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

Mathias Awa December 10th, 1991

(Translation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Before I start my statement, I would like to congratulate Mr. John Ningeongan of Coral Harbour on his successful election as mayor. I am looking forward to working with him during his term of office.

Mr. Speaker, I am happy to be able to say a little bit about my father, Mathias Awa, who is here today. Awa was born and raised in my constituency near Repulse Bay. His father, Uyarak, and his grandfather, Awa, were guides and companions of Knut Rasmussen on his Fifth Thule expedition. Mr. Rasmussen talks a great deal about his reports. When Awa grew up and got married, he worked hard on his trapline and managed to buy his furs while whaling at Arctic Bay. He and his wife carried them by dog team over the land to Igloolik in the summertime, in June. When he came to the fishing lake, he rafted the boat down the river, hauled it up and walked all the way back to pick up his wife and dog team. Perhaps, Mr. Speaker, we should start a new movie, "An Incredible Journey."

Awa's children are now well on their own. A couple of them you may well know: Simon Awa is an Inuktitut production manager with the CBC; Joanna Awa is with TV Aqsarniit as a former colleague of George Tuccaro, Paul Andrew and Marie Wilson.

My statement is not to tell you about how well we did, but rather to tell you that as a father, Awa worked very hard with his children and helped them in achieving what they can do best, and he has been a member of the local education council as long as his younger children can remember. He is now 70 and is still working.

Mr. Speaker, my message is, let us all work with our constituents and urge parents to work with their children to stay in school and make the most of their abilities. We have been criticizing the Department of Education and school staff for lack of achievement by our children. The parents must take more responsibility in encouraging and supporting their children to work and stay in school.

In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, let us tell our children that, whatever career they choose, they must work to be the very best they can be. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Ministers' Statement 2-12(1): And Tabled Document 3-12(1) December 9th, 1991

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have no really big objection to the statement made by the Leader of the government this morning, nor do I have any strong objections to the document, "Strength at Two Levels." I read it through and made a couple of thousand notes. The only general concern I have is that not too long ago the government had a project called "Devolution of the Government." When that happened, the regional groups such as Keewatin Regional Council or divisional boards of education became rather active and strong in the deliberation of that devolution program. We have been seeing in the last few years that the government is again taking back the power from the regional organizations to Yellowknife.

In "Strength at Two Levels," would the communities or community governments in this document, if they are active, become rather strong in the deliberation of their local programs such as housing, social services and health? When things like that become complicated, the leaders become more sophisticated and really work hard at that. I wonder if, in the near future when the government finds out that the communities are becoming too strong, would they not want to take that back again to Yellowknife like they did to the regional organizations? That is the only concern I have. If we implement this in any way, I do not want to turn around and say to my constituents that we have to take it back because they are getting too strong.

Question O9-12(1): Additional Nurse For Chesterfield Inlet December 9th, 1991

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will direct this to the Minister of Health. The council of the hamlet of Chesterfield Inlet felt that the workload for a single nurse stationed in the community of 331 is overwhelming, especially when she is on call for 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We feel that the well-being of the nurse is very important, and it would be less stressful for the nurse if there were two nurses stationed in the community. I would like to ask the Minister of Health if this letter, written November 19, 1991, has been responded to.

Acting President Of Tfn December 9th, 1991

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman. As you have heard, the TFN president was accused before the court. I do not want to state that again, but the acting president, Louis Pilakapsi, is capable and he has been with TFN for a long time. This is not going to affect the activities of the TFN and their ultimate goals and objectives.

I think the MLAs from Nunavut will have to welcome him and keep open the lines of communication and to accept him as such. I do not want anybody in this House thinking that TFN is going in a different direction than before. They are still going to be working for us, and by no means have their responsibilities been lessened. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Item 18: Report Of Committee Of The Whole December 8th, 1991

Mr. Speaker, your committee has been considering Ministers' Statement 2-12(1) and wishes to report progress. Mr. Speaker, I move that the report of the chairman of the committee of the whole be concurred with. Thank you.

Motion 16-12(1): Terms Of Reference For Standing Committee On Public Accounts, Carried December 8th, 1991

Thank you, Mr. Speaker:

WHEREAS it is required by Rule 95(2) that the terms of reference for all standing committees shall be approved by the Legislative Assembly;

AND WHEREAS the standing committee on public accounts has considered the matters of their own terms of reference;

AND WHEREAS the standing committee is now prepared to present their terms of reference to the Legislative Assembly;

NOW THEREFORE, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for North Slave, that the following terms of reference for the standing committee on public accounts be approved:

The standing committee on public accounts may, on its own authority:

a) inquire into such matters as may be referred to by the Legislative Assembly;

b) review and recommend on the territorial accounts submitted to the Legislative Assembly annually by the Minister of Finance;

c) review and recommend on the Auditor General of Canada's reports to the Legislative Assembly;

d) the Public Accounts of the NWT and the Auditor General's Annual Report and his Report on Any Other Matters will be referred to the standing committee on public accounts after tabling in the Legislative Assembly. Not withstanding this formal process, the Commissioner, the Speaker or the Minister of Finance are authorized to provide these documents to the standing committee in advance of tabling to expedite the review by the committee. For further certainty, this review in advance of tabling may include public hearings and all other authorized activities of the standing committee.

e) investigate and inquire into those matters of a public accounts nature that, in the opinion of the committee, require investigation, and provide advice and recommendations to the Legislative Assembly;

f) shall establish its own quorum to be five Members, including the Chair. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Motion To Move Ministers' Statement 2-12(1): To Committee Of The Whole, Carried December 8th, 1991

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to proceed with my motion today, concerning the terms of reference for the standing committee on public accounts.

Notice Of Motion 16-12(1): Terms Of Reference For The Standing Committee On Public Accounts December 8th, 1991

Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Wednesday, December 11, 1991, I will move, seconded by the honourable Member for North Slave, that the following terms of reference for the standing committee on public accounts be approved. The standing committee on public accounts may on its own authority: a) inquire into such matters as may be referred to it by the Legislative Assembly; b) review and recommend on the public accounts of the Northwest Territories submitted to the Legislative Assembly annually by the Minister of Finance; c) review and recommend on the Auditor General's reports to the Legislative Assembly; d) the Public Accounts of the Northwest Territories and the Auditor General's Annual Report and his Report on Any Other Matters will be referred to the standing committee on public accounts after tabling in the Legislative Assembly. Not withstanding this formal process, the Commissioner, the Speaker or the Minister of Finance are authorized to provide these documents to the standing committee in advance of tabling to expedite the review by the committee. For further certainty, this review in advance of tabling may include public hearings and all other authorized activities of the standing committee; e) investigate and inquire into those matters of a public accounts nature that, in the opinion of the committee, require investigation, and provide advice and recommendations to the Legislative Assembly; and f) shall establish its quorum to consist of five Members including the Chair.

Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time, I will be seeking unanimous consent to proceed with this motion today. Thank you.