This is page numbers 1 - 12 of the Hansard for the 16th Assembly, 1st 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 campaign.

Topics

Mr. Abernethy, Mr. Beaulieu, Ms. Bisaro, Mr. Bromley, Hon. Paul Delorey, Mrs. Groenewegen, Mr. Hawkins, Mr. Jacobson, Mr. Krutko, Hon. Jackson Lafferty, Hon. Sandy Lee, Hon. Bob McLeod, Hon. Michael McLeod, Mr. McLeod, Mr. Menicoche, Hon. Michael Miltenberger, Mr. Ramsay, Hon. Floyd Roland, Hon. Norman Yakeleya

---Prayer

Item 1: Prayer
Item 1: Prayer

Tim Mercer Clerk Of The House

Ladies and gentlemen, please be seated. It is my duty at this time to inform the House that the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories is not prepared to deliver an opening address until such time as you have appointed a Speaker. I will now open the floor to motions for the appointment of Speaker. Mr. Lafferty.

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. I moved, seconded by the honourable Member for Nunakput, that the Hon. Paul Delorey of the electoral district of Hay River North take the chair of this House as Speaker.

Tim Mercer Clerk Of The House

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Are there any additional motions for appointment of Speaker of the House? Seeing none, I would now request the mover and the seconder of the motion to escort the Speaker to the chair. Mr. Speaker, are you willing to be escorted to the chair?

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Yes, I am, Mr. Chairman.

---Laughter

---Applause

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

This feels familiar. I wish to begin by welcoming everyone to the Chamber today. Honourable colleagues, please accept my sincere appreciation for the trust that you have placed in me by choosing me to serve a second term as your Speaker. I would like to especially thank Mr. Lafferty for the nomination. I wish to assure each and every one of you that I will continue to fulfill my duties as Speaker to the very best of my ability, protecting both the privileges enjoyed by the House collectively and those of individual Members.

I also look forward to continuing to represent the institution of the Legislative Assembly. I am especially proud of our people and our accomplishments and I thank you for the opportunity to continue to promote this great territory. I could make note here of the large shoes that I have to fill or comment on the exceptional wisdom and guidance provided by your last Speaker.

---Laughter

But seriously, Members, my goals for this Assembly remain unchanged. My first obligation is to continue to preside over this House in a manner which ensures that

the rights and privileges of all Members will be upheld and to maintain order and a level of decorum that will allow each and every one of you to carry out your duties to the best of your ability. The most important and fundamental rights is the right to freedom of speech in your debate and freedom from interference in carrying out your duties. I commit to uphold these rights, as well as the rules and procedures which this House has adopted. As Members know, promoting the independence of the legislative branch of government from the executive branch is also an issue of fundamental importance to me. I hope to build upon the strengths of some of the legislative and process initiatives that were undertaken and agreed to by the 15th Assembly in this regard.

On a more personal note, I would like to take this opportunity to thank my constituents in Hay River North for allowing me to continue to serve them in my capacity as MLA. It is a great privilege and an honour to represent them for the third term in this Assembly. I can assure them that in performance in my duties as Speaker in no way diminishes my efforts to serve each and every one of them to the very best of my abilities.

I would also like to thank my campaign manager, Bobbi Hamilton, my official agent, Janet-Marie Fizer and my entire campaign team and especially my daughter Monique, who designed and produced every pamphlet, every brochure, every newspaper ad and met every deadline I put in front of her. She is a wonderful person and did an amazing job.

I would like to extend my congratulations to the Premier and the Executive Council elected by the Members and wish you well as you undertake your new responsibilities. However, I want to serve notice to all members of the Executive Council right here, right now, that you can expect a call from me shortly after your swearing in. While I am not able to ask questions on the floor of the House, as Speaker, you will be seeing me in your offices a great deal in the days, weeks and months ahead. My community of Hay River has a long list of issues, concerns and opportunities. There are many ways to promote and respond to these issues, and my constituents and the Members of this House can be guaranteed that I will be doing so with all my energy, but in a manner that will not compromise my objectivity and my neutrality in this House.

I would like to take this opportunity to publicly thank my family. Politics is not an easy life for families, and the sacrifices each of our families make on a daily basis do not go unnoticed. As Members, we could not do our job, the job that we do, without the love and support of our families. I wish to thank my wife, Davida, and our children and grandchildren for the support they constantly provide me.

Colleagues, we are beginning our journey here today with many challenges facing us in this great territory of ours. In the various roles that each of us will play as we debate public policy, raise issues of concern for our constituents, lead departments, provide opportunity for public input and hold government accountable, I ask for your assistance. I ask that you always treat each other with dignity, respect and compassion, protecting the integrity of this institution, and conduct yourselves within the rules set down by this House.

Please be assured that I will work hard to maintain the trust and confidence that you have placed in me today. With that, Mr. Clerk, would you ascertain if the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, the Hon. Anthony W. J. Whitford, is prepared to enter the Chamber and address the Legislative Assembly.

I would ask you to all rise at the entrance of the Commissioner and to remain standing for our National Anthem which will be performed by Ms. Karen Zaidan of Fort Smith.

---Singing of O Canada

Item 2: Opening Address
Item 2: Opening Address

Tony Whitford Commissioner Of The Northwest Territories

Please be seated. Thank you for that wonderful rendition of our National Anthem.

Monsieur le president, messieurs et Mesdames les deputes, Mesdames et messieurs, et amis.

It is once again a pleasure and honour for me to be in your presence and I am pleased to welcome you to the First Session of the 16th Legislative Assembly of the

Northwest Territories.

Before I begin, I would like to take a moment to offer sincere condolences to the family and friends of RCMP Constable Christopher Worden on behalf of all people of the Northwest Territories.

There is a special bond between the people of the NWT and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. The force had its origins in the North-West Mounted Police, created in 1873, to police what was then a much larger Northwest Territories.

Since that time, members of what is now the RCMP have served the people of the NWT with bravery, dedication and distinction. While the geographical boundaries of the NWT have changed since 1873, the RCMP force’s commitment to public service have never wavered. That tradition carried on in Constable Worden, who served most of his career among us.

The tragic loss of Constable Worden on October 6th in Hay

River has touched all citizens of the Northwest Territories and we grieve his loss.

Now I would like to offer my congratulations to the returning Members, three of whom were acclaimed, and to the newly elected Members.

I would also like to welcome the guests in the public gallery today and those who are watching these proceedings on television.

I would like to congratulate Paul Delorey on his acclamation as Speaker. The Members of this Assembly will be well served by the good judgement and experience you bring to this vital position. I have held that position myself and know that it is sometimes very challenging and also very rewarding and enjoyable. I wish you the best and have every confidence you will be successful as you return in your role as Speaker.

Each of the Members of this Assembly has the responsibility to represent their constituents and to ensure that our government does its best to serve all the people of the Northwest Territories.

We are very fortunate to see today the results of a democratic election to choose our own MLAs. It is only very recently that residents of the NWT have been able to choose people from among themselves to govern the NWT. This would not have happened even two generations ago, because the Government of Canada selected people to sit on the “Council of the Northwest Territories." These federal appointees lived in the South and most of them rarely visited the North and could not possibly get to know our people.

When the government was first moved to the NWT a mere 40 years ago, the people of the NWT did not have the opportunity to vote for all its leaders.

It was 1975 before northerners elected all the Members of the NWT Council. Even then, federal appointees were still in the majority on the Executive Committee, the body that eventually became today’s Cabinet.

Elected Members did not hold a majority on the Executive Committee until 1979. It was 1986 before the elected Government Leader took over the chair, and representatives chosen by residents in open elections became responsible for governing on behalf of the people of the NWT.

Our style of government -- consensus government -- is widely admired for its uniqueness and workability.

Residents of the NWT inherited consensus government in part from our aboriginal traditions that allowed many people to have a voice in making important decisions, ensuring the government will work cooperatively for the benefit of all NWT peoples.

Members of this House will face many challenges during their four-year term. My good wishes are extended to all Members and I am confident that all of you will serve the people of the Northwest Territories to the very best of your abilities.

Mr. Speaker, before declaring open this First Session of the 16th Legislative Assembly, I would like to invite all

Members and visitors in the gallery to a reception in the Great Hall when the House adjourns and I invite everyone to stay for the swearing in of the Executive Council at 4:00 p.m. this afternoon.

As Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, I am proud to declare open the First Session of the 16th Legislative

Assembly of the Northwest Territories. Thank you, merci, quanami, mahsi cho.

Item 2: Opening Address
Item 2: Opening Address

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Please be seated. We will proceed to orders of the day. Opening address. Ministers’

statements. Members’ statements. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta. Mr. Krutko.

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the residents of Mackenzie Delta for electing me for a fourth term in office. Also, I would like to take this time to recognize the other candidates who also ran in this election: Mary Clark and Donny Robert. I would like to encourage them to continue on and pursue public office in other upcoming elections.

Mr. Speaker, I would also like to take this time to recognize our community leaders, frontline workers and community organizations. We all have to work together to improve the lives of our residents. Mr. Speaker, I would also like to take this time to recognize the importance of serving in public office, as I have served in this House for 12 years and I will continue to serve the next four years to do the best job that I can for residents of Mackenzie Delta and the Northwest Territories and to make this the best place to be.

Mr. Speaker, I would also like to take this opportunity to recognize the people in Aklavik, Fort McPherson and Tsiigehtchic for coming out and practising our public service by way of taking elections in our communities.

Again, Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this time to also congratulate yourself as Speaker, the Premier-elect, Mr. Roland, and all the Cabinet Ministers, also my colleagues, the other MLAs in the House. But, Mr. Speaker, I would like to also encourage us to continue on for the best interests of the people of the Northwest Territories over the next four years and ensure that we never forget that we are here to serve the people of the Northwest Territories, the residents, and make the Northwest Territories a better place for all of us to live. With that, Mr. Speaker, mahsi cho.

---Applause

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

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

Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on the Saturday of the past Thanksgiving weekend, Hay River residents awoke to the news of a tragic loss to our community: the death of one of our respected RCMP members, Constable Christopher Worden. As the details came to be known, Hay River residents grieved and looked for ways to express their sorrow, support and condolences. Today I would like to take this opportunity in the House to extend my deepest sympathies to Constable Worden's widow, Jodie, and his baby daughter, Alexis, his family and members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police across this country and particularly Constable Worden's colleagues of "G" Division.

We appreciate so much the dedication and commitment of RCMP members who choose to serve and protect our

communities here in the North. This past Monday, a full regimental funeral was held in Constable Worden's hometown of Ottawa, Ontario. I would like to thank our retiring Premier, Joe Handley, and Justice Minister, Brendan Bell, for attending that funeral on our behalf in Ottawa. I know that the loss of Constable Worden will be remembered and he will be honoured in our memories for many, many years. A memorial service will also take place in Hay River when members of our community and those who will join us will take the opportunity to pay our respects to the memory of a very, very fine young man: Christopher John Worden. May he rest in peace. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Members' statements. The honourable Member for Deh Cho, Mike McLeod.

Michael McLeod

Michael McLeod Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to welcome all our visitors and all the constituents that are here from the Deh Cho and the community leaders that have joined us.

I wanted to take the opportunity to thank the people in the Deh Cho for giving me the strong showing of support during this past election, this campaign period. I think all Members that have been acclaimed at one time or another will agree that being acclaimed is a lot easier than campaigning, and I certainly appreciate all the people that supported me.

I also wanted to thank all the people from the Hay River Reserve, Enterprise, Kakisa and Fort Providence that have called me over the last few days offering their support and congratulations. I certainly appreciate it. We had a class come in from Fort Providence to take part in the swearing in. The adult education class came in. I was very happy to see them and I was very glad that they came.

I also want to thank the Members that supported me for being re-elected into Cabinet. I want to thank, also, all the Members that put their name forward for a seat in Cabinet. You had a very strong contingent seeking seats in Cabinet. Unfortunately, there's only six seats and I think any one of the Members that put their name forward could have done a good job. All came with really strong credentials.

Mr. Speaker, I also wanted to inform Members and people across the North that I continue to have an open door policy. I like to have good, strong communication links with the communities, with the Members and people in my riding, and that includes you, Mr. Speaker. I certainly will do everything in my power to support you.

Eight years ago I ran for the position of MLA. I wanted to see a better quality of life in our communities for our children, and that's a goal I'll continue to work towards. I also want to work harder to improve the lines of communication with the communities I represent, and I intend to go into all the communities in the next little while, starting with Kakisa next week. I really need to have that communication and stay in touch with my constituents.

I wanted to also take this opportunity to thank some of the former Members that are not coming back. I really

appreciated working with Premier Joe Handley, Brendan Bell, Charles Dent and Bill Braden. I want to wish them luck on their endeavours.

I also wanted to say thank you to my family.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

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

Michael McLeod

Michael McLeod Deh Cho

Mr. Speaker, I'd like to request 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? I heard a nay. Members' statements. Honourable Member for Nunakput, Mr. Jacobson.

Jackie Jacobson

Jackie Jacobson Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, first of all, I'd like to mention it's an honour and a privilege for me to be here today as Member of Nunakput. I'd like to thank the people of Nunakput for the overwhelming support I had, to let them know I'll be doing my best to fight for the issues that are important to all of them and to be their representative in the House.

Mr. Speaker, I'd like to congratulate you on being elected as the Speaker of the House. I'd like to congratulate Premier Roland on being selected leader of the government of the next four years. I have known Mr. Roland most of my life. He's a hard worker, a great family man, a man of integrity. I look forward to doing my part in working with him on behalf of my constituents in Nunakput and for the people in the Northwest Territories. I'd also like to congratulate all the newly appointed Cabinet Ministers later on this afternoon. After all that we've been through this past week, the next four years should be easy.

---Laughter

I will look forward to holding all your collective feet to the fire in my job.

Mr. Speaker, I'm here today because a lot of people have encouraged me and helped along the way. First of all, I'd like to thank my wife, Jenny, who has been behind me all through the campaign trail. I'd like to thank my children -- four of them are in the gallery today with their mother -- for myself being away for the last six weeks. I'd also like to thank my mom, Georgina, who is here today. She also worked really hard on the campaign, taking care of the most important issue: making sure I was eating well.

---Laughter

There are many more residents and community leaders and the youth who are a part of my team and continue to guide my job as the MLA. There are too many names to mention to take the opportunity to thank them all. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Jacobson. Members' statements. The honourable Member for Thebacha, Mr. Miltenberger.

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you to all the folks that are here today and those that are watching on TV. I, as well, would just like to take a few brief seconds to thank the constituents of Thebacha: the many that supported me in the election; the many that worked for me in my campaign; to Denise Yuhas, who was my official agent for the fourth time, the best in the business; and to my family, some of which are here as well in the gallery today. I am very grateful for this honour of a fourth mandate to come back to this House, this House of the people, the House that consensus government built. I'd like to thank my colleagues and congratulate them, as well, on either their election or re-election. I must say that I am truly grateful that the campaign now is finally over and that after today we'll all be able to get down to work for the people of the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

---Applause

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

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

Bob McLeod

Bob McLeod Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, running for public office is not an easy thing to do and it’s something that I’m sure all of you in here put a great deal of thought into it. I think you’ll find that when you talk to most people that run for public office, it’s not as hard on them as it is on their family. With that, I have to thank my wife, Judy, for her continued support.

I have to thank the people who worked hard on my campaign. Three years ago I ran in the by-election and I had a few people jump on board and support me throughout the by-election, and more so in this recent election that we just went through. I have to admire their loyalty and their belief in me.

I don’t intend to let them down, Mr. Speaker. I will be down here. I’ve told the people in Inuvik that I will be down here pounding the table, bringing their issues forward. It’s a personal sacrifice that we and our families make and it’s a sacrifice in more ways than one to be on this side pounding the table, making sure our issues are brought to the forefront.

I want to congratulate you, Mr. Speaker, in your selection and I’m sure today, being the first day of session, you’re going to cut us a little slack. I’d also like to congratulate Mr. Roland on his election as Premier. The Cabinet Ministers, I’d like to congratulate you on your appointments to Cabinet later on this afternoon. My Social Programs colleagues, I’ll be holding the fort on this side of the House for you.

This is a big day, Mr. Speaker, for the Members of Cabinet. They’re all being sworn in later on today. I thought it was best that we just do the thank you today. After today, you will be sworn in, and starting tomorrow we’re going to be all over you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Laughter

---Applause

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Members' statements. The honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.

Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Minister of Transportation

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wanted to, first of all, thank my family back in Tulita and the people and my family members in the Sahtu region for supporting me. Mr. Speaker, without them, we say our family is so important to our life, more so in the job that we do today as MLAs, as Ministers, as Members of the Legislative Assembly. My family members are there at the end of the day.

I want to also thank my friends and thank my ready campaign team, which we had a break from the campaign thanks to the gift of the Sahtu people for acclaiming me as their representative in this Assembly. I really say it’s a gift and I really want to thank the elders who spoke for me in my term as an MLA. I thank the people from the bottom of my heart to be given an opportunity at that time to take some time because of this work that we do -- a lot of time is spent away from our families -- and to really have the opportunity to go into the bush and spend some time with my family, take my little boy and my wife and go in the mountains and do some hunting up there for them. I really appreciate that as a gift from my people in the Sahtu region.

Mr. Speaker, I said the elders are the key to my representing the people in the Sahtu and the one person that I really, really regretted yesterday, in terms of the work that went on yesterday, was my mother. I wanted to really see or hear and to physically make that phone call and tell her that all her hard work and sacrifice that she did when we were young, that she could be thanked from the bottom of my heart. I said a prayer last night: I thank Mom wherever you are for guiding me and for persevering in her discipline to us in terms of getting the best in life. You have to work hard on that.

Mr. Speaker, for that, I want to say to all the young people in the Sahtu region and the people in the Northwest Territories: Dream big; dream the dream that you want to be in life because it could happen with hard work, education, hard, good values to live by. I want to say that, Mr. Speaker. Thank you so much. Bye-bye.

---Applause

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Members' statements. The honourable Member for Kam Lake, Mr. Ramsay.