Roles

In the Legislative Assembly

Historical Information Kelvin Ng is no longer a member of the Legislative Assembly.

Last in the Legislative Assembly March 1999, as MLA for Kitikmeot

Won his last election, in 1995, with 71% of the vote.

Statements in the House

Written Question 26-12(4): Government Buildings Written Off After Fires December 5th, 1993

My written question is to the Minister of Public Works and Services. Can the Minister please provide the following information:

1. How many staff housing units were written off as a result of fire in the 1992-93 year and to date, in the current year?

2. How many other buildings and facilities were written off as a result of fire in the 1992-93 year and to date, in the current year?

3. What are the plans, if any, to replace these written off units?

Question 200-12(4): Fire And Liability Insurance Carried On Government Units December 5th, 1993

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Public Works and Services. Given the tragic circumstances of the loss of life and property as a result of fire this past week in Rankin, I would like to ask the Minister if the Department of Public Works and Services carries fire and liability insurance on their staff housing and other buildings.

Question 188-12(4): Change Of Name Procedures December 5th, 1993

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Justice. In view of what I outlined in my earlier statement regarding what many of my constituents have identified as a problem in the legalities and costs of hiring a lawyer to correct the spelling of their names, will the Minister commit to initiating the necessary amendments to allow for name changes, with minimal paper work and costs to individuals who wish to do so?

Project Surname December 5th, 1993

I am pointing this out, as I see the need for our government to enact the necessary changes to make it easier for individuals to correct or change the spelling of their names, at minimal cost and inconvenience. Thank you.

---Applause

Project Surname December 5th, 1993

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

Project Surname December 5th, 1993

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, during 1969 and 1970, the Registrar General of vital statistics initiated a naming project in order to eliminate disc numbers and disc lists which identified individuals of Inuit descent. The program was called, project surname. It entailed that each Inuit family would select a surname and be registered as such, for federal government purposes. Residents from the entire Arctic were named under this program. Since project surname was completed, there have been tens of thousands of new individuals born and registered in the Northwest Territories. Birth registrations have been done by missionaries, government bureaucrats, and by health care officials. Mr. Speaker, as individuals completing registration forms varied and changed, so did the spelling of people's names. This led to variations and inconsistencies in the spelling of names throughout the Arctic for various reasons. The primary reason for the misspelling of names, is the utilization of the letter "k" or "q" in names. The Baffin and Keewatin regions primarily utilized "q" in their spelling, while the western Arctic primarily uses "k." The Kitikmeot region is almost split. The Natilikmiot communities use "q," while the Kitikmeot communities use "k."

Mr. Speaker, in the NWT, the Change of Name Act is administered by the Supreme Court. This results in individuals wishing to change their name, or correct the spelling of their name, having to hire legal counsel and apply through the courts for name changes. In other Canadian jurisdictions, the majority of the change of name acts are administered by the Department of Vital Statistics, resulting in minimal costs. Newfoundland's Change of Name Act is administered by their Department of Justice, again, a minimal costs to individuals wishing to change names. PEI is the only other jurisdiction, besides ours, which requires individuals to utilize the court system for name changes. Mr. Speaker, with all due respect to the legal profession, we all know that legal fees charged by lawyers are not inexpensive. In fact, the cost of their fees are often questioned by their clients, as they are more often than not perceived to be excessive. The majority of individuals in our communities do not have the access or the financial means to hire lawyers to carry out name changes or minor spelling corrections in their names. Mr. Speaker, I am pointing this out as I see the need for our government to enact the necessary changes to make it easier for individuals...

Committee Motion 50-12(4): To Adopt Recommendation 19, Carried December 2nd, 1993

So, currently, obviously, they have undertaken to identify some of these sites and you have some information available. Could you make that available to myself?

Committee Motion 50-12(4): To Adopt Recommendation 19, Carried December 2nd, 1993

Is the federal government being pursued for an initiative to clean up the sites they know of?

Committee Motion 50-12(4): To Adopt Recommendation 19, Carried December 2nd, 1993

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I recognize that it's currently a federal responsibility for the waters. You've said that, obviously, there are concerns and there are no current ocean dumping sites. I pointed out in my statement a couple of days ago, that it's also recognized that in the past there have been ocean dumping sites. Are those sites now identified? I had posed that question to the Minister that day, but he wasn't quite sure, so I'm just trying to get that clarified.

Committee Motion 47-12(4): To Adopt Recommendation 16, Carried December 1st, 1993

Mr. Pudlat was not in the room, at the time. He sat down and didn't have an opportunity to hear the motion.