Debates of Oct. 7th, 2015
This is page numbers 6757 – 6826 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 health.
Topics
- Oral Questions
- Prayer
- Minister's Statement 239-17(5): NWT Public Service
- Minister's Statement 240-17(5): Skills 4 Success
- Minister's Statement 241-17(5): Report On The Northwest Territories Power Corporation
- Minister's Statement 242-17(5): NWT Transportation Strategy
- Housing Needs And Availability In The NWT
- Recognition Of Order Of The NWT Recipient – Mr. Bruce Green
- Reflection On Time As A Member Of The Legislative Assembly Of The NWT
- Nursing And Policing Services In Tsiigehtchic
- Support For Consensus Government In The NWT
- Mental Illness Awareness Week
- Economic Potential In Sahtu Region
- Mental Health Programs And Services In Nahendeh Region
- Ministerial Travel Claims
- World Homeless Day, October 10th
- Condolences To The Family Of Mr. Jonas Beaulieu Of Fort Resolution
- Recognition Of Order Of The NWT Recipient – Sonny Macdonald
- Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
- Acknowledgement 25-17(5): Mr. Gino Pin – Order Of The NWT
- Acknowledgement 26-17(5): Mr. Gerald W. Kisoun – 2015 Governor General’s Polar Medal Award
- Question 942-17(5): Economic Potential In Sahtu Region
- Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery (Reversion)
- Question 943-17(5): Policing Services In Tsiigehtchic
- Question 944-17(5): Fort Simpson Access Road Streetlights
- Question 945-17(5): Travel And Expense Claims By Elected Officials
- Question 946-17(5): Business Incentive Policy
- Question 947-17(5): Feasibility Study Of Universal Affordable Daycare In The NWT
- Question 948-17(5): Greenhouse Gas Strategy 2011
- Question 949-17(5): Cost Of Cleanup Of Cantung Mine
- Question 950-17(5): Crime And Bootlegging In NWT Communities
- Question 951-17(5): Homelessness Programs In The Deh Cho
- Mr. Bromley’s Reply
- Ms. Bisaro’s Reply
- Mr. Moses’ Reply
- Committee Report 22-17(5): Report On The Review Of The Office Of The Northwest Territories Languages Commissioner Annual Reports For 2011-2012, 2012-2013 And 2013-2014
- Motion That Committee Report 22-17(5) Be Deemed Read And Printed In Hansard, Carried
- Motion To Receive And Adopt Committee Report 22-17(5), Carried
- Committee Report 23-17(5): Standing Committee On Government Operations Report On Transition Matters
- Motion That Committee Report 23-17(5) Be Deemed Read And Printed In Hansard, Carried
- Motion To Receive And Adopt Committee Report 23-17(5), Carried
- Committee Report 24-17(5): Passing The Mace: Recommendations To The 18th Legislative Assembly
- Motion To Receive And Adopt Committee Report 24-17(5), Carried
- Bill 55: Mental Health Act
- Committee Report 25-17(5): Report On The Review Of Bill 55: Mental Health Act
- Motion That Committee Report 25-17(5) Be Deemed Read And Printed In Hansard, Carried
- Motion To Receive And Move Committee Report 25-17(5) Into Committee Of The Whole, Carried
- Tabled Document 346-17(5): Follow-Up Correspondence For Oral Question 919-17(5): Discussion Paper On Energy Efficiency Act
- Tabled Document 348-17(5): 2014-2015 Annual Report On Official Languages – Government Of The Northwest Territories
- Tabled Document 351-17(5): NWT Business Development And Investment Corporation 2015-2016 Corporate Plan
- Tabled Document 352-17(5): Annual Report Of The Director Of Child And Family Services 2014-2015
- Tabled Document 353-17(5): Passing The Mace: Recommendations To The 18th Legislation Assembly – Report Of The Special Committee On Transition Matters
- Tabled Document 354-17(5): Cbc News Report: Province To Lower Food Prices In Remote Northern Manitoba
- Tabled Document 356-17(5): Moving Forward – Implementing The Recommendations Of The 2015 Comprehensive Review Of Human Rights In The NWT
- Motion 50-17(5): Medical Travel Policy, Carried
- Recorded Vote
- Bill 72: Supplementary Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures), No. 2, 2015-2016
- Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
- Report of the Committee of the Whole
- Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery (Reversion)
- Bill 45: An Act To Amend The Workers’ Compensation Act
- Bill 49: An Act To Amend The Deh Cho Bridge Act
- Bill 56: Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act, 2015
- Bill 59: Estate Administration Law Amendment Act
- Bill 60: An Act To Amend The Motor Vehicles Act, No. 2
- Bill 62: An Act To Amend The Coroners Act
- Bill 61: An Act To Amend The Public Airports Act
- Bill 63: An Act To Amend The Victims Of Crime Act
- Bill 64: An Act To Amend The Co-Operative Associations Act
- Bill 65: An Act To Amend The Safety Act
- Bill 68: An Act To Amend The Child And Family Services Act, No. 2
- Bill 69: An Act To Amend The Legislative Assembly And Executive Council Act, No. 2
- Bill 72: Supplementary Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures), No. 2, 2015-2016
- Recorded Vote
- Speaker’s Ruling
- Orders of the Day
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Jane Groenewegen Hay River South
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize Hay River South constituent Germaine Michel, who is here today with my friend Melody McLeod. It’s hard to believe that they’re auntie and niece. They look like sisters.
Also, yes, our former constituent Lisa Buckmaster-Balmer, who is in the Nursing Program here and, yes, wouldn’t it be great to have these gals come home?
I thought I heard Sarah Pope as well. I don’t know if she’s there today or not, but if she is, I’d like to recognize her.
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Kevin A. Menicoche Nahendeh
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I’d just wanted to take pride in our Page Program that allows us to bring students who are younger and from smaller communities like Fort Simpson. Today I wanted to recognize two Pages from Fort Simpson. First of all, my nephew Allan Menicoche, and Aaron Antoine. They’re both here in the gallery. I just want to say that you guys represent well.
Also, thanks to my chaperone, Ms. Jasmine Hardisty, for taking care of them this week.
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson
Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. I’d like to welcome here, too, Ms. Alice Thrasher and Ms. Melody McLeod. Welcome to the House.
I’d like to welcome all visitors here today. Thank you for taking an interest in our proceedings and all the best in your classes.
Item 6, acknowledgements. Mr. Bromley.
Acknowledgement 25-17(5): Mr. Gino Pin – Order Of The NWT
Acknowledgements

Bob Bromley Weledeh
Today I rise to acknowledge and congratulate my constituent Mr. Gino Pin on his being inducted into the Order of the Northwest Territories.
Mr. Pin is an architect of considerable renown, who has been living, designing and building in Canada’s North for more than 35 years. In fact, this House is a sterling example of his fine work.
Mr. Pin has received many design awards and was named “Northerner of the Year” by UpHere Magazine in 1992. Mr. Pin has made significant contributions to both the quality of life and the esthetic environment of the Northwest Territories. He is considered by his peers to be the pre-eminent architect north of 60. He has also been an outstanding mentor to upcoming architects and has embarked on a dedicated effort to address the fate of our homeless here in Yellowknife.
He is truly deserving of the highest honour this government can bestow, and I invite all Members to join me in congratulating Mr. Pin for his many achievements and for his recognition received today. Mahsi.
---Applause
Acknowledgement 25-17(5): Mr. Gino Pin – Order Of The NWT
Acknowledgements
Acknowledgement 26-17(5): Mr. Gerald W. Kisoun – 2015 Governor General’s Polar Medal Award
Acknowledgements
October 7th, 2015

Alfred Moses Inuvik Boot Lake
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to acknowledge Mr. Gerald W. Kisoun, known to most as Gerry, on being recognized as a recipient of the 2015 Governor General’s Polar Medal Award. Mr. Kisoun was recognized for his outstanding contribution to promoting Canada’s North and its people.
His mother, Bertha Allen, received the Governor General’s Northern Medal in 2008 for her support of equality for Aboriginal and northern women, particularly their inclusion as government decision-makers.
Mr. Kisoun is a true role model for his family, his friends, the community of Inuvik and all Northerners.
I would like to congratulate and acknowledge Mr. Kisoun for all of his hard work, commitment and dedication to the people of the North. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
---Applause
Acknowledgement 26-17(5): Mr. Gerald W. Kisoun – 2015 Governor General’s Polar Medal Award
Acknowledgements

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson
Thank you, Mr. Moses. Item 7, oral questions. The Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.
Question 942-17(5): Economic Potential In Sahtu Region
Oral Questions

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of ITI. I talked about the potential in the Sahtu region with our human resources, our people and with the resources in our lands.
I want to ask the Minister, has he had an opportunity to look at the opportunities of the economic potential in the Sahtu region with our people in our lands? Does he have a quick snapshot picture of what’s there?
Question 942-17(5): Economic Potential In Sahtu Region
Oral Questions

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson
Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment, Mr. Ramsay.
Question 942-17(5): Economic Potential In Sahtu Region
Oral Questions

David Ramsay Kam Lake
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We’ve got a great idea of what’s in the Member’s riding in the Sahtu. Over the past four years, we’ve spent $8.5 million in funding in the region. We’ve got the greatest potential, of course, with oil and gas and the resource assessment that was done in the central Mackenzie Valley, indicating that there’s close to 200 billion barrels of oil and the benefits, and the development of that could mean potential business opportunities and employment opportunities for residents in the Sahtu.
We also had seen a great advance in agriculture in the Member’s riding. I know Mr. Whiteman is back at potato farming this year and there’s a number of others in communities in the Sahtu who are getting into agriculture.
We’ve also seen an advancement on the traditional economy. Harvesting furs continues to be a source of income in the Member’s riding. I believe in the Sahtu we’ve got close to 100 trappers in the area and they harvest some of the best fur in the Northwest Territories.
We also have to look at tourism and the opportunities tourism is going to provide. The federal government is going to be moving forward with the cleanup of the Canol Trail. Some of that work has started. As the Member knows, earlier this year we had 18 local residents employed on the cleanup. The $800,000, or close to $800,000 flowed through the Department of ITI and we’re happy to see that work start. The federal government indicates it’s going to take up to five years to clean up the Canol in advance of us fulfilling a commitment in the Sahtu Agreement to turn that into a park, and we fully intend on doing that as soon as that trail is remediated. Thank you.
Question 942-17(5): Economic Potential In Sahtu Region
Oral Questions

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu
Thank you. The Minister clearly laid out the amazing potential we have in the Sahtu. I want to ask the Minister, has he and his officials looked at one area that he hadn’t mentioned today, which is the Selwyn-Chihong Mine that’s at the Yukon/Northwest Territories border? I understand this mine is going to go into production. There’s close to $1 billion worth of work there, potentially with 850 workers during the construction phase and around 450 permanent workers to operate that mine.
Has the Minister looked at how we can match the young potential workers in the Sahtu with this upcoming mine that is close to $1 billion worth of operation?
Question 942-17(5): Economic Potential In Sahtu Region
Oral Questions

David Ramsay Kam Lake
The Selwyn-Chihong Project, which straddles the Yukon-Northwest Territories border, holds great promise and great potential not only for the Sahtu, but for the Northwest Territories and the Yukon. It is a world-class lead-zinc deposit, as the Member indicated, with somewhere around 800 to 850 permanent jobs. I know the company has been into a number of communities in the Sahtu. They’ve been talking to the leadership in the Sahtu about potential IBAs and other opportunities for the Sahtu when it comes to the development of that project. We’re very excited. Initial mine plans had the company looking at mining on the Yukon side at first, but it looks as though the company is going to be mining potentially on both sides of the border, which bodes well for the Northwest Territories and this is a great opportunity for us.
Also in the area of mining, we’ve had some great results from our NWT Geological Survey that would indicate that there’s gold and tungsten in a number of the stream sampling programs that we had conducted last summer. So there’s great potential in the Sahtu for mining. Thank you.
Question 942-17(5): Economic Potential In Sahtu Region
Oral Questions

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu
Certainly, that raises our hopes in the region. I want to ask the Minister, has he been working with his other colleagues with regards to bringing in some much needed skill development, trade development, in regards to, for example, the Selwyn-Chihong Mine operations, bringing in some type of trades program with the Mine Training Society to look at how do we tap into these young resources of workers in the Sahtu region to increase our viability to be in the mine and not have situations where we see where we fly in miners to take the jobs from our Sahtu people, our northern people?
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