Roles

In the Legislative Assembly

Elsewhere

Historical Information Ernie Bernhardt is no longer a member of the Legislative Assembly.

Last in the Legislative Assembly February 1993, as MLA for Kitikmeot

Won his last election, in 1991, with 33% of the vote.

Statements in the House

Development Of Mineral Production December 2nd, 1992

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to make a few comments about the need which exists to fast track development in the mining sector, in order to ensure an equitable economic base across the Northwest Territories. The honourable Members are already aware that mineral production currently accounts for 75 per cent of the value of goods produced in the Northwest Territories and over 25 per cent of the gross domestic product. There are vast opportunities which have yet to be realized.

A 1988 study carried out by Dr. Brian MacKenzie of the Centre for Resource Studies at Queen's University, concluded that the economic potential of base metal mining in the Yukon and the Northwest Territories is significantly greater than in southern Canada. Now is the time when this government should be putting its emphasis on the development of our promising mining potential. Now is the time when we should be moving forward to collect necessary scientific information, work towards the transfer and development of northern technology and to do our best to attract investors.

Focusing on mineral development is especially important to my constituency, the Kitikmeot, and to my honourable colleague from North Slave. In the Government Leader's June 16 announcement on the new directions decentralization initiative, she said it contained something for everyone, except the North Slave and the Kitikmeot. The Government Leader commented that she would be trying to maximize the benefits associated with mineral development. She stated, and I quote, "If transportation and energy infrastructure can be developed, the Northwest Territories can be the most exciting mining region in the world and the employment and economic development opportunities will be enormous."

I will be asking the appropriate Minister today what progress has been made in building this infrastructure. Mr. Speaker, I would like to seek unanimous consent to continue my statement.

The National White Ribbon Campaign November 30th, 1992

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I know this week the National White Ribbon Campaign represents violence against women. Mr. Speaker, I would like to speak on the issue which causes the circle of violence. Mr. Speaker, the statistics, and my own experience, confirm that many of the men who are caught in the circle of violence have been either physically or sexually abused.

Mr. Speaker, I want to make a comment on how society overlooks the help perpetrators or abusers need to break the circle of violence. I would like to call on this government to assist with the development of a program for abusers, so that we can all work to achieve zero violence against women. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Committee Motion 31-12(3): To Adopt Recommendation 31 November 26th, 1992

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Madam Premier, you know that we have only one native doctor, and he happens to be Inuvialuit, Dr. Noah Carpenter. I wonder if you have thought about bringing him home to work for his own people. He would be a perfect roll model and from what I understand, Mr. Chairman, he is a very good surgeon. If you can entertain ideas of bringing this doctor home it would help our people to say, if Noah can do it then maybe I can do it.

Committee Motion 29-12(3): To Adopt Recommendation No. 29 November 26th, 1992

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I know Economic Development and Tourism has done its best to create employment. However, from listening to Members' comments, I think too much emphasis is being placed on putting more money into the highway corridor system to serve settlements which already have these facilities. Mr. Minister, my riding is only accessible by First Air and Ptarmigan. If you are rich enough you can go by kayak from Yellowknife to Coppermine. These things are not noticeable to the outside world.

Tourism is good. I do not dispute that. However, Mr. Minister, the tourism season in the Northwest Territories is five months. It does not qualify a person to go on U.I.C. What this government should be doing is looking at taking alternative measures to create the cottage industries within the communities so that people can get off the welfare system and sustain their livelihood. A lot of our native people cannot afford washers and dryers. We could have a launderette in Coppermine. We had one, but it has been out of commission for a long time. We do not even have a restaurant in Coppermine open to the public. These are the things that we really need. Our community is over 1,000 people. These are the things that the general public in my riding have to make people aware of. The people from the Keewatin are aggressive people. They have to focus on how to create jobs. That is what we need in our riding. I am not going to wait for the boom to hit my riding. I want to get things going, but it is hard to get the people in my riding to open their eyes and learn how to be aggressive. We have just as much ability as any other region, and our region is the least touched in the territories. The potential is there, but we are accessible only by air. We have a beautiful river, Coppermine River, Bloody Falls, Bathurst Inlet and these are the places in my riding where dollars can be put into, even to have a road from Coppermine to Bloody Falls. Not everyone can afford a boat and kicker. That would be good for the tourists that come to Coppermine. We are too passive, I think we should learn how to be aggressive. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Revert Back To Item 13: Tabling Of Documents November 25th, 1992

I would like to table Tabled Document 17-12(3), a note which I received from a Minister. I found this note very disturbing and unethical.

Question 106-12(3): Decentralization In Kitikmeot Region November 25th, 1992

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Finance as the leading Minister in the decentralization initiative announced earlier this year by this government. As I stated in my Member's Statement today, the Kitikmeot region has once again been ignored during decentralization initiatives of this government. The reason, of course, is the exciting mining developments in the region. I wonder if the Minister can tell me when the people in my region can expect to benefit from these exciting developments? Within the next year, two years or ten years?

Kitikmeot Region And Government's Decentralization Initiative November 25th, 1992

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, honourable colleges. I would ask for the support of this House that we agree on basic principles of decentralization and not simply base the concept of decentralization on political agreements or arrangements. Mr. Speaker, if I sound frustrated with this process it is because I am. This government cannot continue to ignore its responsibility to develop the economy of the Kitikmeot region. Economic development issues of this government have to take into account all regions of the territories, not simply the most aggressive. Mr. Speaker, if this government is truly committed to developing the economy of the Kitikmeot region and feels the exploration for minerals in this region will contribute greatly to this development, then it would seem only natural that the Department of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources be considered a prime candidate for decentralization to Cambridge Bay, the regional centre for Kitikmeot. I would expect that this government would give this request due consideration, as it has for other regions of the

territories such as the Keewatin, Fort Smith and Inuvik regions. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Kitikmeot Region And Government's Decentralization Initiative November 25th, 1992

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. During the doom session of this House I wish to speak about the decentralization initiatives of this government. My concern at the time was the seemingly unequal distribution of our government program to the regions of this territory, and this remains my concern today. As all members are aware, the majority of benefits from this decentralization initiative will go to the Keewatin, Fort Smith and Inuvik regions. Once again, those in most need, the people of the Kitikmeot have been ignored. It seems that whenever this government proposes a large initiative such as the decentralization initiative, the Kitikmeot does not benefit, and there is always some bureaucratic reason for this omission. During this particular exercise the government stated that there exciting mining activities are taking place in the Coronation Gulf area and that economic development will naturally flow from these developments. I wonder if the Minister of Finance can tell me and the people of my region when these benefits will begin to accrue in the region? When can they expect to see training programs and more importantly jobs from these developments? Will it be sometime in 1993 or 94 or sometime in the next century? I do not suppose that the Minister can give me a reasonable answer to this question, because he simply does not know. I can only assume that people in my region will be doomed to a future of poverty and reliance on the social welfare system until these mining developments take place, if ever. I do not wish to offend the Members of this House. However, I ask all Members to consider the purpose of decentralization. Is it to provide better programs and services or are we simply moving parts of departments to the regions? I hope it will be the former rather than the latter.

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to continue my statement.

Question 47-12(3): Receipt Of W.C.B. Strategic Plan November 22nd, 1992

Supplementary, Mr. Speaker. The standing committee report also recommended that the Minister should make legislative changes to ensure that the Workers' Compensation Board's strategic plan was received for his approval and for tabling in this House on a yearly basis. Will the Minister make a commitment to ensure that this amendment is outlined in the legislative action paper he is supposed to bring forward by December 31 of this year?

Question 47-12(3): Receipt Of W.C.B. Strategic Plan November 22nd, 1992

I would like to direct my question to the Minister responsible for the Workers' Compensation Board. Since 1990 the Workers' Compensation Board has completed a strategic plan as a yearly planning exercise. Apparently it has been the practice of the board to forward a copy to the Minister. My question is, can the Minister confirm whether he has received the board's strategic plan for the current 1992-93 fiscal year?