Roles

In the Legislative Assembly

Elsewhere

Historical Information John Pollard is no longer a member of the Legislative Assembly.

Last in the Legislative Assembly September 1995, as MLA for Hay River

Won his last election, in 1991, by acclaimation.

Statements in the House

Item 13: Tabling Of Documents June 18th, 1995

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document, Tabled Document 146-12(7), an excerpt from the human resource manual, section 701, regarding the process for investigating recommendations for dismissal. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 652-12(7): Funding For Community Elder And Youth Committees June 18th, 1995

Mr. Speaker, I'm speaking on behalf of two other ministries, so I'll take the question as notice and make an answer to the House tomorrow specifically. Thank you.

Question 652-12(7): Funding For Community Elder And Youth Committees June 18th, 1995

Mr. Speaker, Mr. Kakfwi, as Minister of Justice, has been impressing upon Members of Cabinet that there needs to be a community justice system. Madam Premier, in her responsibility as Minister of Health and Social Services, has been saying that we need to get these issues back to a community level. There is going to be a disbursal of some funds to communities to get their community wellness strategy together.

At the bottom of all this is the recognition by these two Ministers that getting the youth and the elders working together, using the advice of the elders to keep those young people out of trouble, using their vast experience to guide problems that occur within communities is paramount. So I think that you will see, through both of these Ministers, some involvement of the elders' system in our communities, to either counsel those youth or to make suggestions on how we could make things better. It won't, perhaps, be direct funding, but they will be involved in the process. The communities will be left to decide how they spend the money that the Minister of Health disburses this summer, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Question 644-12(7): Status Of Metis Health Benefits June 18th, 1995

Mr. Speaker, assuming an agreement can be reached some time this fiscal year, it will be retroactive to the date of assent of the budget that went through here in April, and I think that date is around the 26th or 27th of April. So if an arrangement is made, it will be retroactive to that particular date, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Question 644-12(7): Status Of Metis Health Benefits June 18th, 1995

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, no, I don't believe an arrangement has been concluded between the Department of Health and the Metis Nation. However, there has been an agreement between

myself and Mr. Bohnet that the Metis health benefits will be retroactive to the date of assent of the budget bill that passed through here in late April, I believe around the 26th or 27th of April, Mr. Speaker. I did that last week in order to take pressure off of both sides who were trying to get this deal together. I wanted them to have some assurance that they didn't have to rush the process through, because I would like it to be fair to both sides and I would also like it to be an economic arrangement, as well. So that's the latest, and the department will continue to discuss this issue with the Metis Nation and, hopefully, they'll conclude a soon. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 643-12(7): Acting Premier June 18th, 1995

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good afternoon. Mr. Speaker, there is no acting Premier today. The Prime Minister was here on the weekend, as everybody knows. The Premier went to visit him. She is still in the Northwest Territories, we're still in contact with her, so there is no need to appoint anybody. I merely will be taking questions for her if there are any questions directed at her. Thank you.

Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions June 18th, 1995

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have a response to a question asked by Mrs. Marie- Jewell on June 16, 1995, concerning Bird Dog officer investigations. Mr. Speaker, today, under orders of the day, item 13, tabling of documents, I will table an excerpt from the human resource manual, section 701, which speaks to the process for investigating recommendations for dismissal. Numbers 38 through 42 in section 701 specifically address the investigation procedures followed upon receipt of a request for dismissal. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister's Statement 100-12(7): Minister's Absence From House June 18th, 1995

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good afternoon. Honourable Stephen Kakfwi will be absent from the House for the next several days to make representation to the Senate on Bill C-68, An Act Respecting Firearms and Other Weapons. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 635-12(7): Investigation Into Illegal Import Of Tobacco June 15th, 1995

I don't recall the Member making those statements. I might not have been in the House that day, Mr. Speaker.

---Laughter

---Applause

Question 635-12(7): Investigation Into Illegal Import Of Tobacco June 15th, 1995

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I note that the Member asked what he should tell his constituent so that he can feel better. The Minister of Health tells me that the first thing to do is to stop smoking.

---Laughter

Mr. Speaker, I am taking seriously the constituent of Mr. Patterson who has claimed that we have snooped into his food orders and that we now know what he and his wife eat, drink and smoke. I am asking the department to respond to this particular constituent, because it is not our intention to violate people's privacy or to pry into their private lives.

But we do have a law on the books that allows us to determine if we are losing revenue by people -- shall we say -- smuggling tobacco into the Northwest Territories, albeit innocently without the knowledge that they should be paying these taxes, Mr. Speaker.

It is not our intent to offend or to pry into people's private affairs, and I will have the department respond to the particular constituent and explain our point of view. I hope that he or she is able to understand our point of view. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.