This is page numbers 2459 – 2512 of the Hansard for the 18th 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 program.

Topics

Frederick Blake Jr.

Frederick Blake Jr. Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to talk about our athletes who are selected to participate at the Canada Summer and Winter Games, National Aboriginal Indigenous Games, and National Aboriginal Hockey Championships. We are fortunate to have our athletes from the NWT participate at this level. As you know, Mr. Speaker, some of our very own have gone on to higher levels of competition, and we are very proud that we have supported them to get to the level that they are at. These Games teach our athletes fair play, responsibility, respect, just to name a few.

Mr. Speaker, potential athletes coming from the Mackenzie Delta who want to try out for any sport must make their way to a sport development camp, which is usually in Yellowknife. This means that our athletes have to drive or fly from either Aklavik, Tsiigehtchic, or Fort McPherson to Inuvik, continue flights on to Yellowknife, look for and pay for accommodation, meals, taxis, and, in most cases, registration. I speak for all athletes who have considered participating in any sporting activities, where there are no regional camps, where individuals have to make their own way to Yellowknife to take part in one of the many sport development camps. This, Mr. Speaker, is in the early stages, when teams are not yet selected, adding to the empty pockets of parents.

Mr. Speaker, we have excellent role models, high performance athletes in our regions, who fail to participate because of the out-of-pocket expenses that the parents have to front. Fundraising efforts are not that great in an economy with little or no jobs, and the cost of living is very high. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement. Thank you.

---Unanimous consent granted

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this concern has come to my office time and time again: parents looking for support in getting their children to Yellowknife to participate in sporting camps to be considered for Team NWT. My concern, Mr. Speaker, is that far too many times, these camps are held here in Yellowknife, where the athletes from the Mackenzie Delta, Nunakput, and Inuvik, and possibly Sahtu ridings, just can't afford the travel and extra costs associated with sport development camps.

What I would suggest is to have these camps in Inuvik, have your athletes from Yellowknife, Hay River, and Fort Smith regions come to Inuvik and pay the extra costs from their pockets and look for accommodations, etc. I am not talking about regional camps. I am talking about the sport development camps where the teams are actually chosen. I am sure, Mr. Speaker, you will see the high turnout with athletes from the Delta wanting to participate with little to no cost to the parents. Mr. Speaker, this could be taken into consideration, not so much with the Arctic Winter Games, because this is a success with funding provided right from the community level, to the territorials and to the games themselves, but more so with the summer and winter games, NAIG and NAHC. I would like to state once again, for future events coming such as Canada Winter Games, NAHC, and maybe there are other team NWT-oriented events that I did not mention, maybe curling, cross country skiing, etc.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Member for Mackenzie Delta, I believe the Minister is giving a clear message. It has been over almost three minutes now, almost four minutes. I believe your statement is concluded. Masi. Members' statements. Member for Hay River North.

Commercial Fisheries Revitalization
Members’ Statements

May 30th, 2017

R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I haven't had a chance to get outside much in the past couple of weeks, but I am told that summer is finally here. That means that the commercial fishermen are heading back out on Great Slave Lake. It is only fitting that I make my sessional statement on the fishery. Mr. Speaker, earlier this month, the Auditor General of Canada, or AG, released his report on the Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation. For those who don't know, all fish caught in the NWT that are sold across the border must be sold to Freshwater, which is a federal Crown corporation. It has a legislative monopoly on our export fish market.

When the corporation was established nearly 50 years ago, it was done so with the best of intentions. However, this month's Auditor General report confirmed what has been common knowledge in Hay River for decades: that Freshwater is not serving the best interests of our fisherman. The AG found many weaknesses, significant deficiencies, and outright failures in the oversight, management, and operation of the corporation. Given some of the things I have heard, that is putting it lightly. Further, the report found that the corporation has no long-term strategic plan, and has exposed itself to considerable risks in a complex economic environment.

These conclusions are no surprise to anyone familiar with the fishing industry. The only surprise is that things have actually gotten worse since the AG released a similar report in 2010. The core purpose of Freshwater, according to its vision statement, is to maximize returns for fishers. However, it is the fishermen who have borne the fiscal costs of Freshwater's ineptitude. Mr. Speaker, if you would like to see a physical manifestation of Freshwater's failings, look at the fish plant they own in Hay River. It was once a brand-new building, stocked full of top-of-the-line equipment capable of processing fish. Now the building is an eyesore, gutted of its ability to process fish, and demoted through a receiving plant. Fish are now trucked from Hay River to Winnipeg to be processed.

Unsurprisingly, Manitoba is set to withdraw from the corporation this year, meaning only NWT fishers will be obliged to sell their fish to Freshwater. I am not convinced the corporation will last much beyond that. If it doesn't last, the situation for our fishermen will go from bad to worse. We are hitching our wagon to a dying horse, Mr. Speaker, and we need to do something about it quickly, or we will be failing our fishermen the same way Freshwater has been failing them for the past 50 years. I will have questions about what we are doing to strengthen our commercial fishing industry and finally allow our fisherman to be paid fairly for their work. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Great Slave.

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

Glen Abernethy

Glen Abernethy Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize Miss Nicole Enge. Nicole just finished her second year of political science at the University of Toronto, and she has been hired for the summer as one of our special project coordinators for the executive council offices here in the Legislative Assembly. Welcome.

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

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

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

Julie Green

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize Lydia Bardak, who is an advocate for people who live in need, and who is my constituent, and Nalini Naidoo, the economic development director for the city, who is sitting there, as well. She is also my constituent. Thank you.

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

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Sahtu.

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

Daniel McNeely

Daniel McNeely Sahtu

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. We are proud to acknowledge two Pages from the Chief T'Selehye School in Fort Good Hope: Miss Patricia Mahamadiva and Adriana Laboucan, along with their chaperone, Melinda Laboucan. Good job in keeping us in order, and good job to Melinda for keeping the Pages in order, and sightseeing in this big city. I would also like to point out that Adriana Laboucan is one of the Sahtu Regional Heritage Fair winners. Her project was based on a pow wow. Congratulations. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

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

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Range Lake.

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

Caroline Cochrane

Caroline Cochrane Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize a member from a constituency from Range Lake, also the chair of the Montessori school, Mr. David Wasylciw. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Kam Lake.

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

Kieron Testart

Kieron Testart Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise again to recognize Mr. Fraser Oliver, Kam Lake constituent and president of the NWT Teachers' Association. I know he has been here every day so far this sitting, and eagerly awaiting the debate on Bill 16, which is today. I am sure he will be very pleased with our proceedings. Thank you.

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

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Yellowknife North.

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

Cory Vanthuyne

Cory Vanthuyne Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wanted to take this opportunity to recognize the director of economic development and communications for the City of Yellowknife, Nalini Naidoo. I also want to take this time to recognize the Pages from my riding: Riley Menard, Rae Panayi, and Mezan Daher, all from Sir John, and all residents of the Yellowknife North riding. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. If we are missing anyone in the gallery, welcome to our proceedings. It is always great to have an audience. Masi. Item 6, acknowledgements. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

Acknowledgments
Acknowledgements

Julie Green

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise to salute my constituent Lynda Koe for receiving the Order of the NWT yesterday. For almost 30 years, Ms. Koe has used her nursing skills to increase the quality of life for residents of Avens to meet the highest level of compassion, dignity, and respect. Her professionalism earned her accreditation from the Accreditation Council of Canada. Ms. Koe has played a key role in implementing specialized care in the dementia facility. She is approachable and respected by all as an advocate for residents' social and medical needs. Please join me in congratulating her. Mahsi.

---Applause

Acknowledgments
Acknowledgements

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Acknowledgements. Member for Sahtu.

Acknowledgments
Acknowledgements

Daniel McNeely

Daniel McNeely Sahtu

Mahsi Mr. Speaker. Today, I pay tribute to Ms. Cece Hodgson-McCauley for her 95th birthday coming this Monday, June 5, 2017. Cece was born on June 5, 1922, on the Dease Arm on the famous Great Bear Lake. She is a residential school survivor, and began as the first founding chief of the Inuvik Dene Band. She also received the 2016 Indspire Award for Politics. Mr. Speaker, today Cece is a well-known columnist for NewsNorth paper, and an advocate for the Mackenzie Valley Highway. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Acknowledgments
Acknowledgements

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Acknowledgements. Item 7, oral questions. Member for Nahendeh.

Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, for the past few days, I've used my Member's statements to talk about Nutrition North. As stated in my statements, this program is not working for my riding. To add to this, we have seen numerous reports and articles about the challenges this program faces across the North. Mr. Speaker, can the Premier inform this house which department is working with the federal government to make this program work better for small and isolated communities in the North? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. The Honourable Premier.

Bob McLeod

Bob McLeod Yellowknife South

Mr. Speaker, the department of Executive and Indigenous Affairs has been monitoring what the federal government has been doing with Nutrition North, and Health and Social Services provides nutritional education information on behalf of the federal government to the tune of about $375,000 a year. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

I thank the Premier for his answer. Mr. Speaker, in previous sittings, we spoke about the potential of going to the federal government, and asking if we could take over this program. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister advise this House if he has had the opportunity to discuss this idea with the Minister or the Prime Minister in regards to Nutrition North?

Bob McLeod

Bob McLeod Yellowknife South

I have had the opportunity to discuss Nutrition North with Minister Bennett on several occasions. We offered to take over the program if the accompanying money would be transferred with it. The federal government has been non-committal. They appear to prefer to deliver it themselves. They have had a number of reviews, and they even have their own advisory board, so it appears they will be in business for a while.