Debates of Nov. 3rd, 2009

This is page numbers 3653 - 3688 of the Hansard for the 16th Assembly, 4th 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 agreed .

Topics

Oral Questions

Members Present

Prayer

Minister’s Statement 31-16(4): NWT Science Agenda

Minister’s Statement 32-16(4): A Foundation For Change

Outfitters’ Licences Held In Settled Land Claim Areas

Customer Service At Income Support Office In Yellowknife

Proposed Changes To The Food Mail Program

Opportunities For Northern Agriculture

Contaminated Soil Sites And Support For Local Contractors In Lutselk’e

Opportunities For Northern Agriculture

Implementation Of 911 Emergency Telephone Service

Need For Public Housing In Fort Liard

Opportunities For Northern Agriculture

Outfitters’ Licences Held In Settled Land Claim Areas

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Newly Elected Chief Of Deninu Kue Nation

Implementation Of 911 Telephone Service

Opportunities For Northern Agriculture

Opportunities For Northern Agriculture

Opportunities For Northern Agriculture

Outfitters’ Licences Held In Settled Land Claim Areas

Outfitters’ Licences Held In Settled Land Claim Areas

Need For Public Housing In Fort Liard

Contaminated Soil Sites And Support For Local Contractors In Lutselk’e

Customer Service At In Come Support Office In Yellowknife

Proposed Changes To The Food Mail Program

Sole-Source Contracting To Former Ministers

Licensing Of Outfitters Held In Settled Land Claim Areas

Outfitters’ Licences Held In Settled Land Claim Areas

Support For Survivors Of Residential School Experience

Licensing For Outfitters Held In Settled Land Claim Areas

Increasing Municipal Enforcement Officers In Yellowknife

Tabled Document 38-16(4): Annual Report On Official Languages 2008-2009

Tabled Document 39-16(4): Northwest Territories Liquor Commission And Liquor Licensing Board 2008-2009, 55th Annual Report

Tabled Document 40-16(4): Building A Path For Northern Science: Government Of The Northwest Territories Science Agenda

Tabled Document 41-16(4): A Foundation For Change: Building A Healthy Future For The NWT 2009-2012

Tabled Document 42-16(4): Government Of The Northwest Territories 2008 Public Service Annual Report

Tabled Document 43-16(4):

Summary Of Members’ Absences For The Period May 27, 2009, To October 14, 2009

Hiring Preference For Persons With Disabilities

Extended Adjournment Of The House To January 27, 2010

Bill 4:

An Act To Amend The Child And Family Services Act

Bill5:

An Act To Amend The Commissioner’s Land Act

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Concurrence Of Tabled Document 19-16(4), Supplementary Appropriation No. 3 (Infrastructure Expenditures), 2009-2010

Concurrence Of Tabled Document 18-16(4), Supplementary Appropriation No. 2 (Operations Expenditures), 2009-2010

Report of the Committee of the Whole

Bill 8: Supplementary Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures) No. 3, 2009-2010 Bill 9: Supplementary Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures) No. 2, 2009-2010

Orders of the Day

The House met at 1:34 p.m.

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---Prayer

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Prayer

Prayer

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Good afternoon, colleagues. Welcome back to the Chamber. Orders of the day. Item 2, Ministers’ statements. The honourable Minister responsible for Environment and Natural Resources , Mr. Miltenberger .

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Minister’s Statement 31-16(4): NWT Science Agenda

Ministers’ Statements

Michael Miltenberger

Thebacha

Mr. Speaker, the Northwest Territories has always been, and continues to be, an important area for scientific research by governments, regulatory bodies, industry and academic institutions.

Later today the Honourable Jackson Lafferty will table the Building a Path for Northern Science: Government of the Northwest Territories Science Agenda. This is the first time the GNWT has clearly defined and prioritized government-wide scientific research needs. Work on the Science Agenda began in 2007 and is the result of extensive consultation with GNWT employees engaged in research, researchers and community members.

The Science Agenda is based on the principle that science is a critical component of ensuring sustainable development, health and wellness, cultural retention and economic diversification and development.

The NWT is experiencing a period of powerful changes and challenges. Climate change, new technologies, resource development, economic change and social change are all requiring the Government of the Northwest Territories, GNWT, adapt and modify its programs and services.

The GNWT needs reliable evidence-based information, derived from scientific investigations and research, to make informed policy decisions. The Science Agenda establishes a strategic framework for science and identifies science priorities, which will guide future research and science integration for the GNWT.

It sets a path for this government and the people of the Northwest Territories to play a key role in the

development and management of science knowledge and the use of traditional knowledge in all scientific and other research conducted here.

The Science Agenda will act as a guiding document in policy decisions on a number of fronts for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and the Government of the Northwest Territories, including land, water and climate change.

Mr. Speaker, five core priority areas for research have been identified. They are: cultural sustainability; environmental science and stewardship, health and wellness, natural resource management, and sustainable communities. Strategic goals, sub-priorities and implementation actions have been identified for each of these core areas. The agenda also recognizes that technological advances, traditional knowledge and climate change are issues that cut across all five core priority areas.

Given the high level of scientific interest, research and activity in the Northwest Territories, we recognize the need to work in collaboration with other governments, aboriginal organizations, communities, academic institutions, industry and other organizations and agencies to make sure these priorities and the scientific needs of the NWT residents are met.

The Science Agenda, with its commitment to various forms of scientific and traditional knowledge, will build on work already being done to promote science education in our schools. We want students to get a better understanding of how important science is to their communities and lives.

Mr. Speaker, scientific needs will evolve as our Territory grows and changes, but the importance of reliable, timely and accessible information will remain essential to ensure wise and effective decision-making processes. This Science Agenda sets the path for achieving this. Mahsi cho.

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Minister’s Statement 31-16(4): NWT Science Agenda

Ministers’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger . The honourable Member responsible for Health and Social Services, Ms. Lee .

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Minister’s Statement 32-16(4): A Foundation For Change

Ministers’ Statements

Sandy Lee

Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier today I announced A Foundation for Change, Building a Healthy Future for the NWT for 2009-2012. This document will be tabled later today.

A Foundation for Change is about our future. We need to make changes to our Health and Social Services system now, to ensure our communities and our children continue to have access to affordable, quality health care and social services in the future.

Mr. Speaker, Northerners have access to some of the best health and social services available anywhere. We continue to invest extensively in the health and wellness of our people in order to build the future of our Territory. The Government of the Northwest Territories spent $313 million for health and social services including $217 million in funding to Health and Social Services Authorities in 2008-2009. Mr. Speaker, this plan does not call for a reduction in spending. What it does is it targets priorities and actions that will allow for more efficiency and a bend in the trend of health and social services spending in the Northwest Territories.

This plan has a vision for the health and social services system going forward, because we recognize we need a strong sense of where changes should lead us.

This vision speaks to the importance of community wellness, priorities and individual responsibility, as well as our accountability in delivering programs and services.

Mr. Speaker, A Foundation for Change provides an overview of the priorities and actions we will take to move us in the right direction for the next three years. There are action items in this plan where our end result is very clear. For example, there will be new funding for health promotion in small communities. However, there are other areas where we will need to consult with communities or develop further plans before we know exactly what the end result will be, such as in the development of

community wellness plans. Over the course of 2010, we will travel to all NWT communities for community assessments. These will be designed to ensure that the services provided to Northerners are better balanced to local resources and priorities. There will also be an opportunity to share current information about regional and community health status and services.

Mr. Speaker, A Foundation for Change includes actions based on a number of partnership frameworks including the Action Plan on Family Violence, the Healthy Choices Framework, and the NWT Homelessness Framework. We will continue to build partnerships and work with communities and aboriginal governments through the community assessments.

Mr. Speaker, this plan has been developed through extensive work and review by staff of the Department of Health and Social Services and all eight health and social services authorities. I would like to thank all of the staff who helped develop this plan. I particularly would like to extend a thank you to the leaders in the Department of Health and Social Services, the members of the Joint Leadership Council, and the chief executive officers who have taken the challenge of developing this plan very seriously. I would also like to express a special mention of the Standing Committee on Social Programs, Mr.

Tom Beaulieu , chair of the committee and all members of the committee for their positive and constructive feedback and comments on the plan, which we have worked to incorporate. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Minister’s Statement 32-16(4): A Foundation For Change

Ministers’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Ms. Lee . Item 3, Members’ statements. The honourable Member for Sahtu , Mr. Yakeleya .

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Outfitters’ Licences Held In Settled Land Claim Areas

Members’ Statements

Norman Yakeleya

Sahtu

Mr. Speaker, I rise today on a matter of great importance to my constituents in the Sahtu region. Mr. Speaker, in June of this year I raised in the House the issue of the potential sale of Arctic Red Outfitters Limited and this government’s legal and moral obligations to honour the requirements of the Sahtu Land Claim. At this time, I question the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources about the proposed sale of the Arctic Red Outfitters and their right for first refusal for the licence that the people of Sahtu had pursuant to our land claim. Mr. Miltenberger committed to getting back to me on this matter, and he did so in written correspondence.

As Members may be aware, both the Gwich’in and the Sahtu land claim agreements provide that the

respective organizations have the right of first refusal for granting of a new outfitting licence. These rights were given to the Gwich’in and the Sahtu people after many years of hard-fought negotiations, and these rights are constitutionally entrenched. They are important rights; not to be lightly ignored.

In this case, the company carried on business in both the Gwich’in and Sahtu area, and they have obligations to comply with the law in both geographic jurisdictions.

Mr. Speaker, the Minister subsequently wrote to me, confirming that the company in question was being sold and the company had been advised by the Minister’s regional staff of the need to honour the refusal rights under the Sahtu Land Claim Agreement. When I wrote and asked for more details, the Minister referred to the challenge of having dual rights of first refusal and two separate land claim agreements, and about how his department was going to review the requirements in this area so that a solution can be developed and implemented.

To date, no one has approached the leadership of the Sahtu seeking the approval of the issuance of a licence which evolved in our region. This is in direct contravention of our land claim agreement.

Mr. Speaker, many months after the people of the Sahtu first heard about the proposed sale of the Arctic Red Outfitters, we are no further ahead of knowing that our land claim agreement has been complied with by this government. I appreciate that having the two land claim agreements both containing the right of first refusal can be challenging; however, this challenge does not eliminate the duty of the Crown to comply with constitutionally entrenched and constitutionally protected agreements. The fact of the law that can be challenged to comply is not an excuse for ignoring these legal requirements. The government has an obligation to respect these rights given to the people...

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Outfitters’ Licences Held In Settled Land Claim Areas

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Mr. Yakeleya , your time for your Member’s statement has expired.

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Outfitters’ Licences Held In Settled Land Claim Areas

Members’ Statements

Norman Yakeleya

Sahtu

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

---Unanimous consent granted.

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Outfitters’ Licences Held In Settled Land Claim Areas

Members’ Statements

Norman Yakeleya

Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This government has an obligation to respect the rights given to the people in the Sahtu and their claim. The honour of the Crown demands no less. Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time I will be asking the Minister questions about this matter. Thank you.

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Outfitters’ Licences Held In Settled Land Claim Areas

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya , The honourable Member for Frame Lake , Ms. Bisaro .

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Customer Service At Income Support Office In Yellowknife

Members’ Statements

Wendy Bisaro

Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like today to discuss difficulties encountered by Yellowknife residents who happen to be clients of the Income Assistance Program.

Every MLA in here has heard from constituents regarding how hard it is to get decent customer service from Education, Culture and Employment’s Income Support Program. But in Yellowknife, because the office is located in the Greenstone Building, a very secure federal building, it presents special difficulties for clients who have to visit the office to meet with their client service officer, or CSO. The CSOs work in an area inaccessible to the public behind a locked door. So in order to meet with them, even if you have a scheduled appointment, you must call them from the reception area.

If they are available, the CSO comes out and you are buzzed in to attend your meeting. Although a receptionist sits in front of that locked door, he or she does not call. The client must call.

Mr. Speaker, receptionists are front-line workers. They are the first people a client encounters at the income support office. They should be welcoming and helpful. They should be the compassionate, knowledgeable and concerned person who soothes and guides the client through the often mystifying and scary process of income support.

Yet, when you walk into the income assistance office in Yellowknife and ask a question, more often than not you get an abrupt response or are left to use the phone without assistance and there may or may not be someone at the other end of the phone line to help deal with your problems. Seldom will the receptionist consider it his or her job to help the client get in touch with the CSO.

There are a few more difficulties experienced by my constituents. Messages left on the CSO’s voice mail asking for a call back are not actioned. E-mails sent with questions about forms, next steps, getting an appointment and so on are not replied to. Clients without a phone at home must make the trip to the office several times to meet with the CSO, often without any guarantee of success.

Why no response? Well, often it’s because the CSO has been away on training, on holidays, sick leave, any one of a number of reasons and no one is covering for that staffer who happens to be away. The client, usually in need of immediate help, is left to their own devices for up to a week trying to survive some crisis on their own.

Income support should be an office, a program that provides service to their customers, that provides assistance to residents who are in need. How can the client get assistance when no CSO will meet with them? If income support really believes that

they deal with clients, then the attitude should be that of serving the customer and satisfying the customer. There needs to be a major shift in the approach used...

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Customer Service At Income Support Office In Yellowknife

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Ms. Bisaro , your time for your Member’s statement has expired.

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Customer Service At Income Support Office In Yellowknife

Members’ Statements

Wendy Bisaro

Frame Lake

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

---Unanimous consent granted.

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Customer Service At Income Support Office In Yellowknife

Members’ Statements

Wendy Bisaro

Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you to my colleagues. There needs to be a major shift in the approach used by CSOs with YK income support clients, a focus on service to the client, not the CSO. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Customer Service At Income Support Office In Yellowknife

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro . The honourable Member for Nunakput , Mr. Jacobson .

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Proposed Changes To The Food Mail Program

Members’ Statements

Jackie Jacobson

Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My Member’s statement today is proposed changes to the Food Mail Program. Currently, when residents of Nunakput go to the grocery store to buy groceries, they are shipped and subsidized by the Food Mail Program. They still could pay up to $10 for a salad or even more for two litres of milk.

Mr. Speaker, given the sufficient amount of spending on the Food Mail Program, this should not be happening. This is not the original vision or intention of the Food Mail Program.

The food mail system has evolved into the largest federal government subsidy program in the North, Mr. Speaker. The current way the food mail is administered, this is less than bizarre. The federal government transfers funds to Canada Post, they contract shippers and subsidy shipping rates are passed on to the consumer. Mr. Speaker, this false hope has made the cost of living in most northern communities a luxury that only the privileged can afford. What they support in the market is a natural approach where the consumer can directly and visibly subsidize a point of sale, thus eliminating the need to have administration carried out by Canada Post.

Mr. Speaker, any revision to the current approach of using Canada Post as an inter-mediator is unacceptable. Any revision that does not allow the consumer, who has a right to be a recipient of the subsidy, to see the subsidy is unacceptable. This current approach does not really help small communities by making healthy living and healthy eating affordable.

I have recently read that the INAC report believes that 62 percent of the subsidy is actually reaching the consumer. The government must commit itself to initiating a revised program to ensure the

remaining 38 percent, of which becomes $25 million, actually affects the process in the North.

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

---Unanimous consent granted.

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Proposed Changes To The Food Mail Program

Members’ Statements

Jackie Jacobson

Nunakput

Mr. Speaker, we owe the accountability to our constituents. We owe this to the health of northern consumers. Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for the appropriate Minister at the appropriate time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Proposed Changes To The Food Mail Program

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Jacobson . The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre , Mr. Hawkins .

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Opportunities For Northern Agriculture

Members’ Statements

Robert Hawkins

Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The time has never been riper to make the most of our opportunities for northern agriculture. By now, I think we’ve all heard we should think globally and act locally whenever possible. Mr. Speaker, I believe this is especially true for the way we eat and live here in the North, where we face some of the highest costs of living, especially on our food.

Mr. Speaker, there is great demand to buy locally produced products. Across the NWT, we see interest and enthusiasm from northern agriculture. Just ask the Arctic Farmer, who provides herbs to restaurants and there is a hungry demand for those products.

Mr. Speaker, with the decline of the caribou, we need to find solutions for meat to supply the North. Perhaps the caribou crisis is the nexus we needed to finally consider other options seriously. We’ve all known and heard about the South Slave where they were raising pork, raising poultry and other types of beef products over the years that were adjusted and able to produce quite well in this climate, but they are all gone.

Mr. Speaker, the natural features of the NWT bog would be ideal for raising cranberries, which is a billion dollar industry. Mr Speaker, I have heard that

places in B.C. don’t want cranberries to suck up their bog and produce things. I want their millions of dollars here in the North, Mr. Speaker, and I hope the Minister too would feel that way.

Mr. Speaker, if you plant a crop, it will produce a crop for 35 years. Mr. Speaker, this is an excellent opportunity to market cranberries to the world. We could take advantage of the northern bog and produce cranberries to feed at Thanksgiving dinners, to produce cranberry drinks, Mr. Speaker.

The Territorial Farmers’ Association estimates that 3.7 million acres of land is suitable to raising potatoes, carrots and livestock here in the North, but we only need 12 acres to produce 25 percent of our existing demand on our food, Mr. Speaker.

Expanding agriculture here in the North to meet 25 percent of our demand to produce products would only really require 5,000 acres of land, Mr. Speaker. That could turn into a $7.4 million investment.

Mr. Speaker, that would produce 31 person years of employment. Mr. Speaker, that would be a great hoorah for our GDP. Mr. Speaker, opportunity is growing on our doorstep and all it has to do is be picked or plucked.

Mr. Speaker, the Territorial Farmers’ Association needs help and I think there are a lot out there that could do a lot of great work, Mr. Speaker. So, Mr. Speaker, I think it’s time to put our hand to the plough and stop looking back and moving forward. Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for the Minister of ITI later today about how we can make sure the Growing Forward money gets in the hand of our agriculture industry. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Opportunities For Northern Agriculture

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins . The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe , Mr. Beaulieu .

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Contaminated Soil Sites And Support For Local Contractors In Lutselk’e

Members’ Statements

Tom Beaulieu

Tu Nedhe

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to talk about supporting our local contractors when it comes to dealing with contaminated soil issues in our smaller communities such as Lutselk'e and Fort Resolution.

Mr. Speaker, in these smaller communities we have local businesses and contractors that are providing a service to the community and in doing so they are also doing their part to contribute to the employment and the economy within their respective communities. However, Mr. Speaker, from time to time, for whatever reason, local contractors are excluded or lose out on local contracting jobs to outside competitors. I can see it if elements of the contract submissions were unreasonable. If not, there is no way this should happen and if so, we have a problem with the process. Among such an area, Mr. Speaker, is that every community in the NWT has its share of

contaminated soil issues. Whether it be from local power plants, private and commercial buildings or delivery service vehicles, fuel spills do happen; more than we’d like, but they do happen.

Mr. Speaker, if local contractors in these communities have the capacity to undertake the various fuel spill jobs such as clean-up, transporting, remediation and storage of contaminated soil, then does it not make sense, Mr. Speaker, for these local contractors to be given every opportunity to take these jobs on?

Mr. Speaker, in Fort Resolution a local contractor lost out on one such opportunity to an outside contractor, I believe due to a lack of site for contaminated soil. Mr. Speaker, however, how difficult would it be to identify a plot of land, fence it off and develop it for use of a contaminated soil storage and remediation site?

Mr. Speaker, the recreation of a site would bring an immediate benefit to a local economy and possibly even create some employment opportunities. Mr. Speaker, if the community has the capacity to with its own contaminated soils issues, then the Department of Environment and Natural Resources should make every effort to work with the community to do so. Later today, I will have questions for the Minister of ENR . Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Contaminated Soil Sites And Support For Local Contractors In Lutselk’e

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu . The honourable Member for Hay River South , Mrs. Groenewegen .

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Opportunities For Northern Agriculture

Members’ Statements

Jane Groenewegen

Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I have another great idea. I have been talking about renewable resources, Mr. Speaker, and I want to talk about agriculture today.

Mr. Speaker, why can’t we identify tracts of land for agriculture in the Northwest Territories? We have regressed when it come to the area of production of our own food. Mr. Speaker, not that many years ago, boats used to travel down the Mackenzie River and carry fresh fruit to the communities and that product was grown here in the Northwest Territories at many different locations, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, some of the richest land that we know of in Alberta today is in northern Alberta. Mr. Speaker, there are more frost-free days in La Crete, Alberta, than there are in Red Deer and there are fertile soils of the river valleys of the Peace, Athabasca and the Boyer, to name a few.

Mr. Speaker, why not agriculture on the Slave or Mackenzie River valleys? This is why, Mr. Speaker: our land is on hold pending the outcome of unsettled land claims. What if claimant governments could earn money from the lease of

their lands for the growing of crops? Good precipitation with our long days of sunlight in the North with no negative impact on the land and a renewable sustainable resource plus food for our people.

Mr. Speaker, the old thinking in crop farming used to be that person only farmed what they owned, but the new and modern way of thinking about this, Mr. Speaker, is for the farmers to actually invest in the equipment, and the workforce and the seed and the product that they need and to actually lease the land so the economies of scale are greater and they can produce. So the idea of having to own the land that you would crop farm is an idea of the past. So leasing the land would not interfere with the interests that our northern aboriginal governments have in the land.

Mr. Speaker, this could be a win/win situation. It would create economy, revenue for claimant groups while land claims are being settled and so on, and the production of crops and food closer to home would drastically reduce the cost, Mr. Speaker.

So to this question today, I will have some points for the Minister of ITI and why not? Why can’t we do it? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Opportunities For Northern Agriculture

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen . The honourable Member for Kam Lake , Mr. Ramsay .

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Implementation Of 911 Emergency Telephone Service

Members’ Statements

David Ramsay

Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to speak today to voice my displeasure in this government’s inaction as it pertains to implementing a 911 system here in the Northwest Territories.

This is not the first time I have spoken about 911 in this Assembly and today I find myself leading the weigh-in again, because of the absolute absurdity of the argument not to take action by this government.

During debate on October 15th , Minister Robert C.

McLeod said: “we have to also ensure that this service or any basic service is available to a lot of remote communities we have out there.” What the government is doing, Mr. Speaker, or attempting to do, is turn what is a public safety issue and turn it into a have and have-not argument, which is completely unbelievable and completely bizarre.

If Members of this House were to bring forward a motion to get basic cell phone service in all communities in the Northwest Territories, I would be sure they would have the support to get that motion supported by every Member in here.

Why hasn’t a motion like that hit the floor of this House and can Cabinet not see the forest through

the trees? How many more of our residents have to be put in peril because our government refuses to help phase in an emergency telephone number that, if implemented, could help save lives? How many coroner’s reports have to get stacked upon one another recommending implementation of a 911 service?

Mr. Speaker, we have to start somewhere and if we get the service to 77 percent of our population in the near future, then we need to do that. Mr. Speaker, this should also come with a plan to address the other 23 percent of our population who will require, and absolutely deserve, the same service.

No one is saying don’t do it in small communities. We are just saying, from a public safety standpoint, the government just can’t continue to sit on its hands. Why can’t there be a phased-in approach addressing the needs of all communities?

Mr. Speaker, looking across the floor I see Mr. Lafferty who’s largest community of Behchoko would benefit from 911. Mr. Miltenberger from Fort Smith who’s community would be a safer place with 911. Mr. Roland and Minister Robert McLeod represent Inuvik, another community that would be safer with 911. Minister Lee and Minister Bob McLeod from Yellowknife, why aren’t they supporting a phased-in approach to 911, which would make their constituents safer?

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

---Unanimous consent granted.

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Implementation Of 911 Emergency Telephone Service

Members’ Statements

David Ramsay

Kam Lake

This is a very passionate issue here and I want to know why aren’t the Yellowknife Members on Cabinet supporting a phased-in approach to 911, which would make their constituents safer?

Mr. Speaker, six out of the seven Cabinet Ministers represent constituents that would be included in the beginning phases of a 911 service. Why, then, if you have six out of seven Cabinet Ministers who, one would think, support 911 service in their communities, is this hitting a brick wall, Mr. Speaker? I will have questions for the Minister of MACA at the appropriate time. Thank you.

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Implementation Of 911 Emergency Telephone Service

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay . The honourable Member for Nahendeh , Mr. Menicoche .

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Need For Public Housing In Fort Liard

Members’ Statements

Kevin A. Menicoche

Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’d like to speak about housing in Fort Liard today. When I am talking with my constituents in Fort Liard, I hear that there are few available public housing units. With few homes to rent, there tends to be overcrowding. This has been an ongoing issue.

The community housing needs study completed in 2004 identified that 29 houses, or 16 percent, were overcrowded or did not have enough bedrooms appropriate for the number of people. I don’t think that these statistics have improved very much. Residents of Fort Liard require adequate and affordable housing. Adequate housing is necessary for health, especially in this time of H1N1 concerns, as viruses spread when there is overcrowding.

Adequate housing also contributes to children’s general health and the ability to learn, develop socially at school and in their community. At the same time as this scarcity of public housing, there are homes available for ownership and more homeownership units planned for construction next year.

The community needs rental housing but is being provided with homeownership units. What is wrong with this picture? Fort Liard is not the only community where this imbalance is occurring. This imbalance is created, by and large, by overdue accounts or arrears to people from accessing previous NWT Housing Corporation programs. Some of these are even decades old, Mr. Speaker. So my assessment is that these homes will be difficult to fill as we have many people in arrears. We need a strategy to address this.

Currently it does seem wrong that houses would stand vacant and become subject to possible vandalism when individuals and families need housing. When there are available homeownership units and no available rental units, can we rent out the homeownership units? There must be some way that we, the NWT Housing Corporation, could offer these homes for rent as this is the biggest need right now in Fort Liard. I urge the Minister of the NWT Housing Corporation to work with the hamlet, the ADK Dene Band, to make sure that available housing is utilized in Fort Liard. Mahsi cho.

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Need For Public Housing In Fort Liard

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche . The honourable Member for Weledeh , Mr. Bromley .

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Opportunities For Northern Agriculture

Members’ Statements

Bob Bromley

Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Determined individuals and groups are working to build agriculture as a new sector in the NWT economy. Success has been variable but increasing overall. Egg production is well established in Hay River and the farmers at Paradise Gardens produce a wide range of vegetables, fruit and meat products for local markets. Many recall the days of yore when fields of grain crops grew in Fort Simpson. Gardens throughout the Mackenzie Valley supply communities and schools. The Cunninghams ran commercial gardens in Yellowknife and everyone,

including trappers like my colleague’s father Mike Krutko, in the ‘30s had gardens. Unfortunately, our Bureau of Stats doesn’t monitor agricultural production, but in Yukon, 148 farms and 10,000 hectares had primary sales in 2006 of $4.1 million. Some Yukon farms span generations, with steady and dependable production.

In August the Territorial Farmers’ Association made a presentation to the EDI committee. Based on their members’ experience, NWT agricultural operations could readily supply 25 percent of the NWT market for meat, market vegetables and cereals. An investment of only $7 million into industry expansion would yield an ongoing increase of $2.7 million per year in the territorial GDP, with dozens of jobs and increased incomes. They concluded that agriculture is technically and economically feasible and that people want to see expansion of the industry.

Obvious benefits of producing our own food extend beyond economics; for example, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, healthier foods and food security. The current lack of a GNWT strategy for agriculture with comprehensive support programs is crippling. Availability of land and an agricultural land use plan making available new agricultural land is required with cooperative interim agreements developing the possibility of leased land in land claim areas.

We have not even been evaluating the extent of agricultural land or the opportunities to provide thoughtful support. Other issues need attention. Fuel taxes for mobile equipment are currently levied on farm machinery. This pricing and the lack of off-road vehicle fuel rebates is damaging to our farming efforts. A further burden is the current restriction to using municipal lands which brings in appropriate municipal assessment rates.

Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for the Minister of ITI on these real and abundant opportunities. Mahsi.

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Opportunities For Northern Agriculture

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Bromley . The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta , Mr. Krutko .

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Outfitters’ Licences Held In Settled Land Claim Areas

Members’ Statements

David Krutko

Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, would like to speak to the question in regards to the outfitters in the Mackenzie Mountains and, more importantly, in the Gwich’in Settlement Area and the implications of the land claim agreement which clearly describes that any licences held in those areas, if they were up for sale, have to be offered to the First Nations groups in regards to first right of refusal for they have an opportunity to purchase or

decide not to purchase or partner with someone else to purchase a licence.

In regards to the Arctic Red Outfitters, because of the time that was allowed, that opportunity to do a fair comparison look at the possibility of requiring that licence and the cost associated with assets of that business in which you would have to travel to the outfitter’s base camp, which is the headwaters of the Arctic Red River which, again, was in the springtime.

Again, Mr. Speaker, the alarming part of the process that just took place is that the licence which was basically being purchased was purchased by a majority of those directors who are Americans in regards to people who are living in Utah who basically have purchased licences who are millionaires who can afford to make this decision and have a front man in regards to how you purchase a licence.

I think that the legislation this government has in place is flawed. It has to be overhauled and we have to ensure that we do not have systems where we have a major land area which is being managed and controlled by people outside of Canada and, more importantly, that that opportunity should be given by way of opportunities to get into the tourism business, the outfitter business for the aboriginal people in those regions so that they can take advantage of an economic opportunity which is in their region or on their doorstep. Again, Mr.

Speaker, I believe it is important that this government clearly looks at this issue when we review the Wildlife Act, ensure that the wording in the agreement in regards to first right of refusal, management of species and ownership of these outfitter licences has to be looked at.

In light of the circumstances in regards to the situation we see with the Barren Ground caribou issue and the licensing aspect of that and, I think, more importantly, the effects of other species that we see going forward in regards to sheep, moose or even wolverine which we have to look at in regards to how these licences are being used.

Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time, I will be asking the Minister questions on this matter and exactly where this government is going on this matter. Thank you.

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Outfitters’ Licences Held In Settled Land Claim Areas

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Krutko . Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery.

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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Colleagues, I would like to draw your attention to the gallery, to the presence of the consul general of Japan, Mr. Yasuo Minemura, and along with him is vice consul for information and culture, Ms. Kobayashi. Accompanying them is our very own

chief of protocol, Ms. Carmen Moore, with the Department of the Executive.

Also it gives me great pleasure to welcome constituents of mine in the gallery today, Mr. Gordon and Carol Norberg and their daughter Natasha with us.

The honourable Member for Weledeh , Mr. Bromley .

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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Bob Bromley

Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize Arlene Hache, executive director for the Centre for Northern Families and a constituent of Weledeh. Thank you.

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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Bromley . The honourable Member for Yellowknife South , Mr. McLeod.

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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Bob McLeod

Yellowknife South

Mr. Speaker, I, too, would like to recognize Gord Norberg and Carol. Gord is a fellow student from Grandin College and a former goalie. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Member for Range Lake , Ms. Lee .

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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Sandy Lee

Range Lake

Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize a newly elected woman councillor to the City of Yellowknife, Mira Hall. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Ms. Lee . The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre , Mr. Hawkins .

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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Robert Hawkins

Yellowknife Centre

Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize Mira Hall, a constituent of Yellowknife Centre and the most recent addition as a YK1 School Board trustee. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins . The honourable Member for Nunakput , Mr. Jacobson .

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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Jackie Jacobson

Nunakput

I would like to recognize Mr. Gordon Norberg originally from Tuk, his wife and his daughter Natasha. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Jacobson . The honourable Member for Sahtu , Mr. Yakeleya .

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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Norman Yakeleya

Sahtu

I would like to also recognize Mr. Gordie Norberg and his family. Gordie was the goaltender for the famous Grollier Hall finalists.

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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya . I welcome everyone in the gallery today. I hope you are enjoying the proceedings. It is always nice to have an audience in here.

Item 6, acknowledgements. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe , Mr. Beaulieu .

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Acknowledgement 5-16(4): Newly Elected Chief Of Deninu Kue Nation

Acknowledgements

Tom Beaulieu

Tu Nedhe

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to acknowledge the newly elected chief of Deninu K’ue of First Nations, Louis Balsillie.

Last night the DKFN held an election to elect a new chief and council. Louis Balsillie, who was acting chief for the last two years, was elected in a very, very close race.

Recently there had been some issues and uncertainty with respect to the leadership, so it is good to see this issue behind them.

With that, I would like to congratulate Chief Balsillie and the newly elected council. I look forward to working with him. Mahsi cho.

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Acknowledgement 5-16(4): Newly Elected Chief Of Deninu Kue Nation

Acknowledgements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu . Item 7, oral questions. The honourable Member for Kam Lake , Mr. Ramsay .

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Question 148-16(4): Implementation Of 911 Telephone Service

Oral Questions

David Ramsay

Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have questions today for the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs , Mr. R.C. McLeod. I guess I should apologize to Mr. Michael McLeod . I know the Hay River Reserve is in his riding, which would also benefit from the implementation of a 911 service here in the Northwest Territories, Mr. Speaker. So if you look at the entire Cabinet, every one of them touches a community that would benefit greatly from the implementation of a 911 service here in the Northwest Territories.

I would like to ask the Minister of MACA if he could provide me with an explanation on why the government can’t come forward with a workable implementation plan on a 911 service that addresses how the service could be provided in all communities across the Northwest Territories that want it. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 148-16(4): Implementation Of 911 Telephone Service

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay . The honourable Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs , Mr. Robert McLeod .

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Question 148-16(4): Implementation Of 911 Telephone Service

Oral Questions

Robert C. McLeod

Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Of course, safety is always one of our biggest concerns as a Cabinet. The Member makes a good point. We all here have communities that would potentially benefit from a 911 service. I have said on a few occasions that the communities have it within their power and they have the means to provide the service to their residents if they decide it is a priority for their community. I have also said

that there are a couple of communities that are working on trying to enhance their emergency services before they take the next step into planning and implementing 911. Thank you.

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Question 148-16(4): Implementation Of 911 Telephone Service

Oral Questions

David Ramsay

Kam Lake

I appreciate the response from the Minister, but does the government not have an obligation to all residents across the Northwest Territories to come up with an implementation plan on a 911 service that is workable across the entire Territory? If it has to be started by being phased in in some of the larger communities, so be it. I would like to ask the Minister, why is the government not working towards a phased-in approach of a 911 service here in the Northwest Territories for communities that are ready, willing and able to participate with the government to let that happen? Thank you.

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Question 148-16(4): Implementation Of 911 Telephone Service

Oral Questions

Robert C. McLeod

Inuvik Twin Lakes

Mr. Speaker, in a lot of jurisdictions across the country it is the municipal government that provides the 911 service and funds it themselves. That is a position that we have taken, is that the communities have the financial ability to implement 911 if they choose to do so. Thank you.

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Question 148-16(4): Implementation Of 911 Telephone Service

Oral Questions

David Ramsay

Kam Lake

Mr. Speaker, so I guess what I am hearing the Minister say is the size of community does matter, the ability to pay does matter. I don’t agree with that premise. I guess the next question I have to ask the Minister is: can the Minister tell me which communities in the Northwest Territories today have the ability to pay for a 911 service themselves? Thank you.

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Question 148-16(4): Implementation Of 911 Telephone Service

Oral Questions

Robert C. McLeod

Inuvik Twin Lakes

Mr. Speaker, we provide capital funding to the communities. We also provide gas tax funding to the communities. The seven communities in question that are mentioned in the report, between them they have $17 million in their capital infrastructure dollars and their gas tax money. They would be able to fund it. There is some concern from some of the other communities about a central dispatch not being in their community. They are just afraid that it would have the same effect as if you had to call the RCMP sometimes. They do forward you on to Yellowknife. So there is a concern with that too.

But the communities do have the means to implement a 911 service if that is what they chose to do. Thank you.

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Question 148-16(4): Implementation Of 911 Telephone Service

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Question 148-16(4): Implementation Of 911 Telephone Service

Oral Questions

David Ramsay

Kam Lake

Mr. Speaker, my final question to the Minister would be -- and it sounds like the government has already made a decision on this -- are they not going to help communities across the Northwest Territories implement the 911 service in the seven communities that are identified in the report? The government is washing its hands of that and letting the communities do it themselves. Is that what I’m hearing? Thank you.

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Question 148-16(4): Implementation Of 911 Telephone Service

Oral Questions

Robert C. McLeod

Inuvik Twin Lakes

Mr. Speaker, washing our hands of anything is not something that we do. We provide money to the communities to look after their infrastructure. They have that authority. It is an authority that a lot of communities have wanted. We will work with the communities as far as coming up with the plan. We are always willing to work with the communities, Mr. Speaker. For us to come back and say, well, we are going to do this, I think it defeats the purpose of devolving a lot of responsibility on to the community. So, Mr.

Speaker, the communities have it within their means to implement 911 service when they feel it’s a priority in their community, and safety is always a priority. That’s why we’ve had some communities say that they want to enhance their ability to respond to accidents before they have 911 services in their communities, because all of us in here know somebody or have had somebody that could have used this service, but right now some of the communities want to be able to build up their emergency services before looking at 911. Thank you.

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Question 148-16(4): Implementation Of 911 Telephone Service

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Member for Hay River South , Mrs. Groenewegen .

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Question 149-16(4): Opportunities For Northern Agriculture

Oral Questions

Jane Groenewegen

Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions, Mr. Speaker, are for the Minister of ITI and follow in line with Mr. Hawkins ’ and Mr. Bromley ’s statements today. Mr. Speaker, the topic of agriculture and advancing agriculture in the Northwest Territories is something that I don’t feel has been given the attention it deserves, considering its potential. Mr. Speaker, I’d like to ask the Minister of ITI if any work has been done by his department in identifying the economic potential of enhancing and increasing agriculture in the Northwest Territories.

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Question 149-16(4): Opportunities For Northern Agriculture

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen . The honourable Minister responsible for Industry, Tourism and Investment , Mr. Bob McLeod .

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Question 149-16(4): Opportunities For Northern Agriculture

Oral Questions

Bob McLeod

Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I was trying to think of the biggest word I could use to describe what a good idea it is to promote agriculture. So my colleague suggested I use supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. But the Department of ITI has been trying to promote and develop the agriculture sector for some time and we’ve done some work over the years and we do sector strategies in all areas and certainly agriculture is one of them. Thank you.

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Question 149-16(4): Opportunities For Northern Agriculture

Oral Questions

Jane Groenewegen

Hay River South

In order to conduct agricultural activities on any scale that could go some ways towards the percentages that have been referred to, land is required and, of course,

land outside of municipalities, at least in the South Slave, that would be suitable for this endeavour is land that is mostly not available for sale or for private ownership due to unsettled land claims. Does the Minister see his department having any role in identifying and perhaps brokering a deal between folks who have traditional claim to the land and those who may want to use it for a sustainable and low-impact activity such as agriculture? Thank you.

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Question 149-16(4): Opportunities For Northern Agriculture

Oral Questions

Bob McLeod

Yellowknife South

The Member correctly points out the inherent challenges in agriculture and farming in the Northwest Territories is lack of access to land. The many examples that were used, I know in Fort Providence there was a large attempt at introducing farming and ranching in the 1980s and that failed mainly because of the lack of access to land, amongst other challenges. But certainly our government works through land claims negotiations. We don’t have access to lands, we don’t own lands as such other than the federal government owns the majority of the lands, the other large landholders are aboriginal governments.

We, through devolution, are hoping to work toward getting management and control of lands and we are also working on a land use framework that would identify areas that would be utilized for agriculture, forestry, other resource development at the time when we do achieve devolution.

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Question 149-16(4): Opportunities For Northern Agriculture

Oral Questions

Jane Groenewegen

Hay River South

Not wanting to be pessimistic about the conclusion of all those kinds of activities that the Minister is referring to, I’ve lived in the Northwest Territories 35 years and the progress has been very, very slow. I don’t want to ascribe blame to the federal or territorial governments or to the claimant groups.

I mean, the fact of the matter is that these lands are not available now and yet they could be used and the claimant groups could derive revenue, the person creating the agricultural activity on the land could generate revenue and we could produce crops and food closer to the people who live in the Northwest Territories. So I would ask the Minister, given this current set of circumstances and situation, is there anything that his department could do to broker some kind of an arrangement where people could lease land for agricultural purposes? Thank you.

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Question 149-16(4): Opportunities For Northern Agriculture

Oral Questions

Bob McLeod

Yellowknife South

We’ve already identified the municipality of Hay River, for example, the process by which they could access land for agricultural purposes and that they could tax it at a lower rate for the benefit of the farmers and that process is there.

With regard to the other land claims, the Dehcho Land Claim negotiation, the Metis Land Claim negotiation, the Akaitcho negotiations, all of those are under interim protection. So the aboriginal governments could be approached, they haven’t indicated that they would be open to those kind of

negotiations. The other areas where they have settled land claims, I’m sure they’re willing to negotiate areas of land that could be made available for agriculture for the right prices. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 149-16(4): Opportunities For Northern Agriculture

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Final supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen .

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Question 149-16(4): Opportunities For Northern Agriculture

Oral Questions

Jane Groenewegen

Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to know where that land is that’s been made available in the Hay River area. I’m not aware of it. But, Mr. Speaker, are there already existing programs within ITI, within the Government of the Northwest Territories, because obviously it takes a fair amount of money when you’re breaking land from raw land and the equipment and everything that’s required. Are there funds and support and interest on the part of ITI in assisting proponents who may be interested in becoming involved in this activity? Thank you.

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Question 149-16(4): Opportunities For Northern Agriculture

Oral Questions

Bob McLeod

Yellowknife South

Presently we have a Small Market Garden Initiative whereby we make equipment available in communities that are interested in participating so that they could grow potatoes, vegetables and what have you, and 18 of the 33 communities have taken advantage of that program and are growing vegetables and so on. We have the Growing Forward Agreement that was recently renewed with the federal government that provides assistance on a number of areas to promote agriculture, and those are the two primary areas that we’re involved in. Also, we’re trying to find ways to promote more local production in a number of food sectors. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 149-16(4): Opportunities For Northern Agriculture

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Member for Weledeh , Mr. Bromley .

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Question 150-16(4): Opportunities For Northern Agriculture

Oral Questions

Bob Bromley

Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to follow up on the questions from my colleague Mrs. Groenewegen . Agriculture obviously presents many opportunities for good jobs that last for generations, are sustainable, provide local employment, they have lots of economic spinoffs in construction, transportation, the service industry and so on. The question of land remains as a big issue and apparently the only opportunity that’s readily available is municipal lands.

We met with the Territorial Farmers’ Association. They need to know what lands are available, what lands had been zoned agriculture and what are available. Will the Minister commit to simply inventorying the current lands that are zoned agricultural in municipalities and make it available to the Territorial Farmers’ Association, that

information along with whether or not it’s available, already being used or available? Thank you.

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Question 150-16(4): Opportunities For Northern Agriculture

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Bromley . The honourable Minister responsible for Industry, Tourism and Investment , Mr. Bob McLeod .

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Question 150-16(4): Opportunities For Northern Agriculture

Oral Questions

Bob McLeod

Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d be quite prepared to research that, although I suspect there won’t be much space identified on a map. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 150-16(4): Opportunities For Northern Agriculture

Oral Questions

Bob Bromley

Weledeh

Work currently is underway in Yellowknife through private contract to investigate how an integrated look at food security can improve living conditions for all here in Yellowknife. This is work that the department should be doing or at least promoting and participating in, providing leadership and support in all regions of the Northwest Territories. What is the government doing or what can it be doing to provide support for this beyond simply establishing community gardens? Thank you.

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Question 150-16(4): Opportunities For Northern Agriculture

Oral Questions

Bob McLeod

Yellowknife South

We have our normal tool kit of business programs that are available to anybody who wants to pursue farming. We’ve gone and met with Arctic Farmer, for example, I’ve been to Hay River on numerous occasions, I’ve attended meetings of the Territorial Farmers’ Association, so we are definitely aware of the potential for agriculture and we are looking to find ways to provide additional support to those people who are interested in getting into the agricultural activities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 150-16(4): Opportunities For Northern Agriculture

Oral Questions

Bob Bromley

Weledeh

I appreciate those comments from the Minister. I’m glad to hear he’s out there and becoming aware of this issue. That’s certainly the place to start. In fact, the Territorial Farmers’ Association have indicated to us that better communication with the Minister and the department would help them build on the opportunities that may be out there.

The Minister has indicated that he could approach land claim governments that are negotiating land claims through the interim land agreements that are in place right now. And that’s what we’re all about here today, Mr. Speaker, is developing the political will to do this. There are a million things we could be doing. Will the Minister approach those governments and establish what lands they would be willing to zone agricultural under long-term lease conditions? Thank you.

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Question 150-16(4): Opportunities For Northern Agriculture

Oral Questions

Bob McLeod

Yellowknife South

As a government, we have a process for participating in the various land claims and self-government organizations, and we do have a process for identifying issues for our negotiators to raise. Certainly I’ll communicate the Member’s interests to the Minister responsible for Aboriginal Affairs . Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 150-16(4): Opportunities For Northern Agriculture

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Final supplementary, Mr. Bromley .

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Question 150-16(4): Opportunities For Northern Agriculture

Oral Questions

Bob Bromley

Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate that commitment. I’ll look forward to that enthusiastic endorsement and some action from this department.

On the last one, the off-road fuel rebates have not been provided to the Territorial Farmers and that’s a big one. Obviously they’re paying the non-motive fuel tax, or the motive fuel tax and this is crippling the organization. There’s clear opportunity for providing some rebates and addressing that question. Will the Minister commit to getting that straightforward resolution taken care of? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 150-16(4): Opportunities For Northern Agriculture

Oral Questions

Bob McLeod

Yellowknife South

This is an issue that has been raised by other sectors such as the fishermen, the trappers, and this is something that I’ll raise with my colleague, the Minister of Finance . Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 150-16(4): Opportunities For Northern Agriculture

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre , Mr. Hawkins .

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Question 151-16(4): Opportunities For Northern Agriculture

Oral Questions

Robert Hawkins

Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to continue on this mini theme day and the spontaneity of the issue. The issue being raised today is simply how do we promote agriculture in the Northwest Territories and produce something that’s of value and useful, Mr. Speaker.

One of the initiatives brought forward by the federal government, in partnership with the Minister of ITI , is the Growing Forward Program. If I understand it correctly, it’s a three or four-year program. It’s at $3.2 million. But in speaking to industry people, there’s a fair bit of confusion around. You know, there are five programs, are the programs tied together, and the caps on the programs of up to $10,000, and that’s a real issue, because if you’re trying to invest into net initiatives, that’s hardly any money to even bothering to get them started.

So maybe if the Minister could provide some enlightenment around that situation so we can find out, are there caps of $10,000 and are the programs tied together to be useful, because otherwise they’re not. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 151-16(4): Opportunities For Northern Agriculture

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins . The honourable Minister responsible for Industry, Tourism and Investment , Mr. Bob McLeod .

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Question 151-16(4): Opportunities For Northern Agriculture

Oral Questions

Bob McLeod

Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There’s a number of programs that are covered under the Growing Forward Initiative, and I could go through and list them all or...These include small scale foods, which has a budget of $700,000 over the period of the agreement; northern hydro foods, which has a budget of $380,000; commercial game harvest, $320,000; traditional harvest, $1.160

million; inter-settlement trade, $120,000; environment, $40,000; Bison Strategy, $200,000; national strategic initiatives, $334,000. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 151-16(4): Opportunities For Northern Agriculture

Oral Questions

Robert Hawkins

Yellowknife Centre

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the Minister for providing that type of detail. Mr. Speaker, I think part of that speaks to some of this problem. As I said in my Member’s statement, there is potential to produce beef, pork, chicken, et cetera, and, as we all know, there is reindeer farming and even the Minister had highlighted, probably from his time of knowing about the cattle industry in his home area of Providence, Mr. Speaker. But in the programs that he described, there’s very little money set out for the traditional aspect of agriculture and development, of growing things and producing farm animals. Mr.

Speaker, how much money is there available for those types of activities and is there a cap on that, that $10,000 cap I referred to? Thank you.

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Question 151-16(4): Opportunities For Northern Agriculture

Oral Questions

Bob McLeod

Yellowknife South

I thought the Member was asking me about the Growing Forward Agreement, but I guess he’s looking at other programs that are offered by the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment. Certainly we have other programs through our SEED program, and I think that’s where he’s come up with this $10,000 cap. One of the programs under SEED, there’s a cap of $10,000.

We have other contribution programs, applications programs. We even have loan programs. So we have flexibility in working with the different people that are interested in agriculture.

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Question 151-16(4): Opportunities For Northern Agriculture

Oral Questions

Robert Hawkins

Yellowknife Centre

Mr. Speaker, the Minister describes the program as SEED, and that’s quite rightly so, because that’s how some of the folks producing things sort of say that the grants are, about this big, because they seem pretty small. That’s a good description, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, trying to get some understanding of this Growing Forward Program, why is hunting and trapping under the Growing Forward Program? If it is so, could you clarify that here today? Because that’s a real issue for somebody out there who wants to tap into this and, as I mentioned, there’s the cranberry industry out there, and those types of things need real solid investment. So could we get some clarity on that? Thank you.

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Question 151-16(4): Opportunities For Northern Agriculture

Oral Questions

Bob McLeod

Yellowknife South

I think the

definitions of traditional harvest can be interpreted quite broadly so that it’s not restricted to specifically hunting and fishing, for example. So on that basis, it can be used for a number of different purposes. Thank you.

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Question 151-16(4): Opportunities For Northern Agriculture

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Question 151-16(4): Opportunities For Northern Agriculture

Oral Questions

Robert Hawkins

Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If there was someone out there today in this existing market, or I should say in this existing climate,

wanting to make this type of investment to develop a greenhouse, produce local herds, maybe some vegetables, potatoes, that type of thing, what type of program would the Minister recommend to be useful without a cap in order for them to be able to get enough money to do something useful? Thank you.

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Question 151-16(4): Opportunities For Northern Agriculture

Oral Questions

Bob McLeod

Yellowknife South

Certainly we would like to approach it on a businesslike basis, so we have a number of loan programs, a number of contribution programs that we can work with interested individuals. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 151-16(4): Opportunities For Northern Agriculture

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta , Mr. Krutko .

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Question 152-16(4): Outfitters’ Licences Held In Settled Land Claim Areas

Oral Questions

David Krutko

Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In regard to the Arctic Red River Outfitters and, more importantly, the Mackenzie River Outfitters who through the land claims process there were lands negotiated in those areas, there were agreements signed in regard to access agreements with the outfitters who were present at the time of the claims being settled.

There were agreements made and also in the land claim agreements, in the Gwich’in agreement in regard to 12.7.4 which talks about commercial natural activities and commercial guiding outfitting activities respecting hunting and sport fishing which gives the Gwich’in exclusive rights to get into that business, but also to be able to obtain those licences once they, basically, come up for sale. Yet, Mr. Speaker, this process has happened three times in the Gwich’in settlement region and every time the economics were just not there in regard to the price that was being requested. But yet, Mr.

Speaker, in the land claim agreements it also talks about the right for employment and opportunities with those outfitter businesses, and yet very few aboriginal people and Gwich’in individuals have been hired by the Arctic Red Outfitters to work in this field and also take advantage of those opportunities.

So, Mr. Speaker, in regard to the land claim obligations, the access and benefit agreements that give them access to the Gwich’in lands in their area of operations, with these licences changing it does not transfer those access agreements to those licensed holders. In regard to the existing Wildlife Act and the land claim agreements, there’s conflict in responsibilities in which you have an outdated Wildlife Act, you have a modern treaty. So I’d like to ask the Minister, what is this government doing to ensure that those legislated, protected rights and the land claim agreements are upheld regardless if we have a new Wildlife Act or not, and what is this

government doing to ensure that those rights are being implemented? Thank you.

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Question 152-16(4): Outfitters’ Licences Held In Settled Land Claim Areas

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Krutko . The honourable Minister of Environment and Natural Resources , Mr. Miltenberger .

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Question 152-16(4): Outfitters’ Licences Held In Settled Land Claim Areas

Oral Questions

Michael Miltenberger

Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In regard to this particular issue referred to by the Member, due process was followed and the Gwich’in exercised their rights and declined to exercise their right of first refusal. But it has pointed out some other issues and, as the Member indicated, we have an outdated piece of legislation -- the Wildlife Act -- that needs to be remedied, which we are doing, and we intend to have a new Wildlife Act before this House, hopefully passed in the life of this Assembly.

We also recognize the circumstance between the Gwich’in and the Sahtu. There’s an overlap issue in that you can only have right of first refusal, by definition, once, and it’s pointed to an area that I’ve committed to the Member for the Sahtu that we are going to sort out over the coming months of fall and winter and hopefully have it resolved by spring. Thank you.

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Question 152-16(4): Outfitters’ Licences Held In Settled Land Claim Areas

Oral Questions

David Krutko

Mackenzie Delta

Mr. Speaker, again, these land claim agreements are constitutionally protected, they clearly describe what rights the First Nations groups have. Again, as part of those negotiations there were access and benefit agreements negotiated with the operators at the time to have certain rights to access, cross-use and also that there were also obligations from the outfitters to the land claim groups that they would provide certain opportunities to the land claim organizations. So where does this government stand on those access and benefit agreements that were negotiated with the outfitters and if the outfitter changes hands they have an obligation to negotiate a new access and benefit agreement?

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Question 152-16(4): Outfitters’ Licences Held In Settled Land Claim Areas

Oral Questions

Michael Miltenberger

Thebacha

It’s our intention as a government to honour all our obligations. Thank you.

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Question 152-16(4): Outfitters’ Licences Held In Settled Land Claim Areas

Oral Questions

David Krutko

Mackenzie Delta

Mr. Speaker, again, I think that the information that’s now coming to the surface in regard to the sale of the Arctic Red River licence to a new operator, which we find out that the majority of the directors of that business are Americans and live in Utah, and they are seen as the proponent of the purchasers of this licence because they have deep pockets.

So I’d just like to ask the Minister, will you look at the whole area of eligibility and ensure that these licences are held either by Canadians or people in the Northwest Territories or First Nations to ensure that whenever you issue a licence that you scrutinize exactly who the directors are and ensure that those people are either Canadian citizens or look at exactly how these licences are being purchased and who is

purchasing these licences during the review period? Thank you.

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Question 152-16(4): Outfitters’ Licences Held In Settled Land Claim Areas

Oral Questions

Michael Miltenberger

Thebacha

As I indicated, we are intent upon honouring all our obligations, recognizing that there are other considerations when it comes to who can own licences, the need to recognize the trade between different jurisdictions and such. But I take the Member’s point and we are working it. On this particular issue there have been a number of things that have been brought to light that we’ve committed to clearing up in the coming months. Thank you.

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Question 152-16(4): Outfitters’ Licences Held In Settled Land Claim Areas

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Question 152-16(4): Outfitters’ Licences Held In Settled Land Claim Areas

Oral Questions

David Krutko

Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to ask the Minister, in light of his directing to change the Wildlife Act, can some of these changes be done to date in regard to changing the regulations that a lot of these obligations fall under? They don’t follow under the Wildlife Act, they follow in regard to the obligations under the outfitter licensing act. So I’d like to ask the Minister, can he consider looking at the obligations under the existing legislation and change those without having to have a thorough change of the Wildlife Act or do a combination of both? Thank you.

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Question 152-16(4): Outfitters’ Licences Held In Settled Land Claim Areas

Oral Questions

Michael Miltenberger

Thebacha

The process we’ve embarked on when this issue came to light is to consult with, of course, other departments, the aboriginal governments, the stakeholders, the management boards, to come up, over the coming months, with, hopefully, some resolution, advice and recommendations of how to remedy this issue in its entirety. Thank you.

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Question 152-16(4): Outfitters’ Licences Held In Settled Land Claim Areas

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger . The honourable Member for Sahtu , Mr. Yakeleya .

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Question 153-16(4): Outfitters’ Licences Held In Settled Land Claim Areas

Oral Questions

Norman Yakeleya

Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources , in terms of the questions that Mr. Krutko , the Mackenzie Delta MLA, has been asking in regard to the outfitters. The bigger picture here that I want to ask this Minister is confirming that the government is taking all the appropriate steps to ensure that full legal compliance with the Sahtu Dene and Metis Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement in regard to this issue and probably to other issues that are going to be looked at.

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Question 153-16(4): Outfitters’ Licences Held In Settled Land Claim Areas

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya . The honourable Minister of Environment and Natural Resources , Mr. Miltenberger .

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Question 153-16(4): Outfitters’ Licences Held In Settled Land Claim Areas

Oral Questions

Michael Miltenberger

Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We are taking the steps, attempting to take the steps to be in full compliance, recognizing that this particular licence issue has brought to light

the complexity of the right of first refusal in two jurisdictions where there’s an overlap of the licence. I’ve committed in writing to the Member for Sahtu to the process I just outlined to the Member for Mackenzie Delta of what we intend to do over the coming months to try to remedy this situation. Thank you.

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Question 153-16(4): Outfitters’ Licences Held In Settled Land Claim Areas

Oral Questions

Norman Yakeleya

Sahtu

Mr. Speaker, certainly the Member for the Mackenzie Delta has brought some issues here. Mr. Speaker, I’ve been reviewing the access agreement between the outfitters and the respective land claim organizations and there is certainly a lot of compliance that the outfitters have not done in the Sahtu region. So that’s why I asked this question.

Mr. Speaker, I would ask the Minister again for his definition in terms of first rights of refusal, you have two constitutionally protected land claim agreements called modern treaties, they both have right of first refusal clauses. Who, I guess, within his department is saying we should look at the Gwich’in, because the majority of the outfitting licence is operating in the Gwich’in, or we look at the Sahtu where a small percentage of the outfitter licence is operating?

How can the Minister, again, by the definition, say, well, we’ll look over one agreement in terms of another agreement and say, okay, that will also apply in the Sahtu? I ask the Minister again in terms of that definition, could he help me with how did he get to that and talk to the people?

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Question 153-16(4): Outfitters’ Licences Held In Settled Land Claim Areas

Oral Questions

Michael Miltenberger

Thebacha

The Member has laid out the legal challenge that we have before us where you have two competing rights of first refusal and a licence holder and a licence that overlaps in the two regions. We have, as I’ve indicated, people in our department, we are working with the Department of Justice, we are working with the aboriginal governments, we’re going to talk to the stakeholders and the management boards about how do we deal with this situation that in all probability was not anticipated as these agreements were all signed off. Thank you.

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Question 153-16(4): Outfitters’ Licences Held In Settled Land Claim Areas

Oral Questions

Norman Yakeleya

Sahtu

When I was with the Sahtu Tribal Council as chief negotiator and negotiated these agreements in good faith with Canada, the GNWT, and certainly we fought hard with the outfitters in terms of these rights here. So, Mr. Speaker, I look forward to discussion with the Minister on how to resolve this particular legal issue here.

I would ask the Minister, can he confirm that any changes to the ownership by an outfitter requires that a new outfitter’s licence be applied for?

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Question 153-16(4): Outfitters’ Licences Held In Settled Land Claim Areas

Oral Questions

Michael Miltenberger

Thebacha

Mr. Speaker, I don’t have the detail that the Member has referred to, but I will, once again, commit that we want to honour all our requirements and our obligations in this process within the land claim acts and within all

the policies and regulations that govern us, to make sure that we avoid this kind of circumstance in the future. We’ve indicated we have some work to do and we are going to do that. Thank you.

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Question 153-16(4): Outfitters’ Licences Held In Settled Land Claim Areas

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger . Your final supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya .

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Question 153-16(4): Outfitters’ Licences Held In Settled Land Claim Areas

Oral Questions

Norman Yakeleya

Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Certainly the Member for Mackenzie Delta and probably myself look forward to working with the Minister on the new Wildlife Act. Certainly, in between now and then, as the Member for Mackenzie Delta has alluded to in terms of some of the changes that we could foresee in terms of working with the land claim organizations, these are the aboriginal governments for our region.

In this issue here with the outfitter, would the Minister be committed to coming to sit down with the two respective land claim organizations and look at the issues that we need to resolve? How do we protect the constitutionally protected document in terms of honouring the agreement and stating that the agreement as it was intended to be is protected by the Constitution?

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Question 153-16(4): Outfitters’ Licences Held In Settled Land Claim Areas

Oral Questions

Michael Miltenberger

Thebacha

Mr. Speaker, I have stated in the House that we have committed and initiated a process involving other government departments, the aboriginal governments, management boards and other stakeholders over the coming months to put this issue on the table, peel this complex onion to see where it takes us and look at what happened, what steps we need to take to resolve the circumstance and the situation to ensure we comply with the land claim agreements and all our other obligations. Thank you.

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Question 153-16(4): Outfitters’ Licences Held In Settled Land Claim Areas

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger . The honourable Member for Nahendeh , Mr. Menicoche .

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Question 154-16(4): Need For Public Housing In Fort Liard

Oral Questions

Kevin A. Menicoche

Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation some questions in regard to my Member’s statement. I was speaking about that I am pleased that there is a nice, strong housing program in Fort Liard. The residents are very pleased to see all of these units coming up, but during my last visit, the concern was that, okay, we have lots of people in arrears. Have they got active clients for these new homeownership homes in Fort Liard? Thank you.

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Question 154-16(4): Need For Public Housing In Fort Liard

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche . The honourable Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation , Mr. Robert McLeod .

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Question 154-16(4): Need For Public Housing In Fort Liard

Oral Questions

Robert C. McLeod

Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We currently have 12 applications for the homeownership units in Fort Liard. We are just doing another intake as we speak. We will be

processing the applicants and hopefully finding some that are qualified for homeownership. Thank you.

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Question 154-16(4): Need For Public Housing In Fort Liard

Oral Questions

Kevin A. Menicoche

Nahendeh

As I said in my Member’s statement, the concern in Fort Liard is actually we would like to see more public housing units. I know that we are not building those, but as a suggestion and perhaps as part of the strategy for delivering homes in Fort Liard, do we have the ability to convert these homeownership homes should they continue to remain vacant? There are already three of them boarded up there, Mr. Speaker, due to the lack of clients. Can we convert these to public housing units? Thank you.

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Question 154-16(4): Need For Public Housing In Fort Liard

Oral Questions

Robert C. McLeod

Inuvik Twin Lakes

The boarded up units are ones that there is an issue going on with those. I am not at liberty to speak about them right now. If there are no clients identified for some of the homeownership units, I can tell the Member there are six public housing units that will be going up in Fort Liard too. If there are no clients for the homeownership units, then we will need to have that discussion with the Housing Corporation and see how best we can put people in the units. Thank you.

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Question 154-16(4): Need For Public Housing In Fort Liard

Oral Questions

Kevin A. Menicoche

Nahendeh

That is the kind of flexibility that we need with the NWT Housing Program. Fort Liard is a community of about 500 people. There is overcrowding. There are homes with about two or three families. They are waiting for these units. My issue is that a lot of people do have arrears, Mr. Speaker. Some of them are decades old, from some old programming, but it still remains on the books. I would like to ask the Minister, when they come across this issue, can they develop a strategy to address this so that we get people into houses and not let an old arrear bill be a hindrance to access our affordable and accessible program? Thank you.

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Question 154-16(4): Need For Public Housing In Fort Liard

Oral Questions

Robert C. McLeod

Inuvik Twin Lakes

Mr. Speaker, we understand the Member’s concern; it has been a concern raised by many Members before. We are trying to come up with and working on a strategy to work with clients to address some of the arrears and they can then qualify for some of the housing programs. One thing we want to be sure