This is page numbers 177 - 204 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 ---applause.

Topics

Members Present

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

---Prayer

Item 1: Prayer
Item 1: Prayer

Page 177

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker Jane Groenewegen

Good afternoon, colleagues. For your information, the simultaneous interpretations today are in the official languages of South Slavey and Tlicho. Item 2, Ministers' statements. The honourable Minister of Justice, Mr. Bell.

Brendan Bell

Brendan Bell Yellowknife South

Madam Speaker, I would like to update the House on the implementation of the Protection Against Family Violence Act.

This new law came into effect on April 1, 2005. It gives people new choices to deal with family violence. Any time of the day or night, a person can call the RCMP or a toll-free crisis line to talk to a family violence counsellor. They have several different choices and in emergencies, the police or counsellor can help them apply for an emergency protection order. A justice of the peace considers the history of family violence in the relationship and can make orders that will work for the family. Supreme Court judges review every order within three days of receiving it, and can call a hearing for more information. Legal aid lawyers can help both the victims and violent family members.

Madam Speaker, emergency protection orders give similar protection to a restraining order. The main difference is that the new orders can be issued within hours and give protection right away. Men, women, children and elders can call and get help right away. Over the past two months, justices of the peace have made a dozen orders to keep people safe from violent family members. That's 12 families, Madam Speaker, who have gotten help within a few hours to protect them from violent family members. The men, women, children and elders who have received orders are safer now. This law helps the most vulnerable people in our society stay safe in their own homes. It provides a balance between the need to protect victims and the need to have a process that is fair. Emergency protection orders gives everyone in the family time to think things over and decide what they need to do to stay safe. Some families will want to go to counselling. Others will need longer lasting protection from a violent person. The new orders give them enough time to make those arrangements.

Our first priority, Madam Speaker, was to train RCMP officers and family violence counsellors to help people apply for orders. We are now working to make sure people know how to get an order. Justice staff are travelling around the NWT with the Coalition Against

Family Violence. They are talking to people about family violence and training key referral sources: social workers, nurses and people who work for community organizations like shelters. We've also placed posters and booklets in every community. You can see our ads on CBC North and hear them on community radio stations in local languages.

Madam Speaker, family violence is a serious problem in the NWT. Our residents are many times more likely to be victims of violence than people in the rest of Canada. We are sending a strong message that as a community we believe that victims have the right to be safe in their own homes. This has been a collaborative effort between Justice, the RCMP, Health and Social Services, local social workers and non-government organizations like the YWCA and the Native Women's Association.

Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the members of the Coalition Against Family Violence who have been working together to find innovative ways to reduce this problem in our society. This coalition includes GNWT and community groups that care about family violence. It's an example of what we can do when we work together. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

---Applause

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Item 2, Ministers' statements. The most honourable Premier, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, Mr. Handley.

Joe Handley

Joe Handley Weledeh

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, on June 21st, Canadians will celebrate National Aboriginal Day.

---Applause

This day is recognized across our country as an opportunity to acknowledge and pay tribute to aboriginal culture, language and heritage in Canada.

As Members are aware, in 2002 the Northwest Territories took the additional step of establishing National Aboriginal Day as a statutory holiday and we remain the only jurisdiction in this country to do so.

---Applause

Madam Speaker, we took this step to further recognize the culture, languages and heritage of the Dene, Inuvialuit and Metis people of the Northwest Territories and its role in the shaping of the Northwest Territories that we know today:

  • • Our style of government is rooted in traditional systems of consensus: a foundation of trust and the
  • aboriginal values of mutual respect and understanding. The shape of our legislative chamber pays tribute to the historic and time-honoured aboriginal leadership circle.
  • • We have incorporated a Circle of Northern Leaders in our territory as a forum to identify common ground and to work together on issues of territorial concern and importance.
  • • Our government recognizes not two, but 11 official languages.
  • • We promote and support traditional lifestyles as a valuable component of our economy.
  • • We are the only jurisdiction in Canada to provide Metis health benefits...

---Applause

...a program that ensures that Metis people in the Northwest Territories receive health benefits equivalent to those received by Dene and Inuvialuit peoples.

  • • As we sit in session today, the Tlicho people are making final preparations to implement their combined land claims and self-government agreement -- the first of its kind in the Northwest Territories -- to come into effect on August 4th.
  • • The land, resource and self-government agreements that we are negotiating in the Northwest Territories continue to set new standards and establish groundbreaking relationships between aboriginal people and their governments.

Madam Speaker, at the beginning of July, the NWT will host the annual general assembly of the Assembly of First Nations. One behalf of all of our residents, I am honoured that the AFN has chosen the NWT for this important event. It seems especially significant that the AFN assembly is happening shortly after we celebrate National Aboriginal Day.

Madam Speaker, aboriginal history, language, art, tradition and culture are an integral and valued part of our identity as Canada's northern people. This is what will be forefront in my mind as I, along with all residents of the Northwest Territories, celebrate National Aboriginal Day this year. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

---Applause

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Premier. Item 2, Ministers' statements. The honourable Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. McLeod.

Michael McLeod

Michael McLeod Deh Cho

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, on behalf of the Government of the Northwest Territories, I would like to extend my congratulations to the athletes from all over the North who have gathered in Hay River to compete in the 15th Annual Territorial Track and Field Championships. It was my pleasure to attend the opening ceremonies last night, along with a number of Members of the Legislative Assembly.

Madam Speaker, many sport and recreation partners, including Municipal and Community Affairs, community governments, Sport North and the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, sponsored the three-day sports event for the benefit of Northwest Territories youth. Events such as the track and field championships ensure NWT athletes have the opportunity to develop their skills through sport and recreation competition.

Municipal and Community Affairs is committed to supporting a strong recreation and sport system because physical activity is important for the health and wellbeing of our residents. Further, the department is committed to ensuring that our recreation and sport system provides as many opportunities as possible for northerners to become more active and adopt healthy lifestyles. The annual track and field championship is one such opportunity, geared towards our youth.

Madam Speaker, this is a significant event to plan and coordinate. I would like to thank the 150 coaches and more than 300 officials, organizers and parents who have volunteered their time to support for this event. I am pleased to report that a total of 1,273 athletes on 33 teams from 19 communities participated this year, making this the largest turnout in the Territorial Track and Field Championship's history. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

---Applause

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Item 2, Ministers' statements. The honourable Member responsible for the Financial Management Board Secretariat, Mr. Roland.

Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I am pleased to announce that the GNWT and the Northwest Territories Teachers' Association have negotiated and ratified a new three-year collective agreement.

This new agreement will improve the competitiveness of the GNWT in recruiting and retaining teachers and administrators, while also focusing attention on key issues such as aboriginal languages.

The new agreement will result in a restructuring of the teachers' pay grid over three years to provide more consistency. The minimum pay increase will be three percent. Additionally, employees with more experience and more years of GNWT service will receive higher increases. This will assist the GNWT to be more competitive with other jurisdictions.

A redesigned northern allowance structure will be implemented with the new agreement in September 2006. This structure was developed prior to negotiations by a committee comprised of representatives of both the GNWT and the Northwest Territories Teachers' Association.

In the new agreement, there is funding for professional improvement of language proficiency in one or more of the

official aboriginal languages of the Northwest Territories. There will be $50,000 allocated per academic year commencing September 1, 2005, and again in 2006; $100,000 will be allocated in the academic year commencing September 1, 2007.

Education is a fundamental concern for our communities and it is a priority to ensure that we are able to recruit and retain teachers and also compensate them fairly. I applaud the work done by the bargaining teams in negotiating this agreement, and I look forward to seeing the results of the ongoing work they have identified. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

---Applause

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Item 2, Ministers' statements. The honourable Member for Environment and Natural Resources, Mr. Miltenberger.

Minister's Statement 22-15(4): Framework For Action
Item 2: Ministers' Statements

Page 179

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to address this House in my new role as the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources.

As Minister, I want to ensure our children inherit a secure future built upon a healthy environment that is capable of supporting traditional lifestyles within a modern economy. This goal is echoed in the department's mandate and principles and is shared by the staff. We intend to achieve this goal by building on the strengths of our people, both within the department and in the Northwest Territories, and through the wise use and protection of our natural resources.

Together we have developed a framework for action for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. The framework identifies the strategic actions required over the next three years to promote and support the sustainable use and development of natural resources and to protect, conserve and enhance our environment for the social and economic benefit of all residents.

Madam Speaker, a clear vision and unified approach along with efficient and effective plans for action are needed to deal with the opportunities and challenges facing our territory. This framework for action provides the vision, approaches and actions the Department of Environment and Natural Resources needs to move forward on its strategic initiatives. By working closely with residents and involving them in key decision-making roles, the department can tackle these strategic initiatives and actions to meet our shared responsibility for maintaining a healthy and prosperous northern environment.

At the appropriate time today, I will be tabling the framework for action. It will also be available on the ENR web site so residents can make themselves aware of the department's priorities and actions for the next three years. I encourage all residents to review the framework for action and gauge our results in meeting these priorities. I will provide regular updates to this House and the public on the status of the actions taken. My first report will cover the period between June and December 2005.

Many of the actions identified in the framework are already underway, however, as circumstances arise, new initiatives and actions may be identified. Success in completing these actions will require support and input from this House and residents.

Only by working together, sharing our knowledge, experience and passion for our land and waters, can we hope to be true stewards of our environment and pass its riches on to our children and those who will follow. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Minister's Statement 22-15(4): Framework For Action
Item 2: Ministers' Statements

Page 179

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Item 2, Ministers' statements. The honourable Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Dent.

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Frame Lake

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Good afternoon. I am very pleased to announce to the Members of this House that Mr. Chris Fournier, our NWT representative at the World Skills Competition, has won a gold medal.

Yesterday, we received word that Mr. Fournier received the gold medal for web design at the World Skills Competition in Helsinki, Finland. Chris has been competing in the territorial skills competitions since he was a Grade 9 student at Sir John Franklin High School. Over the years, he competed in four territorial skills competitions, winning gold medals in each event. As well, during this time, he was also successful in winning medals in the national Canadian Skills Competition. It was his win at the Canadian Skills Competition last June in Winnipeg that earned him a spot on the Skills Canada Team that traveled to Helsinki last week. Mr. Fournier is currently an employee of the Department of Executive as their web communications assistant. They are expecting a world-class web site, I understand, Madam Speaker.

---Laughter

During all this time, Chris was a member of the Skills Web Page Design Club. Through his activity with the club, he honed his skills and received expert instruction from his mentor, Debbie Winsor. Skills clubs are eight to 12 weeks in length and are an excellent opportunity for northern youth to gain hands-on experience and insight into the trade and technology career of their choice. Skills Canada NWT is fortunate to have industry experts volunteer to host these clubs, passing on their skills to young people like Chris. The skills club and the competitions are a few of the programs delivered by Skills Canada NWT/NU, a non-profit organization funded by Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, the Government of the NWT and other NWT industry partners.

Chris Fournier is one of only five Canadian medallists at the recent competition, which involved almost 700 participants from around the globe. This impressive achievement is particularly special because Mr. Fournier is the first world skills competitor ever to come from the Northwest Territories.

Please join me in congratulating Mr. Fournier. His success shows that our trades and technical training is preparing NWT residents to win competitions against the best and brightest in Canada and now, the world. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

---Applause

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker Jane Groenewegen

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

High School In Tuktoyaktuk
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 180

Calvin Pokiak

Calvin Pokiak Nunakput

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I rise today to once again voice my concern with regard to education. You might say it's a running record of this topic; in particular, a need for high school and grade extensions.

In a previous Member's statement, Madam Speaker, I voiced a concern of a need for a separate high school in Tuktoyaktuk. The Minister has responded on numerous occasions that numbers of enrolment do not justify our need for a separate high school. Madam Speaker, this may be true. However, the DEA in Tuk has indicated to me that there are a number of dropouts that may return to complete their Grade 12 if there was a separate high school. Integrating students from K to 12 is not a solution that seems to be working, Madam Speaker.

Presently in the Tuk school, the library and school counsellor's room must turn into a classroom. Therefore, this has left the school without a library. How can the students find immediate resources to complete their assignments?

In another scenario, Madam Speaker, a request from my community was for grade extensions. I understand this decision will be up to the Beaufort-Delta Divisional Education Council. I understand also that the request was made to BDDEC for consideration. I was told before this session, there are at least 10 students who would return to school if there was a grade extension. Does the Minister have any authority to make the BDDEC take this into consideration very seriously?

Madam Speaker, education is important to all students, but without the necessary resources, as in larger centres, it is difficult to complete an education. I hope the Minister can consider making the appropriate decision and allow students outside the larger centres to have needed resources to complete their education. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

High School In Tuktoyaktuk
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 180

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker Jane Groenewegen

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

Bill Braden

Bill Braden Great Slave

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. May I, too, add my thanks and my admiration and my congratulations to the community of Hay River for the fantastic job of hosting the track and field competitions.

---Applause

It was a real joy to be there yesterday at the opening ceremonies.

Madam Speaker, earlier today the Premier spoke some remarks and one of them was in respect to our style of government. The Premier said that our style of government is routed in traditional systems of consensus, a foundation of trust, and the aboriginal values of mutual respect and understanding. I hope, Madam Speaker, that I, too, can share in the value of mutual respect and understanding.

Regrettably we learned yesterday in some of our deliberations the government does not always adhere to that, Madam Speaker, and I am harkening again to the issue of the decision, the hidden decision, to transfer the Territorial Treatment Centre from Yellowknife.

Madam Speaker, the point that I want to make is that in the budget of 2004-05, this Assembly made a decision, a commitment, a promise that it was going to spend an allocation of money on a certain project in this community. Now many things happen on many projects that are outside of the control of this government and they are carried through to completion. Madam Speaker, when that happens, we make that accommodation as we did yesterday in some of our work, but when something is within the control of government and it does not come back to this Assembly to ask for a change, to ask for a consultation in a process of how to manage, perhaps a new opportunity or a new situation, then that foundation of trust and respect is violated.

I want to advise the government that it is on notice that they cannot continue to ignore the promises and, indeed, the rules and the laws that we make when we pass bills. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

---Applause

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker Jane Groenewegen

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

Relocation Of The Territorial Treatment Centre
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 180

David Ramsay

David Ramsay Kam Lake

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Over the course of this short session much of our time has been spent reviewing the fate of the Territorial Treatment Centre. I have to tell you, Madam Speaker, that I am not very impressed with the process used by this government to get us where we are at today.

The Minister of Health and Social Services is presenting the transfer of the Territorial Treatment Centre to Hay River as a fait accompli. Bosco Homes, the contractor, seems to be onside. The only problem are those pesky Yellowknife MLAs who are concerned about whether the children will have access to the same level of services in Hay River that are available in a larger centre like Yellowknife, and whether the present staff at the TTC are being treated fairly.

The Minister of Finance is taking a very literal interpretation of the Financial Administration Act and the relevant Financial Administration Manual directives in relation to the government's duty to consult with the affected committee and the MLAs. I strongly believe, Madam Speaker, that while the Minister and his officials may have upheld the letter of the law by consulting with Members in committee through the introduction of a supplementary appropriation, they have, nonetheless, violated the spirit or intent of their requirement to consult in a timely manner.

The way in which this has taken place, the transfer of the TTC to Hay River lacks any transparency and accountability. Much has been made of the fact that we

are only being asked to approve $505,000 and that the rest of the funding for the Territorial Treatment Centre has already been approved. This is true, Madam Speaker. Both the previous Assembly and this very Assembly approved funding to replace the Territorial Treatment Centre in Yellowknife. Not in Hay River, but in Yellowknife.

The hands of the Standing Committee on Social Programs and of this Assembly are now tied. It would be almost irresponsible on the part of us all not to approve the spending on the Territorial Treatment Centre in Hay River for the 2006-07 year when we have already invested $505,000 or roughly one-sixth of the total project cost in 2005-06.

In closing, Madam Speaker, I would just like to reiterate that I am not opposed to the transfer of programs or decentralization where good or at least a reasonable business case can be made. I object to this government using supplementary appropriations to circumvent the review and oversight function that the committees provide on behalf of all the people of the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Relocation Of The Territorial Treatment Centre
Item 3: Members' Statements

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Some Hon. Members

Hear! Hear!

---Applause

Relocation Of The Territorial Treatment Centre
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 181

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. I would like to just caution Members. Speaking to the process by which this occurred in the general context would be fine, given that the supplementary appropriation bill was decided on yesterday. As to the detail of the supplementary appropriation and the amount, I would ask Members to please try to refrain from going in that direction in case any of the rest of you are thinking about speaking to the same subject. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.

Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I, too, want to send out my congratulations to the hard-working people in Hay River for the fine event, and thank you, Minister, for inviting us down to the NWT track meet yesterday.

Some Hon. Members

Hear! Hear!

Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu

Madam Speaker, the North has an abundance of wealth; rich mineral deposits like the diamonds, oil and gas and lots of fresh water and some beautiful, beautiful land. Aboriginal northern businesses have put a lot blood, sweat, equity and tears into the business. They have contributed actively to their communities and to their regions. These home-grown businesses have spent a lot of their money on our economy. It is money made from our economy that stays in our economy.

Madam Speaker, northern businesses also provide their staff and our community members with a decent wage. However, Madam Speaker, all too often we see southern businesses get a stronghold in the communities. They disguise themselves as northerners with a mere 10 percent investment or a joint venture to local businesses. They come in and scoop all the business; they hire staff at lower wages and pit one business against the other. They don't have to worry about the high cost of overhead like our local businesses do. They don't have to pay the high cost of living in our northern communities as our northern businesses do. The money they earn goes to the southern pockets and the shareholders and not into our northern economy.

In our democratic society, Madam Speaker, I believe everyone should be able to participate in the wealth of the Territories equally and fairly. Our government used to help northern businesses attract southern investment, however, they need to be community-based controlled that benefits the regions or the communities. We will not sell out for the sake of doing business in the North.

Madam Speaker, we need protection to make sure that all we can all profit from the abundant wealth that we have up here and that it stays in our communities and with our people. Mahsi cho.

---Applause