Silas Arngna'naaq

Roles

In the Legislative Assembly

Elsewhere

Historical Information Silas Arngna'naaq is no longer a member of the Legislative Assembly.

Last in the Legislative Assembly September 1995, as MLA for Kivallivik

Lost his last election, in 1995, with 11% of the vote.

Statements in the House

Minister's Statement 57-12(6): Meeting Of Fisheries Ministers November 7th, 1994

Madam Speaker, last week, I attended the federal/provincial/territorial Fisheries Ministers' meeting in Victoria, British Columbia. The primary purpose of the meeting was to review the federal government's plans to streamline, downsize and reduce the costs of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. I assure you, Madam Speaker, the federal government is determined to reduce the Department of Fisheries and Oceans in overall budget and person years. In doing so, some responsibilities will be transferred to other

federal departments and to the provincial and territorial governments.

I would like to explain some of the measures the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans plans which will impact the Government of the Northwest Territories. The Minister of Fisheries and Oceans has indicated that the responsibility for freshwater fisheries will be divested. The federal government intends to delegate responsibility for freshwater fisheries management to provinces and territories, and to transfer responsibility for fish habitat and fisheries water quality to the Department of the Environment or, possibly, to provinces or territories.

This transfer will not necessarily come with the full amount of resources necessary to manage the freshwater fisheries, as most jurisdictions would prefer. Failure to accept responsibility may result in poorer management of freshwater fisheries due to a split of responsibilities between the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and the Department of the Environment. We must examine our options very carefully to manage the impact to the people of the Northwest Territories who rely on fish for subsistence and commercial benefits.

The Minister of Fisheries and Oceans stated he is not intending to dismantle the Freshwater Fisheries Marketing Corporation, although, he is not adverse to a restructuring of the mandate and operations of the corporation to meet the changes of the 1990s and the needs of the fishermen who rely on the corporation for fish sales and marketing. The Minister of Fisheries and Oceans stated that the department would retain responsibility for marine fisheries and refocus their responsibility for oceans. I emphasized to the Minister that I support the direction he is leading to, but land claims and aboriginal rights must be respected and aboriginal people must be consulted. I further reminded him that there is a third ocean in Canada, the Arctic Ocean...

---Applause

...which deserves recognition and attention similar to that given by the department to the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans in southern Canada. I recommended that a separate Arctic region be created in the restructuring of his department.

We have for too long had to accept very limited recognition of the Arctic Ocean and had to rely on the goodwill of southern regions for management and scientific assessment of Arctic Ocean resources and fisheries. I strongly believe this is an opportunity for the Northwest Territories to be established as a distinct region for oceans and marine fisheries management, as well as to take responsibility for freshwater fisheries, including Arctic char. A northern region and northern fisheries management can only benefit the people of the Northwest Territories who have had to rely on the management and permission from southern Canada to utilize their own fisheries resources in the Northwest Territories.

Other plans put forward by the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans include a reduced, more efficient and practical science program; a coordinated enforcement and vessel utilization between the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and the departments of National Defence and Transport or Coast Guard; divestiture and privatization of harbour management; and, new revenue-generating options such as licence fees that are commensurate with the value of the public's fisheries resources which all Canadians, and people of the Northwest Territories in particular, depend on for subsistence, social, cultural and economic benefit.

Provincial/territorial Ministers presented the federal Minister with a consensus document, which I will provide to Members, outlining the concerns and positions of their respective jurisdictions.

Changes to the management of fisheries are necessary for effectiveness and efficiency and offer an opportunity for northern residents to benefit from. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans will trim approximately 40 per cent from its expenditures of approximately $800 million and 6,000 employees across Canada over the next five years. I intend to ensure that this reduction is not off-loaded onto the government and people of the Northwest Territories, and at the same time, work to ensure that the management of fisheries in both the freshwater and marine sectors of the Northwest Territories improves as responsibilities change for the benefit of our people.

Madam Speaker, within the next two or three weeks, deputy ministers of Fisheries from across Canada will meet on these issues. They will first examine the impact of changes in the Department of Fisheries and Oceans for their own governments, and work out strategies to manage these changes. Our government will seek to realize the opportunities these changes will create for the benefit of the people of the Northwest Territories. It is my view, Madam Speaker, that we have the opportunity to control our own fisheries management and resources with the support of our people and for the benefit of our people in the north by our own government, if we choose. Qujannamiik.

---Applause

Committee Motion 74-12(6): To Provide Funds To Arctic Bay For Community Freezer, Carried November 7th, 1994

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I would like to ask Mr. Handley to respond.

Committee Motion 74-12(6): To Provide Funds To Arctic Bay For Community Freezer, Carried November 6th, 1994

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Where the difference comes between the two departments is that Economic Development would consider those projects which are of a commercial nature, where individuals are trying to make an effort in making a profit. The Department of Renewable Resources would be more concentrated on subsistence where individuals are trying to find ways to support themselves with wild meat or taking animals for a living.

Also, the setting of quotas of any type of wildlife is all in the hands of the Department of Renewable Resources. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Committee Motion 74-12(6): To Provide Funds To Arctic Bay For Community Freezer, Carried November 6th, 1994

Yes, Mr. Chairman. There are discussions right now between the two departments. Thank you.

Committee Motion 74-12(6): To Provide Funds To Arctic Bay For Community Freezer, Carried November 6th, 1994

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. At the present time, there are discussions between the Department of Renewable Resources and the Department of Economic Development and Tourism about the possibility of a meat processing plant or other commercial areas that there may be opportunities for the residents of Coral Harbour. But it would not be the responsibility of the Department of Renewable Resources because it is a commercial facility and it would come under the Department of Economic Development and Tourism and not Renewable Resources.

Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 1, 1995-96Committee Report 10-12(6): Report On The Review Of The 1995-96 Capital Estimates November 6th, 1994

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I believe we are going to blame this on the computer this time around and we promise to have it changed for next time.

Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 1, 1995-96Committee Report 10-12(6): Report On The Review Of The 1995-96 Capital Estimates November 6th, 1994

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. As far as forest management, I think that Mr. Antoine has a good idea in terms of nurseries for trees in the north. What is happening at the present time is there are seeds taken from the north in areas that we know are going to be harvested to nurseries in the south where they are grown to a certain length. Then, they are brought back into the same area in which the seeds came from. So, in effect, what is happening is we're growing trees at a much faster rate than if they had been nursed in the north.

Because the trees are grown in a nursery, they should not have any of the larvae that Mr. Antoine has indicated were seen. I don't know where the larvae would be coming from because the trees that are brought in from the south are from seeds that come from the north in the area in which they are to be planted. They should not have any kind of infestation. The Department of Renewable Resources, especially in the area of forest management, would be willing work with anyone who would like to try out a nursery somewhere in the north. We would be more than willing to work with anyone who will try this out.

As far as fur grading is concerned, the grading and cleaning which has been discussed by Mr. Antoine is a possibility. As we continue to progress, this is something that would be possible. At the present time, the department is working on getting a trainee to work with a fur grading centre and possibly return to the north and work on grading and cleaning in the north. However, to try to create an auction in the north would be somewhat more difficult. It would be difficult to attract the biggest buyers from around the world to come north. It might be something that might be considered at a later time.

At the present time, we, as a department, are looking into fur grading and the possibility of cleaning furs in the Northwest Territories. Exactly how that will look I'm not sure at the present time. The first step we are taking is hiring a trainee, someone willing and able to learn to grade and clean fur. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 1, 1995-96Committee Report 10-12(6): Report On The Review Of The 1995-96 Capital Estimates November 6th, 1994

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. With regard to the comments on fire towers and fire prevention, the department could be building and adding more towers to the forested areas. We could be building more satellite bases and doing more fire prevention, which I believe in the long run, will save money for the department and the government on firefighting. However, with the limited resources we have been given, we are not able to keep up with the suggestions that are being made.

The study that was done on behalf of the department on ways to improve fire fighting in the Northwest Territories was done by Peat Marwick Stevenson and Kellogg. They did a massive study on firefighting. It consisted of 11 studies on firefighting. I believe they tried to cover all aspects and how we could reduce costs. I believe part of their recommendations were to increase the number of towers and to increase fire prevention programs, but, as a government, we are limited by the funds that are available. We are not able to carry out everything we would like to be doing.

As far as the wood cutting is concerned, there is a fee of $1.50 per cord and this fee is to cover some of the costs incurred by the department in forest management, areas where small roads will have to be made to reach certain areas of the forest. These costs are charged to wood cutters or loggers to offset some of the costs that we, as a department, incur in forest management. Again, we are reviewing the process and the fees as they are outlined in our Forest Management Act but if there are specific concerns that the Member has, we certainly will take into account his comments while undertaking this review.

Mr. Chairman, I forgot to mention that the fire management study that I spoke of has, I believe, been provided to the Standing Committee on Finance. I believe that was done just over the weekend. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 1, 1995-96Committee Report 10-12(6): Report On The Review Of The 1995-96 Capital Estimates November 6th, 1994

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We don't have the details on the request made by Mr. Gargan, but we are willing to provide it for him. Thank you.

Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 1, 1995-96Committee Report 10-12(6): Report On The Review Of The 1995-96 Capital Estimates November 6th, 1994

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have to agree with Mr. Gargan that it is something that the department has to take a very close look at. When a department of the government has to spend millions of dollars on incremental funds, it has to be something we have to look at very seriously. For a number of years, the department has looked at how we can fight fires in a better way. The consultations that were made previously were on how the department presently operates. I have committed to taking a look at exactly how we should be improving.

I have indicated that I would like to attend some of these community meetings and be sure that elders are contacted to give their opinion. It seems that every time we turn around there is an opinion that comes from someone who says how we should be fighting fires. Perhaps some solutions to our problems in fighting forest fires should be coming from elders. The varied opinions go as far as we should let everything burn because it is natural. It is an act of God and something that will help nature create new growth. The other side says we should be fighting every single little fire that happens. So we have a very wide range of opinions.

We hear from every possible person who may be concerned about forest fires. It is my intention to hear from elders as well. In fact, the department will be contacting the Dene Cultural Institute to consult with elders in various communities in the western Arctic to try to find ways to resolve problems we have in forest fire management. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.