This is page numbers 69 - 100 of the Hansard for the 15th Assembly, 4th 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 communities.

Topics

Closing Of Sleep Centre At Stanton Hospital
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 72

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker Jane Groenewegen

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

Robert Villeneuve

Robert Villeneuve Tu Nedhe

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, today I'd like to speak about some of the recent negative developments that the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board has been experiencing over the past couple of months. The federal government, as we are all aware, Madam Speaker, made a chair appointment without the consent of northerners and this government. Last April, the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board raised the issue of conflict of interest of the chair and in rebuttal the chair suspended the board operations, which could and has resulted in serious repercussions to mineral explorations in the form of jobs to northerners and potential future developments within the Northwest Territories being shelved by exploration companies, which we have already witnessed last week with the seven applications that were put on hold because of the petty quarrelling amongst many board members and the chair.

Madam Speaker, not only has the appointment of a non-northerner by the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, Andy Scott, and supported by our own MP, Ethel Blondin-Andrew, opened up some old wounds already within the unsteady

Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board and now the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board, and also now in our bureaucratically bloated regulatory regime here in the North, but the federal non-northerner appointee is now pouring salt on the wound by suspending the board's business of issuing permits in a timely manner.

Madam Speaker, all this mayhem could have been avoided had the federal government, more specifically Minister Scott and MP Blondin-Andrew, heeded the advice of northerners. What do we as northern residents and government representatives have to do in order to be taken more seriously by our federal counterparts?

Issues that are specifically northern related can and should be resolved by northerners in true northern fashion, which is by consensus and merit, and viewed as favourable by all northerners. This has to be considered sacred, not just out of respect, but because only northerners know what is good for northerners. I would encourage this government's leadership to express our frustration and disagreement toward the legislative process and establishment of such an important regulatory body, and take responsibility and the leadership position to direct the board to act and work effectively and cooperatively on behalf of northerners and not put northern development on hold for personal agendas. Mahsi, Madam Speaker.

---Applause

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker Jane Groenewegen

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

Relocation Of Territorial Treatment Centre
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 73

Bill Braden

Bill Braden Great Slave

Thank you, Madam Speaker. In the last few days the issue of the government's decision to move the Territorial Treatment Centre from Yellowknife has captured a lot of attention and certainly a lot of it is centred on Members of this Assembly and where we're going with this very sudden decision by the government to relocate something that has a very significant part of this community's and this region's service to children with severe behavioural disabilities.

Madam Speaker, on Friday I was comforted to hear the Minister of Health and Social Services tell us in relation to a discussion about dialysis services in Nahendeh that it makes far more sense to have services as close to the people it serves as possible. This is something that I am certainly learning a lot more about in relation to this particular issue.

Madam Speaker, I've heard from the YWCA here in Yellowknife that the loss of this service here in the city, of course, is going to potentially mean that some of the staff involved in delivering care for the young people at the Territorial Treatment Centre will also be lost to other related programs in the city. For instance, there are three at the YWCA: Project Child Recovery for children who witness violence in the home, a Teen Dating Violence Prevention Program, and a Support for Adults with Disabilities. All have staff who are very much involved in the delivery of service at the Territorial Treatment Centre.

My growing concern here, Madam Speaker, as I am learning more about the significance of this service, is that the government has made this decision without fully developing the plan, the consequences for it and how our region and our community are going to cope with this through the transition of this service to Hay River. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

---Applause

Relocation Of Territorial Treatment Centre
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 73

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker Jane Groenewegen

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

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, last session I spoke in this House for a limited junk food policy out there for young students to tap into. I want to take this afternoon's Member's statement to congratulate the Yellowknife Catholic school board for their initiative in dealing with a firm policy that deals directly with solving some of these junk food problems out there.

Although a number of schools in other regions have stepped forward to take on initiatives of this nature, I think the Yellowknife Catholic school board needs an extra applaud of thanks for taking control and removing those low nutritional value foods out of their vending machines. I think that is a fairly significant step and it shows that they have their priorities in order and it shows us that we need to pay attention.

In recent months, more and more emphasis has been placed out there on balanced diet, modernization of the foods are so unhealthy out there. Study after study has shown and beyond that they've scientifically proven all along that mom truly was right, we need to eat good foods to grow up healthy, such as vegetables. I hope the folks up there in the gallery remember to eat your broccoli.

Madam Speaker, I just want to further applaud the Yellowknife Catholic school board for putting their children first by putting quality snacks into their vending machines and removing the garbage ones. Here is a lesson that can be learned by those in the GNWT. Any initiative of this nature can be considered a positive step in promoting healthy living and healthy choices, and beyond that a healthy and active world that people can grow up in. The GNWT has a role here to play. In promoting policies of this nature, we can keep our society much happier and healthier for our future, which affects the bottom line.

Madam Speaker, in closing, I just want to emphasize a couple points. The Government of Nunavut recently held a Drop the Pop campaign and they've basically identified how many students under the age of five will be losing teeth this fall because of their addiction to pop. Finally, one last point I want to say in closing, schools having to fundraise by tapping into the need for junk food is completely wrong, because it's almost like government justifying gaming and social addictions as reasonable efforts to raise revenues. So I think the Catholic school board is certainly taking a smart step forward and I applaud them personally for that. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

---Applause

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker Jane Groenewegen

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

Deh Cho Leadership Meeting In Fort Liard
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 73

Calvin Pokiak

Calvin Pokiak Nunakput

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I rise today to thank Mr. Menicoche, MLA for Nahendeh, and Premier

Handley, as well as my colleague Sandy Lee for attending the Deh Cho First Nations leadership meeting in Fort Liard. As a Member from the Far North, it was a pleasure to attend the leadership meeting.

Madam Speaker, Grand Chief Herb Norwegian was a very good host and allowed us to make a short speech. Madam Speaker, as the Member for Nunakput, the Mackenzie Valley pipeline is very important to the Beaufort-Delta people. My support for the process was relayed to the Deh Cho First Nations leadership.

Madam Speaker, I was interested in attending the leadership meeting because the Deh Cho First Nations could play a vital role in the proposed pipeline and also the joint process. Although, Madam Speaker, the leadership did not speak openly on the proposed pipeline, I hope the Deh Cho First Nations will take my concerns seriously to move forward on the process of the proposed Mackenzie Valley pipeline.

In closing, Madam Speaker, I'd just like to thank the grand chief and the chiefs along the valley for their hospitality. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

---Applause

Deh Cho Leadership Meeting In Fort Liard
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 74

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Pokiak. Item 3, Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Ms. Lee.

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

Page 74

Sandy Lee

Sandy Lee Range Lake

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to recognize a class from Yellowknife in the gallery today. By looking at them I know that they are absolutely fascinated and interested about what is going on in this House. I am going to visit them in their class next Tuesday and expect to be answering some questions about some of the interesting proceedings in this House. Let me introduce Mr. Speakman's Grade 6 class from Range Lake North School. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

---Applause

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

Page 74

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Welcome. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.

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

Page 74

Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I would like to recognize a former constituent from the Deline, Madam Speaker. He is also a good hockey player. I would also like to recognize behind me, Sonny MacDonald. Thank you.

---Applause

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

Page 74

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Premier, Mr. Handley.

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

Page 74

Joe Handley

Joe Handley Weledeh

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I am pleased to recognize my constituent, Major Karen Hoeft, who is clearly very fascinated with what goes on in this House. Thank you.

---Applause

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

Page 74

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Premier Handley. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Thebacha, Mr. Miltenberger.

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

Page 74

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would like to thank the Member for Sahtu for recognizing my constituent for me, Mr. Sonny MacDonald, the band councillor for the Salt River First Nations, chair of the Arts Council for the Northwest Territories, a renowned carver and a friend from Fort Smith, Thebacha. Thank you.

---Applause

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

Page 74

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. I would like to recognize in the visitors' gallery today Wayne Miller. He is a resident of Yellowknife but he spends a lot of time in Hay River, so I feel like he is my constituent. Welcome, Wayne.

---Applause

Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I rise again with questions to the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation, the Honourable David Krutko. Honourable Krutko, on page 142 of the unedited Hansard from Friday, had promised to table some information and I would like to know when the Minister is going to do good on the promise. As well, he took a question on notice last week and I would like to hear some answers to when we are going to hear these fabulous and mysterious answers on the EDAP program. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation, Mr. Krutko.

Return To Question 37-15(4): Timeline For Responding To Questions Taken As Notice
Question 37-15(4): Timeline For Responding To Questions Taken As Notice
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 74

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I will be tabling the information that I was requested to table in the House, but because the Member's question was so technical, I will have to take a little time to research it and make sure that I get the information to the Member so that I am accurate in regard to the issue that he raised so that the information that he receives is valid and hopefully it will take care of his question. Thank you.

Return To Question 37-15(4): Timeline For Responding To Questions Taken As Notice
Question 37-15(4): Timeline For Responding To Questions Taken As Notice
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 74

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 37-15(4): Timeline For Responding To Questions Taken As Notice
Question 37-15(4): Timeline For Responding To Questions Taken As Notice
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 74

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Madam Speaker. While I am really looking forward to hearing actually when we are going to table this program, because I am getting phone calls from Inuvik as well as Yellowknife in regards to how does this program work, how we justify one family getting

a different amount than another family, there seems to be no clear transparency on this sliding scale. Would the Minister clearly say today when we expect him to table this information that he agreed to on Friday, and will he table it in a timely manner so that questions can be posed fairly in this House before it adjourns this Thursday? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 37-15(4): Timeline For Responding To Questions Taken As Notice
Question 37-15(4): Timeline For Responding To Questions Taken As Notice
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 75

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation, Mr. Krutko.

Further Return To Question 37-15(4): Timeline For Responding To Questions Taken As Notice
Question 37-15(4): Timeline For Responding To Questions Taken As Notice
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 75

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I am hoping to have the document tabled in this House by Wednesday.

Further Return To Question 37-15(4): Timeline For Responding To Questions Taken As Notice
Question 37-15(4): Timeline For Responding To Questions Taken As Notice
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 75

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Kam Lake, Mr. Ramsay.