Debates of June 6th, 2003

This is page numbers 843 - 862 of the Hansard for the 14th Assembly, 6th Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library.

The word of the day was process .

Topics

Members Present

Item 1: Prayer

Western Premiers' Conference

GNWT Capital Planning Process In The Deh Cho

Wood Buffalo On NWT Highways

NWT Track And Field Championships In Hay River

Tribute To NWT Seniors

Regulatory Process Impeding Northern Development

Samuel Hearne Secondary School Graduation Ceremony

Community Wellness Coalition In Yellowknife

Successes At 9th Annual Skills Canada Competition

Government Response To Affordable Rent Petition

Developing A New Wildlife Act

Participation In NWT Track And Field Championships

Exploring The Nahanni Region

National Seniors' Week

Members' Statement On Acknowledgement Of Elder Helen Gruben

Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Delays Caused By Regulatory Process

Frustrations With The Capital Planning Process

Improving Seniors' Assistance Programs

Gwich'in Contracting Memorandum Of Understanding

Access To Supplementary Health Benefits

Somba K'e Treatment Facility

Affordable Rent In Yellowknife

Proposed Territorial Sport And Recreation Board

Bison On NWT Highways

Impact Of Cars Contracts On Municipalities

Revert To Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Petition 5-14(6): Specialist Physicians At Stanton Territorial Hospital

Bill 14:

An Act To Amend The Public Service ActBill 15:

An Act To Amend The Workers' Compensation Act

Tabled Document 52-14(6): News Release: Specialist Negotiations End Without Contracts

Tabled Document 53-14(6): News Release: Range Lake MLA Urges Northerners To Get Involved In Specialist Crisis Debate

Bill 21: Family Violence Prevention Act

Bill 22: Waste Reduction And Recovery Act

Bill 23:

An Act To Amend The Safety Act

Bill 28:

An Act To Amend The Official Languages Act

Bill 24: Midwifery Profession Act

Bill 25: Municipal Statutes Replacement Act

Bill 26: Youth Justice Act

Bill 27:

An Act To Amend The Access To Information And Protection Of Privacy Act

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Item 20: Report Of Committee Of The Whole

Bill 5:

An Act To Amend The Motor Vehicles Act

Item 22: Orders Of The Day

Members Present

Honourable Roger Allen , Honourable Jim Antoine , Mr. Bell , Mr. Braden , Mr. Delorey , Mr. Dent , Mrs. Groenewegen , Honourable Joe Handley , Honourable Stephen Kakfwi , Mr. Krutko , Mr. Lafferty , Ms. Lee , Mr. McLeod , Honourable Michael Miltenberger , Mr. Roland , Honourable Vince Steen , Honourable Tony Whitford

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---Prayer

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Item 1: Prayer

Item 1: Prayer

Page 843

The Speaker

Tony Whitford

Item 2, Ministers' statements. The honourable Premier , Mr. Kakfwi .

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Minister's Statement 50-14(6): Western Premiers' Conference

Item 2: Ministers' Statements

Page 843

Stephen Kakfwi

Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I will be attending the Western Premier 's Conference in Kelowna, British Columbia, starting Monday night, for Monday and Tuesday, along with the Premiers of British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Nunavut and Yukon. The Northwest Territories will be leading two agenda items at this year's conference.

I will be speaking to the issue of devolution, in the context of a general discussion on the state of federal/provincial/territorial relations and options to improve the currently rather strained relations between provinces and territories and the federal government.

I intend to make the case that devolution is an important step towards rebuilding these relationships by setting the stage for mutually respectful intergovernmental relations.

All jurisdictions must manage and control the scope and pace of development of their resources and benefit from that development. We will make it clear that a devolution agreement will allow northern governments to influence the scope and pace of future developments and will ensure, as well, that Canadians are ready to seize the economic opportunities brought on by development of northern resources.

It is imperative that First Ministers realize that a devolution agreement is an important element in ensuring that northern governments have the financial resources to invest in their people and their economies, and that it is, in fact, in the national interest to support a fair and equitable agreement.

The Northwest Territories is also leading the discussion on diamonds. As you know, Minister Antoine and the Department of RWED have worked hard to raise the national awareness about diamonds.

I will continue to make the case that Canada needs to develop a Canadian diamond strategy that aims to maximize the benefits to all Canadians from all stages of the emerging diamond industry, including exploration, mining and value added. I will seek support from Premiers to invite the federal government to join the provinces and territories in the development of a Canadian diamond strategy, including an open exchange of the issues associated with the promotion of a Canadian secondary diamond industry.

As in previous meetings of this nature, I will, of course, work closely with my northern colleagues, honourable Premiers Okalik and Fentie, to ensure that our collective northern voices are heard loud and clear.

I will report back to the House on any progress upon my return. Thank you.

---Applause

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Minister's Statement 50-14(6): Western Premiers' Conference

Item 2: Ministers' Statements

Page 843

The Speaker

Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Premier . Item 2, Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Deh Cho , Mr. McLeod .

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GNWT Capital Planning Process In The Deh Cho

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 843

Michael McLeod

Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I'd like to make a statement on the capital planning process. This issue has been a concern for quite some time now, it's been raised in this House many times, it's also an issue that was raised to the Non-Tax-Based Community Affairs committee and we heard complaints from all over the North. In fact, my colleague Mr. Lafferty made a statement regarding this issue two days ago.

Granted this government has made several attempts to rectify the situation, last winter the Premier sent a letter to all the communities in the Northwest Territories, asking them for input on capital plans. I'm not sure what the outcome of that was, we haven't seen anything yet.

So I took it upon myself as an MLA to go to the communities I represent to meet with the chiefs and to meet with the leaders, to bring in some of the Ministers. Almost every Minister on that side of the House came to the communities and met and talked about capital planning and capital projects. Some came twice, in fact. There was a lot of time, a lot of energy and a lot of money spent on this whole process.

So when it came to this year's capital planning, I was quite comfortable with the meetings we had, with the 20-year needs assessment, with last year's business plans, that we were going to have a fairly decent capital plan in place. I was quite pleased to see that the Minister announced that we would have government officials attending the communities, having meetings with the leaders and working on developing a long-term plan.

So you can imagine my surprise, Mr. Speaker, when I was informed that this group was actually presented plans that didn't reflect anything that we talked about. In fact, I'll show you Hay River's plan. For the next three years we have $25,000. What happened to the school that we agreed to? The reserve is putting in $250,000 of their own money. It's not here. The road improvement program; that's not here. We had an arena, we had a health centre in the 20-year plan. That's disappeared. Where is it?

Mr. Speaker, we have NWT-wide paving programs that have been announced and swimming pool programs that are not reflected anywhere. So I ask where did this new plan come from? When I ask the Ministers to explain it, they say they don't have any say into what goes into the capital plan. It's up to a deputy ministers' capital planning review committee.

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GNWT Capital Planning Process In The Deh Cho

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 844

The Speaker

Tony Whitford

Mr. McLeod , your time for Member's statements is over. Mr. McLeod .

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GNWT Capital Planning Process In The Deh Cho

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 844

Michael McLeod

Deh Cho

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

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GNWT Capital Planning Process In The Deh Cho

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 844

The Speaker

Tony Whitford

Thank you. The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his Member's statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays, Mr. McLeod , you may conclude.

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GNWT Capital Planning Process In The Deh Cho

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 844

Michael McLeod

Deh Cho

Mr. Speaker, when I approached the Ministers for some answers they claimed it's up to a review committee made up of deputy ministers. Many of the Ministers have never met this committee. So I ask who's representing my interest? Who meets and lobbies the deputy ministers for projects in my riding? And what is my role as an MLA in this whole process? The Ministers certainly seem to have little say. I don't even know where to direct my questions.

The responsibility for capital planning for this government lies with an invisible, in-the-shadows group of deputy ministers whose names we don't even know.

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GNWT Capital Planning Process In The Deh Cho

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 844

An Hon. Member

Foggy bottom.

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GNWT Capital Planning Process In The Deh Cho

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 844

Michael McLeod

Deh Cho

Maybe, Mr. Speaker, that's who we, as MLAs, should be meeting with. Maybe that's who should be going to the communities to talk to the community leaders. Maybe we should be reducing the number of Ministers on the other side of the House and making these people responsible, because they're doing all the work. They're the ones being charged with the responsibility. We're always hearing task teams, deputy ministers' review committees.

We need a system, Mr. Speaker, that is going to be clear, that places the responsibility back into hands of the Ministers. We need a system that will give us a say as MLAs, and we need a system that's going to be clear and transparent so our people in the communities can take part.

Mr. Speaker, the system we have now is complicated, it doesn't work, we don't know who's in charge and we have to fix it. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

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GNWT Capital Planning Process In The Deh Cho

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 844

The Speaker

Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. McLeod . Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for North Slave , Mr. Lafferty .

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Wood Buffalo On NWT Highways

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 844

Leon Lafferty

North Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In the past few years there have been numerous accidents involving bison along our highways. I think it is time for the Department of Transportation to put more safety measures in place. Bison are moving further north, and signage alerting motorists of wildlife is needed. I think it would be wise for the department to put large signs on Highway No. 3 indicating buffalo between Yellowknife and Edzo and along the Rae access road.

A few weeks ago, one of my constituents hit a buffalo at kilometre 268, which is between Yellowknife and Stagg River. Their vehicle was totaled. I am concerned that unless safety notices are posted alerting motorists of wildlife, there will be more wildlife hurt and motorists injured and more vehicles will be damaged.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will have questions on this statement.

---Applause

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Wood Buffalo On NWT Highways

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 844

The Speaker

Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty . Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Hay River South , Mrs. Groenewegen .

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NWT Track And Field Championships In Hay River

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 844

Jane Groenewegen

Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this afternoon in Hay River the closing ceremonies for the 13th Annual Territorial Track and Field Meet will take place. This year's meet got kicked off in fine form again on Wednesday night, as 1,142 athletes and their 130 coaches poured into the arena under the banners of their schools. Whether the delegation from the little school in Kakisa or rather large from as far away as the Samuel Hearne in Inuvik, school spirit soared as the audience applauded to the backdrop of music and flashing lights.

The 300 volunteers required to carry off this event were readily identifiable in the crowd in their bright yellow jackets, sponsored by Hay River corporate contributors.

Also cheering on the athletes on stage were eight Members of this Assembly, and I would like to thank them for making that effort at the end of our very first busy day of session. Your presence, Mr. Speaker, and that of Minister Jim Antoine , Minister Roger Allen , Minister Vince Steen , Members Michael McLeod , Leon Lafferty , Mr. Delorey and myself, I am sure, conveyed the government's support of this event for these young people.

The lighting of the torch, the athletes' oath, the greetings from Sharon Firth and Michael Argue attending as part of Sport North Esteem Team and the musical presentations all made for a very exciting event.

I look forward to hearing the stories and highlights about outstanding efforts and achievement of this year's meet in the days ahead. Thank you again goes to the volunteer efforts of Hay River for hosting what I'm sure was another very successful territorial Track and Field Meet. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

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NWT Track And Field Championships In Hay River

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 844

The Speaker

Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen . Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta , Mr. Krutko .

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Tribute To NWT Seniors

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 844

David Krutko

Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to pay tribute to all the seniors in our communities throughout the Northwest Territories for the crucial role that they play in giving us guidance, providing us wisdom and also showing us the road to respecting others.

Mr. Speaker, the seniors are a key aspect to how our communities function. Yet, Mr. Speaker, still today we see a lot of barriers put in the way of our seniors to partake in just the day-to-day work of our councils, or in providing language programs, or even in pursuing sewing as a hobby. Mr. Speaker, I think as a government we have to bring down these barriers so that seniors can play a meaningful role in all our communities.

We talk about seniors' fuel subsidy programs, where there's an inequity in the way that it was calculated based on seniors income. I raised that issue in this House and there has been some direction to change that.

We have a system that basically deals with property tax rebates, where you have to go in every year and reapply. We suggested that they consider that once you register as a senior, automatically that system will continue.

Mr. Speaker, there are other initiatives in our communities that we feel are crucial to keeping our seniors in our communities and making sure that they don't have to be sent away to long-term care wards either in regional centres or elsewhere. We need more seniors' independent housing in our communities. We need to ensure that there are elders' homes available to our seniors so we can offer them an alternative to being sent away; to keep them in our communities so that they can be close to their loved ones and families, especially their grandchildren.

Mr. Speaker, I think it's important as a government that we take that extra step and make that extra effort to make the lives of our seniors more comfortable. We need to simplify the policies, procedures and red tape so that the seniors don't have to deal with the extra pressures and stress of worrying about why their pension was deducted, or why was a fuel subsidy taken away, or why did we not allow them some improvements to their independent houses through housing programs.

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

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Tribute To NWT Seniors

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 845

The Speaker

Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Krutko . The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his Member's statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays, Mr. Krutko , you may conclude your statement.

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Tribute To NWT Seniors

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 845

David Krutko

Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think it's important that we as a government do everything we can not only to improve the lives of our seniors, but to simplify the bureaucracy that seniors have to go through. That's something we can do here in this House for the benefit of our seniors.

With that, again I would like to thank all our seniors in the Northwest Territories for all that they do for us day in and day out, and wish them good health and mahsi cho.

---Applause

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Tribute To NWT Seniors

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 845

The Speaker

Tony Whitford

Mahsi, Mr. Krutko . Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Hay River North , Mr. Delorey .

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Regulatory Process Impeding Northern Development

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 845

Paul Delorey

Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to draw attention to a matter that has proven time and time again to be a hindrance in northern development. The matter I refer to, Mr. Speaker, is the cumbersome regulatory process in effect in the Northwest Territories which does absolutely nothing to show prospective developers that the North is open and ready to do business.

Mr. Speaker, I was very disturbed to learn that a large international seismic company by the name of Western Geco is unable to return to Hay River this year due to their uncertainty about our unyielding regulatory process. As a direct result of this, NTCL in Hay River -- a wholly northern company -- has lost a $2.5 million contract, and that is totally unacceptable to me.

Western Geco is an international seismic company that conducts seismic studies and gathers data, which in turn they sell to oil and gas companies. The project in question is the study of the Mackenzie and Liard rivers, and it could be said that this is indeed part of the big picture, that being oil and gas development and the Mackenzie Valley pipeline.

I might add, Mr. Speaker, that Western Geco has conducted these same seismic studies worldwide, in such places as Europe, Asia and the Amazon. Last year alone, Mr. Speaker, Western Geco spent between $5 million and $8 million on this project, and a fair chunk of that was spent in the Hay River area. However, most of it was spent proving that their system is environmentally friendly and it did not kill fish.

But, Mr. Speaker, due to the uncertainty surrounding our regulatory process, Western Geco lost momentum on this project and has reassigned their equipment and personnel to other areas until next year; providing, of course, that they are approved by then.

Mr. Speaker, I would suggest that due to the hoops that companies like Western Geco have to jump through, such as uncertainties on timelines and the length of time to be approved, a review must be undertaken by this government of the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act. Mr. Speaker, it is imperative that we as a government be seen as proactive and encourage developers to come and do business in the North. Mr. Speaker, I believe it is crucial that we devote more resources to such groups as the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board so that these long, cumbersome processes are shortened. We need to stop coming up with roadblocks that impede development.

Mr. Speaker, this would go a long way to ensuring that companies such as Western Geco are able to do business in the North, and prove to developers that the North is a realistic place to come and do business. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

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Regulatory Process Impeding Northern Development

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 845

The Speaker

Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Delorey . Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake , Mr. Roland .

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Samuel Hearne Secondary School Graduation Ceremony

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 845

Floyd Roland

Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, June is a special time of year. Not only does the colour return to the land in the form of gardens and the greenery that we now see; as well, Mr. Speaker, it's a special time of year for students across the Northwest Territories, as the majority of students look at this month as the end of their school years between kindergarten to Grade 12.

Mr. Speaker, it also marks the end of a journey for some of those students, as some of those students look towards their graduations and their final exams during this month. I say this because, Mr. Speaker, I will be travelling back to my constituency today to attend the graduation ceremony of Samuel Hearne Secondary School. It has always been a pleasure to travel back and see the students and their parents as they finish this part of their journey, and then embark on their next as they look at life as an adult and take that journey in earnest, to move forward and take their skills and put them into practice.

So I'll just inform the House and my constituents that I'll be glad to be home this evening and take

part in that activity. Thank you.

---Applause

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Samuel Hearne Secondary School Graduation Ceremony

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 846

The Speaker

Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Roland . Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Yellowknife South , Mr. Bell .

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Community Wellness Coalition In Yellowknife

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 846

Brendan Bell

Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last night I, along with a number of my colleagues, had a chance to attend a Community Wellness Coalition meeting. This is a group of concerned citizens who have decided to band together to do something to change the state of alcohol and drug abuse, specifically in our community, Mr. Speaker. It's not just a Yellowknife problem clearly. A lot of the people who are in need are from surrounding communities, because I think as we all know, as many gaps as there are in these services in Yellowknife, the problem is even further exacerbated in the communities which have even fewer services.

Mr. Speaker, I want to talk about something that I found very interesting around this recently. The RCMP have become obviously very involved in trying to combat the problem, and it's no secret when you look to their motivation, Mr. Speaker, when you find that 90 percent of their calls and 90 percent of their work is alcohol related, when it speaks to callouts in the city of Yellowknife. That's amazing, Mr. Speaker, especially when you consider that we don't think of people who are drunk in public as criminals. They really are people in need. But 90 percent of the RCMP workload on callouts is alcohol related. It's simply amazing.

They sent a number of members of this detachment to Anchorage, Alaska, to study a program and a way of coping and dealing with the problem in that city, and they invited a member of our local media, Ms. Jennifer McPhee, from the local newspaper to tag along. I'm glad they did that. It was an amazing and great way to use the media to their advantage. We know that the media has such reach and has played an amazing role here in galvanizing public support for this cause.

I've had a number of people stop to talk to me about the innovative Anchorage approach, and ask me if this was something that we were considering and discussing. I can reassure the House and reassure the public, that after the Community Wellness Coalition meeting, this is certainly on the radar of the coalition, it is something they are discussing, and I think we can give full marks and full credit to the RCMP for looking to find solutions and do something about this. We know they are under-resourced.

That's a challenge that we continue to grapple with, and something that this Assembly is going to have to find a solution for.

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

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Community Wellness Coalition In Yellowknife

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 846

The Speaker

Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Bell . The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays, Mr. Bell , you may conclude your statement.

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Community Wellness Coalition In Yellowknife

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 846

Brendan Bell

Yellowknife South

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the RCMP for offering to take Ms. McPhee along on this research mission. I think we'll see in the coming months that this will have an impact like few other approaches could. I also want to thank the local paper for agreeing to send their reporter along to do the work. Clearly, she had to be out of town, there were other stories that she couldn't cover. There simply would have been a cost to a small business like the newspaper for doing something like this.

I think as politicians quite often we like to criticize the media, feel that we're unfairly treated, and obviously that's because of the immense reach. Simply there are times, that to be honest, we'd rather they didn't have the reach when we're in compromising positions. By the nature of the media, you can see that this reach that they have is affecting our community, it is galvanizing support for this cause. I'm glad to see that. I wish the Community Wellness Coalition all success, and we'll continue to play an active role in this coalition. I think it's great to see something happening here.

It's great to see members of our community mobilizing to find solutions. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

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Community Wellness Coalition In Yellowknife

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 846

The Speaker

Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Bell . Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Range Lake , Ms. Lee .

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Successes At 9th Annual Skills Canada Competition

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 846

Sandy Lee

Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This being Friday, I am pleased to make a statement on a good news story. Mr. Speaker, 29 competitors and 12 advisors from Skills Canada Northwest Territories and Nunavut, along with over 600 other competitors from across Canada attended the 9th Annual Canadian Skills Competition from May 29th to June 1st in Waterloo, Ontario. The two-day competition challenged participants through projects that tested their theoretical and practical knowledge in various trades and technology areas.

Skills Canada NWT/Nunavut experienced unprecedented success at these competitions, bringing home one gold, four silver and two bronze medals; a total of seven medals. Of the 29 NWT and Nunavut competitors, approximately 25 percent of the team placed in the top three in Canada. This is an enormous accomplishment that makes us all very, very proud indeed, Mr. Speaker.

The winner who received a gold medal in worksite safety is Isabel MacDougall from Iqaluit; and silver medal restaurant services, Joel Fortier from Iqaluit; from Team NWT a silver medal was received in heavy equipment mechanics by Reg Evans of Fort Smith; another silver medal in graphic design by Richard Walsh in Yellowknife; another silver medal in worksite safety by Mara Smith of Yellowknife; bronze medal in job interview by Amanda Johns of Inuvik; and a bronze medal in prepared speech by Mandy Lyons of Yellowknife.

Mr. Speaker, Allyson Stroeder, executive director of Skills Canada NWT/Nunavut deserves a lot of congratulations for this, but attributes the success of the team to the partnerships that the organization has been building in the North. For example, Mr. Speaker, this organization is the only one in Canada to insist that their competitors have completed the Workers' Compensation Board safety and the young worker program in order to compete in the worksite safety event. It is paying off, because the team won the gold last year and they won again this year.

Mr. Speaker, I understand that not only these medals, but the team spirit was so strong that this team tied with Alberta for the Spirit Award in the yelling and cheering contest at the closing ceremonies.

Mr. Speaker, there is no doubt that the NWT and Nunavut team have made their presence known to all other teams across Canada, and I'm sure everyone in the House joins me in sending our heartfelt congratulations for a job very well done. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

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Successes At 9th Annual Skills Canada Competition

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 847

The Speaker

Tony Whitford

Thank you very much, Ms. Lee . Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Great Slave , Mr. Braden .

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Government Response To Affordable Rent Petition

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 847

Bill Braden

Great Slave

Mr. Speaker, on March 5th of this year in the previous session, I tabled a petition of some 500 signatures from people in Yellowknife who are looking for answers to sustained and unaffordable increases in the cost of their rent.

Two days ago in this House, the Minister of Justice filed a response to that petition and in one area, Mr. Speaker, it was a fine answer, in fact one that had already been addressed where we were looking for more affordable housing to be built. Indeed, the Housing Corporation has assisted by making equity financing available to more builders, and much has been made of that and my compliments are duly given.

But, Mr. Speaker, on the issue of addressing affordable rents and the increases that many people have been experiencing, the Minister's response was a pathetic and flimsy and shabby and lazy attempt at taking the concerns of 500 people seriously. All the response did, Mr. Speaker, was dodge into the area of rent control. I'm running out of breath on this one, Mr. Speaker. I've said over and over and over, rent control is not something I want or the market wants.

What we do want is a way for low and middle income people, who are seriously being hurt by rental increases, to be able to address this issue and find some way of resolving what is an unsustainable pressure on all sectors of our economy.

Mr. Speaker, the response demonstrated absolutely no innovation. It demonstrated absolutely no consultation, and it demonstrated absolutely no sensitivity to the situation that is affecting so many people here in Yellowknife and I think in communities that are also under the pressure of resource activity in the NWT. We're fortunate to have the kind of economic activity that we do have, Mr. Speaker, but the consequence of high rents is something that must be managed.

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

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Government Response To Affordable Rent Petition

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 847

The Speaker

Tony Whitford

Thank you. The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his Member's statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Mr. Braden , you may conclude.

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Government Response To Affordable Rent Petition

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 847

Bill Braden

Great Slave

Mr. Speaker, I reject that portion of the Minister's response to my voice and that of 500 other people in Yellowknife. With the resources that he has available as the Minister of Justice and as the Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation, I know he can do better. I would like him to go back and readdress the issue of affordable rental housing in Yellowknife. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

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Government Response To Affordable Rent Petition

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 847

The Speaker

Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Braden . Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Frame Lake , Mr. Dent .

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Developing A New Wildlife Act

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 847

Charles Dent

Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yesterday I got a letter from the Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development , responding to questions I asked in our last sitting about the Wildlife Act on March 12th. In his answer, Mr. Speaker, the Minister noted that rather than making amendments to the Wildlife Act -- because significant amendments were required to ensure consistency between the general provisions of the act and wildlife harvesting and management provisions of land claim agreements -- it was determined that it would be more prudent, timely and cost-effective to draft a new Wildlife Act.

But, Mr. Speaker, we've had, I think, one of the longest consultative processes ever undertaken for

an act with our new Wildlife Act. Consultation has gone on for a number of years; very, very detailed consultation, in particular, for the last four years. In fact, we've spent, as a government, somewhere around $1.5 million over the past four years on the consultation process, and that was outlined in the letter the Minister sent me as well.

But, Mr. Speaker, if we don't bring this legislation forward in the life of this Assembly, this expenditure is put at risk. How many times have we seen initiatives get lost as elections come and go? Often, a new crew of legislators will have different priorities or may face a new rash of critical issues, and things that were higher up on the agenda of the Assembly before slip off and don't get done. I'm worried that what we have here is an opportunity missed.

We were first told by the Minister in the year 2000, when this process was started, that we would see new legislation by the fall of 2002 at the latest. Later on that slipped, and we were told that we would see it in the February/March session of 2003. Then later still, we heard, well, we'll certainly have it done by June 2003 so we can have it in the House and completed by October.

But now we've been told, Mr. Speaker, that we can't do it in the life of this Assembly. I'm really sorry to hear that. I know that I've had a look at the latest document that has been put out, which is called "Drafting a New Wildlife Act for the Northwest Territories - A Progress Report" and it's set out in there what would be included in the new act.

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

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Developing A New Wildlife Act

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 847

The Speaker

Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Dent . The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his Member's statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. You may conclude, Mr. Dent .

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Developing A New Wildlife Act

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 848

Charles Dent

Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker and honourable Members. Mr. Speaker, I've talked about what's in this document with my constituents. I know they were certainly pleased with what they saw. They thought it reflected a reasonable compromise between what I'm sure the department heard from different points of view, and they were prepared to accept the provisions set out in here as being quite acceptable. So they saw no reason for this not to proceed.

I know we've heard from other Members in this House that their regions felt that we should proceed with a new act. So, Mr. Speaker, I'm extremely disappointed that we have been told now that we won't see a new act. I really don't understand why, when the Minister last told this House that legislation could be tabled in this session. Why then, if that's possible, could we not table it in time that we could take it to second reading, get it to committee and have a chance of having it passed in October of this year? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

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Developing A New Wildlife Act

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 848

The Speaker

Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Dent . Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes , Mr. Allen .

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Participation In NWT Track And Field Championships

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 848

Roger Allen

Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to make my statement on the participation of youth in my riding, Inuvik Twin Lakes, in two major events in the Northwest Territories that happened to occur at the same time.

Mr. Speaker, the youth from Inuvik Twin Lakes have been participating in the NWT track and field championships in Hay River during this past week which concludes today. Mr. Speaker, I have seen examples of the dedication of sports teams, coaches and volunteers that put up such successful events. As the MLA for Inuvik Twin Lakes, I want to personally thank Dave Reid and Ruth Hoddy, for the dedication and supporting the following members of Samuel Hearne Secondary track and field team. Those students are: Dennis Dosedel; Holley Lenin; Ryan Binder; Derrick Seabrook; Danny Fehr; Gerrald Kisoun; Shane Gordon; Kyle Taylor; Noel Cockney; and Alex Groepper.

Mr. Speaker, travelling to other communities often overlaps events such as this, so with your concurrence, I would like to add a few extra words to compliment the youth of my riding. Today I want to take this opportunity to welcome the fiddle dancers to Yellowknife. They are the dancers from Ingamo Hall. They will be performing at the Elk's Hall tonight and the Aven Seniors' Manor on Saturday.

Mr. Speaker, these events allow the youth of my riding to travel to other constituencies not only to participate in events but to develop new friendships and new perspectives. I want to congratulate both groups for representing my riding and also the town of Inuvik. I wish them well. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

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Participation In NWT Track And Field Championships

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 848

The Speaker

Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Allen . Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Nahendeh , Mr. Antoine .

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Exploring The Nahanni Region

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 848

Jim Antoine

Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I really appreciate the opportunity in this Legislative Assembly as an ordinary MLA to stand up and say a few things with regard to my views as MLA. I just wanted to maybe talk briefly about this time of the year after the long cold winter we endured, after three months of close to 40 below, it's much appreciated to see this kind of warm weather coming about. Mr. Speaker, I grew up in the Fort Simpson region about 30 kilometres up the Mackenzie in a place called Rabbit Skin. In my language we call it Gah Dhiah.

I always looked forward to seeing water and travelling along the Mackenzie River growing up and I still occasionally do that whenever I have an opportunity to go into my constituency. Three of the last four years, Mr. Speaker, I have had the opportunity to explore our backyards down in the Mackenzie by going up the northern Nahanni River twice and canoeing out of there. Last summer, I canoed out of the Root River. It's a beautiful experience. I would rather do that on my holidays than go south and spend lots of dollars and be more tired coming back.

---Applause

So I like that experience. It brings me to the point that the students from the Charles Yohin School in Nahanni Butte collected money and organized a trip for themselves and their parents to the Nahanni National Park and that's where they are today. They've been there for a few days. It's a great experience for young people and their parents to experience our own backyard, which is a world class heritage park. As well, in Fort Simpson, for a number of years, the Grade 8 students have organized and raised dollars to also experience the Nahanni National Park.

They also take a trip to Nahanni National Park with some of their parents as tutors and so forth. They raft the South Nahanni River. So it's a great experience for our younger people and for their parents and I think it shows that we have to concentrate on looking at taking holidays in our own backyard rather than going south. It's a great experience for the younger people to learn about our country. Thank you very much. Mahsi.

---Applause

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Exploring The Nahanni Region

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 848

The Speaker

Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Antoine . Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Sahtu , Mr. Kakfwi .

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National Seniors' Week

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 848

Stephen Kakfwi

Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is National Seniors' Week and as a Member of the Legislature for the Sahtu, I wanted to add a few comments as well. In our language, in the particular dialect of Fort Good Hope, the word for elders or seniors is denehisha, which means somebody held in high esteem. In the other dialects of the Sahtu, it is odah, which also means the same thing. It's somebody held in high esteem. This is a value that is shared with the Inuit, with the Inuvialuit, with the Metis and all northern peoples. It's something that many of us have been raised with and this is something I believe that all of us should be very proud of and try to support this rather unique tradition.

Last night, there was a gathering elders, seniors, from across the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Yukon, as well as every province across the country. They have a rather unique evening of entertainment. Mr. Speaker, as you know, no other jurisdiction in this country could possibly see an event take place like that where the Speaker of the Legislature would actually be the master of ceremonies. As well Members of the Legislature Jane Groenewegen and Mr. Paul Delorey were amongst the many people who came to show the seniors and elders that we are close to our communities, close to our people.

The commissioner, Glenna Hansen, and I provided some entertainment, as well. The remarks were very well received that people across the country came to see that this is a very unique and different jurisdiction. I wanted to share that with people because I think this is one of the many elements as to why people will continue to come here.

If I could ask unanimous consent, Mr. Speaker, to conclude.

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National Seniors' Week

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 849

The Speaker

Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Kakfwi . The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his wonderful statement. Are there any nays?

---Laughter

There are no nays, Mr. Premier . You may conclude.

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National Seniors' Week

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 849

Stephen Kakfwi

Sahtu

Thank you. Mr. Speaker, I just wanted to share something on a personal side. My father-in-law who has been coming here to the North since 1982, he came to Fort Good Hope in the middle of the winter, he's been here, Hay River, Fort Providence, Fort Simpson. We've taken a river trip down the Mackenzie River together. In 1998, Neil and his wife Ellen Wilson, brought for the first time Neil's younger brother Cec, along with his wife Lois, from southern Ontario.

One day he remarked to his younger brother with tremendous pride and humour, he said, "Cec, here we are elders, back home we are nothing but a couple of old guys." I just wanted to share that with you because people have been picking this up, the rather high esteem with which we hold people who are in their senior years and elders in our society. Mahsi.

---Applause

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National Seniors' Week

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 849

The Speaker

Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Kakfwi . I believe the comment was made that it was the first time a Gum Boots performance was opened by the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories and the Premier of the Northwest Territories as leading acts. It was a great evening.

---Laughter

Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Nunakput , Mr. Steen .

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Members' Statement On Acknowledgement Of Elder Helen Gruben

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 849

Vince Steen

Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as seniors' week draws to a close, I would like to take the opportunity to acknowledge the time and effort that Helen Gruben has contributed towards the seniors' society as a representative of the Delta area. Ms. Gruben has served now for four years on the board and has assisted, I am sure, with many decisions and recommendations to the government as to ways to improve services to our seniors, as well as ways to improve our social programs overall. Mr. Speaker, I know that Ms.

Gruben has spent many days travelling to meetings that have taken her away from home and I would like to, on behalf of my constituents, thank her for all the time that she spent on senior society issues and bringing back senior society concerns and issues to the boards on behalf of the seniors in my riding. I would personally like to thank Ms. Gruben for all her time and effort, Mr. Speaker.

In closing, Mr. Speaker, I would just like to take the opportunity to wish my daughter Shannon a happy birthday for today and my son Warren a happy birthday for today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Members' Statement On Acknowledgement Of Elder Helen Gruben

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 849

The Speaker

Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Steen . Any other Members' statements? Item 4, returns to oral questions. The honourable Member for Nahendeh .

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Further Return To Question 255-14(6): Awarding Of Campground Contracts In The Deh Cho

Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

Page 849

Jim Antoine

Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a return to oral questions asked by Mr. McLeod on June 5, 2003 regarding the awarding of the Twin Falls Campground contract.

Since amalgamation in1997, the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development in the South Slave region has utilized the request for proposal process over tendering to obtain the finest services for tourists visiting the NWT. The tendering process does not allow for creative innovation. In the past, the region found contract services to be somewhat basic when utilizing the tendering process.

The region uses the 30 percent innovative criteria to obtain the most creative services for a reasonable cost. Innovative criteria includes services that are beyond regular operations and maintenance of the campground. These services include: meet and greet sessions, guided trail walks, shuttle services to the airport, evening talks, story telling and arranging with other operators for additional tourism experiences. By including innovative criteria, the South Slave region is able to ensure that the best possible services are being provided for the visiting public. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

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Further Return To Question 255-14(6): Awarding Of Campground Contracts In The Deh Cho

Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

Page 849

The Speaker

Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Item 4, returns to oral questions.

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Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 849

The Speaker

Tony Whitford

Colleagues, I would like to direct your attention to the presence in the visitors' gallery of a former Member of this Legislative Assembly who served in the 11th and 12th assemblies: Mr. Henry Zoe.

---Applause

He represented the riding of North Slave. Mr. Zoe, welcome. Item 4, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Sahtu , Mr. Kakfwi .

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Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 849

Stephen Kakfwi

Sahtu

Mr. Speaker, I rise as the humble husband of Marie Wilson to recognize our friends Bob and Menna Weese of Toronto. Both are former senior civil servants having served the governments in Saskatchewan, Ontario and the federal government. Bob is currently director for intergovernmental relations for General Electric Canada, taking

part in the Canadian Chamber of Commerce meeting here. It's Bob and Menna's first trip to Yellowknife. Their sons Dylan and Bryn are both seasonal constituents of mine who work at Great Bear Lake. They are both qualified fishing guides and Dylan is a fish biologist. They are long-term friends.

As well, attending with them are friends of theirs, Mr. and Mrs. Bishop. I would like to welcome them also. Welcome.

---Applause

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Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 850

The Speaker

Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Kakfwi . Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta , Mr. Krutko .

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Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 850

David Krutko

Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to recognize Cindy Gilday who is well known for the environmental battle they fought with the Deline uranium project. I would like to welcome you to the House and thank you for that effort. Thank you.

---Applause

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Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 850

The Speaker

Tony Whitford

Thank you. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. I would like to take this opportunity to welcome everyone who has attended the Assembly today and welcome back Mr. Zoe. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Hay River North , Mr. Delorey .

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Question 264-14(6): Delays Caused By Regulatory Process

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 850

Paul Delorey

Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development . As I alluded to in my Member's statement, I am very concerned about the delays that our regulatory process imposes on developers looking to do business in the North. I was very upset to learn about a recent example of NTCL, a local Hay River company, losing a $2.5 million contract as a direct result of uncertainties with our regulatory process.

This is not the first time I have heard of businesses just giving up in frustration after experiencing delays with our cumbersome regulatory process, in some cases delays of up to two years. Could the Minister please indicate to this House what his department and this government, as a whole, is doing to address the obvious problems of long delays in our regulatory process. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 264-14(6): Delays Caused By Regulatory Process

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 850

The Speaker

Tony Whitford

Thank you. We are having temporary delays with our sound. The Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development , Mr. Antoine .

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Question 264-14(6): Delays Caused By Regulatory Process

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 850

Jim Antoine

Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, with regard to the honourable Member's question about the development of environmental assessment timelines we, in the government, particularly the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, are aware of the different projects that go forward and go through the regulatory process. There is a problem. I recently wrote a letter in April to Minister Nault who ultimately has the responsibility.

We stated that there is no clear process or timeline stipulated in the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act, and, therefore, the length of time it takes to go through the process is quite lengthy and, in some cases, it comes to a point where you have the experience of Western Geco deciding not to move ahead this year. However, I hear that they will come again in the future to try this project again. I wrote a letter to the Minister indicating that a set of guidelines needs to be established under the

section that deals with that in the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act. Particularly, guidelines should be established in consultation with the responsible Ministers and the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board to set out the transparent process and timelines under this

section of the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act. I have taken the action of writing to the Minister. I haven't received a reply as yet. Thank you.

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Question 264-14(6): Delays Caused By Regulatory Process

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 850

The Speaker

Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Delorey .

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Supplementary To Question 264-14(6): Delays Caused By Regulatory Process

Question 264-14(6): Delays Caused By Regulatory Process

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 850

Paul Delorey

Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am encouraged by the fact that the Minister is indicating that they are dealing with the federal Minister on this. I certainly hope that a company like Western Geco will stay the course and be willing to come back next year. There is still no guarantee that they are going to get their permits for next year. Would the Minister indicate if he feels that a full review of the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act is warranted due to the delays that we are experiencing now?

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Supplementary To Question 264-14(6): Delays Caused By Regulatory Process

Question 264-14(6): Delays Caused By Regulatory Process

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 850

The Speaker

Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Delorey . The honourable Minister of RWED , Mr. Antoine .

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Further Return To Question 264-14(6): Delays Caused By Regulatory Process

Question 264-14(6): Delays Caused By Regulatory Process

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 850

Jim Antoine

Nahendeh

Mr. Speaker, it is federal legislation, so as a Minister in this department, the course of action we are taking is we are identifying a

section in the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act, particularly with

Section 135 that deals with these guidelines that have been very vague and there's no clear process or timelines stipulated in that section. We're making suggestions to Minister Nault of DIAND that if he could establish such guidelines so that the different companies, the different proponents that want to do development in the North, such as Western Geco, will be treated in a manner that is clear, consistent and transparent. Thank you.

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Further Return To Question 264-14(6): Delays Caused By Regulatory Process

Question 264-14(6): Delays Caused By Regulatory Process

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 850

The Speaker

Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Delorey .

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Supplementary To Question 264-14(6): Delays Caused By Regulatory Process

Question 264-14(6): Delays Caused By Regulatory Process

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 850

Paul Delorey

Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, you hear of cases whereby companies have spent enormous sums of money, and waited in some cases up to two years for their environmental assessment and their final report of the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board, only to have it sit on the federal Minister's desk for months on end before he will give his approval. Is that issue being addressed? The waiting period that it takes the Minister to address issues after it's gone through the environmental process; is there anything being done with that particular issue? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Supplementary To Question 264-14(6): Delays Caused By Regulatory Process

Question 264-14(6): Delays Caused By Regulatory Process

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 850

The Speaker

Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Delorey . The honourable Minister of RWED , Mr. Antoine .

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Further Return To Question 264-14(6): Delays Caused By Regulatory Process

Question 264-14(6): Delays Caused By Regulatory Process

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 850

Jim Antoine

Nahendeh

Mr. Speaker, there are meetings and discussions that take place when the opportunity arises, whenever Minister Nault travels into the North, or at different times when I have the opportunity to be at different meetings or conferences that I attend in the south. We talk about a number of different issues. This has been a subject of discussion in the past, in regards to the length of this process. Over the last year or so, there was a lot of discussion about trying tostreamline this whole process, that it takes a lot of time before a proponent receives a final go-ahead or refusal.

It's time consuming and it's costing a lot of dollars for companies. In some cases it's very frustrating. Yes, we relay the concerns to the Minister. Our approach here in this letter is to say that we've identified an area in the act where I think he has the authority to be more concise and clear with a timeframe to be put in place. Thank you.

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Question 264-14(6): Delays Caused By Regulatory Process

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 851

The Speaker

Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Your final supplementary, Mr. Delorey .

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Supplementary To Question 264-14(6): Delays Caused By Regulatory Process

Question 264-14(6): Delays Caused By Regulatory Process

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 851

Paul Delorey

Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, given the process that we have in place today and the delays and, in some cases, rejection being experienced by companies applying for permits and licences for what could be considered, by comparison, very small projects, how does the Minister envision a project the size of the Mackenzie Valley pipeline ever getting off the ground in this regulatory process we have today? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Supplementary To Question 264-14(6): Delays Caused By Regulatory Process

Question 264-14(6): Delays Caused By Regulatory Process

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 851

The Speaker

Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Delorey . The honourable Minister of RWED , Mr. Antoine .

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Further Return To Question 264-14(6): Delays Caused By Regulatory Process

Question 264-14(6): Delays Caused By Regulatory Process

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 851

Jim Antoine

Nahendeh

Mr. Speaker, this whole process has been identified as being very cumbersome, and we all know that and we've been relaying that information to the federal Minister. Again, it's federal legislation and we are a stakeholder in this whole area. We don't have control of our resources, and perhaps through devolution, down the line, we will gain control of that and we will be in the driver's seat at that time.

But for the time being, in the case of the pipeline, for a number of years there has been work with the different regulatory agencies to try to streamline the process of approval of this project through the Environmental Impact Review Board. There is work being done currently to try to find a way to have this thing go as quickly as possible. I think there is agreement between the agencies, to try to speed this whole process up. Thank you.

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Question 264-14(6): Delays Caused By Regulatory Process

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 851

The Speaker

Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Deh Cho . Mr. McLeod .

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Question 265-14(6): Frustrations With The Capital Planning Process

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 851

Michael McLeod

Deh Cho

Thank you. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to ask some questions regarding my comments from my Member's statement, or at least the frustration that I'm feeling right now regarding the capital planning. Mr. Speaker, a number of us who represent smaller communities have recognized and have received now our copies of the capital plan for the next five years, and it's quite frustrating to see in my case a whole winter's work, many, many meetings all go down the drain. The slate is just practically wiped clean.

Yet, when we look at some of the budgets for the Ministers, they're still managing to hang on to some of their projects. There seems to be a different approach when we have Regular Members versus Ministers. I would like to ask the Minister of FMB to explain the difference between how a regular Member gets an item put on the capital plan, versus how a Minister gets an item put on the capital plan. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 265-14(6): Frustrations With The Capital Planning Process

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 851

The Speaker

Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. McLeod . The honourable Minister responsible for FMB, Mr. Handley .

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Question 265-14(6): Frustrations With The Capital Planning Process

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 851

Joe Handley

Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The process for getting items onto the capital plan is the same for all of us. The communities' needs are identified. Through the business planning process, recommendations are made to us. We review it during the business planning review, and then the main estimates are eventually voted. But it's exactly the same for regular MLAs as it is for Cabinet Ministers. Thank you.

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Question 265-14(6): Frustrations With The Capital Planning Process

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 851

The Speaker

Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. McLeod .

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Supplementary To Question 265-14(6): Frustrations With The Capital Planning Process

Question 265-14(6): Frustrations With The Capital Planning Process

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 851

Michael McLeod

Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm glad to hear that our needs are all equal, just some of us are more equal than others. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to ask the Minister if he would present to this House before the end of the sitting, a breakdown of the capital budgets for all our ridings, per riding, so that everybody can see what's being spent. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Supplementary To Question 265-14(6): Frustrations With The Capital Planning Process

Question 265-14(6): Frustrations With The Capital Planning Process

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 851

The Speaker

Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. McLeod . The honourable Minister responsible for the Financial Management Board , Minister Handley .

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Further Return To Question 265-14(6): Frustrations With The Capital Planning Process

Question 265-14(6): Frustrations With The Capital Planning Process

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 851

Joe Handley

Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On January 21, 2003, I gave to the chairs of each of the standing committees a copy of the infrastructure plan broken down by constituency. That's for the 2003-2008 five-year plan. So everyone should have that. If you want another one, I can get you another one.

In terms of the next five-year plan, that one is one that we're just in the process of preparing right now. In fact, the teams are out and holding community meetings. So that will be some months before I can provide that one. But for 2003-2008, everyone should have that. Thank you.

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Further Return To Question 265-14(6): Frustrations With The Capital Planning Process

Question 265-14(6): Frustrations With The Capital Planning Process

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 851

The Speaker

Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. McLeod .

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Supplementary To Question 265-14(6): Frustrations With The Capital Planning Process

Question 265-14(6): Frustrations With The Capital Planning Process

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 851

Michael McLeod

Deh Cho

Thank you. Mr. Speaker, that's the very reason I asked for a breakdown of expenditures. Presentations that are being made by his staff are not the same as the breakdown that was presented in January. It's not the same as the 20-year plan that was presented to us, and it's not consistent with the business plans, and it's not consistent with the five-year capital plan. We had projects sitting on the 20-year plan for 10 years that have disappeared off the radar screen. I'd like to ask the Minister if he would review the situation and tell us what is going on and who's in charge. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Supplementary To Question 265-14(6): Frustrations With The Capital Planning Process

Question 265-14(6): Frustrations With The Capital Planning Process

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 851

The Speaker

Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. McLeod . The honourable Minister responsible for FMB, Mr. Handley .

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Further Return To Question 265-14(6): Frustrations With The Capital Planning Process

Question 265-14(6): Frustrations With The Capital Planning Process

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 852

Joe Handley

Weledeh

Mr. Speaker, as part of our long-term planning, we do a 20-year capital needs assessment. That's a needs assessment, that is not a plan. It's not a capital plan we're committed to for the next 20 years, it's assessing what our long-term needs are. We also do five-year plans, and those all come through the planning process as we put together our business plans and eventually our main estimates.

Mr. Speaker, I'll be happy to look at any discrepancies that the Member has, if he wants to bring them to my attention. But, right now, I don't know for sure specifically which projects he's referring to. Thank you.

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Further Return To Question 265-14(6): Frustrations With The Capital Planning Process

Question 265-14(6): Frustrations With The Capital Planning Process

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 852

The Speaker

Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Your final supplementary, Mr. McLeod .

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Supplementary To Question 265-14(6): Frustrations With The Capital Planning Process

Question 265-14(6): Frustrations With The Capital Planning Process

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 852

Michael McLeod

Deh Cho

Yes, Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister if he would review the whole capital planning process. It's been a frustrating system that doesn't work. It's clear as mud, as they say. It has been expressed by many of us here over and over that it's not working. We have a group of deputy ministers that are not accountable to us, we can't even ask them questions and the Ministers don't seem to be talking to them. Can we review the situation and look at a system that will put responsibility back into the Ministers' hands where it belongs, and where we can have some input, and the communities? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Supplementary To Question 265-14(6): Frustrations With The Capital Planning Process

Question 265-14(6): Frustrations With The Capital Planning Process

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 852

The Speaker

Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. McLeod . The honourable Minister responsible for FMB, Mr. Handley .

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Further Return To Question 265-14(6): Frustrations With The Capital Planning Process

Question 265-14(6): Frustrations With The Capital Planning Process

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 852

Joe Handley

Weledeh

Mr. Speaker, people have been raising concerns with regard to the capital planning process for a couple of years. As a follow-up to that, in fact on February 16th of this year, 2003, we did a capital planning process update. We advised the Members of what we were doing and how we were changing community consultations. Starting in May and June, we've had teams of people going out and meeting with the communities. We have advised the MLAs of when these teams would be in the communities. So we're going through that process now. As part of that process, we are asking communities for feedback on the planning process.

So we are doing that review, but we want to do it with all of the MLAs and I expect that by the time we have all the information back, before the end of June, pull that all together and it's part of the planning process, we can have discussions on any concerns communities are raising with us or MLAs are raising and try to further refine at that time. But we are going through a process of review right now, Mr. Speaker.

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Further Return To Question 265-14(6): Frustrations With The Capital Planning Process

Question 265-14(6): Frustrations With The Capital Planning Process

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 852

The Speaker

Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta , Mr. Krutko .

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Question 266-14(6): Improving Seniors' Assistance Programs

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 852

David Krutko

Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister responsible for Seniors , regarding the issues I raised in my Member's statement knowing that it's Seniors' Week and also that we have programs and services in place for our seniors. Mr. Speaker, there seem to be barriers in place in regard to how seniors are able to access these programs or else that they have to continue year after year and reapply for different programs. Mr. Speaker, I'll use an example of a program. We have a seniors' home repair program which is basically capped at $20,000. In most cases, Mr.

Speaker, our seniors have lived in their homes and owned their homes all their lives, yet as they get older and the cost of maintaining their homes is high, that $20,000 doesn't do much. Now they're being told you maxed out the amount of the allocation, based on $20,000. Yet we also offer another program with regard to the fuel rebate program, and again we have a set amount of how much fuel you're allocated to maintain your home. Again, that hasn't changed for several years.

I would just like to ask the Minister exactly what the Minister responsible for Seniors is doing to remove these inequities and barriers for our seniors to simplify the programs and make them more responsible.

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Question 266-14(6): Improving Seniors' Assistance Programs

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 852

The Speaker

Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Krutko . The honourable Minister responsible for Seniors , Mr. Miltenberger .

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Question 266-14(6): Improving Seniors' Assistance Programs

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 852

Michael Miltenberger

Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, one of the issues raised in the NWT action plan for seniors was that very issue. What was committed to and what is underway was the striking of an interdepartmental working group with a seat for the NWT Seniors' Society, to address a way to deal with barriers, as my colleague mentioned, to better coordinate the services for seniors which currently are located in several different departments. The initial request was to somehow consolidate all seniors' services under one umbrella or secretariat. That was deemed not to be the most effective way to proceed.

That was an alternative that was suggested, that being the interdepartmental group, and they are currently at work on that particular issue. Thank you.

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Question 266-14(6): Improving Seniors' Assistance Programs

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 852

The Speaker

Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Krutko .

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Supplementary To Question 266-14(6): Improving Seniors' Assistance Programs

Question 266-14(6): Improving Seniors' Assistance Programs

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 852

David Krutko

Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in regard to my statement, I also touched on the area of accommodation for seniors in our communities so our seniors do not have to leave our communities and go to Inuvik, Yellowknife or wherever to have to go into long-term care. So I'd like to ask the Minister, have you looked at the area of accommodations and programs being delivered in the communities and having to go and access those programs elsewhere?

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Supplementary To Question 266-14(6): Improving Seniors' Assistance Programs

Question 266-14(6): Improving Seniors' Assistance Programs

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 852

The Speaker

Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Krutko . The honourable Minister responsible for Seniors , Mr. Miltenberger .

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Further Return To Question 266-14(6): Improving Seniors' Assistance Programs

Question 266-14(6): Improving Seniors' Assistance Programs

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 852

Michael Miltenberger

Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we are looking at that issue and we are trying to beef up and improve our continuing care programs, home support, home care and supportive living to help seniors stay in their homes as long as possible. I know as well the Minister of Housing has a very aggressive initiative underway with seniors' housing, that there is in fact some housing being built in Inuvik, Hay River and Smith. We, as well, are looking at ways to upgrade and improve the facilities that we currently run in our multi-bed residences that deal with more long-term care needs. Thank you.

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Further Return To Question 266-14(6): Improving Seniors' Assistance Programs

Question 266-14(6): Improving Seniors' Assistance Programs

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 853

The Speaker

Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Krutko .

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Supplementary To Question 266-14(6): Improving Seniors' Assistance Programs

Question 266-14(6): Improving Seniors' Assistance Programs

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 853

David Krutko

Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to ask the Minister, do you have someone in house whose job it is to really look at the programs that are presently being delivered by this government for our seniors and see where we can streamline our programs and make them more accessible and user friendly for our seniors?

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Supplementary To Question 266-14(6): Improving Seniors' Assistance Programs

Question 266-14(6): Improving Seniors' Assistance Programs

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 853

The Speaker

Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Krutko . The honourable Minister responsible for Seniors , Mr. Miltenberger .

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Further Return To Question 266-14(6): Improving Seniors' Assistance Programs

Question 266-14(6): Improving Seniors' Assistance Programs

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 853

Michael Miltenberger

Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, we do. That is a discrete program area that we administer and it is part of the responsibility of senior staff. We have a very close working relationship with the NWT Seniors' Society, as well. Thank you.

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Further Return To Question 266-14(6): Improving Seniors' Assistance Programs

Question 266-14(6): Improving Seniors' Assistance Programs

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 853

The Speaker

Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Your final supplementary, Mr. Krutko .

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Supplementary To Question 266-14(6): Improving Seniors' Assistance Programs

Question 266-14(6): Improving Seniors' Assistance Programs

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 853

David Krutko

Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister exactly what are the reporting mechanisms that are used so that the Members in this House and seniors in our communities know that we as a government are actually doing something concrete. I'd like to ask the Minister what's the reporting mechanism of this information that you say is being put together, and how does that information get back to the Members of this House and seniors in our communities?

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Supplementary To Question 266-14(6): Improving Seniors' Assistance Programs

Question 266-14(6): Improving Seniors' Assistance Programs

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 853

The Speaker

Tony Whitford

The honourable Minister responsible for Seniors , Mr. Miltenberger .

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Further Return To Question 266-14(6): Improving Seniors' Assistance Programs

Question 266-14(6): Improving Seniors' Assistance Programs

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 853

Michael Miltenberger

Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the initiatives are communicated in a number of ways. Yesterday in the Great Hall we released the update on the seniors' action plan, the NWT seniors' profile. As well the Housing Corporation and Education, Culture and Employment both have information pamphlets and processes that they make sure are available at the community level for the areas they administer of housing and fuel subsidy and such. We, as well, through our services and social workers and people we have on the ground in the communities speak to those issues. We have a business planning process and we have, of course, the contact MLAs can have at their pleasure with Ministers. Thank you.

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Further Return To Question 266-14(6): Improving Seniors' Assistance Programs

Question 266-14(6): Improving Seniors' Assistance Programs

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 853

The Speaker

Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Frame Lake , Mr. Dent .

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Question 267-14(6): Gwich'in Contracting Memorandum Of Understanding

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 853

Charles Dent

Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to follow up on some questions that Mr. Roland was asking of the Minister of RWED yesterday, regarding the Gwich'in MOU. The Minister, in response to the Member, said that there were about $29 million worth of contracts in the area and they've been negotiating up to about half of that, so about $14.5 million. I couldn't help but notice in the listing of projects by community, that they include things like the standing offer for electrical power. In there it's noted as currently sole-sourced to the Northwest Territories Power Corporation.

Another one is natural gas, which is currently sole-sourced to Inuvik Gas. Is there an intention by this government to change the sourcing of power and gas in the region?

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Question 267-14(6): Gwich'in Contracting Memorandum Of Understanding

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 853

The Speaker

Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Dent . The honourable Minister of RWED , Mr. Antoine .

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Return To Question 267-14(6): Gwich'in Contracting Memorandum Of Understanding

Question 267-14(6): Gwich'in Contracting Memorandum Of Understanding

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 853

Jim Antoine

Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the intent was, since this is the first time we're doing that, we agreed that the contract list would include all known contracts. The department came forward with contracts over $5000, with the exception of things like utility payments, electrical and water and sewer which are not included. I think the electrical would be the electrician type of work and so forth. It's important to list all known contracts so we can establish the percentage of Gwich'in participation. It's a multi-step process, and we are just beginning to do that.

The rationale behind this was to show the Gwich'in that every contract they would review to see which contracts are available. Like I said, we are doing a lot of work with them and there's still a lot of work to be done. The intention here is to include everything that the department has come forward with and I think the view here is if we excluded contracts, then it could be possibly raised later on and the question asked what we have omitted.

So we wanted to start with everything that is possible out there and from there we would go through a process with them of eliminating some of the bigger projects that are probably impossible to do.

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Return To Question 267-14(6): Gwich'in Contracting Memorandum Of Understanding

Question 267-14(6): Gwich'in Contracting Memorandum Of Understanding

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 853

The Speaker

Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Dent .

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Supplementary To Question 267-14(6): Gwich'in Contracting Memorandum Of Understanding

Question 267-14(6): Gwich'in Contracting Memorandum Of Understanding

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 853

Charles Dent

Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I guess my interest is to find out what the quantum is. Yesterday, the Minister said it was probably going to be half of the $29 million that would go to the Gwich'in side of the MOU. I am trying to get an understanding of what is going to be left over. If we are listing electrical power and gas as parts that are left over, that really doesn't mean that there is 50 percent left. There is no possibility of anybody else supplying those. So why are we showing electrical power and gas in this listing of contracts and including it in the $29 million?

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Supplementary To Question 267-14(6): Gwich'in Contracting Memorandum Of Understanding

Question 267-14(6): Gwich'in Contracting Memorandum Of Understanding

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 853

The Speaker

Tony Whitford

The honourable Minister of RWED , Mr. Antoine .

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Further Return To Question 267-14(6): Gwich'in Contracting Memorandum Of Understanding

Question 267-14(6): Gwich'in Contracting Memorandum Of Understanding

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 853

Jim Antoine

Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, when the departments came out with the lists, I also raised that question. I was told in terms of the electrical contracts, my understanding was for electrician-type of work. The intention was not to go after the electrical power. As for what is going to be left over, I am told through the process there will be lots that will be left over. The MOU is attempting to correct a problem with the Gwich'in involvement in GNWT contracting. We should easily achieve 50 percent in communities where Gwich'in represent a majority of the population.

The intention is to make sure that concerns that are raised include them in there. I think the Gwich'in also understand and there is a lot of pressure on them as well that this is something new that we are all working with together. The intention is not to hand it over to another source of electrical power. Thank you.

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Further Return To Question 267-14(6): Gwich'in Contracting Memorandum Of Understanding

Question 267-14(6): Gwich'in Contracting Memorandum Of Understanding

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 854

The Speaker

Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Dent .

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Supplementary To Question 267-14(6): Gwich'in Contracting Memorandum Of Understanding

Question 267-14(6): Gwich'in Contracting Memorandum Of Understanding

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 854

Charles Dent

Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, what I was really hoping to get from the Minister was that we weren't looking to replace the supplier in the region. For confirmation, would the Minister confirm that when it says electrical power in this listing of projects, they are not really talking about the supply of power, but rather about the provision of electrician services? Is that what I am to understand from this?

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Supplementary To Question 267-14(6): Gwich'in Contracting Memorandum Of Understanding

Question 267-14(6): Gwich'in Contracting Memorandum Of Understanding

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 854

The Speaker

Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Dent . The honourable Minister of RWED , Mr. Antoine .

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Further Return To Question 267-14(6): Gwich'in Contracting Memorandum Of Understanding

Question 267-14(6): Gwich'in Contracting Memorandum Of Understanding

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 854

Jim Antoine

Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, that's correct.

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Further Return To Question 267-14(6): Gwich'in Contracting Memorandum Of Understanding

Question 267-14(6): Gwich'in Contracting Memorandum Of Understanding

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 854

The Speaker

Tony Whitford

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake , Mr. Roland .

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Question 268-14(6): Access To Supplementary Health Benefits

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 854

Floyd Roland

Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on Wednesday I asked the Minister of Health and Social Services questions about the consent form for supplementary health benefits that the federal government requires aboriginal people to sign so that they can continue to receive benefits from that program. The Minister stated that they would continue to ensure that all residents would have access to health care and that they wouldn't be impacted and that, if they didn't sign these forms, there would be a way of working around this. I am concerned, Mr.

Speaker, on looking into this a bit more, if for example an aboriginal person goes to the drugstore to have a prescription filled or goes to get eyeglasses, what happens in that case? Is it going to be that the individual will have to pay first and then seek reimbursement from the federal government or from this government? Thank you.

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Question 268-14(6): Access To Supplementary Health Benefits

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 854

The Speaker

Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Roland . The honourable Minister of Health and Social Services , Mr. Miltenberger .

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Return To Question 268-14(6): Access To Supplementary Health Benefits

Question 268-14(6): Access To Supplementary Health Benefits

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 854

Michael Miltenberger

Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the immediate attention that we are paying right now is trying to work with the federal government and Health Canada to ensure that their consent form is appropriately crafted and it's implemented so that it is, in fact, fully implemented. The uptake across Canada has been very slow, something akin I would think possibly to the gun registry. So we have to make sure that the first battle we have to fight with the federal government is an issue of concern to the three territories.

We have a meeting planned at some point in the not too distant future with the Minister of Health, and that's one of the items on the agenda because it affects so many of our constituents. The Member has raised some specific concerns that are quite detailed. The fundamental commitment is that nobody is going to be deprived of health and social services in the Northwest Territories. The level of detail that my colleague has asked, I don't have available at my disposal at this point.

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Return To Question 268-14(6): Access To Supplementary Health Benefits

Question 268-14(6): Access To Supplementary Health Benefits

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 854

The Speaker

Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Roland .

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Supplementary To Question 268-14(6): Access To Supplementary Health Benefits

Question 268-14(6): Access To Supplementary Health Benefits

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 854

Floyd Roland

Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister has given some response about meetings that will occur. So when will these meetings occur to straighten this out or to get more clarification? As the father of six children, Mr. Speaker, who are aboriginal and qualify -- and there are many people in the North w