This is page numbers 6659 - 6698 of the Hansard for the 17th Assembly, 5th 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 disabilities.

Topics

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Moses. The Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Premier's proclaimed legacy of the 17th is devolution of powers from the federal government to the people of the North, but this claim remains a mirage, something shaky and blurry seen on a far off horizon. Like so many of the pickles we find ourselves in and leaving for the 18th to deal with, we allowed Mr. Harper to dictate our actions. The results are no surprise: First Nations groups left out in the cold, federal legislation on which to manage our lands and resources, a government that listens to Northerners worse than Ottawa does. Are our people better off now than before devolution? I think not.

Devolve and evolve, the Premier said. We will make it made-in-the-North legislation entirely our own, and once the federal legislation had been adopted, he even sponsored a website over the summer so people could give up their time to wade through the highly technical laws and sets of regulations. So, dedicated souls actually did comment, but to no effect. The public soon discerned that this was a hollow offer, a political gesture and the McLeod government had no intent to make this legislation our own.

It remains incomprehensible to me that we can mirror federal legislation without any plan to have an immediate and thorough review of it by the people of the Northwest Territories. What concerns me now is that this government is finding the Harper approach of control and direction much more to their liking than taking things to the people and responding to the public voice. We now hear our leaders parrot the same old things as Ottawa. We need to streamline, reduce regulations that were designed to protect the land and ensure local control of the pace and scale of development. We need to pass laws that subsidize multi-nationals and allow us to get in bed with them to build them big costly infrastructure, or even to train wee children's minds with corporate logos seen from birth onwards, all to let the extractive industry have their own way rather than to maximize public benefit.

How about distributive income, addressing disparate income? How about environmentally and socially responsible development? So, what is required?

Legislation inherited from the federal government needs to be redrafted and assigned to the respective committees of this Legislature for review. It needs to be assigned to committees and presented to the people in plain language for community hearings, discussions, debate and amendment. Until then and until all First Nation governments have signed on, any declaration of devolution is premature and, indeed, misleading.

This government is leaving an awful lot of heavy lifting for the next Assembly. Sadly, it is clear that making devolution a reality can be added to that list. Mahsi.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.

Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Some time ago when I was reading a book, one of the sentences that I read from the author asked the audience, he said to the audience, “How do you eat an elephant?” One piece at a time was the response. I want to use that phrase in the ways how do you build a highway? One section at a time.

The Sahtu is hungry for a highway. We've been waiting. It's about time that we come into the 21st century.

Over the weekend I went to Norman Wells. I purchased 10 kilograms of flour here at Walmart, $11.97. In Norman Wells it's $45. Same bag, same kilograms, big difference. People in the Sahtu need a highway. We have heard from the federal government: one highway at a time. So, I ask this government, get that highway to Tuk built so we can start in the Sahtu region. Open up our resources. There's a huge population of young people who want to work. We have a potential of wealth of resources sitting there: our people. That's the potential. There's potential in resources. Our people are hungry for work. They want a highway.

I know there was a submission made to the Minister of Transportation's government to start doing section by section. People are needing to work desperately. It's time to unleash the potential of the people in the Sahtu. Connect us to the rest of the Northwest Territories. Bring down the cost of living. Families want to go out, but you can only go out during the winter months, but then it means the cost of education, or taking time off.

People want to develop their skills, build their roads, build their destination. They want to be part of the Northwest Territories, not always sitting on the sideline.

I'll have questions for the Minister on where is our highway for the Sahtu. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.

Kevin A. Menicoche

Kevin A. Menicoche Nahendeh

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Myself and residents of Fort Simpson are looking forward to the completion of the planning study for the replacement of the Fort Simpson Health Centre. During this session, while we deliberated the capital plans, I was very disappointed to see the project on the books seven years from now during the budget of 2022-2023.

This is a 40-year-old building that needs to be replaced sooner than later. A new facility will improve the quality of health care delivery to Fort Simpson and region. With a new building and new modern health equipment, we can deliver better services.

The health centre was red flagged for the past two years, meaning that the facility was to be built at the next opportunity. It was our own engineers who recommended a replacement due to its age and increasing maintenance costs, so we all are on the same page. We all believed in the importance of replacing this facility. Why is this facility now moved seven years into the future?

I'll be asking the Minister of Public Works and Services questions at the appropriate time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Blake.

Frederick Blake Jr.

Frederick Blake Jr. Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last year the hamlet council in Aklavik issued a notice to all public places in the community to provide safer parking areas to protect people and property. This is an urgent concern at Moose Kerr School.

As I told my colleagues in the House last week, Moose Kerr School can only offer parking on the road. This makes navigating the school property dangerous for students, teachers and visitors, not to mention more difficult for drivers.

The hamlet council has obtained a quote for the work needed to solve this problem. Costs are estimated at $27,000, but the budget of the Aklavik District Education Authority is limited, with no extra money to take on a project such as this.

As I said last week, we must be proactive, not reactive. This kind of roadwork can't wait until a student is injured. It has to be done now to prevent accidents and injuries and to make Moose Kerr School a safer place to be.

My questions today will be for our Premier. I will be asking the Premier to direct the department to look into this urgent need and find a way to help build angle parking that will solve this problem for a safer school in Aklavik. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Blake. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery.

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

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The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Before I open up the floor, I'd like to welcome my sister-in-law, Ms. Vivian Edgi-Manuel, to the House. Welcome.

Mr. McLeod.

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Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have stood up many times and talked about the value of our Youth Ambassador Program. I'm very proud today to have a number of our youth ambassadors up in the gallery. They were receiving, I think it was the 2015 Pan Am Games team was receiving the Minister's Culture and Heritage Circle Award, so we're awfully proud of their accomplishment. We have four youth up there representing the youth ambassadors. We've got Jacob Peffer from Inuvik, we've got Ryan Tourangeau from Fort Smith, Karl Gardlund from Yellowknife, and we have Stacie Bengts from Yellowknife, and we also have two staff members who work very hard at making sure the program runs smoothly. We've got Colinda Blondin and we have Dawn Moses. So, we'll welcome all to the gallery and recognize the achievement.

We also have, from Inuvik Twin Lakes, Jeannie Snowshoe. Welcome to the gallery.

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Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

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The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Mr. Abernethy.

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Glen Abernethy

Glen Abernethy Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to take this opportunity to recognize all of the Pages who are providing us such incredible services here in the Legislative Assembly. They liquidated us well. That's not the right word, but you know what I mean. Hydrated. Properly hydrated. Liquidated, that's good, eh? You like that? They keep us properly hydrated; they keep the information flowing; so I really want to take an opportunity to thank all the Pages and, in particular, a Page from the Great Slave Riding, Kelsy Nayally. Welcome to the Chamber and thank you so much.

I also want to recognize a constituent of the Great Slave riding who has joined us the last couple of days, Mr. Kieron Testart. Thank you.

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The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. Mr. Beaulieu.

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Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

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Tom Beaulieu

Tom Beaulieu Tu Nedhe

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Today we celebrate the 5th Annual Minister's Culture and Heritage Circle. In Minister Lafferty's absence, I would like to recognize the recipients of this year's awards. In the Youth category: the 2015 Pan Am and Parapan Am NWT Youth Ambassadors. Of the 32 youth ambassadors from across the NWT, there are four here today representing the group: Stacie Bengts of Yellowknife, Ryan Tourangeau of Fort Smith, Jacob Peffer of Inuvik, Karl Gardlund of Yellowknife. In the Elder category: Jeanna Graham from the Hay River Reserve. Individual category: Berna Beaulieu from Behchoko. Group category: Yellowknife Ukrainian Association. The award was accepted today by Donna Marie Ouellette and Trisha Graham Minister's Choice category: Vivian Edgi-Manuel of Fort Good Hope. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

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The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Mr. Dolynny.

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Daryl Dolynny

Daryl Dolynny Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, through you and to you, I'd like to introduce one of our recipients, we've heard earlier today, for the Ukrainian award, and that is a member of Range Lake, Trisha Graham. Thank you for joining us today.

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Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

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The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Dolynny. Mr. Yakeleya.

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Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

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Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would also like to congratulate Ms. Vivian Edgi-Manuel for her prestigious award on the Minister's Choice for Culture. She has done a wonderful job.

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Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

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The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Menicoche.

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Kevin A. Menicoche

Kevin A. Menicoche Nahendeh

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to recognize Jasmine Hardisty, my constituency assistant from Fort Simpson who is chaperoning the Fort Simpson Pages this week. Welcome to the gallery.

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Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

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The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Mr. Hawkins.

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Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It gives me great pleasure to recognize a couple of people quickly. First off, I'd like to recognize a constituent of mine, Ms. Karen Wright-Fraser. I've know her for a very long time. We all know Karen is a wonderful woman who is a timeless talent of the ages in the art of Gwich'in traditional arts and crafts, so she is certainly a hero to her community and women alike in her amazing talents. To that, I give a great nod.

The other person I'd like to quickly recognize is Denise McKee. She is up in the gallery here today and I suspect she is here for the motion that will be on the floor later today. She is the executive director of the NWT Disabilities Council. If Denise doesn't pull you aside, I'll remind you that the 2015 Annual Benefit Auction is November 20th at the YK Inn. See you soon.

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Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

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The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Nadli.

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Michael Nadli

Michael Nadli Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to recognize Ms. Jeanna Graham from the K'atlodeeche First Nation. Jeanna is an elder who was recognized in the Minister's culture awards. At the same time, Jeanna serves on the band council, as well, on the K'atlodeeche First Nation. As well, to all the recipients of the Minister's culture awards, I'd like to extend congratulations.