Debates of Feb. 17th, 2009

This is page numbers 2267 - 2314 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 communities.

Topics

Oral Questions

Prayer

Minister’s Statement 21-16(3): Government Of The Northwest Territories Support For The Fur Industry

Minister’s Statement 22-16(3): Aboriginal Student Achievement Initiative

Minister’s Statement 23-16(3): Minister Absent From The House

Cost Of Living Issues In Tuktoyaktuk

Comparison Of Winter Road Maintenance In The NWT And Alberta

Health Professional Legislation

Fur Industry In The Sahtu

Deh Cho Bridge Project

Condolences On The Death Of Mr. Laurence Catholique

Maintenance And Security Of Stanton Territorial Hospital

Kole Crook Fiddle Association Achievements

Policy Limiting Disposable Beverage Containers

Cost Of Living Issues Affecting Elders

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Deh Cho Bridge Project

Comparison Of Winter Road Maintenance In The NWT And Alberta

Take A Kid Trapping Program

Maintenance And Security Issues At Stanton Territorial Hospital

Labour Mobility Agreement On Unregulated Health Professions

Fuel Subsidy Programs For Seniors

Policy Limiting Disposable Beverage Containers

Reduced Fuel Rate Rider

Maintenance And Security Issues At Stanton Territorial Hospital

Cost Of Living Issues Affecting Elders

Policy Regarding Medical Travel Escorts

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

—-Short Recess

Recommendation To Reinstate $15,000 For Law Bursaries Program Under The Services To Government Activity Carried

Report of Committee of the Whole

Orders of the Day

Motion 2-16(3): Recommendation To Reinstate $15,000 For Law Bursaries Program Under The Services To Government Activity Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Mr. Chair, I believe that we have to do whatever we can to attract people into the justice system, but, more importantly, with the lack of lawyers in the Northwest Territories and, more

importantly, aboriginal lawyers, that anything that we can do to support them by bursary programs, that we have to find a way to entice people to come to work for the Department of Justice, the Government of the Northwest Territories or aboriginal organizations.

This is an area that I feel that we have a very huge challenge to find lawyers in the Northwest Territories, but, more importantly, aboriginal lawyers in the Northwest Territories. We have had some successes, but, I think Mr. Chairman, that’s it’s important that this government have programs and services for students that are going for a law degree, to have an opportunity to look for bursaries that will assist them when they go off and get their degrees and also have to realize that they’re going to take three or four years of their lives to get their degrees. I think it’s important that this government have these programs in all the areas and not simply say, well, sorry, we haven’t had people apply or the people that have taken this program did not come back North. I think, if anything, what we’ve learned from other government bursary programs is that you put a contract in place for those individuals. That when they get this money, that they do have to work for the Department of Justice or the Government of the Northwest Territories or an aboriginal organization for a number of months or years or a year to basically reimburse the goodwill that whoever put the bursary in place would like return in service by way of a contract. I think that can be done in that way.

With that, I feel it’s very important that we have these programs in all departments, and not just in the Department of Justice, to encourage aboriginal students to go off, get the law degree, or get a master’s degree in any area that will enhance the Government of the Northwest Territories’ delivery of programs and services, especially in the area of justice. Thank you.

Motion 2-16(3): Recommendation To Reinstate $15,000 For Law Bursaries Program Under The Services To Government Activity Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair Glen Abernethy

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. To the motion.

Motion 2-16(3): Recommendation To Reinstate $15,000 For Law Bursaries Program Under The Services To Government Activity Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Some Hon. Members

Question.

Motion 2-16(3): Recommendation To Reinstate $15,000 For Law Bursaries Program Under The Services To Government Activity Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair Glen Abernethy

Question is being called.

---Carried

We’re on page 9-14, services to government, activity summary, grants and contributions, grants, $49,000.

Motion 2-16(3): Recommendation To Reinstate $15,000 For Law Bursaries Program Under The Services To Government Activity Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

Motion 2-16(3): Recommendation To Reinstate $15,000 For Law Bursaries Program Under The Services To Government Activity Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair Glen Abernethy

We’re on page 9-15, information item, services to government, active positions. Mr. Krutko.

Motion 2-16(3): Recommendation To Reinstate $15,000 For Law Bursaries Program Under The Services To Government Activity Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Again, I’d like to ask the department if they can give us a breakdown in regard to these positions by way of the affirmative action numbers, P1s, P2s, P3s and if any of those individuals are disabled individuals. Thank you.

Motion 2-16(3): Recommendation To Reinstate $15,000 For Law Bursaries Program Under The Services To Government Activity Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair Glen Abernethy

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Minister Lafferty.

Motion 2-16(3): Recommendation To Reinstate $15,000 For Law Bursaries Program Under The Services To Government Activity Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, certainly we can get a paper copy to the Members. The information that we have on the breakdown is 25 percent aboriginal in community justice and corrections, 21 percent aboriginal in legal aid services, 9 percent aboriginal in services to government, 13 percent in services to the public. We can certainly have a breakdown in detail to the Members. Mahsi, Mr. Chair.

Motion 2-16(3): Recommendation To Reinstate $15,000 For Law Bursaries Program Under The Services To Government Activity Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair Glen Abernethy

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Page 9-15, services to government, information item, active positions.

Motion 2-16(3): Recommendation To Reinstate $15,000 For Law Bursaries Program Under The Services To Government Activity Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

Motion 2-16(3): Recommendation To Reinstate $15,000 For Law Bursaries Program Under The Services To Government Activity Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair Glen Abernethy

Moving along to page 9-17, activity summary for law enforcement, operations expenditure. Mr. Krutko.

Motion 2-16(3): Recommendation To Reinstate $15,000 For Law Bursaries Program Under The Services To Government Activity Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you. In regard to the First Nations policing, $424,000, can the Minister explain where that $424,000 is being expended?

Motion 2-16(3): Recommendation To Reinstate $15,000 For Law Bursaries Program Under The Services To Government Activity Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair Glen Abernethy

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Minister Lafferty.

Motion 2-16(3): Recommendation To Reinstate $15,000 For Law Bursaries Program Under The Services To Government Activity Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. That $424,000 for First Nations policing is within the RCMP area. That’s one of their roles that we support. Mahsi.

Motion 2-16(3): Recommendation To Reinstate $15,000 For Law Bursaries Program Under The Services To Government Activity Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Mr. Chairman, there has been talk of reinstating the Special Constable Program. I’d like to know, is this the area where the funding is going to come from for that program to reinstate special constables in the Northwest Territories to work along with the RCMP?

Motion 2-16(3): Recommendation To Reinstate $15,000 For Law Bursaries Program Under The Services To Government Activity Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

Mr. Chair, this particular funding that has been allocated for First Nations policing is different from what the federal announcement is, additional funding. It is a separate issue. Mahsi, Mr. Chair.

Motion 2-16(3): Recommendation To Reinstate $15,000 For Law Bursaries Program Under The Services To Government Activity Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Can the Minister tell me where that funding is going to come from?

Motion 2-16(3): Recommendation To Reinstate $15,000 For Law Bursaries Program Under The Services To Government Activity Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

Mr. Chair, that will come from the federal government and within the RCMP “G” Division. Mahsi.

Motion 2-16(3): Recommendation To Reinstate $15,000 For Law Bursaries Program Under The Services To Government Activity Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Mr. Chair, I note that there’s almost a $2 million increase in regard to the contract service in regard to the...Is that part of that increase

that you’re looking at? What’s the over $2 million increase in that contracting services?

Motion 2-16(3): Recommendation To Reinstate $15,000 For Law Bursaries Program Under The Services To Government Activity Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair Glen Abernethy

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Ms. Schofield.

Motion 2-16(3): Recommendation To Reinstate $15,000 For Law Bursaries Program Under The Services To Government Activity Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Schofield

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The funding for those positions will come from within the existing appropriation or the positions aren’t created yet as we don’t have the people identified to go into those positions or the training provided. It’s our understanding that by 2010, the next fiscal year is when those positions will be operational. Thank you.

Motion 2-16(3): Recommendation To Reinstate $15,000 For Law Bursaries Program Under The Services To Government Activity Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair Glen Abernethy

Thank you, Ms. Schofield. Mr. Krutko.

Motion 2-16(3): Recommendation To Reinstate $15,000 For Law Bursaries Program Under The Services To Government Activity Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

What about the positions that are being created in regard to enhancing police services for community patrols where we don’t have police officers? Is that coming out of that money? I believe this is going to take as of April 1st . Where is

that money in regard to that $2 million increase?

Motion 2-16(3): Recommendation To Reinstate $15,000 For Law Bursaries Program Under The Services To Government Activity Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair Glen Abernethy

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Mr. Lafferty.

Debates of Feb. 17th, 2009

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