Seamus Henry

Roles

In the Legislative Assembly

Elsewhere

Historical Information Seamus Henry is no longer a member of the Legislative Assembly.

Last in the Legislative Assembly December 1999, as MLA for Yellowknife South

Won his last election, in 1995, with 42% of the vote.

Statements in the House

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters April 29th, 1999

Thank you, Madam Chairperson. Thank you, Mr. Erasmus, for pointing that error out. I will now carry on with the report on the review of the 1999-2002 business plans and the 1999-2002 Main Estimates. The next heading, Madam Chairperson, is affirmative action stipulations for training. During the Main Estimates review, the Standing Committee on Social Programs was surprised to learn that there are no aboriginal trainees in the Sirius Diamonds training program. Sirius Diamonds has received government funding for training. The Standing Committee on Social Programs was concerned that perhaps insufficient efforts were made to acquire applications from individuals of aboriginal descent. The Minister will pass this concern on to the company. In the future, government should review how funding for training initiatives could be more closely linked to affirmative action policies of the Government of the Northwest Territories.

Building maintenance. The Standing Committee on Social Programs would like the Department of Education, Culture and Employment to determine if there has been less preventive maintenance being performed on its buildings in small communities, since the department of Public Works and Services no longer performs those duties. The concern was raised, during the review of the Main Estimates, that when contractors go into the communities to perform maintenance, they only perform the maintenance they are contracted to do. When DPW performed the maintenance of government buildings in small communities, it was not limited by a contract. Often, DPW personnel would perform more tasks than were listed on their work orders. The Minister agreed to follow up on this issue.

The final one on page 33, Madam Chairperson. Funds spent on administration. The Standing Committee on Social Programs noted that administration costs are involved in the delivery of programs and in the functions of the district education authorities and the department's directorate. The department has agreed to do an evaluation of its operations to determine the total amount of money spent upon administration and provide its findings to the committee.

Madam Chairperson, with your indulgence I would like to pass the report back to my colleague from Yellowknife North, Mr. Erasmus.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters April 29th, 1999

Thank you, Madam Chairperson. I would be pleased to answer that question. I believe we are reviewing the Standing Committee on Social Programs report on the review of the 1999-2000 business plans and the 1999-2000 Main Estimates. I believe, for the Member's information, we were dealing with the page after 32. We are just at the top of page 33.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters April 29th, 1999

Thank you, Madam Chairperson. For the interest of the rest of the Members of the committee or committee of the whole, the Members on the social committee are Mr. Morin, Mr. Erasmus, and yourself, Mrs. Groenewegen. I would be pleased to continue reading the remainder of the report.

Culture and heritage policies. The preservation and protection of culture and heritage is important to the people of the Northwest Territories. During the review of the business plans, the committee noted that there are government policies relating to culture and heritage that date back to the late 1980s and the early 1990s. These policies may be outdated or no longer relevant. The committee recommends that there be a review of government policies relating to culture and heritage to make the policies current. The department committed to undertaking this review in 1999-2000.

Human resources and affirmative action. The committee expressed concerns regarding the low number of aboriginal employees in managerial positions in the department in the business plan review. The committee recommended that the Department of Education, Culture and Employment study the affirmative action plan utilized by the Housing Corporation and try to implement a similar one for management positions within the Department of Education, Culture and Employment. The response of the department was the department has been developing an overall human resource development plan. A copy of the NWT Housing Corporation's plan will be obtained for use in developing the plan for the Department of Education, Culture and Employment.

The committee also recommended that the NWTTA, that is the Northwest Territories Teachers' Association, professional development training include an affirmative action priority for educational leave. The department will ask the central Professional Improvement Committee to address this recommendation. In the review of the 1999-2000 Main Estimates, the committee also noted the absence of the application of affirmative action policies in granting professional development opportunities for staff who fall under the Aurora College bargaining unit. The Minister has agreed to raise this issue when the next collective agreement is negotiated.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters April 29th, 1999

Thank you, Madam Chairperson. If the members of the Social Programs Committee do not have a problem with me continuing to read it, I would be happy to do so, if you could inquire of them if they mind if I read it. We have a shortage of Members.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters April 29th, 1999

Thank you, Madam Chairperson. Yes, I would complete reading the report, if that is your wish.

Question 171-13(7): Trespassing Legislation April 29th, 1999

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. Steen. Mr. Speaker, in September of 1998, I wrote to the former Minister to bring to her attention the fact that there is no legislation in the NWT to deal with trespassing on private property. Property owners have been telling me they are having problems with trespassers and they can get no help when they call the RCMP or city by-law because the RCMP and by-law have no legal power to remove trespassers. I am wondering if the Minister can tell me, at what stage legislation, if any, is being worked on by his department? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 166-13(7): Microfiching Government Documents April 29th, 1999

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the honourable Minister for that response. I would point out, Mr. Speaker, I have approached every Minister of Public Works and Services since my time in this house, suggesting this be looked at and I received very favourable responses as I have from my honourable colleague here. Could the Minister advise me, or give me a date when he will have that research done and bring that information back to this House to show the savings that could generated for the government? Could the Minister give me a time frame for that? Thank you.

Question 166-13(7): Microfiching Government Documents April 29th, 1999

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Minister responsible for Public Works and Services, Mr. Steen. Mr. Speaker, I am still trying to find savings for this government. I accept the fact that there is no more new money. I think we all have. We have to be more efficient with the money that we do have. Mrs. Groenewegen, a couple of days ago, talked about the amount of paper that is produced in this Assembly. In fact, we have it in many of the buildings here, we produce phenomenal amounts of money to maintain, heat and provide maintenance to. We do have expertise in the North, Mr. Speaker, companies that are already established here, who have abilities to provide this government and other business with services in providing microfiching of documentation. My question to the Minister is, Mr. Speaker, will the Minister of Public Works and Services consider putting some speed into trying to assess the savings that could be generated for this

government by microfiching some of the documentation that they have already produced? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 162-13(7): Government Position On Bc Child Pornography Case April 29th, 1999

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Premier, Mr. Antoine. It is in regard to my Member's statement earlier today when I talked about the BC Supreme Court and the whole pornography issue and the important rights children should have for their protection. My question, to the Premier is, has his government taken any action in the form of writing to the federal government encouraging them to appeal this ruling? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Member's Statement 149-13(7): Court Decision Regarding Possession Of Child Pornography April 29th, 1999

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in January of this year, there was a landmark BC Supreme Court ruling that may have a detrimental effect in keeping our children safe from sexual predators. In British Columbia, the Supreme Court struck down a section of the criminal code that outlaws possession of child pornography, ruling that the law violates the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Mr. Speaker, it is only a matter of time before the production and sale of child pornography increases. Although this ruling only applies to British Columbia, unless there is a successful appeal, this ruling may have national implications. The sexual assault of children is a serious issue in the NWT.

Mr. Speaker, the Charter of Rights and Freedoms is protecting pedophiles from prosecution and yet, children are being sexually exploited in order to produce this material. Is this not a blatant infringement upon the rights and freedoms of our children? The Liberal Party first put forward a motion urging the Prime Minister to take immediate action to override this ruling. However, the federal government believes that the existing child pornography law is constitutional, therefore, it would have to reach the Supreme Court of Canada for a final decision.

Mr. Speaker, how should we balance equal protection of an individual versus freedom of expression? Children are entitled to equal protection from sexual exploitation yet, according to one court, pedophiles are entitled to possess this material. There is a serious imbalance in this supposed constitutional framework. Mr. Speaker, this decision must be challenged and corrected to ensure the proper protection that our children not only need, but deserve. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause