Leon Lafferty

Roles

In the Legislative Assembly

Elsewhere

Historical Information Leon Lafferty is no longer a member of the Legislative Assembly.

Last in the Legislative Assembly November 2003, as MLA for North Slave

Lost his last election, in 2003, with 25% of the vote.

Statements in the House

Access To GNWT Grants And Contribution Funding June 4th, 2003

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we are fortunate to have access to computers as part of our job. When I looked on the government Web site I discovered a 62-page document called "Guide to N.W.T. Grants and Contributions". This document outlines funding that is available for a number of programs established for Northerners by the government. Mr. Speaker, many people in my riding do not have access to a computer. Although times are changing and more and more people are entering the information age, there are still a number of my constituents who maintain a traditional lifestyle. Because of this they are unaware of government programs.

I know that the government has created programs such as the Community Harvesters Assistance Program, the Fur Pricing Program and the Hunters and Trappers Disaster Compensation Program. These programs recognize and support traditional lifestyles, however, these programs do little if the people they were created for do not know about them. In my own riding I have a constituent who lost his trapline and cabin because of a fire. He did not know about the disaster compensation program until over a year after his fire occurred. Because of this he did not meet the deadline for applying and his claim was rejected.

Mr. Speaker, I think our goals as a government are to provide effective programs and services for all Northerners. I think that with this mandate comes the responsibility to ensure that Northerners are informed about what they are entitled to and I think that some flexibility is required when looking at individual cases. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will have questions on this.

Bill 10, Hospital Insurance And Health And Social Services Administration Act June 3rd, 2003

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Standing Committee on Social Programs met on Friday, May 16, 2003, to review Bill 10, An Act to Amend the Hospital Insurance and Health and Social Services Administration Act. The amendments will allow the Minister to appoint the Hay River Health and Social Services Authority and clarify that the employees of the authority are not members of the public service as defined by the Public Service Act.

Committee Members noted these amendments were developed in consultation with the town of Hay River and the employees as represented by the Public Service Alliance of Canada. No concerns were expressed by either party to the standing committee.

Individual Members of the committee may have questions or comments for the Minister as we proceed. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Question 250-14(6): Capital Planning Process Ratings Criteria June 3rd, 2003

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to ask the Premier if he would agree with me that the health centre in Wekweti would have a higher priority than a campground north of Yellowknife. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 250-14(6): Capital Planning Process Ratings Criteria June 3rd, 2003

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to ask the Premier if the second criteria, the protection of assets, is fair to the smaller communities that don't have any assets or capital in their communities. How can they protect something they don't have? I'd like to ask the Minister if he thinks that's fair. Thank you.

Question 250-14(6): Capital Planning Process Ratings Criteria June 3rd, 2003

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Premier, the Honourable Stephen Kakfwi. My question is regarding the capital planning process. I would like to ask the Premier if he and Cabinet have given direction to the deputy ministers to change the criteria so that small communities can benefit and enjoy some of the facilities that the larger centres now enjoy. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 245-14(6): Community Consultations On The GNWT Capital Planning Process June 3rd, 2003

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Deputy Premier, the Honourable Jim Antoine. During my Member's statement I raised concerns that, unless departments change their actual method for selecting capital projects for funding, the community consultations that are occurring are a waste of time. I would like to ask the Deputy Premier, what direction has Cabinet given to the deputy ministers to ensure that their criteria for selecting projects includes the priorities of the communities? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Community Consultations On The GNWT Capital Planning Process June 3rd, 2003

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to welcome everybody back to the House and take the opportunity today to talk about the capital planning process which this government uses.

Mr. Speaker, I was relieved when Cabinet made a commitment at the end of April to reinstate the practice of consulting with communities and MLAs to decide what projects go into which community. I think this is a positive step in ensuring the needs of all Northerners are being considered.

Mr. Speaker, in the past few weeks I have travelled with the government representatives to three of the four communities in my riding. Meetings were held in Rae-Edzo, Wha Ti and Gameti to discuss what capital planning is, what types of projects are funded and how much money is not available. As we all know, this government is in serious financial difficulty. Mr. Speaker, people in my communities were very pleased to see the government officials and to be asked for their input into the projects. Mr. Speaker, I enjoyed these meetings myself and I am looking forward to travelling to Wekweti on June 16th with these same officials.

Mr. Speaker, as useful as these meetings are, I am concerned that false hopes are being raised. I say this because decisions about which projects are going to be funded in the Territories are made at the deputy minister level, but it is not the deputy ministers who are going to the communities and hearing the needs of the people. I'm also concerned that, as long as deputy ministers continue to select the projects based on the same five criteria that were already in place, these community meetings are merely a front. I am worried that they might be a look good-feel good exercise with no actual changes made to help projects be selected.

Mr. Speaker, during the February session I mentioned that the first criteria in selecting projects to fund is the protection of people, the second criteria is the protection of assets. Despite these guidelines, we see money allocated and priority given to a campground when there is not enough for a health centre in Wekweti which could save lives.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage Cabinet to continue to seek input from the public and from Members when the actual decisions are made about which projects are funded. By doing this, the community consultations that have already occurred will be of benefit and the needs of all Northerners will be considered fairly. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Committee Motion 79-14(6): Recommendation To Reprofile Commissioner's Office Space Funding, Carried March 12th, 2003

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I move that this committee recommends that the government reconsider and re-profile the expenditure of funds identified for new office space for the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories.

And further, this committee recommends that the government examine a wide variety of lower cost options for this office space, including space within the Commissioner's official residence. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Bill 3: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 3, 2002-2003 March 12th, 2003

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Minister gave us a bunch of numbers and we do not have a calculator here. So, it is very hard to make a decision on something we do not know. Also, how long is that renovation going to take? How long will the Justice department be out if the Commissioner does not move right away?

Bill 3: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 3, 2002-2003 March 12th, 2003

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just a few simple little questions. Yes, no, what are the numbers? Right now, what is the rent going to be for the new Commissioner's office per month or per year? How long is the renovation going to take for the Justice building expansion? Where are the Justice people working right now? Is the Commissioner aware that she is being moved? Thank you.