This is page numbers 1653 - 1688 of the Hansard for the 19th 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 indigenous.

Topics

R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

The department worked closely with the proponent on the proposal to the federal government, but in the end, the cost was just too much for the GNWT. We have an Early Learning and Childcare Infrastructure Fund that is $500,000 a year for the entire territory, and our cost for this project would have been greater than that for the creation of six spaces. It couldn't be justified under our fiscal reality.

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

The reason why I'm raising this, of course, is the French daycare Galerie Plein Soleil is actually located in one of our schools, something that I think we're trying to aim for in ensuring that we make good use of our school spaces, as well, and collocate daycares. As I understand it, there was to be a dramatic improvement in the use of space in the current daycare. That would add six spaces, and then a second phase would add additional spaces. Of course, increasing daycare spaces is a priority of the 19th Assembly, and so I think we're missing out on this cost-shared opportunity. When will the Minister accept this proposal that will allow Galerie Plein Soleil to respond to the huge demand for daycare spaces for francophone children in Yellowknife?

R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

It's not a matter of accepting the proposal. The proposal has been looked at, and as I stated, it was over half-a-million dollars for six spaces. It sounds like there was a second phase, which I'm guessing would have been more. There were additional improvements to the space. I understand that, but the fact is that we have limited resources. We have a lot of needs all over the territory, and there are competing priorities. I wish I could fund all the spaces and especially French-first-language spaces. I know that there is a limited number of those in the territory, but the numbers didn't add up in this instance. It's a shame, but we're still willing to work closely with the proponent and see what we can do in the future.

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Minister. Final supplemental. Member for Frame Lake.

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Merci, Madame la Presidente. I want to thank the Minister for that. Of course, I'm going to keep pressing this issue. My next question, though, is about GNWT policies that require CSFTNO to sometimes conduct internal workplace investigations. Of course, the employees are French-speaking. The GNWT offers assistance with workplace investigations but in English only. When CSFTNO has to do this work, it costs them about $64,000 a year. Will the Minister commit to making an arrangement with CSFTNO to reimburse these additional costs or provide these services in French, [English translation not available]? Mahsi, Madam Speaker.

R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

The Member is correct. The GNWT doesn't provide these services at all. It doesn't have the ability to provide these services currently. School boards are funded for their operations, including things like workplace assessments. That said, though, I will have a discussion with the Minister of Finance and see what kind of progress we can make on this. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Monfwi.

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

Masi, Madam Speaker. [Translation] I want to ask the Department of Justice a question regarding there is supposed to be a new RCMP station in Whati. I would like to ask him questions regarding the Justice Department. [End of translation] I have questions for the Minister of Justice pertaining to the process of how we allocate a structure from one community to another community. I am referring to the RCMP detachment out of Whati to Gameti within the same region. I'd like to know from the Minister: what would be the process to establish that type of dialogue within my region and the other players involved? Masi.

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member for Monfwi. Minister of Justice.

R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I've had conversations with the Member about this. I was supposed to meet with the chief of Gameti, but our schedules didn't line up during this time, which isn't unusual; but I look forward to that conversation. The detachment in Whati is being replaced. It's a federal asset, and there is a process by which the federal government surplus their goods. That's the process we would have to follow. We did reach out to the commanding officer of "G" Division, and he said he is open to having that conversation to see if that can be surplused. Now, it's just a matter of advancing those conversations, and I'm happy to do that. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

[Translation] As we stand here today, regarding the Ministers, they are responsible for each department, and they also work with the RCMP. [End of translation] Does the Minister agree that the Whati RCMP detachment should stay within the region, from Whati to Gameti? Gameti badly needs an RCMP detachment to hold those individuals who are causing issues in the community.

R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

The detachment in Whati right now, I believe it's about 30 years old. It's being replaced because it's no longer up to the RCMP standards. If the detachment were to be moved to Gameti, it wouldn't be positioned as an RCMP detachment. They are getting rid of it because they don't want to use it as a detachment. That being said, in Gameti, I know, even when I was there years ago, the chief brought this up that, if someone is detained while the RCMP are in the community, they keep them in the back of the truck for however long they need to, or they put them in the community government office. There is not a good system in place to hold people who are detained. If this asset was transferred, it doesn't meet RCMP standards, but I don't believe an office or the back of a cruiser would, either, in terms of that. I can't say whether or not I believe it should be. I'm not sure what condition the building is in, what the cost would be to move this building. There're a lot of these variables. In some instances, it's very expensive to try and lift up a building and haul it and set it up somewhere else, and it might fall apart along the way. There is a lot to look into. However, it could be an improvement over what is in place now, and like I said, I am happy to look into that.

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

I would like to ask the Minister about the process in also engaging the community, the community chiefs, and my Tlicho Government. I would like to know from the Minister what kind of engagement has taken place so far with respect to RCMP, the Commissioner, and also at the federal level within the Justice Department and my leadership. Could the Minister provide me with an update of what has been happening or what would be the process of engaging those parties?

R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

As I stated earlier, the Member was an intermediary between me and the chief in Gameti, and we were supposed to meet. Things did not line up, and so we have not had that meeting yet, but I am happy to have those meetings, work with the Member, and meet with the Tlicho Government. We have already reached out to the RCMP, and now we need to take that next step. I have told the department we need to take that next step sooner than later, so the wheels are turning. I am committed to moving forward with this and exploring any options that we have and including the Member and updating the Member as we make process.

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Minister. Member for Monfwi. Final supplementary.

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

Masi, Madam Speaker. [Translation] Today, in Gameti, they have been asking for the station for a long time. We have two RCMP in the community. Sometimes, when they are in a situation, where are they going to hold the people? They do not have any place. They have a small building that they hold people there, which is not right, so I would like to ask the Minister a question. [Translation ends] Obviously, the community of Gameti has been pushing an RCMP detachment for a number of years, and I think this is a great opportunity for us. Yes, it may not be suitable, but it is a facility that can be utilized in some form or fashion in Gameti. What I am after, Madam Speaker, is: can we expedite this process where, during -- the winter road's coming from Whati to Gameti, if we can reach out to RCMP division, the federal counterparts, to expedite the process, so at least try to make it before this winter road or the following winter road if it's possible? The community is badly expressing a need for a detachment in Gameti. Masi, Madam Speaker.

R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

When the federal government is involved, I cannot really commit to expediting. It's just the nature of the beast. However, I told the department that it's probably been a month since this first came up and that I want to start moving on it immediately, so I am doing my best. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Thebacha.

Frieda Martselos

Frieda Martselos Thebacha

Madam Speaker, I want to be able to ask the Minister of Lands: what is the Minister's policy on enforcement, for enforcement on reserve lands?

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member. Minister of Lands.

Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Presently, we do not enforce policies on reserve land. However, the Member has asked in a meeting with Salt River that we look into this. I have made a commitment to her and to the chief that we will be reaching out to the federal government to try to work with that. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Frieda Martselos

Frieda Martselos Thebacha

It is extremely important that the Government of the Northwest Territories makes policy with the federal government to ensure that enforcement on reserve lands is a priority. The people who belong to the Northwest Territories, just because we have an affirmed land claim, does that mean we are different, even though we are residents of the Northwest Territories? I would like to ask the Minister: is there a timeline to ensure that there is enforcement on reserve lands?

Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

As I have told the Member here in the House, we need to work with the federal government, and we need to respect the jurisdiction of both the federal government and the territorial government. We are trying to work with them. The Member has been very clear on some of the challenges that they face with ENR and with Lands, so we are trying to work with this. It is a process, and we need to be respectful of the process. Again, it involves EIA, as well.

Frieda Martselos

Frieda Martselos Thebacha

Does the Minister agree that it's all right for poachers to go on reserve lands and kill wildlife, that they do not enforce anything on reserve lands? I would like to know if the Minister agrees with that. We are members of the Northwest Territories, and we have rights. Wouldn't you agree, Minister?

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker Lesa Semmler

Please direct your questions to me. Minister of Lands.