This is page numbers 265 - 302 of the Hansard for the 15th Assembly, 6th 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 going.

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Further Return To Question 105-15(6): Housing Complex For Deninu Kue Seniors
Question 105-15(6): Housing Complex For Deninu Kue Seniors
Item 8: Oral Questions

Page 277

Joe Handley

Joe Handley Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have pretty well everything in place. The only piece of information we don't have is agreement from the Metis council that in the event we don't have seniors to occupy the units, that they would agree to have the units occupied either by a single person or by a couple based on a waiting list, Mr. Speaker. So if we get that one piece of information so there is no misunderstanding down the road, and this project is ready to go. As I said, the meeting is being held next week and I don't see any reason for any delay beyond that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Further Return To Question 105-15(6): Housing Complex For Deninu Kue Seniors
Question 105-15(6): Housing Complex For Deninu Kue Seniors
Item 8: Oral Questions

Page 277

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Villeneuve.

Supplementary To Question 105-15(6): Housing Complex For Deninu Kue Seniors
Question 105-15(6): Housing Complex For Deninu Kue Seniors
Item 8: Oral Questions

Page 277

Robert Villeneuve

Robert Villeneuve Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It's good to know they only need this one piece of information left, but I have to remind the Minister, when you are trying to get all these community organizations to come together to support something that seems like a good initiative for the community, it's always really difficult when you are talking about dollar allocations within the community. To go out there and start negotiating another round of negotiations and agreements with all these local organizations by the seniors' society, that just really puts a lot of strain on what they have already done. Can his department provide some support to the seniors' society in expediting the whole process and getting in touch with the Metis and saying we are just waiting for you guys, are you onside, is it a go? Can they do that for the seniors? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 105-15(6): Housing Complex For Deninu Kue Seniors
Question 105-15(6): Housing Complex For Deninu Kue Seniors
Item 8: Oral Questions

Page 277

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 105-15(6): Housing Complex For Deninu Kue Seniors
Question 105-15(6): Housing Complex For Deninu Kue Seniors
Item 8: Oral Questions

Page 277

Joe Handley

Joe Handley Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There have been discussions. The Metis have told us they are

meeting on the 24th, which is a week from today. They will give us that assurance.

Mr. Speaker, what we are trying to avoid is a situation we see in some communities where we have a seniors complex, it's only for seniors, and then we have empty units and then people looking for housing and they can't move into it because it's a seniors complex. We want to say let's be sensible about this, let's build it as a seniors unit, but if there are other people, make sure they can move in there too with priority given to the seniors.

Mr. Speaker, I will assure the Member that we expect to have a decision on the 24th. If there seems to be a problem with that, we will intervene and urge the Metis council to move this quickly. That's the only piece of information we need. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Further Return To Question 105-15(6): Housing Complex For Deninu Kue Seniors
Question 105-15(6): Housing Complex For Deninu Kue Seniors
Item 8: Oral Questions

Page 278

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Oral questions. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in my statement today, I spoke about the issue of recreational land availability around Yellowknife, in particular the Ingraham Trail. The issue, as I see it, needs to move forward and it's an important issue. I would like to direct my questions to the Premier because it involves multi levels of government.

Mr. Speaker, is the Premier aware of any interim agreement or negotiations going on between DIAND, the Akaitcho, the GNWT to resolve the issue of squatters in and around Yellowknife because there is little enforcement and, further, is there any commitment he can make today to ensure that a process starts to engage the stakeholders with this problem? Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Honourable Premier, Mr. Handley.

Return To Question 106-15(6): Recreational Land Availability Around Yellowknife
Question 106-15(6): Recreational Land Availability Around Yellowknife
Item 8: Oral Questions

Page 278

Joe Handley

Joe Handley Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can't speak for DIAND, for the federal government, but from our government's perspective, in 2004 we tried to come to an agreement with the Akaitcho at the negotiating table to have a policy that deals with unauthorized use of land. Mr. Speaker, at that time, the proposal we put forward was rejected and we have not taken it back to the table again.

Mr. Speaker, in the meantime, through Municipal and Community Affairs, we continue to work towards a policy for use of land and, as Members may have noticed, there have been ads in the papers this week warning people are they breaking the law. Thank you.

Return To Question 106-15(6): Recreational Land Availability Around Yellowknife
Question 106-15(6): Recreational Land Availability Around Yellowknife
Item 8: Oral Questions

Page 278

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 106-15(6): Recreational Land Availability Around Yellowknife
Question 106-15(6): Recreational Land Availability Around Yellowknife
Item 8: Oral Questions

Page 278

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I see this issue clearly around the word respect. This is respect for First Nations land. This is respect for our environment. This is respect about the law. So if we don't deal with the trespassers, it's a serious issue. I have spoken to one of the local chiefs and he's concerned. I have spoken to some of the DIAND folks here and they are concerned. Would the Premier be willing to initiate this, I think he called it a tabled situation. I'm sorry; I missed how he said it. Anyway, would he be willing to reinitiate this process to get this discussion out there with the stakeholders so we can deal with it? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary To Question 106-15(6): Recreational Land Availability Around Yellowknife
Question 106-15(6): Recreational Land Availability Around Yellowknife
Item 8: Oral Questions

Page 278

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Honourable Premier, Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 106-15(6): Recreational Land Availability Around Yellowknife
Question 106-15(6): Recreational Land Availability Around Yellowknife
Item 8: Oral Questions

May 16th, 2007

Page 278

Joe Handley

Joe Handley Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I was referring to trying to work with the Akaitcho negotiators, Akaitcho people, at the negotiation table. We tried that in 2004. It didn't go anywhere. So, Mr. Speaker, I am certainly open to having our negotiator consider raising this again when there is next a meeting at the table.

Mr. Speaker, beyond that, what we are prepared to do right now is put out enforcement procedures that we have worked out, give people warnings and give people notice that they have to show us that they have the right to be occupying the land they have. If they don't, then they are violating the law and will be dealt with accordingly. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Further Return To Question 106-15(6): Recreational Land Availability Around Yellowknife
Question 106-15(6): Recreational Land Availability Around Yellowknife
Item 8: Oral Questions

Page 278

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 106-15(6): Recreational Land Availability Around Yellowknife
Question 106-15(6): Recreational Land Availability Around Yellowknife
Item 8: Oral Questions

Page 278

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the Premier further outlining this process, but I would like to encourage him to not wait until the next table. We can probably deal with this as a side table issue because we have cottage country within reach of Yellowknife that we could get lawful people out there enjoying summer, enjoying winter, whatever the case may be. Mr. Speaker, can the Premier explain what enforcement means, because he just hinted that there would be some enforcement, and how will it be monitored. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary To Question 106-15(6): Recreational Land Availability Around Yellowknife
Question 106-15(6): Recreational Land Availability Around Yellowknife
Item 8: Oral Questions

Page 278

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 106-15(6): Recreational Land Availability Around Yellowknife
Question 106-15(6): Recreational Land Availability Around Yellowknife
Item 8: Oral Questions

Page 278

Joe Handley

Joe Handley Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As Members have noticed, we have put out notices in the newspapers. It's also on the community channel, on the green...(inaudible)...we want people to know that if they are building something or they have something out there, they are going to have to show us that they have the right to be there. Mr. Speaker, we have started that.

Mr. Speaker, we will be posting notices on property where we are not able to identify someone with a lease or a title. We have to follow a process in there giving proper notice. Of course, it varies whether we find out who the owner or the occupant is. We will follow through with that. Where it is abandoned, again there is a process we have to follow to deal with structures that have been abandoned and

there is need for clean up of those. Mr. Speaker, I won't go into all the steps, but there is a procedure laid out that is very clear and we have developed that in cooperation with the Department of Justice.

Mr. Speaker, let me just say in closing, that we do want and hope to have the cooperation of the Akaitcho people as well as we begin the procedures of managing this. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Further Return To Question 106-15(6): Recreational Land Availability Around Yellowknife
Question 106-15(6): Recreational Land Availability Around Yellowknife
Item 8: Oral Questions

Page 279

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 106-15(6): Recreational Land Availability Around Yellowknife
Question 106-15(6): Recreational Land Availability Around Yellowknife
Item 8: Oral Questions

Page 279

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, just for clarity here, I am going to go back, although I have asked for it, I just want to be sure that we are on the same page. Would the Premier be willing to go out and speak to the Akaitcho folks and even place a phone call to the DIAND folks who are in charge of this area and strike up this meeting? The talks I have had with these individuals, they are ready and very interested in dealing with this problem. Would the Premier agree to do that today? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary To Question 106-15(6): Recreational Land Availability Around Yellowknife
Question 106-15(6): Recreational Land Availability Around Yellowknife
Item 8: Oral Questions

Page 279

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 106-15(6): Recreational Land Availability Around Yellowknife
Question 106-15(6): Recreational Land Availability Around Yellowknife
Item 8: Oral Questions

Page 279

Joe Handley

Joe Handley Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don't know if I will have a chance to do it today...

---Laughter

...but, Mr. Speaker, I will and we have committed to consulting with the Akaitcho and letting them know what we are doing in terms of the enforcement procedures. Hopefully we will have cooperation there.

Mr. Speaker, I also hope that DIAND will also follow a similar process as we are on their land because, Members know, we can only develop procedures and apply our legislation on Commissioner's land. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Further Return To Question 106-15(6): Recreational Land Availability Around Yellowknife
Question 106-15(6): Recreational Land Availability Around Yellowknife
Item 8: Oral Questions

Page 279

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Oral questions. The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Braden.

Bill Braden

Bill Braden Great Slave

Mr. Speaker, my questions this afternoon are for Mr. Dent, the Minister responsible for Persons with Disabilities. Mr. Speaker, it's long been recognized that our disabilities and income support policies can prevent some significant barriers to families wishing to care for long-term disabled family members in their homes. We have had two initiatives underway for quite some time; several years, Mr. Speaker. These include the disabilities framework and the government-wide income security reform review. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister advise whether either of these initiatives will address the barriers that exist in our policies to providing and assisting families with long-term care for disabled members in their homes? Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Honourable Minister responsible for Persons with Disabilities, Mr. Dent.

Return To Question 107-15(6): Support Systems For Persons With Disabilities
Question 107-15(6): Support Systems For Persons With Disabilities
Item 8: Oral Questions

Page 279

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. By September of this year, the Income Support Program will be changed to provide a better level of support for persons with disabilities. We are also looking at changes that will accommodate some of the issue that the Member has talked about in terms of long-term planning for families who have youngsters with disabilities in a similar vein to the approach taken by the federal government recently. So, yes, Mr. Speaker, that's underway. I am hoping in June to be able to announce the specifics of some of the changes we hope to implement in September.