

Taking Action Against Crack Cocaine
Item 3: Members' Statements

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The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent. Are there any nays? There are no nays. You may conclude your statement, Mr. Zoe.