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

Motion 4-12(2): Membership Of The Special Committee On Health And Social Services February 23rd, 1992

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I do not know why the procedure of nominating a Member to the committee or special committees has been done, like the secret ballot previously. Yes, I, too, was approached as to whether I want to be a member of that committee or not. However, with my committee membership now, I think I have got almost all the committee membership seats. I do not know if that is fair or not, but I am getting a little bit busy here.

How we should have dealt with it, I guess, is to determine during the full caucus what would be a good representation on that committee, rather than filling out papers like it was in a secret ballot -- and as it turned out my friend here was the only one who put his name down -- but if it was discussed in an open, full caucus meeting in an committee room, we probably would have been able to balance out to make up good representation on that very important committee. Social problems in the North are one of the biggest problems, and the social committee would have had a good impact in advising the government on social matters. Maybe the whole procedure of selecting committee membership in all of these areas is wrong.

I, in fact, disagree with the system of the striking committee. Especially, I was not pleased when the committees were chosen on the basis of the individual on finance. I fought tooth and nail trying to be on finance. Of course I would not have been put in there except as an alternate. I will not be supporting the motion because I want to select a committee with a better method than what we have been doing.

Question O142-12(2): Involvement Of All Members In Discussion Of "strength At Two Levels" February 23rd, 1992

Yes, Mr. Speaker. I just want to be clear in my mind as a committee Member that it has been tabled. I understand that. I am not arguing with that. My question is that there have been too many hints from the government that some of these have been in the process of implementation. My question is, how long will the government go on with this before we have time to review it as a committee?

Question O142-12(2): Involvement Of All Members In Discussion Of "strength At Two Levels" February 23rd, 1992

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I do not know if there is a consistency in procedure in this House, because I know that the Minister of Finance told the chairman of the standing committee on finance, or maybe it was the Minister of DPW, that they are waiting for the document from the committee on finance. Now, does that mean that the government will be tabling the document Strength at Two Levels before the committee has had time to review it with the government?

Question O142-12(2): Involvement Of All Members In Discussion Of "strength At Two Levels" February 23rd, 1992

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Government Leader. The Government Leader has stated that the committee will be dealing with the document Strength at Two Levels. To this date my honourable friends, Mr. Antoine, Mr. Koe and myself, have not yet received an invitation to attend or to even participate. Yet the Government Leader has issued a document, Living Within Our Means, along the lines of Strength at Two Levels. DPW and Government Services have been combined under one Minister, and Finance and Economic Development, and the same with Justice and Safety. This morning we read in the newspaper that there was a proposal for the elimination of the Housing Corporation Board of Directors. Will the Government Leader be involving the committee Members before the document, Strength at Two Levels, is filed in this House?

Question O134-12(2): Child Sexual Abuse Specialist Position For Kitikmeot February 23rd, 1992

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to direct my question to the Minister of Social Services. There is a child sexual abuse specialist position in all regions except Kitikmeot. That is a coincidence, I guess. There was an advertisement to fill these positions not long ago. Have they been filled? Will the Kitikmeot be given that child sexual abuse specialist position?

Question O130-12(2): Not Recognizing Tfn As Legitimate Organization February 23rd, 1992

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I know that he is in a difficult position to respond to the question, but can the Minister in his position, representing the Government of the Northwest Territories and representing this House -- can he at least write to TFN about the feeling of reappointment of the TFN leader to the position that he is holding now? I am not necessarily asking him to approach the leader himself; rather, the board of directors of TFN. Will he be letting them know about the government's feeling on that reappointment?

Question O130-12(2): Not Recognizing Tfn As Legitimate Organization February 23rd, 1992

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask a question of the Minister responsible for Aboriginal Affairs. It is well known that a group, or especially the government, does not have to deal with a group of people or a country that they do not recognize as legitimate, as a proper body or organization. Would the Minister, then, say to this House that in fact he will not be dealing with him on the basis of this government's principle of protecting the women of the NWT?

School Space Requirement, Coral Harbour February 23rd, 1992

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. During my observations in Sakku School in Coral Harbour, it became obvious to me that the school is under some pressure spacewise in teaching areas. The older grade nine and 10 are using the community education committee chambers and have done so for the last three years. Inuktitut classes for grades four to nine are held on the stage at the gymnasium. Although there is a partition between the gymnasium and the Inuktitut class, there is still considerable noise interference.

With a grade 10 class of approximately 22 applicants expected for 1992-93, and a kindergarten intake of 24, the school total is expected to rise to 190-plus students for August 1992. Our high school students are much younger than in past years, and it is their parents' expectation that they will continue grades 10, 11 and 12 in their home community. This program expects grade 10 in 1992-93; grade 11, 1993-94; grade 12, 1994-95.

The estimated total of students for 1992-93 is 190-plus; 1993-94, 215-plus students; 1994-95, 245-plus students. This will undoubtedly put tremendous strain on space requirements. The two portables are considered now to be unsuitable for educational purposes. Renovations to the Arctic College building, which would bring much-needed seminar office space and that were planned to be completed last summer or, at the latest, this summer's construction season, appear to have been abandoned.

The present school facilities were built in 1978-79, and Coral Harbour is the only Keewatin community that has not had a new school or an addition built within the last five years. The students and community have taken great pride in and care of their school and have had only one broken window in the last 13 years, and that was done by the front-end loader during snow clearance. Vandalism and damage to the school is negligible. There are no break-ins at the school.

Surely those communities that take care and pride in their community school should be rewarded, not penalized. The community of Coral Harbour will need new teaching space to accommodate the increase in the under-five population. So it is imperative that a capital plan be implemented as soon as possible. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Item 19: Report Of Committee Of The Whole February 19th, 1992

Mr. Speaker, your committee has been considering Ministers' Statement 10-12(2); Tabled Document 9-12(2), and Tabled Document 10-12(2); Committee Report 2-12(2), and wishes to report progress; and Committee Report 2-12(2) is concluded. Mr. Speaker, I move that the report of the chairman of committee of the whole be concurred with. Thank you.

Item 17: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters February 19th, 1992

Mr. Chairman, just a correction if I may. My friend said, "I would like to make motion number two." I think he was trying to say, "I would like to make a motion on recommendation number two."