Debates of Oct. 24th, 2008
This is page numbers 1921 to 1954 of the Hansard for the 16th Assembly, 3rd 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 honourable.
Topics
- Oral Questions
- Prayer
- Minister’s Statement 5-16(3) “over The Top” Marine Resupply
- Nunakput Constituency Issues
- NWT Midwifery Program
- Constituent Response To GNWT Revenue Options Paper
- Promoting The GNWT As An Employer Of Choice
- Elders Advisory Council For The Legislative Assembly
- Subsistence Hunting Of Bison
- Policing Services In Small Communities
- Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Prevention Options
- Government Fiscal Prudence
- Impact Of Program Reductions On Nehendeh Communities
- GNWT Zero-Based Review
- Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
- Question 34-16(3) Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Prevention Options
- Question 35-16(3) Policing Services In Tsiigehtchic
- Question 36-16(3) Enhancing Midwifery Services In Yellowknife
- Question 37-16(3) Impact Of Global Economic Downturn
- Question 38-16(3) Medical Travel Concerns In Fort Simpson
- Question 39-16(3) Morale Issues In The Government Workforce
- Question 40-16(3) Analysis Of Government Reduction Strategy
- Question 41-16(3) Traditional Harvesting Of Bison
- Question 42-16(3) Provision Of Income Support Programs
- Question 43-16(3) Impact Of Economic Climate On Tourism Industry
- Question 44-16(3) Involving Elders In The Education System
- Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery (Reversion)
- Question 1-16(3) Operation And Maintenance Of Highway No. 4
- Question 2-16(3) Community Fuel Resupply
- Committee Report 2-16(3) Report On Matters Referred To The Standing Committee
- Tabling of Documents
- Motion 5-16(3) Executive Council Accountability And Performance Process
- Motion 6-16(3) Ministerial Benefits Policy
- Motion 1-16(3) Appointment Of Directorof Human Rights (Motion Carried)
- Motion 2-16(3) Appointment Of Human Rights Adjudication Panel (Motion Carried)
- Motion 3-16(3) Appointment Of Deputy Director Of Human Rights (Motion Carried)
- Motion 4-16(3) Extended Adjournment Of The House To February 4, 2009 (Motion Carried)
- Motion 6-16(3) Ministerial Benefits Policy (Motion Carried)
- Question 45-16(3) Registration Policy Regarding Right-Hand Drive Vehicles
- Question 46-16(3) Assistance With Energy Efficiency Measures For Low Income Homeowners
- Question 47-16(3) Support For Plan Of Care Committees In Communities
- Question 48-16(3) Territorial Women’s Correctional Facility
- Question 49-16(3) Issues Related To The Beaufort Delta Health Authorities
- Question 50-16(3) Government Initiatives In Response To Current Economic Climate
- Bill 1 An Act To Amend The Historical Resources Act
- Bill 2 Settlement Of International Investment Disputes Act
- Bill 3 International Interest In Mobile Aircraft Equipment Act
- Bill 4 Public Library Act
- Bill 5 Professional Corporations Act
- Bill 6 Species At Risk (NWT) Act
- Bill 7 An Act To Amend The Student Financial Assistance Act
- Bill 1 An Act To Amend The Historical Resources Act
- Bill 2 Settlement Of International Investment Disputes Act
- Bill 3 International Interests In Mobile Aircraft Equipment Act
- Bill 4 Public Library Act
- Bill 5 Professional Corporations Act
- Bill 6 Species At Risk (NWT) Act
- Bill 7 An Act To Amend The Student Financial Assistance Act
- Orders of the Day
Question 41-16(3) Traditional Harvesting Of Bison
Oral Questions
Question 41-16(3) Traditional Harvesting Of Bison
Oral Questions

Tom Beaulieu Tu Nedhe
Mr. Speaker, will the Minister commit to working with interested Members on this side of the House on this very important matter so an arrangement or an agreement can be put in place to allow Dene elders to harvest bison outside and northeast of the Mackenzie Wood Bison Sanctuary for subsistence purposes?
Question 41-16(3) Traditional Harvesting Of Bison
Oral Questions

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha
Yes, we are interested in working with the Members. This is a threatened species. There are specific restrictions and criteria that we have to use and follow. There is work underway, but yes, the commitment is that we will work through the appropriate committees as we come forward with the various strategies and proposed changes.
Question 41-16(3) Traditional Harvesting Of Bison
Oral Questions

The Speaker Paul Delorey
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The honourable Member for Nunakput, Mr. Jacobson.
Question 42-16(3) Provision Of Income Support Programs
Oral Questions
October 24th, 2008

Jackie Jacobson Nunakput
Mr. Speaker, today I would like to ask the Minister of ECE, regarding the staff, how they are treating people while giving help or assistance on Income Support and regarding the way they are being treated.
Question 42-16(3) Provision Of Income Support Programs
Oral Questions

The Speaker Paul Delorey
Thank you, Mr. Jacobson. The honourable Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Lafferty.
Question 42-16(3) Provision Of Income Support Programs
Oral Questions

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. With all the communities we serve — 33 communities — we do provide client service officers to deal with those clients in the communities. Where communities may not have client service officers, we do have visitations on a regular schedule. If there are any issues or concerns, that should be brought forward to the regional representative of the income support assistant as well. Certainly, we provide all income support related issues to these clients in the communities on a regular basis. Mahsi.
Question 42-16(3) Provision Of Income Support Programs
Oral Questions

Jackie Jacobson Nunakput
Mr. Speaker, can the Minister commit to me that he will speak to all staff on how they are treating the people in my riding? I’m getting more than one call in regard to staffing issues. I’m not going to name names; I just think people should be treated with respect, and they don’t deserve being ridiculed. They don’t want to go and get help; they want to be working. But the staff should have a little bit more respect for the people and who they are serving.
Question 42-16(3) Provision Of Income Support Programs
Oral Questions

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi
I appreciate the Member’s addressing this issue to my attention today. If it is an issue, we need to deal with it as a department.
Certainly, the respect should always be there between the community members, the clientele and Education, Culture and Employment employees. We do an orientation package for all employees on how to deal with the clients. Even at stressful moments or most critical moments they need to deal with it at a professional level. That is what we’re faced with, and we’ll continue to do that. I certainly commit to the Member that I will look into this matter in his riding. Mahsi.
Question 42-16(3) Provision Of Income Support Programs
Oral Questions

Jackie Jacobson Nunakput
Thank you, Mr. Minister. Again, the people we represent are not happy with going there. Just remind the staff that we work for the people, and it’s not the other way around.
Question 42-16(3) Provision Of Income Support Programs
Oral Questions

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi
This message has been clearly laid out here in the House, and I’m sure people are watching as well. My staff are fully in gear, watching this process as well. Certainly that message will be carried over to the department and on to the region as well. Mahsi.
Question 42-16(3) Provision Of Income Support Programs
Oral Questions

The Speaker Paul Delorey
Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.
Question 43-16(3) Impact Of Economic Climate On Tourism Industry
Oral Questions

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre
Mr. Speaker, three well established tourism businesses in the Yellowknife region are closing the doors, if they have not closed them yet. I don’t feel comfortable mentioning their names, because I know only one, as of yesterday, gave notice to employees, and I can’t speak to the other two specifically.
Their issue for closing their doors, they told me, is the economic climate, the slowdown in tourism, and there is concern that the support levels might not be there from the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment. Setting that sort of framework up, my questions are directed, of course, to the Hon. Bob McLeod, Minister of ITI.
I don’t want to cry doom and gloom, but this is not a good situation in this climate, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to know what the Minister of ITI is doing to make sure if there is any way to turn some of this around. What type of work is he doing so other tourism businesses don’t follow the same lead as these three well established businesses, by closing their doors because of this problem?
Question 43-16(3) Impact Of Economic Climate On Tourism Industry
Oral Questions

The Speaker Paul Delorey
Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment, Mr. Bob McLeod.
Question 43-16(3) Impact Of Economic Climate On Tourism Industry
Oral Questions

Bob McLeod Yellowknife South
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The tourism industry is facing a number of challenges these days for a number of reasons: partly the volatility of the financial market, the currency
exchange rate, and there seems to be a trend to move away from the consumptive sports — hunting and fishing — toward more adventure, ecotourism opportunities. As a department we recognized this several years ago, and we put forward a number of different diversification and marketing programs to help existing operators develop new tourism products.
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