This is page numbers 2821 - 2866 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 agreed.

Topics

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my Member’s statement I talked about probably something that is a very little known fact here in the Northwest Territories because we live a long ways we think from the kind of organized crime and crime rings that would be involved in human trafficking. I would like to ask the Minister of Justice, in his communications with his counterparts in the federal and provincial governments, has the issue of taking a collaborative approach to addressing the problem of human trafficking ever come up in the discussions? Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The honourable Minister of Justice, Mr. Lafferty.

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Minister of Justice

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This particular issue has been brought up during the FPT. It does reflect in all jurisdictions even though we are a small jurisdiction in the Northwest Territories. It does have an impact on us. Certainly it has been addressed. It is not only us but other departments as well, whether it be the Justice Department or the Status of Women. We are conducting a jurisdictional survey and some protocols here in the Northwest Territories and other jurisdictions as well on the responses and issues. We need to be, of course, prepared for, as the Member alluded to, the Olympics are coming up and other activities and functions that are happening. This has been addressed as part of the FPT on a going-forward basis. Thank you.

Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River South

Mr. Speaker, before the influx of some major industrial activities here in the Northwest Territories associated with construction during the diamond mines construction phase, there was a lot of speculation in the Northwest Territories about the possibility of that being accompanied by things like more organized crime, drug trafficking and actual activities associated with the sex trade. Is that something that the Minister would be briefed on from time to time by the law enforcement in the Northwest Territories? Thank you.

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Minister of Justice

Mr. Speaker, yes, through the RCMP “G” Division, the commanding officer and also the commission of RCMP, I do have frequent meetings with them on an annual basis, quarterly. So they do brief us on activities that are happening in other jurisdictions which may have a potential impact on the Northwest Territories and also on our jurisdiction as well. If it is pertaining to those kinds of particular issues, then certainly that is addressed through that avenue. We do have a protocol in place with RCMP “G” Division on a going-forward basis informing each other. If there

are issues that we need to be aware of, right away they will let us know. Mahsi.

Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River South

Mr. Speaker, this issue of human trafficking came as a surprise to me. I was not aware of the magnitude of this problem, the existence of this problem, especially associated with industrial activities and with things like sporting organizations and activities. I was quite surprised to hear of it. Quite often, when we hear of missing persons, we don’t associate it with anything like as heinous as human trafficking, but there are outstanding missing persons for a long time in the Northwest Territories. Quite often, too, in southern Canada, we hear of serial killers and things being uncovered eventually, we find out that, in fact, a lot of the young women affected by this are First Nations young women. We have those outstanding cases from the Minister’s riding still. I guess people just need to be aware of it. I would like to ask the Minister, what kind of activity does the RCMP undertake to ensure that, when there are cases of missing persons in the Northwest Territories, it is not associated with something as heinous as human trafficking? Thank you.

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Minister of Justice

Mr. Speaker, RCMP “G” Division, even at the headquarters, they have their own communication dialogue to reach out to the general public in various jurisdictions, but our own jurisdiction in the Northwest Territories will continue to work with them on how we can better communicate with the general public on those key areas that the Member is alluding to. I think it is important to highlight the importance of it and just to be aware. I think that is what it comes down to and we’ll continue to make every effort to do that through the general public, working closely with the RCMP G Division within our Justice Department and also Status of Women and other departments that we need to work closely with this particular area, because it does impact most of our departments here in the Northwest Territories. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Final supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I didn’t go see the movie myself, but I know my daughter went to see that movie called “Taken” and she was quite shaken by it. What takes place, on the part of our government, that would warn young people of some of the dangers that may be out there of associating with people that may be involved in these types of criminal activity? What kind of awareness and education program is out there, perhaps even through our high schools? Thank you.

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Minister of Justice

Mr. Speaker, we have produced some educational materials some of

which is missing persons. I did see that movie myself, as well, and it is frightening. I think we need to do more in that area, especially with the youth. The spring break travelling down south, that’s a prime example. Anything could happen to these young individuals and I think we need to have a clear message to them that the outside world is a different atmosphere. Certainly I appreciate the Member giving us some ideas on how we can move forward on this. We’ll certainly do that from our Justice Department and working with other departments, as well, to have this clear message out there. Mahsi.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.

Kevin A. Menicoche

Kevin A. Menicoche Nahendeh

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I just wanted to continue to follow up on my questions on the Dehcho Process and direct it to the Minister responsible for Aboriginal Affairs, who happens to be Mr. Premier.

Also similar in nature to the concerns of the Dehcho are the Nahanni National Park expansion boundaries as well as the Edehzhie wildlife reserve that’s being discussed right now. I’d like to just ask the Premier, what is the current position of the GNWT with respect to the Edehzhie Protected Area Strategy? Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Mr. Roland.

Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The whole area of the selection process, the amount of lands that are either under protected areas or set aside in the parks, are all part of the negotiation process right now, so I would be uncomfortable in putting out an actual position. Although there’s been much work done between the departments that are involved, the Dehcho First Nations and the federal government, on coming up with positions. There was much talk about, for example, on the Nahanni Park extension and expansion and, in fact, as we looked at it and discussed with the people at the table, we have more in common than we have uncommon in the sense of where we’re looking at trying to set up areas for protection. That work is ongoing and we will continue to be at those tables to try and secure a balanced approach. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Kevin A. Menicoche

Kevin A. Menicoche Nahendeh

I just wanted to reiterate my point that I’ve been raising all day, is that our government should continue to work with the Dehcho First Nations and if there’s a briefing note out there or else if the Department of Aboriginal

Affairs wanted to go one specific direction, our government ought to be responsible and check with the Dehcho First Nations to see what is their point of view on the specific direction that’s being directed to the department and to the Premier’s office.

Mr. Speaker, will the Premier assure the people of the Deh Cho and the people of the NWT that this government will give full support for the Dehcho First Nations in their effort to secure preservation of the Edehzhie protected area on the Horn Plateau? Thank you.

Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik Boot Lake

Mr. Speaker, we are at the table and we agree that there is a need for protection in certain specific areas. The area of size and the matter, these ongoing discussions that are occurring. We’ve been a party to a number of discussions that are ongoing and we continue to remain at the table in support of the only areas as looking at actual square kilometres that the final area would take up. We continue to be at the table and we agree there needs to be protection and some specific sites within the area. Thank you.

Kevin A. Menicoche

Kevin A. Menicoche Nahendeh

The same goes with the discussions around the Nahanni National Park Reserve expansion. I am aware that our government took a completely different position from the Dehcho First Nations and my concern is that they acted on their own, with their own briefing notes, again conferring with the federal government. I urge this government, if there’s a decision to be made, to contact the Dehcho First Nations and ask them what is there opinion on the action that they’re about to take.

Once again, will the Premier assure the people of the Northwest Territories and the Dehcho First Nations that this government will give full support for the Dehcho First Nations in their efforts to complete the expansion of the Nahanni National Park Reserve? Mahsi.

Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik Boot Lake

Mr. Speaker, there are a number of processes the Member has talked about, for example, the Protected Areas Strategy. There’s an eight-step process that’s been clearly identified that all parties are familiar with and work with to get through that process and come up with a final decision and position.

On the Nahanni, in fact, when you look at it, when we sit down and have the discussion, we’re about 90 percent in agreement with the groups. We support the fact that there needs to be a Protected Areas Strategy, there needs to be some parks set aside. Our concern is if it ends up totally in the hands of the federal government to manage for time immemorial, what does that mean, in fact, when we talk about self-government when it is the

federal government who will always have the authority in those areas? Then we have to look at, for example, Mr. Speaker, when all is said and done and the land transferred and authorities transferred over, that there needs to be the ability, whether it is programming on the GNWT’s part that remains within the GNWT and the affordability of running those programs or if it’s the programs that the Dehcho First Nations draw down and they need revenues to do that, we need to make sure that there’s a balanced approach so that lands remain available to either Dehcho First Nations or the public government-of-the-day to be able to run those programs that each group is responsible. That’s the balance that we all try to come with and come forward with, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.

Kevin A. Menicoche

Kevin A. Menicoche Nahendeh

I’m glad to hear those words from Mr. Premier. I still didn’t really get a commitment, however. I believe that the key message that I’m delivering here today is that our government is conferring with the federal government and I believe that our government should be conferring with the Dehcho First Nations as well. Can the Premier and can the Minister give that commitment? Thank you.

Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik Boot Lake

Mr. Speaker, the records would show we are, whether it’s through the negotiation tables themselves or through the regional leadership meetings and structures we’ve set up, we’re definitely in consultation and conferring around quite a number of issues that impact us as we go forward and we do see the need of coming together with a common position that would see it being the best interest of Northerners across the Territory. Our role as a public government for the whole of the Northwest Territories is to come up with a balance that works for everyone. When it’s all settled and things are put in their place, we need to ensure that each government that’s set up has the capacity, has the revenue sources and has a protection regime in place that would mean longevity in all those organizations across the North. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Roland. The time for question period has expired. Item 9, written questions. Item 10, returns to written questions. Item 11, replies to opening address. Item 12, petitions. Item 13, reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 14, tabling of documents. The honourable Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, Mr. Miltenberger.

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document entitled Natural Resources Conservation Trust Fund Annual Report 2007-2008. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Tabling of documents. Item 15, notices of motion. Item 16, notices of motion for first reading of bills. Item 17, motions. Item 18, first reading of bills. The honourable Minister of Finance, Mr. Miltenberger.