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 House met at 1:35 p.m.

---Prayer

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Colleagues, for your information today and for the information of our guests in the gallery, our interpreters this week are channel two, Gwich’in; and, channel three, Inuvialuktun.

Orders of the day. Item 2, Ministers’ statements. The honourable Minister of Finance, Mr. Miltenberger.

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Minister of Finance

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last week, Members of the Legislative Assembly completed the review of the 2009-10 Main Estimates and concurred that the appropriation bill be introduced without delay. Later today, at the appropriate time, I will be bringing forward the legislation to enact the 2009-10 budget.

Cabinet is appreciative of the thorough review of the GNWT’s 2009-10 operational budget undertaken by Committee of the Whole. The detailed exchange of information and view has provided Cabinet with valuable feedback from Members on the budget measures and provided the public with a better understanding both of the fiscal challenge we face and of the priorities of the Legislative Assembly. This budget has been an example of how consensus government can work successfully.

Over the past few weeks, a number of motions have been passed during the Committee of the Whole review of the 2009-2010 Main Estimates. In considering these motions, the government has determined that these require additional time to review and understand their spending and program implications. We look forward to further discussions

on these issues with standing committee over the coming months as we move forward in our fiscal planning processes. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The honourable Minister responsible for the NWT Status of Women Council, Ms. Lee.

Sandy Lee

Sandy Lee Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, International Women’s Day, on March 8th ,

is a global day of celebration concerning all women around the world that honour women’s advancement while reminding all of the continued vigilance and action required to ensure that women’s equality is gained and maintained in every aspect of society.

In the NWT, the Status of Women Council of the NWT celebrates International Women’s Day by hosting the Wise Women Awards and celebrating the winners with a Bread and Roses Luncheon. The awards are meant to honour women who are role models in their communities, who provide counselling and caregiver services to others. It recognizes the advocacy work, the support and education given to improve the Status of Women in the NWT.

The award is meant to recognize individual women and to encourage all women to continue their great work. This year’s theme is Leading Change. Mr. Speaker, it is my greatest pleasure to announce the recipients of the Wise Women Awards for 2009: for Beaufort-Delta, Ms. Mary Ann Ross…

---Applause

…for Sahtu, Cece McCauley…

---Applause

…for Deh Cho, Ruby Jumbo…

---Applause

…for South Slave, Chief Frieda Martselos…

---Applause

…for North Slave and Tlicho, Lynn Brooks.

---Applause

Mr. Speaker, we celebrated their achievement in the Great Hall earlier today and I would like to ask the House to join me in expressing our appreciation and congratulations to all of them for a lifetime of work for the betterment of families and northern communities. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Ms. Lee. The honourable Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. Robert McLeod.

Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to provide Members of the Legislative Assembly with an update concerning Municipal and Community Affairs’ completion of the general assessment of properties in the general taxation area of the Northwest Territories.

MACA is a property assessment authority in the general taxation area of the NWT. The general taxation area is made up of 18 communities across the NWT and all properties in the Hinterland which are located outside community boundaries.

The Property Assessment and Taxation Act requires MACA to undertake a general assessment of properties once every 10 years, with the most recent general assessment completed in October of 2008. The general assessment ensures fairness and equity by updating the values of all properties in the taxation area. As a result of the recent general assessment completed in October 2008, the general assessment assures fairness and equity by updating the values of all properties in the taxation area. As a result of the recent general assessment, most property values in the general taxation area have increased.

Notices of assessment have been mailed to property owners. The assessment rolls are available for public inspection at the community offices in each general taxation area community, MACA’s regional offices, or at the lands administration division of MACA in Yellowknife. Advertisements with information about the general assessment were also placed in territorial and regional newspapers during the week of January 26, 2009.

By viewing the assessment rolls, property owners can compare the assessed values of their properties with other properties in the community with similar characteristics. If property owners are

dissatisfied with their property assessment, they can submit an appeal to the Territorial Board of Revision.

Notices of assessment are not invoices that require payment. Rather, they list the assessed value of the land and the value of the improvements that are on the land for each property owner. When property values are multiplied by a mill rate, the result will be the property taxes that each property owner will pay. My colleague the Minister of Finance used the information contained on the assessment rolls for the general taxation area in the analysis to determine if an adjustment to the general property and education mill rates were required. Changes to the mill rates in the general taxation area were announced by the Minister of Finance in his 2009-2010 budget speech.

MACA and the Department of Finance have been working together on monitoring the property assessment and taxation cycle. MACA has started to look at options to reduce the time span between general assessments so that fluctuations in assessed values resulting from general assessments are minimized.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Minister responsible for Industry, Tourism and Investment, Mr. Bob McLeod.

Bob McLeod

Bob McLeod Yellowknife South

Mr. Speaker, later today I will be tabling the 2007-2008 Community Futures Program Annual Report. This document is an amalgamation of reports provided by the seven Community Futures development corporations, the community-based organizations that provide lending and counselling services to small business.

As we know, the strength and health of the economy of the Northwest Territories is directly reflected by the strength and health of our small and medium-sized businesses. To that end, funding the Community Futures Program remains a cornerstone of business support provided by the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment.

The Community Futures development corporations are dedicated to assisting small and medium-sized businesses across the Northwest Territories by providing loans, business advice, and entrepreneurial training programs. Their activity has proven time and again to be essential in assisting businesses in communities to take advantage of the opportunities that have come from development activity in the Northwest Territories.

Just as the Community Futures development corporations worked to increase the growth of

business in the communities during the good times, we are seeing that they are now active in limiting the damage caused to northern business by today’s economic downturn. The proposed budget for the Community Futures Program for the 2009-2010 year is $1.132 million. I am confident that the investments made by this government through this program will be dollars well spent and that the Community Futures development corporations will continue to play a prominent role in the economic growth of small business.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Item 3, Members’ statements. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Beaulieu.

Tom Beaulieu

Tom Beaulieu Tu Nedhe

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. [English translation not provided.]

Today I would like to talk about the importance of providing traditional on-the-land programs for Tu Nedhe youth. As mentioned before, the total population of Tu Nedhe is 91 percent aboriginal and of the total population almost 40 percent is 25 years and younger. As you know, the youth have a critical role to play in the preservation of traditional practices. However, modern day pastimes are continuing to displace traditional activities on a daily basis. The Internet, Play Station, satellite TV, and even cell phones present youth and families today with a monumental challenge of keeping important cultural traditions alive. Also, in addition to these pressures, the high cost of living in small communities continues to have a negative impact when it comes to maintaining these important traditional skills.

When communities have a population of 90 to 95 percent aboriginal, traditional on-the-land programs must be a regularly funded program in the same manner as other municipal programs. An adequately funded traditional on-the-land program can result in reduced health and social costs. Traditional foods can reduce the cost on store-bought food and many on-the-land activities enable the individual have a healthier lifestyle through fresh air and good old hard work. There’s even something to be said about the emotional well-being of individuals who are on the land. In addition to this, the local economy will benefit with equipment purchases from local businesses and the generation of additional economy through fur harvesting.

The schools in Fort Resolution and Lutselk’e are making a good effort to integrate on-the-land programs for their curriculum, but, with limited resources, these activities are mostly confined to the classroom and not out on the land.

March is Aboriginal Languages Month and, as we know, on-the-land plays a critical role in teaching and preserving aboriginal languages. An adequately funded on-the-land traditional program is one effective way of maintaining aboriginal languages and is an excellent opportunity for teaching both traditional and important life skills to the youth. In a nutshell…

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Mr. Beaulieu, your time for your Member’s statement has expired.

Tom Beaulieu

Tom Beaulieu Tu Nedhe

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

Tom Beaulieu

Tom Beaulieu Tu Nedhe

In a nutshell, a properly run and adequately funded on-the-land program will result in a healthier community. Later I will follow up my statement with questions for the appropriate Minister.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

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

Kevin A. Menicoche

Kevin A. Menicoche Nahendeh

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to speak about homeownership programs. The NWT Housing Corporation provides assistance to prospective first time home buyers who are not able to get a mortgage to finance a home through a bank or private mortgage broker. Unfortunately, some of my constituents who are trying to buy homes are refused assistance because they make too much money. These are people who are working with a steady, but modest, income. They are excellent candidates for homeownership. Not only that, homes are sitting empty in our communities right now.

These families were refused mortgages under the Housing Corporation programs. The Housing Corporation income thresholds are set so low that they are not qualifying for homeownership programs; they are falling through the cracks. Now is the time to be proactive and review these thresholds. We need to ensure we are providing a reasonable and practical housing program. We must provide a benefit to our families and support homeownership in our communities and at the

same time we can reduce the need for private public housing.

I will be asking the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation questions at the appropriate time.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Abernethy.

Glen Abernethy

Glen Abernethy Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I’d like to go on the record and applaud Cabinet and the Minister responsible for implementing the policy on traditional knowledge announced last week. This policy goes a long way in acknowledging that aboriginal peoples of the Northwest Territories have acquired a vast store of traditional knowledge through their experiences of centuries of living in close harmony with the land. Utilizing this knowledge is important in designing and implementing policies and procedures and the development of legislation within the Northwest Territories. Once again, I’d like to thank Cabinet for taking this important step.

Now, I’d like this government to take the next step and implement a similar policy on gender-based analysis. Similar to traditional knowledge, implementation of a gender-based analysis policy makes good sense. A policy on gender-based analysis will put people at the heart of policy development. It leads to better government by involving both women and men and makes full use of human resources.

Gender-based analysis makes gender equality issues visible in the mainstream of society, taking into account the full diversity of men and women. This type of analysis contributes to the resolution of past systemic discrimination and contributes to a more efficient policy.

In addition, gender-based analysis responds to the provisions in legal documents, such as the Canadian Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms, the Federal Plan for Gender Equality, the Canadian Human Rights Act, and various international obligations and commitments. In short, it is a tool that will help GNWT develop more appropriate and relevant as well as socially and culturally aware programs, policies and legislation.

As a government, we must commit to move forward and implement gender-based analysis into our day-to-day operations. Let’s take the next step like Cabinet did with the implementation of the Traditional Knowledge Policy. There are already

organizations in the NWT working on gender-based analysis. I encourage Cabinet to have their staff work with organizations such as the Status of Women Council of the NWT to develop and implement the policy and arrange for appropriate training of GNWT staff on the use of gender-based analysis.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. At the appropriate time, I will have some questions for the Premier.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro.

Wendy Bisaro

Wendy Bisaro Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I want to recognize some hardworking constituents of my riding. Four of them were among the 21 employees of Yellowknife Education District No. 1 who were recognized this past Saturday by their employer and their elected board of trustees and their peers for their long service to the District. Two are part of the 16 YK 1 staff who will be receiving the same recognition tomorrow for five years of excellent service to the District. I would like to tell you a bit about each of these individuals.

Mrs. Pirjo Vanonen has been with YK 1 for 25 years and is today as bright a light in the school as she was when she first started. She is appreciated by teachers and students alike and was a fixture at J.H. Sissons School for many years, only recently transferring to William MacDonald School where she continues to positively impact students as an educational assistant.

Christeen Hanuschuk has 15 years of service with YK 1. She is currently teaching Grade 1 at Range Lake North School. We are lucky to have such an experienced teacher in handling students who are just embarking on their years of schooling.

Wendy Reese-Wile is another accomplished teacher, a neighbour of mine in Frame Lake. Wendy has been with the district for the last 10 years. She is at Mildred Hall School working as a guidance counsellor with students there.

Mike Hanuschuk, yes, he and Christeen are connected. Mike has been with YK 1 for 10 years and is currently teaching a Grade 3/4 split class at Range Lake North School. Mike has previous teaching experience at Aurora College Yellowknife Campus, working with adult learners.

The two YK 1 staff who are residents in Frame Lake who will be receiving recognition tomorrow for five years of excellent service are Cathy Modeste-Short, who works at Mildred Hall School as an

educational assistant. Cathy provides invaluable help in the classroom. There are many days when, without Cathy, staff wouldn’t be able to keep it all together. Last but not least is Steve Elms who works at Range Lake North School as a program support teacher. Steve is another YK 1 staffer who gives invaluable assistance to both teachers and students.

I want to offer my congratulations to all of these wonderful and deserving people and my heartfelt thanks to each and every one of them for the work they do. They do work with our most precious resource -- our children -- day in and day out. Thank you, Mr. Speaker

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am struck by the many references to women here today, the role they play and the need to recognize the sometimes different and unique needs of women and the opportunities to realize their full roles and potential contributions in our society.

I believe it was Ms. McCauley earlier today who noted that women run everything. I think it is right. If you go in any office of a small community or a large community, the worker bees there that are really keeping things going are the women. I would like to recognize today’s worthy recipients of the Wise Women Awards and thank all the women in the North for the important leadership roles they play in our families, communities and governments.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud today to recognize Carol Morin, a constituent of Weledeh who was honoured last Friday with the National Aboriginal Achievement Award for exceptional achievements in media, communications and the arts. Carol blazed the trail for aboriginal people across the country as the first aboriginal person to anchor a national news broadcast on CBC Newsworld. Over the past 30 years Carol has worked in a number of broadcasting organizations and has received many accolades from across the country. She has helped to make aboriginal people more prominent and visible to the general public in Canada, making it easier for others to follow in her footsteps.

Carol also embraces her culture through the arts and has made significant contributions to the community through her singing, drumming and painting. She plays an indispensable role in the community, inspiring native women to take up drumming in the Northwest Territories. She has also recently received a Canada Council writers’

grant to help with the completion of her first novel entitled Bearskin Diary and the NWT Arts Council writers’ grant for her first stage play entitled The Ruse. Carol has also written a children’s book called Kookum’s Tablecloth, which has been picked up by a printer in Victoria.

Please join me in congratulating Carol for this monumental achievement. A taping of the awards ceremony will be broadcast on APTN and Global in a 90-minute presentation on March 21st . Mahsi.

---Applause

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The honourable Member for Nunakput, Mr. Jacobson.

Jackie Jacobson

Jackie Jacobson Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In Nunakput during construction of homes and facilities, nobody seems to inspect various trades and phases of the work. In larger centres there is a large network to ensure customers that the community is receiving safe, adequate and professionally built homes, Mr. Speaker.

I continuously bring up unique challenges in Nunakput, but there seems to be little done. There seems to be a lack of seriousness by this government. Maybe it is because our population is small. Maybe it is because the government feels, in the larger scheme of things, our problems are secondary. But whatever the reason, the government has to start acting in the interest of all Northerners.

In the small communities, people are waiting for so long on the list. Once let into a house, they don’t want to complain to the government of the deficiencies, poor insulation, mould, unsafe carpentry. According to residents, they have never seen or heard of a building inspector visiting. Basically the trades and contractors sign off on a form saying the work is done properly in many local northern communities, who are serious about the North is good enough. About the others, sometimes it is not even worth the paper it is written on.

Mr. Speaker, mould is a serious problem in most of the Northwest Territories communities, but could be prevented by adequate independent inspections when they are done. It is a shame that, given the amount of money the government spends on fuel, home and building construction, we fail to see the value of these monetary measures.

Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for the Minister of the Housing Corporation at the appropriate time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.