This is page numbers 2893 - 2920 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

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Jacobson. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today again speaking of the Gwich’in MOU that was signed between the Government of the Northwest Territories and the Gwich’in Tribal Council. Mr. Speaker, the memorandum of understanding is an agreement that allows the Government of the Northwest Territories and the Gwich’in to work jointly on efforts to improve the economic wellbeing of the people in the Mackenzie Delta. Mr. Speaker, this agreement is just as important as the land claim agreements, since the government would not live up to Chapter 10 of the agreement or economic measures. Mr. Speaker, it seems like people within the bureaucracy are either ignoring the memorandum of understanding or do not feel that the agreement is still in place.

Mr. Speaker, this agreement is up as of March 31st this year and right now they are presently in the process of renegotiating that agreement. Mr. Speaker, there are contracts in the Gwich’in settlement region which are now still posted in the newspaper in which the Gwich’in are supposed to have an annual meeting with the Government of the Northwest Territories in regards to that agreement in which the government is supposed to come forward, notify what contracts are available in the Gwich’in settlement region within the Gwich’in business community. And yet, Mr. Speaker, it seems like this year, for some reason, that did not happen.

Mr. Speaker, I am still receiving calls from people who have made a best effort to go forward to the government departments, notify that they are interested in negotiating certain contracts, but are being told by people at the front line, well, sorry; we are going to be publicly tendering these contracts. Mr. Speaker, that is not in line with the Gwich’in MOU.

Mr. Speaker, I think it is important that this government, along with the Premier and his Cabinet colleagues, notify people in the field that the Gwich’in MOU is alive and well and will have to be lived up to.

Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time, I will have questions to the Premier in regards to the Gwich’in

MOU and the contracting policy this government signed on to. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Member for Kam Lake, Mr. Ramsay.

David Ramsay

David Ramsay Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to address some current issues at North Slave Correctional Centre, which is located in the riding of Kam Lake. I have spoken in the past of the number of inmates located at the facility that are on remand. Some have been there for close to 12 months and I just don’t understand why we are housing inmates on remand for excessive periods of time. It was almost a year ago when I first brought the issue up to the Minister and it doesn’t seem like things are getting any better.

Mr. Speaker, I am also very concerned over the fact that there is not even a small room that could be used as a library at the North Slave Correctional Centre. The government spent close to $50 million on the jail five years ago and to think there’s not even a small library is ridiculous. Inmates should be doing their time, but improving their knowledge and reading skills should be of importance to the Justice department and to our government, so that when they do get out of the centre, they are able to improve their chances at a job and productive lives and not end up back in jail.

Over 400 books recently showed up at our local dump here in Yellowknife and it would appear that having a small library at the centre is not something the government supports or the department supports.

Mr. Speaker, that brings me to my last point and it deals with mental health at the facility. Over the past year, North Slave Correctional Centre has gotten rid of two clinical psychologists and today there are no mental health services on a day-to-day basis at the North Slave Correctional Centre.

Mr. Speaker, it seems like we are short-changing the rehabilitation of inmates at North Slave Correctional Centre. Last year, changes were also made to program delivery at the centre that, to me, again run contrary to what we should be trying to do, and that is give inmates the rehabilitation in programming they need to keep them from reoffending and out of our facilities.

Mr. Speaker, the Minister and staff should avail themselves to the Standing Committee on Social Programs, sooner rather than later, to discuss the issues that I brought up here today and to brief us

on that. Mr. Speaker, I will have questions to the Minister at the appropriate time. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.

Aboriginal Sport Circle
Members’ Statements

Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the past traditional lifestyle of aboriginal people in the Northwest Territories requires people to be in top physical condition in order to survive and thrive on this land we love so much.

Since then, there has been a dramatic shift away from the lifestyle, resulting in many of the health problems and challenges we face today.

Mr. Speaker, the Aboriginal Sport Circle of the Western Arctic has been leading the way to promote and protect healthy lifestyles for aboriginal people of the NWT, while respecting the individual rights and differences that contribute to the unique northern fabric of this place we call home.

Admission of the Aboriginal Sport Circle of the Western Arctic is to promote and enhance community wellness and culture awareness through sports and recreation. Mr. Speaker, this is exactly what they have been doing in many small communities that we represent. They have been instilling pride in the youth while delivering made-in-the-North programs that fit the unique lifestyle, health situation and challenges that our small communities face.

The Sport Circle believes that sport, recreation and culture leads to better health conditions, social skills and community healing. They have taken up challenges to make a difference. We should do our part to support them. Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for the Minister of MACA at the appropriate time.

Aboriginal Sport Circle
Members’ Statements

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.

Organ Donation Program
Members’ Statements

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I want to talk about the subject of organ donation in the NWT. I know that we have a small population here in the North and Stanton can’t provide transplant services here, which is very realistic. Everyone realizes that this is a very specialized field and, therefore, more organ harvesting and transplant operations have to take place in Edmonton. However, I assume, like many other people who believe in our health care services, that

we have to access these things and are supported through the medical travel when we try to access transplant processes through Edmonton.

Some Northerners have been donors, Mr. Speaker, and some Northerners have been lucky to be recipients of transplants. What I have come to learn lately is that sound policies and procedures still need to be fully developed in this health care area. Transplants may be rare but stressful for the families going through this headache. Mr. Speaker, there needs to be a process that is supportive from the start to the finish, recognizing the donor’s circumstances and what they’re giving up.

Recently I had the frustrating experience to work with a family, who is a constituent here in Yellowknife, through the living donor of a kidney to another family member. The operation had to take place outside of Yellowknife. The family member from Yellowknife who needed the kidney was on dialysis, so the kidney transplant was clearly a health care necessity. The transplanted kidney makes a huge difference to this person’s life, Mr. Speaker, and it’s given them back quality of life.

Through the whole process, from the consideration of the donor to the transplant to arranging the surgery, the departmental representatives helping them along the way and all the problems and headaches they encountered, Mr. Speaker, the donor at the very end of it after the operation said if they weren’t helping a family member, from the experience they went through they probably wouldn’t have gone through the stress knowing what they know.

Mr. Speaker, the issue I am raising here is there needs to be a stronger, clear policy that helps people going through this process. A medical travel policy seems to be completely silent about helping these kinds of people through this kind of service. From the point of view from the family, it was a struggle to get the department to pay for medical travel for the patient and the donor, as well as for the person to come with them. It was a struggle all the way through dealing with accommodations, as well as the surgery.

Mr. Speaker, I certainly hope the Department of Health and Social Services will work to clear up this process to make this a friendly environment to deal with people who are giving up such a precious gift to help saved loved ones. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Organ Donation Program
Members’ Statements

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

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

Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My colleagues will recall how many times I have stood up in this House and talked about the condition and the need for upgrading at the Diamond Jenness Secondary School in Hay River. Well, I’m happy to report today that progress is being made.

I do thank my colleagues for their support for a motion that we made on the floor of this House to try to work together to expedite the money and the processes involved in trying to get this project underway as quickly as possible.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the local district education authority in Hay River who has been working very hard with the Department of Education, Culture and Employment to conclude the program review of what needs to happen in the school and how the renovations or how the program should be reflected in those upgrades.

Mr. Speaker, I’d like to thank the Honourable Jackson Lafferty, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, for his trips to Hay River and his attention to this pressing need. I would also like to thank the Minister, the Honourable Michael McLeod, as Minister of Public Works and Services, for his attention to this matter and with working with us to bring this project to fruition.

Mr. Speaker, the economy in all of our communities right now is in uncertain times. We have been looking towards a creative way of approaching this project, which would allow many of the benefits to remain in the community, and we have very capable contractors and subcontractors in Hay River. So that is something else that is being discussed. So this could be very much a timely win/win situation not only for the government, but also for the community of Hay River as we move forward on this project.

So, again, my thanks very much to my colleagues, to the DEA in Hay River, to the two Ministers who are responsible for this and to the people who are willing to put some creative thoughts together on how we can see this project potentially accomplished in a more expedited fashion because, Mr. Speaker, the students and the educators at the Diamond Jenness Secondary School deserve no less than a proper place to teach and a proper place to be educated. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Sandy Lee

Sandy Lee Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have a large contingent of very strong and important women of the North in the gallery. I would like to take a moment to recognize them. First we have two of the five wise women who were recognized earlier today: Ms. Mary Ann Ross from the Beaufort-Delta, from Inuvik.

---Applause

And someone who needs no introduction, the woman warrior, Ms. Cece McCauley from Norman Wells.

---Applause

We also have the president, executive and board members of the Status of Women Council of the NWT, Ms. Dolly Simon, president…

---Applause

…Ms. Su-Ellen Kolback, vice-president…

---Applause

…Tina Marie Gargan from Deh Cho…

---Applause

…Ms. Ethel-Jean Gruben from Beaufort-Delta…

---Applause

…and we have a new executive director of the council, Ms. Lorraine Phaneuf…

---Applause

…Tara Kearsey, community development coordinator…

---Applause

…and Irene Savoy. She’s the office manager.

---Applause

And we also have the ladies from Women in Mining and Oil and Gas Program at the status council, Ms. Annemieke Mulders and Marilyn Hardisty.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Ms. Lee. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Beaulieu.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Tom Beaulieu

Tom Beaulieu Tu Nedhe

I’d just like to recognize Therese Dolly Simon, president of the Status of Women Council and a local addictions counsellor in Fort Resolution.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. The honourable Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, Mr. Robert McLeod.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

I’d like to recognize two constituents from Inuvik Twin Lakes: Ethel-Jean Gruben and Mary Ann Ross. I’d also like to recognize another constituent from Inuvik Twin Lakes who has been doing the interpreting for the Inuvialuktun. And I’ll slow down a little bit next time, Leonard.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

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

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Kevin A. Menicoche

Kevin A. Menicoche Nahendeh

I’d like to recognize Ms. Marilyn Hardisty working here in Yellowknife and a resident of the Nahendeh riding. As well, if you’ll permit me to congratulate Ruby Jumbo for the Wise Women Award from Trout Lake.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

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

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu

I, too, would like to congratulate all the ladies for their Wise Women Awards. I’d also like to recognize the woman warrior from the Sahtu, Ms. Cece McCauley. CBC has Don Cherry; the Sahtu has Cece McCauley.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

It’s an honour to recognize my vice-president of the Gwich’in Tribal Council, Mary Ann Ross. I’d also like to recognize a mentor of mine who got me involved in politics back in 1985, Cece McCauley, when she was chief in Inuvik who I had the honour of serving with as well as a lot of other women chiefs in the Beaufort-Delta region.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Member for Deh Cho, Mr. Michael McLeod.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Michael McLeod

Michael McLeod Deh Cho

I’d like to congratulate all this year’s award winners for the Wise Women Award. I do want to recognize somebody from my riding, my home town, Tina Gargan, who is joining us here today. I don’t know all the ladies that are here, but there are a couple I would like to recognize: Ethel Gruben, Mary Ann Ross, Cece McCauley, Therese Dolly Simon. Thanks for coming.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.