This is page numbers 1203 - 1270 of the Hansard for the 15th Assembly, 5th 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

Members Present

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

---Prayer

Item 1: Prayer
Item 1: Prayer

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The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Good morning, colleagues. Welcome back to the House. Orders of the day. Ministers' statements. The honourable Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Dent.

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good morning. The federal Department of Human Resources and Social Development announced a new program for unemployed workers in October 2006. This program, called the "Targeted Initiative for Older Workers" will fund the training and reintegration of older workers into the labour market. The program is intended to help reintegrate persons aged 55 to 64 years of age back into the workforce.

Over the next two years, 2007 to 2009, up to $660,000 in funding will be available to the Northwest Territories in this area. The Government of the Northwest Territories will be required to contribute a minimum of 40 percent to projects, a portion of which may be in-kind.

Older workers have many contributions to make to society and employers can take advantage of their knowledge by reintegrating them back into the workforce. Many older workers want to continue to be actively engaged in employment in our communities. This program is an important investment in our northern human resource capacity. It is a valuable opportunity for older workers to improve their employability through activities such as skills assessment, counselling, skills upgrading and work experience for new jobs. It will also help to address skilled labour shortages.

The Department of Education, Culture and Employment has been holding information sessions with regional staff, stakeholders and potential community partners including the NWT Seniors Society. Program guidelines are being finalized and a public call for proposals will go out in the Northwest Territories for the coming month, with projects getting underway as early as April 2007.

Mr. Speaker, we look forward to the implementation of this new initiative in the Northwest Territories that will help provide older workers across the North with opportunities to re-enter the workforce. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Ministers' statements. Members' statements. The honourable Member for Monfwi, Mr. Lafferty.

Behchoko Dene Hand Game Tournament
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Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty North Slave

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. (English not provided)

Mr. Speaker, this past weekend was a very exciting event for the community of Behchoko. We had people visit from all over the Northwest Territories to partake in one of the biggest traditional hand game tournaments in the Tlicho region. Mr. Speaker, we have people who came from Tulita, Lutselk'e, Wekweeti, Gameti, Whati, Meander River, Deline, Assumption, Bushie River and others. It was a time to see old faces, Mr. Speaker, renew friendships from neighbouring Dene communities. Elders were happy and grateful for this opportunity to renew an important tradition.

Mr. Speaker, we have players that were 75-plus years of age to our youngest, approximately 15 years of age. As you can see from these ages, the knowledge and wisdom passed on traditionally via sharing their knowledge through interaction.

Mr. Speaker, I am very proud to say the community of Gameti won the overall tournament this weekend. Lutselk'e came in second place; Behchoko came in third place. It's outstanding to see these remarkable teams. We had over 21 teams who participated. Congratulations to all teams that participated. The community was overwhelmed with 700-plus people who came in to visit the community. It was like witnessing another land claims celebration, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, you know, we at the GNWT also need to do our part to contribute and subsidize to this special gathering to promote traditional activities and next year we're hoping that we have an MLA team. Mahsi.

---Applause

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The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

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

Behchoko Dene Hand Game Tournament
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Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I want to also talk about the traditional hand games that were witnessed in Behchoko over the last week and seeing the number of people there. But more importantly, Mr. Speaker, the people that were there to witness the hand games also shared a common belief in culture of having fun together. When we look at the number of players in there and the number of sponsors that showed an interest that contributed to the hand games, some of

the older people were saying that this was like the old Dene Nation days where people get together from all over the region, they would come, they had some hard issues to talk about, like what we're talking about in this House and in the communities, but they would take time amongst themselves to put away those issues for the day and to play and to have fun.

In the old days they talked about these hand games that were played into other areas of Canada's jurisdiction, such as Yukon, Alberta, even to B.C. Even amongst ourselves in our regions we have different teams. But the fun and energy that was there showed that everybody could enjoy themselves and they could learn a lot. People such as the elders, the youth, were very appreciative of having the community of Behchoko host such a large tournament. We have it also in Hay River. We have it in Tulita and other communities down the Mackenzie Valley that show the importance of hand games. I guess I would also support Mr. Lafferty's suggestion as having the GNWT more involved, even to the point of the MLAs having a team in one of these events. I know that when we went to Deline last year, the MLAs were certainly playing and there were some pretty good movers and shakers on our side of the MLAs to play the hand games and some pretty good shooters in terms of how to guess which object is in which hand. I think it would be very good for our people to see us, as leaders, also get out in the community and support them at other events. I hope that next year at some of the events that we have, team from the MLAs to play hand games with the people and have fun and also to enjoy the activities that each community has to offer in terms of a tournament that hosts the traditional hand games. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

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The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Members' statements. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Villeneuve.

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Robert Villeneuve

Robert Villeneuve Tu Nedhe

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I also would like to mention just something about the Dene hand games tournament held in Behchoko there last weekend. As you may well be aware, these hand game tournaments can sometimes have very high stakes and are received by many as a good way to make some quick cash legally, while having fun and meeting old friends.

---Laughter

Mr. Speaker, just for the southern public's information and for the record, in the old days hand games were a very important part of the Dene festivities, which usually were played when different groups met on the trail and usually lasted for several days. Hand games were, and still are, one of the most competitive of all the traditional Dene games. Things like matches and gun powder and shot or tobacco, all of which were very hard to come by in the old days, were often staked. Similarly today, things are staked that are just as hard to come by, like cash and lots of it.

With that, Mr. Speaker, I'd just like to congratulate some Lutselk'e residents like Albert Boucher, George and James Marlowe, Pete Enzoe, Steven Nitah, Tommy Lockhart, Archie Catholique, Lawrence Catholique and Alfred Catholique, who all surprised everyone and captured a very respectable second place at the Dene hand games tournament. I will not say how much cash they won, for obvious reasons, Mr. Speaker, but I will say it was definitely worth the trip and the experience of fun, camaraderie and Dene tradition. Mahsi.

---Applause

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The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

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

David Ramsay

David Ramsay Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I want to speak about the Mackenzie gas project and how it will impact our territory. There is no doubt that the 22 communities located in the valley itself and along the proposed routing of the pipeline will see the largest socio-economic impacts. Just last year, the federal government announced the establishment of a $500 million socio-economic impact fund for communities along the proposed route to be compensated for being impacted by the pipeline.

Mr. Speaker, as we move closer to the development of this pipeline, the pending impacts in all of our communities will become more and more of an issue. How can a government which is a public government abandon 75 percent of our population? Mr. Speaker, I want to state again, like I did last year for the record, that quite clearly the $500 million should go to the 22 communities along the route. They will need and they deserve every dime of that money. The fact of the matter, Mr. Speaker, is that 75 percent of our population and residents do not, and will not, have access to a fund designed to help mitigate social impacts because of this mega project.

How could the Government of the Northwest Territories, or the federal government for that matter, believe that socio-economic impacts would stop at those communities deemed to be affected? How can you build the $9 billion mega project down the heart of our territory of 43,000 people and expect that only some communities will feel the effects? It is virtually impossible, Mr. Speaker. Is it the Government of the Northwest Territories' position today that communities like Yellowknife, like Hay River, Fort Smith, Behchoko, will not bear any social impacts as a result of the pipeline? What about the aboriginal groups, Mr. Speaker? The Dogrib are left out of the funding. The Akaitcho and Yellowknives Dene are also on the outside looking in.

I'm not sure why the government settled on accepting the $500 million for just the 22 communities. In my mind, and in the minds of 75 percent of our people, the Government of the Northwest Territories has failed to protect the future interests of the majority of our residents. I want to see our Premier talking to the federal government about establishing a second socio-economic impact fund for all the other communities and First Nations in our territory.

Mr. Speaker, I also want to mention the fact that we are on the verge...

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

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

David Ramsay

David Ramsay Kam Lake

Thank you, 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. You may conclude your statement, Mr. Ramsay.

David Ramsay

David Ramsay Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also want to mention, for the record, that we are on the verge of this $9 billion mega project and we still have not got a resource revenue sharing deal, nor are we any closer to establishing a permanent trust fund or heritage fund from the Mackenzie gas project that will benefit future generations of our people. Mr. Speaker, these outstanding issues continue to be the shame of this government. Thank you.

---Applause

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Members' statements. The honourable Member for Nunakput, Mr. Pokiak.

Beaufort-delta Regional Addictions Conference
Item 3: Members' Statements

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Calvin Pokiak

Calvin Pokiak Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I had the opportunity yesterday to attend the opening ceremonies of a regional addictions conference being held from March 5th to 9th, 2007, in Inuvik. Mr. Speaker, during the opening ceremonies a well-respected elder and leader spoke of long ago when alcohol and drugs were unheard of. He spoke about how he grew up not to rely on what was introduced as rations to the people of the Beaufort-Delta. People were proud in those days because in order to survive, you had to be active in order to provide for your family.

By listening to this elder, Mr. Speaker, it should encourage our youth to take notice of what the affects of alcohol and drugs are doing to our youth and society today. He stated we need to turn this around today for our youth and people, and that is why this conference is being held this week.

Mr. Speaker, in partnership with the Beaufort-Delta Health and Social Services Authority and the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation and the Gwich'in Tribal Council, we decided to hold a regional addictions conference because of the increase in alcohol and drug abuse in the region. Should the proposed Mackenzie gas project proceed, the leaders decided the conference is necessary because it may lead to further alcohol and drug abuse and may limit the ability of the Beaufort-Delta residents to participate in the economic benefits the project will provide.

Mr. Speaker, in order to address this problem of alcohol and drug abuse, the Beaufort-Delta Health and Social Services, the IRC and GTC decided a comprehensive plan needs to be developed that is appropriate to our residents and to our communities. Mr. Speaker, some specific topics to discuss at this conference are related to men only, on their traditional and contemporary role in the community, alternative therapies with hard-to-reach youth, helping families have fun and create joy by using recreation, working with families, and an update on addictions and FASD.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I applaud the leaders of the Beaufort-Delta in taking the lead to gather together to address the concern of alcohol and drug abuse, but, more importantly, to establish a comprehensive plan to address the alcohol and drug problems in the Beaufort-Delta. However, we, as government, must -- and I say must -- play an important role about providing the necessary infrastructure programs and resources so that the Beaufort-Delta can start addressing these problems. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

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The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

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

Resource Revenue Trust Fund
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Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on Monday, March 19th, the federal government is going to table their budget three days after this House adjourns. Mr. Speaker, hopes are riding high on this federal budget. It's going to be the last chance for this 15th Assembly to show progress on resource revenue sharing. Specifically, Mr. Speaker, I'm referring to how the federal government plans to calculate the resource revenues when they look at equalization payments and, in our case, our formula. It is anticipated and hoped that they will put 50 percent on the table and allow provinces to have access to 50 percent and not count those as part of the equalization arrangement.

Mr. Speaker, for us that would be a step up. We have been negotiating hard for the last 11 years hoping at some point we may reach 30 percent. If the government, the Conservative government, does this, then they will in fact deserve full marks. They will have done something the Liberals haven't done in 10 years, which is actually deliver for us on resource revenue sharing.

Mr. Speaker, the reason I raise this today is because if we get 50 percent in that budget, then I think when we get back together in May we should have a serious discussion about finally looking at, as the Member from Kam Lake has referenced and has been referenced by others in the past, the ability and the resources to finally set up a heritage fund; a heritage fund for the people, the future generations of the Northwest Territories; a fund that would be politically tamper proof, that would be similar to something as they have done in Norway, where they have wisely put aside money from their oil and gas to the tune of about $300 billion for future generations.

We know, as we speak, that gas and oil is being pumped south, that diamonds are being removed from the land that we will never get a penny for. So we have an obligation to look as the aboriginal governments do, as the Iroquois do, seven generations out, what are we planning for our children in future generations? This will be our first opportunity, and I think at the earliest opportunity, should that come to pass in the May session, then we should be sitting down at the Legislature to take those first fundamental steps to protect the future generations. Thank you.

---Applause

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The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Members' statements. The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Braden.

Social Supports For The Homeless
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Bill Braden

Bill Braden Great Slave

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. One segment of our population that is in dire straights are the homeless. This is a condition that affects all ages, all genders, all races. What is the face of homelessness in Yellowknife, Mr. Speaker? A bit of an inventory here: At the SideDoor facility they have a client list of about between 50 and 90 youth on a regular basis, including an overnight shelter. The Centre for Northern Families provides shelter for about 30 women every day, 98 percent of them are Inuit and aboriginal, Mr. Speaker; 60 percent of them are from Nunavut. The Salvation Army shelters approximately 40 to 50 men every day. Again, the majority are aboriginal men from northern communities and from the South. The YWCA is a tremendous organization with many different plans and services, Mr. Speaker. They see about 30 to 40 families a year who use their five emergency units and 20 rooms, they also provide transitional housing to move families, support families for up to one year. There are about 60 families a year and these, of course, all include children. Mr. Speaker, the Alison McAteer House provides beds for about 175 women a year. These are women experiencing family violence and have no other resources to turn to. About 100 more women are turned away every year, Mr. Speaker. There are also many organizations for the disabled, seniors, and even the RCMP. They provide a certain homelessness service here. In one year they will undertake to look after about 1,000 people, most of them intoxicated.

Mr. Speaker, if we put all of the homeless together that we know of that are collected here in the city of Yellowknife, we'd end up, we believe, with about the sixth largest community in the Northwest Territories. These people face many barriers. Just putting roofs over their heads in emergency situations is not going to be enough to solve these issues. There needs to be, Mr. Speaker, a continuum of community-based programs and it does not even come close to meeting the needs that we know today. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

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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. You may conclude your statement, Mr. Braden.

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Bill Braden

Bill Braden Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The homeless face many, many barriers: fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, spousal abuse, substance abuse and dependencies, conflicts with the law, employment and education issues, and increasing urbanization. Mr. Speaker, we know that so many people choose to come to Yellowknife and we also know that many of them choose not to return. Our government invests over $120 million a year, Mr. Speaker, in some 17 programs across eight different departments for social services, many of them affecting the homeless. We know their efforts are not as well coordinated, efficient and focused as they should be. We began this term with a major project, Mr. Speaker, called the income security framework policy, which was intended to streamline this. We are not seeing the results or the progress that we should and we are letting the homeless people of the Northwest Territories down, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

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The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

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