This is page numbers 241 - 262 of the Hansard for the 17th Assembly, 2nd 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 work.

Topics

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The honourable Minister responsible for Health and Social Services, Mr. Beaulieu.

Tom Beaulieu

Tom Beaulieu Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I toured Sahtu with the Member. He is very right; there are many, many people in the community who were unhappy with the decision to have changes to how much alcohol can be purchased at a liquor store in the communities that we attended. The communities said they were going to feel the repercussions and they wanted to know how they could get more money for on-the-land treatment programs. I indicated to them that at this point we have, through the Sahtu Health and Social Services Authority, $25,000 earmarked for each community to start an on-the-land treatment program. They indicated that wasn’t enough. I said I would review it upon my return to Yellowknife.

Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu

I want to say publicly I really appreciate the Minister taking time out of his busy schedule to visit the people in the Sahtu and hear face to face as to what needs to happen on certain issues. That’s really appreciated of this government to get the Ministers into our community.

Now, the Minister indicated to me that he will see when he gets back to Yellowknife how he can work

with his colleagues to see what type of support he can get to enhance the on-the-land treatment program. It would be much appreciated. Can the Minister tell me any more than what he has already told the people in the Sahtu about this program?

Tom Beaulieu

Tom Beaulieu Tu Nedhe

Since our tour, other than having a discussion with the department on looking at the expansion of that on-the-land treatment program, I know that in the community of Tulita when I mentioned that immediately in the public meeting, there was an indication that that wasn’t enough, that they would just get started and then the program would be over. I had said – I threw out a number in the meeting – would doubling it be good, and someone said no, triple the budget and we can do something to help our people heal on the land.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Colleagues, I would like to go back to item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Bromley.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery (Reversion)
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery (Reversion)

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize my mother, Barbara Bromley, in the gallery, and also welcome my brother Peter Stuart Bromley. Thank you.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery (Reversion)
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery (Reversion)

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Welcome, Mrs. Bromley. Item 7, oral questions. The honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, Mr. Moses.

Question 11-17(2): Busing Services For Inuvik Students
Oral Questions (Reversion)

February 6th, 2012

Alfred Moses

Alfred Moses Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just recently attended a meeting on the super school in Inuvik last week and there were a lot of good concerns – good school – that were brought up. A lot of good concerns were brought up not only for this new super school but things that have been happening for the past few years. I just want to ask the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment if he’s looking at possibly creating a busing service for the students of Inuvik in the years to come.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Moses. The honourable Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Lafferty.

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Our department does not purchase buses directly but we do provide contributions to the school boards. For this matter it would be the Beaufort-Delta Department of Education, for which we provide funding. Whether it be for transportation, it all depends on the community size

and the enrolment. The decision strictly lies with the DEA and DEC on where they want to allocate funding, whether it be custodial or administration or the teachers or the busing. Some of the organizations, when they receive contributions from our department, set aside approximately 5 or 3 percent annually and eventually they will purchase a bus for their schooling. Those are just some examples that we’ve noticed in the communities.

Alfred Moses

Alfred Moses Inuvik Boot Lake

With our department briefings earlier in this Assembly, there’s a strong correlation between attendance and success in our students. When they go to school they have a stronger rate of success and passing and graduating. This also works in the small communities. With an increase, you know, like, for instance in Inuvik we had a bad spell of cold weather the last couple weeks and the blizzards which are a safety factor for the youth and the parents going to schools. With what the Minister of ECE just presented to us, is the Minister willing to sit down with our district education authority as well as our Beaufort-Delta Education Council to come up with a plan to provide busing services to the students of Inuvik?

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

Again, we do contribute to the board of education. I don’t want to be in a position to dictate where the money should be going. It’s their decision, the local DEA/DEC. They need to decide where the best interest lies because they’re the experts and they need to allocate funding. It will be a last resort for our department to go into the community and say this is where the money should be spent: on busing. It’s at their discretion. We are more than willing to work with Beaufort-Delta on the funding allocation, the formal funding and so forth. I will be committing to meeting, because we are meeting with the board chairs and we can discuss this further at that level too.

Alfred Moses

Alfred Moses Inuvik Boot Lake

One just short question here. Thanks to the Minister for his information that he’s presented us with. In Inuvik and the Beaufort-Delta region everybody knows the very unique ways and where our money goes. Sometimes you can only stretch a dollar so far in terms of education, something that’s very important to us. Is the Minister willing to look at allocation of funds but also possibly contributing a little bit more funding into our region so that our youth can succeed, our students can pass the grades and become successful adults in the years to come?

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

This could be an opportunity where we look at the Aboriginal Student Achievement Initiative. This has been an initiative that we have in all regions. We’ve heard so many possible solutions and opportunities in the Beaufort-Delta as well. We’re going to start implementing that, and this could increase in certain programming as well.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Final supplementary, Mr. Moses. Item 8, written questions. Item 9, petitions. Item 10, reports of standing and special committees. Item 11, tabling of documents. The honourable Minister responsible for Finance, Mr. Miltenberger.

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Minister of Finance

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table three documents, entitled “Interim Appropriation 2012-2012; Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2011-2012; and Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 3, 2011-2012.”

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Item 12, notices of motion. Mr. Yakeleya.

Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Thursday, February 9, 2012, I will move the following motion: Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Thebacha, that the Legislative Assembly send the following message to Her Majesty:

Her Majesty the Queen, Most Gracious Sovereign, Queen of Canada:

We, the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories of Canada, wish to extend our sincere congratulations to Your Majesty on this year of celebration marking the 60th anniversary

of your accession.

The people of the Northwest Territories have been honoured to welcome Your Majesty and other members of the Royal Family to our land during your reign and have directly witnessed your inspiring example of devotion to duty and unselfish labour on behalf of the welfare of

people in Canada and in the other nations of the Commonwealth.

We trust that your gracious and peaceful reign may continue for many years and that the Creator will preserve Your Majesty in health and happiness.

At the appropriate time I will be seeking unanimous consent to deal with this motion today.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Item 13, notices of motion for first reading of bills.

Bill 1: An Act To Amend The Borrowing Authorization Act
Notices of Motion for First Reading of Bills

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on February 9, 2012, I will move that Bill 1, An Act to Amend the Borrowing Authorization Act, be read for the first time. Thank you.

Bill 1: An Act To Amend The Borrowing Authorization Act
Notices of Motion for First Reading of Bills

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Item 14, motions. Mr. Yakeleya.

Bill 1: An Act To Amend The Borrowing Authorization Act
Notices of Motion for First Reading of Bills

Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to deal with the motion I gave notice of earlier today.

---Unanimous consent granted

Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues.

WHEREAS Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada, is celebrating her Diamond Jubilee in 2012, which marks 60 years since her accession to the throne on February 6, 1952;

AND WHEREAS Her Majesty the Queen will become only the second United Kingdom monarch to mark 60 years on the throne;

AND WHEREAS Royal Jubilees celebrate significant periods in monarchs’ reign and national life;

AND WHEREAS such important milestones in Her Majesty’s personal and public life should be celebrated widely;

AND WHEREAS such events help reinforce the sovereign’s role as a focus for national identity and unity as people across the Commonwealth come

together to mark an important occasion for their head of state;

AND WHEREAS the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories wishes to join other Canadians in expressing their congratulations to Her Majesty on the 60th anniversary of her

accession.

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Thebacha, that the Legislative Assembly send the following message to Her Majesty:

Her Majesty the Queen, Most Gracious Sovereign, Queen of Canada:

We, the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories of Canada, wish to extend our sincere congratulations to Your Majesty on this year of celebration marking the 60th anniversary

of your accession.

The people of the Northwest Territories have been honoured to welcome Your Majesty and other members of the Royal Family to our land during your reign and have directly witnessed your inspiring example of devotion to duty and unselfish labour on behalf of the welfare of people in Canada and in the other nations of the Commonwealth.

We trust that your gracious and peaceful reign may continue for many years and that the Creator will preserve Your Majesty in health and happiness.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The motion is in order. To the motion. The honourable Premier, Mr. McLeod.

Bob McLeod

Bob McLeod Premier

Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak in support of the motion on behalf of the Government of the Northwest Territories.

The Diamond Jubilee is an opportunity to celebrate the traditions, history, values and institutions that we share with all Canadians and which are symbolized by the Queen and the Crown in Canada.

The Northwest Territories has a long history with the monarchy and has welcomed Her Majesty and members of her family on several occasions, including visits by Prince Charles, Prince Andrew and, most recently, their Royal Highnesses William and Catherine, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

We value our connection to Her Majesty and the Northwest Territories’ place in Confederation and the Commonwealth, and are proud to join in the Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

Our territory is shaped by the contributions of all those who have dedicated themselves to serving family, community and country. For 60 years Her

Majesty has exemplified the true meaning of public service. The Diamond Jubilee is an opportunity to thank her for those years of service and to highlight the contributions of those Canadians and Northerners who have followed her example.

We look forward to this opportunity to celebrate Her Majesty’s reign and will be supporting the motion. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.