James Arvaluk

Roles

In the Legislative Assembly

Elsewhere

Historical Information James Arvaluk is no longer a member of the Legislative Assembly.

Last in the Legislative Assembly February 1995, as MLA for Aivilik

Won his last election, in 1991, with 35% of the vote.

Statements in the House

Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 1, 1995-96Committee Report 10-12(6): Report On The Review Of The 1995-96 Capital Estimates November 6th, 1994

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just have a very short general comment right now, but later on I will ask some questions about the capital budget. Commercial harvesting of caribou in Coral Harbour was rather surprisingly successful last fall and winter. I hear there were some plans to upgrade the commercial harvesting program in that community for two reasons. One is that the caribou on Southampton Island are disease-free and they are very much desired, since there are no predators on the island such as wolves, and the caribou are very contented and fat. That is desired by present consumers of the Northwest Territories. The bigger scale would be initiated in that area.

The second reason, Mr. Chairman, is there is a danger shown by the scientific review of the numbers of the caribou there. The population there has grown to an unmanageable population unless drastic measures are taken. One of the answers is for commercial harvesting because the population of Coral Harbour cannot be controlled through subsistence hunting.

However, I have been told by some reliable sources that commercial hunting this fall has been cancelled. I was surprised by that. Secondly, there was talk last year that maybe a processing plant would be cheaper in the long run if it was done in Coral Harbour, rather than having one in Rankin Inlet. Of course, I will not make further comments until I have some questions to put to the Minister, respecting programs in that area. Qujannamiik.

Committee Motion 38-12(6): To Adopt Recommendation 11, Carried October 25th, 1994

Mr. Chairman, I think it was the Housing Corporation in Coral Harbour. I'm not sure what it was in Iqaluit. I'm not sure. It's the same guy, Mr. Jim Little, Foxe Basin, that Coral Harbour was up in arms about. They communicated that to your department. They're not satisfied with the answers yet but the only thing they could be satisfied with was the contractor has corrected the situation. Now it's been defaulted. Maybe it's the Housing Corporation. If so, then I will wait, Mr. Chairman.

Committee Motion 38-12(6): To Adopt Recommendation 11, Carried October 25th, 1994

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Coral Harbour community has objected numerous times, after a bad experience with the Foxe Basin contracting company. When the Foxe Basin contracts were awarded again this year for next spring, Coral Harbour really objected to it. But the Minister said, after the awarding, that there's nothing they really can do because Foxe Basin has rectified their defaults, or corrected the mistake they made with respect to the contract work they did in Coral Harbour. Now we heard about one month ago that the Foxe Basin contract in Iqaluit has been terminated. It's the same contractor. I guess my question is, is the Minister still planning to honour that contract they have already awarded for Coral Harbour after they have defaulted that contract work in Iqaluit.

Question 249-12(6): Reasons For Selection Of Yellowknife For Awg Site October 25th, 1994

Madam Speaker, qujannamiik. (Translation) When will you be getting in touch with the other Ministers?

How soon will you be meeting with the other Ministers? Thank you.

Question 249-12(6): Reasons For Selection Of Yellowknife For Awg Site October 25th, 1994

(Translation) Thank you, Madam Speaker. I thank the Minister for the response she has made. What specific action will the Minister take to ensure that flexibility is built into the selection process allowing smaller communities to successfully bid on the games?

Question 249-12(6): Reasons For Selection Of Yellowknife For Awg Site October 25th, 1994

(Translation) Thank you, Madam Speaker. She will probably find out that in the NWT, Inuvik is one of our largest centres. Although Inuvik is a lot smaller than the biggest community, they made their bid to the committee. Does the Minister support innovative approaches which will allow smaller communities to successfully bid for the Arctic Winter Games in the future?

Question 249-12(6): Reasons For Selection Of Yellowknife For Awg Site October 25th, 1994

(Translation) Thank you, Madam Speaker. The question I have is to the Minister of MACA. As we all are aware, Yellowknife was the successful bidder for the 1998 Arctic Winter Games. There is always speculation regarding why one community was chosen over another. Is the Minister aware of the reasons Yellowknife was selected over Inuvik?

1998 Arctic Winter Games Site Selection October 25th, 1994

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, this morning I heard the announcement of Yellowknife as the site for the 1998 Arctic Winter Games. While I'm sure the city of Yellowknife will do a fine job of hosting the games, the selection of Yellowknife over Inuvik disturbed me.

Madam Speaker, no one can deny the tremendous effort put forth by the people of Inuvik in trying to prepare a viable bid for the games. They lobbied long and hard, showing great community enthusiasm. They came up with an innovative approach of a split week format which would allow the community to host, even though it doesn't have as many facilities as a larger centre. I'm sure there were many reasons for the decision, but it seems to demonstrate that only the largest northern communities can hold the games.

As I look down the road to Nunavut, this causes me concern. The people of Nunavut have always been proud participants in the games and we would want to take our turn hosting this event. However, the largest community in Nunavut is similar in size to Inuvik. If Inuvik couldn't host the games, is there any hope that Nunavut will be able to some day?

Madam Speaker, I would urge the government, through the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, to pursue this decision with the Arctic Winter Games International Committee. If indeed community size was a major factor in Inuvik not being chosen, I would ask that the international committee review its policies and consider options which would allow smaller communities to host the games.

As Inuvik showed us, these communities are interested and excited about the chance to host the games; let us make sure they have that chance. Thank you.

Committee Motion 36-12(6): To Adopt Recommendation 4, Carried October 25th, 1994

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I will rephrase my question so that I will not put the Premier in that kind of situation. The department is not planning to -- or at least has not decided, according to the Premier's response -- have completely different facilities altogether, from the plan the department is talking about in the health board facilities. In other words, Mr. Chairman, maybe the best way to ask the Minister is how did you respond to this letter addressed to the Minister of Health and Social Services dated October 17th, respecting that particular issue that she answered by stating that no, we have not decided completely to have a separate facility, we will still be talking to the region to see if we can join all these facilities together if it's feasible. Thank you.

Committee Motion 36-12(6): To Adopt Recommendation 4, Carried October 25th, 1994

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'll try to be really quick. The Minister is saying then that the letter from KRC's speaker stated that we were surprised to hear on the radio last month that your department officials had began a movement to remove the alcohol and drug facilities from the proposed multi-use plan. For the record, Mr. Chairman, this radio program and what they heard last month is not true, according to her previous answer.