Roles

In the Legislative Assembly

Elsewhere

Historical Information Steven Nitah is no longer a member of the Legislative Assembly.

Last in the Legislative Assembly November 2003, as MLA for Tu Nedhe

Lost his last election, in 2003, with 18% of the vote.

Statements in the House

Question 412-14(6): Main Street Paving For Dust Control October 8th, 2003

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am glad the government feels this is a high priority because it certainly is a high priority for people in the communities who have to breathe in the dust day after day during the summer months. They are having a hard time keeping their houses clean. I would like to ask the Minister when they will meet with the federal government to determine if this is a priority for them as well. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 412-14(6): Main Street Paving For Dust Control October 8th, 2003

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. Mr. Speaker, this past weekend, we got some great news in terms of funding that we weren't expecting from the federal government dealing with infrastructure in our communities. The Minister is involved with the Minister of the Department of Transportation on main street paving. Do you have a schedule? In light of the new funding that we see, are we going to see an accelerated pace of main street paving to control the dust in our non-tax-based communities? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Item 6: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery October 8th, 2003

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize the former chief of Dettah and former team mate with the Dettah Chiefs, Chief Richard Edjericon.

---Applause

progress On Committee Priorities October 8th, 2003

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, our fourth priority was "to see a cohesive and current workers' compensation system and governing authorities to meet the changing environment."

The division of the Territories and outdated legislation dictated the need to review the workers' compensation system over the life of the 14th Assembly. The Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight advocated for such a review, and the Minister responsible for the board responded by making a commitment to conduct public hearings and prepare appropriate legislation for introduction and passage during the life of this Assembly.

The Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight supported the recommendations of the Review Panel as outlined in "Act Now" and urged the government to introduce appropriate legislation. Bill 15, An Act to Amend the Workers' Compensation Act, and Bill 23, An Act to Amend the Safety Act, were introduced by the government as phase I of their response to Act Now, and dealt with many of the recommendations contained in the report.

During its review of Bill 23, the committee raised concerns that there may not be adequate protection in legislation for employees who make safety complaints to their employers. The committee would urge the WCB to undertake a review of this issue in order to determine whether further amendments are needed.

The Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight recommends that the 15th Legislative Assembly quickly follow up on the remainder of the legislation proposed for phase II.

Our fifth priority was "to develop an energy strategy to address the changing NWT environment and outside influences."

The committee urged the Executive Council to develop a comprehensive energy strategy, by leading a campaign to call attention to high cost of energy, green house gas emissions and the need for alternative energy options. Committee was successful in having the Legislative Assembly adopt a motion calling for the development of a comprehensive energy strategy. The government responded with the establishment of an Energy Secretariat in June of 2001 and the announcement of a special advisor to the premier to head up the secretariat.

While committee supported the need for a strategy, the recently released energy strategy is disappointing and appears to contain nothing more than "motherhood and apple pie" recommendations. There are no practical options proposed to address the major issues originally identified by committee.

The Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight remains generally supportive of the government's exploration of hydroelectric potential both as an alternative to fossil fuel consumption and as a revenue source.

Our sixth priority was "to see a strategy for sharing control of resources including non- renewable resource development, and environmental impacts and liabilities of development."

The Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight has been supportive of the government's work with the Aboriginal Summit through the Intergovernmental Forum and is on record as supporting the government in negotiations for a devolution agreement. Committee named two representatives to attend the Intergovernmental Forum political meetings as observers and to report progress to Members. In addition, the Minister responsible for Aboriginal Affairs has provided regular briefings to committee.

While the cooperation of the Aboriginal Summit and the Government of the Northwest Territories is encouraging, Members are unsure of how much progress has actually been made toward negotiating an adequate resource revenue-sharing agreement. Given our fiscal outlook, this is a crucial area in which we need to see advances.

Our seventh priority was "to develop a diversified long-term fiscal outlook for the GNWT."

Committee worked with the Minister of Finance and Cabinet in supporting the development proposal related to non-renewable resources in the NWT to the Government of Canada. Representatives have lobbied to heighten awareness of the northern funding issues. We were heartened by last weekend's announcements that significant parts of the plan would see federal funding over the next few years.

As the Minister of Finance has kept reminding us of the approach of the debt wall, the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight has played a watchdog role and has consistently advised the government to adopt a prudent approach to fiscal management. Unfortunately, Members of the committee have limited impact on the spending priorities of the government.

Our eighth priority was "to advocate for adequate housing for residents."

The Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight acknowledged the lead role of the Standing Committee on Social Programs, but continued to lend support to advocate for adequate and affordable housing for NWT residents. In 2001, committee strongly urged the government to re-examine proposed new initiatives and find a way to invest at least $2 million to $3 million in additional housing programs.

The committee followed up with a theme day in 2002 and presented a committee report on adequate, affordable and suitable housing for residents of the Northwest Territories.

The government responded by announcing in the 2003-2004 Budget Address $1.7 million in each of the next three years in additional grant and contribution funding for specific communities to provide for new housing and renovations to existing housing.

Mr. Speaker, I would ask that my colleague, Mr. Roland, continue with the report. Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker.

Pursuit Of The Traditional Trapping Lifestyle October 8th, 2003

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this being our second-last day of this session, I would like to take this opportunity to recognize our oldest industry in the Northwest Territories, the trapping industry. As you know, Mr. Speaker, the trapping industry is the main reason why the North was built. On November 1st, trappers will go back to their traplines. Throughout the winter, my constituents will be trapping in their traplines. People in Lutselk'e will be travelling into the Barren Lands hunting for caribou, hunting for wolves and wolverines, setting a few traps here and there.

I know, Mr. Speaker, our government, through the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, has done lots to help trappers over the years, and I appreciate and recognize that, Mr. Speaker, on behalf of my trappers and the trappers of the Northwest Territories. We have one of the most progressive and best programs in Canada to ensure that our trappers continue to trap. It's another way for people to gain meaningful employment and something for them to do, work their lands, their trap lands so they know what is going on on the lands, to call their decision to give us an inherent right to land title. Over the years, Mr. Speaker, aboriginal people know their land through this industry. They trap all over the place, and that's the basis of their lands.

So trapping, in my mind, has a lot more to do than just a monetary exercise, but it's an exercise of asserting their political and sovereign rights in their lands which translates into land claims and new relationships with Canada and co-existence within regions such as the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, I just wanted to express the importance of trapping and give it the recognition that it's one of our oldest industries in the Northwest Territories. I encourage the government to continue supporting that industry as it is a very important industry, especially to culture, language and identification of individuals.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to wish all the trappers good luck and ask them to be careful. It's dangerous work, but have fun with it. Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Bill 31: An Act To Amend The Official Languages Act. No. 3 October 8th, 2003

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I welcome this bill wholeheartedly. The people of the Northwest Territories wanted a tool to assist them in keeping their languages alive, the aboriginal communities, especially. This may not be the best tool, but it's the best tool we could come up with. Languages do belong to the people. The governments of yesterday had a lot to down with the loss of aboriginal languages, especially in this country and in the Northwest Territories. Our government saw fit to change some of the rules to improve the act to assist the aboriginal language communities to revitalize their languages.

At the end of the day, Mr. Chairman, all this bill is a tool and a commitment form this government that they will assist the language communities in retaining the languages, revitalizing the language that are on the brink and develop new languages consistent with the devolution of the English language, the dominant language in Western society.

Mr. Chairman, I'm pleased to be a Member of this Legislative Assembly and the opportunity to chair the special committee that worked on the review of the official languages and making the recommendations that this House accepted, all 65 of them. In record time, if I could mention that, Mr. Chairman. Again, I'd like to thank the language communities, the special interest groups and all those people we consulted with and who took the time to consult with us. I'd like to thank the committee Members; my colleagues, Mr. McLeod, Mr. Bell, Mr. Krutko; Minister Allen and his staff; Benoit Boutin; the Clerk, David Hamilton, and his office; Denise and all the other people who have put their hearts and souls into the work that took two years.

I look forward to giving you the territorial assent for this bill and make the new Official Languages Act a law in this territory so that we could put in stone the commitment of this government to assist the language communities to ensure that the diversification of cultures and languages will thrive in the future of the Northwest Territories to make it truly a multi-cultural society. I think that's one thing as Northerners we all aspire to and this bill will assist in doing that. Mahsi cho, Mr. Chairman.

---Applause

Question 408-14(6): Consultation On Proposed Deh Cho Bridge Toll October 7th, 2003

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there may be a small savings to consumers in Yellowknife, but there is an increased cost to people outside of Yellowknife who rely on Yellowknife for resupply. It makes sense that there will be a small savings, but the savings will still be there if individuals pay to cross the bridge. It doesn't matter who pays. The method that we're using now penalizes people who live outside of Yellowknife who depend on resupply, and the mining companies, our biggest corporate citizens, that do a lot of volunteering and provide donations to communities will also pay. So I'd like to ask the Minister if his department could undertake a process to compare the method of paying for the bridge tolling trucks versus tolling every motorized vehicle that crosses the bridge. Which one will pay off the bridge quicker and which one would have the least adverse impact on the communities? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 408-14(6): Consultation On Proposed Deh Cho Bridge Toll October 7th, 2003

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, legislation can be changed. Legislation can be changed to address the shortcomings. The shortcoming here, obviously, Mr. Speaker, is a lack of consultation and people not knowing that they will be paying for the bridge. I think we live in an economy of the day that individuals could pay at least $5 to cross the bridge using any kind of motorized vehicle. So I would like to ask the Minister if he would consult with the land claims organizations and Lutselk'e to see if they're willing to pay for the bridge. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 408-14(6): Consultation On Proposed Deh Cho Bridge Toll October 7th, 2003

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, again decisions have been made without full consultation obviously. Mr. Speaker, I mentioned in my opening remarks as well that land claims organizations have agreed to final agreements with the federal and territorial government to get a percentage of royalties. Recognizing that it's going to cost each mining company, just to use the companies that are operating in my constituency for an example, De Beers, BHP and Diavik, over $1 million a year; $35,000 million each over the 35 year period. Each land group gets 11 percent of the first $2 million and two percent of the remaining royalties. That $105 million that would have gone to royalties will go to the Deh Cho Bridge. Has the Minister consulted with the land claims groups, informing that they will probably lose about $2 million a piece over the next 35 years, and that they will be paying for the bridge, as well? Has the Minister informed them of this royalty regime and how the cost of the bridge might affect that royalty regime? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 408-14(6): Consultation On Proposed Deh Cho Bridge Toll October 7th, 2003

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker my question is for the Minister of Transportation. Mr. Speaker, I spoke earlier in a Member's statement about my support for the Deh Cho Bridge project and questioning on the method of payment. The Minister has indicated to me that the trucks that are carrying loads into Yellowknife and points north would be paying $5 to $6 per tonne on loads only. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to ask the Minister if his department has consulted with communities outside of Yellowknife that rely on Yellowknife as a point of resupply for their communities on the possible cost increase to those communities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.