Roles

In the Legislative Assembly

Elsewhere

Historical Information Dennis Patterson is no longer a member of the Legislative Assembly.

Last in the Legislative Assembly September 1995, as MLA for Iqaluit

Won his last election, in 1991, with 60% of the vote.

Statements in the House

Question 514-12(7): Support For Inuit Applications For Turbot Quotas June 5th, 1995

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, Mr. Speaker, I am aware that unfortunately Canada gave back some of the turbot quota that it won in order to settle the contentious dispute in southern waters over the turbot. What I would like to ask the Minister is, what has he done to ensure that, of what remains, the Inuit get a fair share of the quota, recognizing that the Inuit land claim cites that special consideration shall be given to the principles of adjacency and economic dependence of communities when allocated commercial fishing quotas? Has the Minister been able to impress upon Mr. Tobin that whatever is left, even if it's a reduced amount, the land claim requires special consideration to be given to Inuit applicants for fish in their waters? Thank you.

Question 514-12(7): Support For Inuit Applications For Turbot Quotas June 5th, 1995

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Renewable Resources. I think the Minister is aware that several Inuit-owned organizations from the Baffin region have applied for turbot quotas in sub-area O off Baffin Island and that I had urged this government to go to bat for them with Mr. Tobin. I would like to ask the Minister of Renewable Resources if he has done anything to pursue the interests of these Inuit-owned enterprises applying for turbot quotas in the waters off Baffin? Thank you.

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery June 5th, 1995

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, although he is a familiar face, I don't think he should be taken for granted. I refer to our watch-dog for workers' rights, not in his usual seat today...

---Laughter

...the UNW's Ben MacDonald. Thank you.

---Applause

Concerns Re Proposed Federal Gun Control Legislation June 5th, 1995

Hear! Hear!

---Applause

Misrepresentation By Firearms Task Force June 5th, 1995

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Members. It will be under two minutes tomorrow, I promise.

What matters, Mr. Speaker, is what is put in the sections of the main bill now before the House of Commons, not what minor administrative changes are made in how the bill is implemented in our aboriginal communities through regulations. This distinction was not spelled out by the firearms task force when they were in my constituency and that is why I called their so-called consultations a fraud.

Mr. Speaker, what the task force is saying to us is: trust us, but everything they are doing indicates that they absolutely cannot be trusted. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Misrepresentation By Firearms Task Force June 5th, 1995

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yesterday I expressed my outrage at the sham consultations undertaken in my constituency by the federal firearms task force. Several things said by the members of that task force to my constituents were disturbing to me. Firstly, the federal representatives told my constituents that they were committed to consulting on section 110(t) of the proposed Firearms Act. They also stated that the detailed consultations will happen this fall. The implication was, don't worry if you're feeling a little

rushed today, there will still be lots of time to obtain your input this fall.

Mr. Speaker, section 110(t) allows for the making of regulations: "respecting the manner in which any provisions of this act or the regulations applies to any of the aboriginal peoples of Canada and adapting any such provision for the purposes of that application." Mr. Speaker, the federal Minister of Justice has already stated publicly in introducing this bill to the House of Commons committee that all the substantive provisions of the bill will apply to aboriginal people and that, in effect, the regulations will only allow for minor modifications in how the bill is implemented in aboriginal communities.

One example that federal officials trot out regularly is that an aboriginal person may be appointed to be a firearms officer for the purposes of registering firearms in a community. As if any aboriginal person would want that job. Compulsory registration will still be required of every firearm. The regulations may allow a local person to get the job instead of a bureaucrat.

It's very important that our people understand, Mr. Speaker, that this bill amends the criminal law. It is very clear that the criminal law cannot be amended by regulations, certainly not in the manner being suggested by the task force. It's also very important that our people know that the federal government intends to ram this bill through the House before the summer recess. According to Mr. Rock's timetable, the new bill will be law by the time the firearms task force comes back to consult my constituents this fall.

When these officials told my constituents they'd be further consulted in the fall, they did not point out that, according to their agenda, it would then be too late to make any substantive changes to the bill.

May I have consent to briefly conclude, Mr. Speaker?

Committee Report 2-12(7): Report On The Legislative Action Paper On The Office Of Ombudsman For The Northwest Territories June 4th, 1995

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Looking at the future fiscal climate in the Northwest Territories and the pressures we know are going to be visited on the next government, I listen with interest to the debate about whether the ombudsman should be created now or later or whether the ombudsman should be amalgamated with the office of the Access and Privacy Commissioner, which I thought would have been the best use of resources and perhaps a chance to save some money through sharing of an office and perhaps an individual.

But, Mr. Chairman, I wonder if the next government is to meet the deficit reduction targets that are required by the bill recently passed by this Assembly, if it is to meet the requirements for restraint which we know and fear will be imposed by the financial restraint threatened by the Government of Canada. I wonder whether this isn't an academic debate. I wonder whether, when teachers, nurses and programs which are very vital to our communities are going to be cut because of severe fiscal problems, we'll be able to afford to consider such questions as how the office of the ombudsman will work. I wonder if we'll consider it impossible in light of the fiscal burdens on the horizon.

I just want to make that point, I guess, Mr. Chairman. It's a good debate and an interesting debate, but I wonder if fiscal reality is not going to mean that other, more urgent priorities will have to delay the implementation of this legislative action paper. I think it's an interesting question for the future and I guess I just want to note that I believe the biggest question will be the cost, and whether that cost can be justified in a time of severe financial restraint. Thank you.

Written Question 26-12(7): Residency Requirements For NWT Health Care Cards June 4th, 1995

And, if I may, I have another one. This is for the Minister of Health.

Would the Minister of Health and Social Services advise this House how long does a person have to be a resident in the NWT to obtain a health care card?

Written Question 25-12(7): Residency Requirements For NWT Driver's Licence June 4th, 1995

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This if for the Minister of Transportation.

Would the Minister of Transportation advise this House what are the residency requirements to obtain a driver's licence in the NWT?

Question 502-12(7): Delivery Of Staff Housing Program At Community Level June 4th, 1995

Mr. Speaker, my understanding -- and I wrote the Minister about this several weeks ago --- is that rather than providing additional resources to communities to manage this new housing stock, in fact, what's happening in the Baffin region is that person years of the Department of Public Works are being transferred from that department to the Housing Corporation district office in Iqaluit and that communities so far haven't seen any increased resources or increased responsibilities. Is there a different approach being taken in Baffin, Mr. Speaker? Thank you.