Debates of Feb. 19th, 2009

This is page numbers 2371 - 2422 of the Hansard for the 16th Assembly, 3rd 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 chairman .

Topics

Oral Questions

Members Present

Prayer

Minister’s Statement 28-16(3): Municipal And Community Affairs Strategic Planning

Minister’s Statement 29-16(3): The Northwest Territories’ Outstanding Principals

Minister’s Statement 30-16(3): Canadian Council Of Environment Ministers Meeting

Relationship With The Gwich’in Tribal Council

Atco Proposal To Merge With NWT Power Corporation

Yellowknife Association Of Community Living

Jmr Biomass Energy Initiative

State Of Consensus Government

Need For Environmental Monitoring Programs In Tu Nedhe

Rising Rental Rates In The North

Lack Of High School Student Accommodation

Debate On Board Reform Initiative

Regional Health Care Centre For The Sahtu

Condolences To The Family Of The Late Alistair Geddes

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Community Funding For Environmental Monitoring

Provisions For Rent Controls

State Of Consensus Government

Review Of High School Students’ Accommodations

Criteria For Review Of Atco Proposal

Federal Infrastructure Stimulus Fund

GNWT Contracts With Gwich’in Businesses

Regional Health And Wellness Centre In The Sahtu

Consideration Of Atco Proposal

Jmr Biomass Energy Initiative

Federal Navigable Waters Act

Process For Letting Negotiated Contracts

Partnership Arrangements Affecting Atco Proposal

Constitutional Reform

Constitutional Development Forum

Constitutional Reform

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Use Of Laptops In Committee Of The Whole During The Winter 2009 Session Carried

Issues Related To Laptop Computers Carried

Use Of Blackberry Devices And Laptop Computers In Committees Carried As Amended

Motion To Amend Committee Motion 5-16(3): Carried

Report of Committee of the Whole

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Increases To Income Thresholds Carried

Report of Committee of the Whole

Orders of the Day

The House met at 1:36 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 of Municipal and Community Affairs , Mr. Robert McLeod .

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Minister’s Statement 28-16(3): Municipal And Community Affairs Strategic Planning

Ministers’ Statements

Robert C. McLeod

Inuvik Twin Lakes

Mr. Speaker, there is much to be said about looking to the past to inform and guide you in determining where to go in the future. I would like to let this Assembly know that staff at Municipal and Community Affairs have begun that process and are working on developing an updated Strategic Plan. Many changes have occurred in recent years and now that the New Deal is firmly part of the way MACA interacts with the communities, the development of a new Strategic Plan to address the changes is opportune at this time.

Workshops for MACA staff are underway and are capturing staff experiences, creative ideas and recommendations. Once a draft departmental strategic plan is prepared, input will be sought from our stakeholders, including the NWT Association of Communities, the Local Government Administrators of the NWT, our sport and recreation partners and others. I will then seek input from the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Infrastructure to ensure the development of a comprehensive and forward-looking strategic plan that supports community governments well into the future.

Members of the Legislative Assembly and the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Infrastructure will also have additional opportunities to comment on the Strategic Plan as it is incorporated into the department’s business plan.

Essential components of the Strategic Plan will be the development of specific activities, targets, timelines, and roles and responsibilities. The Strategic Plan will be supported by the development of internal work plans that will help meet goals and complete actions so that the department can report publicly on an annual basis.

I am confident, that in working with all of our partners and Members of this Assembly, the outcome of this strategic planning process will produce a workable framework that ensures the department’s planned programs and services meet the needs of our clients, stakeholders, and partners.

While MACA is engaged in its strategic planning exercise, the leadership of each community government, with the assistance of MACA, are also developing their own strategic plans that will lay out their foundations for future actions and directions. This bodes well for the future.

MACA assists communities with governance, infrastructure, capacity building and in helping keep their communities safe. MACA also provides programs for youth and in promoting wellness and physical health. Given the wide scope of MACA’s mandate, it is important to plan for the future and ensure that we have a clear framework to guide us. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Minister’s Statement 28-16(3): Municipal And Community Affairs Strategic Planning

Ministers’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Minister of Education, Culture and Employment .

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Minister’s Statement 29-16(3): The Northwest Territories’ Outstanding Principals

Ministers’ Statements

Monfwi

Jackson Lafferty

Minister of Education, Culture and Employment

Mr. Speaker, principals play a vital role in the environment of a school. During the course of a day and definitely over the course of a year, the principal's job varies greatly and is never ending. Principals are the motivators of staff and students. They are the leaders of professional development and the balancers of school budgets. They ensure adequate resources for students. Principals are often called upon to be counsellors for students, parents, staff members, and community members.

They try to inspire and instil structure for student achievement. Principals are educational leaders and they work in partnership with other organizations in our communities on matters of importance for students.

Canada’s outstanding principals are chosen though ‘the Learning Partnership’, a national not-for-profit organization, that brings together business, education, government, labour, policymakers and the community to develop partnerships that strengthen public education in Canada.

This year Angela James, from K’alemi Dene School in Ndilo, has been chosen as one of Canada’s outstanding principals. Angela is a very well-respected and experienced principal who is so deserving of this recognition. Being principal of a small northern school has many challenges. As principal, you need to be able to deal with these challenges yourself, and also support your staff and teachers to do the same, and find healthy ways of dealing with stress and anxiety. It is telling that Angela was nominated by her staff for this award. With Angela’s leadership, the K’alemi Dene School has become a model of success amongst small community schools.

Angela’s philosophy is that there are four components of supporting a child in school. First, you must acknowledge and deal with any trauma that exists in a child’s life. You must then find each child’s beauty and gifts. You must also celebrate each child’s culture and language. Finally, once these other needs have been met, you can work with the child to develop their knowledge in the traditional academic subject areas.

One of the benefits that a small school affords is that principals and teachers have the opportunity to know their students, and Angela is committed to every student at her school. She and her staff are familiar with the details of their students’ lives. When children don’t make it to class, they take the time to find out why.

In addition to the inspirational work Angela does in her own school, she has also been an integral part of the Educational Leadership Program. This two-phase program provides professional development to other principals in the Northwest Territories who are required to complete the course over two summers. On top of everything else she does, Angela James is also mentor for her peers.

Angela James joins recent outstanding principals such as Mohammed Odeen, from Deninu School in Fort Resolution, and Velma Illasiak of Moose Kerr School in Aklavik in being recognized for this prestigious award. We are very fortunate to have these three great northern leaders and many other

great principals that support our children and families. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

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Minister’s Statement 29-16(3): The Northwest Territories’ Outstanding Principals

Ministers’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Minister’s Statement 30-16(3): Canadian Council Of Environment Ministers Meeting

Ministers’ Statements

Thebacha

Michael Miltenberger

Minister of Environment and Natural Resources

Mr. Speaker, I’m pleased to update Members on the Canadian Council of Environment Ministers Meeting held in Whitehorse earlier this week. I attended this conference along with the Member from Weledeh , Mr. Bob Bromley .

A range of issues were discussed at the meeting including municipal wastewater effluent, climate change and strategies to reduce packaging and encourage manufacturers to take greater responsibility for the products they manufacture.

I am pleased to advise this House that after six years in development, the majority of CCME members endorsed national standards for municipal wastewater effluent.

In addition, and despite the range of different views and approaches to deal with climate change, all Environment Ministers supported finding common areas of interest so we can work together on this important issue.

Ministers also endorsed the Canada-wide Strategy for the Management of Wastewater Effluent and the framework to manage discharges from wastewater facilities in Canada.

We also received updates on the development of a new comprehensive air quality management system for Canada which focuses on national standards as well plans for a study on water conservation and scarcity in the context of climate change.

Members will also be pleased to hear that there was agreement to start national consultations on action plans to reduce packaging and other waste and to develop a comprehensive standard on packaging.

Another important step was made in that the Ministers agreed on the need to develop a strategic national vision on water and priority setting to further guide jurisdictions in their water management. This is a significant development for the NWT.

Mr. Speaker, while in Whitehorse I was able to meet with my colleagues from the Yukon and Nunavut to discuss issues of common concern.

There was strong support for all three northern territories to work together on a number of pressing environmental issues including climate change, water and wildlife management, particularly caribou and polar bear management.

We also agreed to share information on alternative energy technologies and ways to reduce our dependence of fossil fuels.

Our senior officials will now develop a formal process for us to move forward on these important issues. Mahsi cho.

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Minister’s Statement 30-16(3): Canadian Council Of Environment Ministers Meeting

Ministers’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger . Item 3, Members’ statements. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta , Mr. Krutko .

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Relationship With The Gwich’in Tribal Council

Members’ Statements

David Krutko

Mackenzie Delta

Thank you. Mr. Speaker, in my four terms in this House and 12 years as a sitting Member, I have never seen the relationship between the Gwich’in Tribal Council and the Government of the Northwest Territories at such a low point. Mr. Speaker, after concluding a meeting earlier with the Gwich’in Tribal Council and the Premier , Minister of Transportation and other officials, I thought it was going to give them an opportunity to sit down and work out their differences, but, Mr.

Speaker, all that came out of it was that the Gwich’in do not have any rights in Inuvik and they don’t have a land claim in the Inuvik region and this government is going to do as it wishes with regard to the Gwich’in and the people I represent.

The Gwich’in are frustrated to the point they are willing to take this government to court to settle their differences because we cannot sit down and mutually find a way to work out our differences.

Mr. Speaker, this government has not listened to not only Members in this House, but also political leaders that represent a large portion of our population with regard to the First Nations government. Mr. Speaker, it’s sad to say the biggest negotiated contract this government has ever had -- a $100 million contract -- has never been scrutinized in the Gwich’in settlement region. There was a little curling project in my riding of less than $1 million that went all the way to the court

system, the Construction Association and every other organization in the Northwest Territories was against a sole contractor. Yet, there is a $100 million project that’s in place with contractors from Vancouver to Calgary working in Inuvik, yet local contractors can’t get work on the jobsite for a $100 million project in the Gwich’in settlement region.

They made a decision to build a building in Inuvik, which is half the size of the space that’s already in Inuvik, to the tune of 50,000 square feet and this government is competing directly against the Gwich’in Tribal Council where they had an understanding that they were going to allow the Gwich’in Tribal Council to build this facility and now we find out that they put it out to request for proposals.

Mr. Speaker, everything that the Gwich’in Tribal Council are trying to do by way of the Discovery Air deal, this government is running them out of business. I, for one, am frustrated that this…

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Relationship With The Gwich’in Tribal Council

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Relationship With The Gwich’in Tribal Council

Members’ Statements

David Krutko

Mackenzie Delta

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

---Unanimous consent granted

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Relationship With The Gwich’in Tribal Council

Members’ Statements

David Krutko

Mackenzie Delta

Mr. Speaker, to top it off, the Discovery Air deal, which the Gwich’in had some $15 million invested in, this company is now being told, sorry, you are no longer in the business. You might as well go contract with someone else because you’re not wanted because this government bailed the company out to the point where they have already had sound financing.

Mr. Speaker, when it’s an aboriginal organization taking this government to court because of fundamental rights that are in their land claim agreements, this government either has to wake up and smell the coffee or try to find a way to sit down and talk out our differences without getting to the point where it frustrates not only myself, the MLA, but the Gwich’in people in the Northwest Territories where this government is totally discriminating against that cultural group because of personalities on that side of the House.

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Relationship With The Gwich’in Tribal Council

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Atco Proposal To Merge With NWT Power Corporation

Members’ Statements

Bob Bromley

Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to comment on the ATCO

proposal regarding their participation as a power provider for the Northwest Territories.

I understand that the proposal is currently being reviewed and that we will eventually see the review and have our opportunity for input. My intent today is to offer some perspectives for consideration by Cabinet in both the review and the larger framework of energy planning for the NWT.

First, in recalling the theme day on the NWT Power Corporation, Members were expressing their dissatisfaction with the management and lack of innovation of that entity in effectively addressing the costs and methods of power production. Their call was for a review and tune-up of NWT Power Corporation rather than a transfer of this asset to private enterprise. Nevertheless, ATCO has responded with an unsolicited proposal. By agreeing to review the proposal the government has made a tacit and unvetted decision that we are open to privatizing our power provider; essentially a monopoly situation for the NWT. This decision deserves real debate and input from Members of this House.

Secondly, if we are open to privatizing, the government should actively make a call for proposals that is open and inclusive, not just mention it to a few select groups or corporations. As well, a call should include some guidelines, including indications of criteria for power development. That is, why are we doing this and what are we trying to achieve? What development do we wish? I will be very disappointed if we do not take this step before making any decision about moving in the direction of privatizing our power provider.

As the Premier mentioned in the press, ATCO’s proposal centres around the development of large hydro for export. We know 10,000 megawatts has been mentioned. This needs some context. Unlike Manitoba and Quebec, the NWT has relatively low precipitation and we have low relief. This means that to generate power on a similar scale we must construct large dams and flood huge areas in order to achieve the same large hydro goals. The costs and impacts are thus much greater. For example, the complete flooding of communities like Jean Marie River and the loss of large tracts of traditional lands along the Mackenzie River.

In contrast, a focus on supplying hydroelectric power to meet the needs of the NWT at lower cost can be achieved with a much more reasonable scale of development and lower impacts. The opportunity to greatly...

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Atco Proposal To Merge With NWT Power Corporation

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Atco Proposal To Merge With NWT Power Corporation

Members’ Statements

Bob Bromley

Weledeh

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

---Unanimous consent granted

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Atco Proposal To Merge With NWT Power Corporation

Members’ Statements

Bob Bromley

Weledeh

In contrast, a focus on supplying hydroelectric power to meet the needs of the NWT at lower cost can be achieved with a much more reasonable scale of development and lower impacts. The opportunity to greatly increase output from the Taltson hydro development is one such development. Ultimately, truly sustainable development means each region producing its own power. Let’s get started.

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Atco Proposal To Merge With NWT Power Corporation

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Bromley . The honourable Member for Great Slave , Mr. Abernethy .

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Yellowknife Association Of Community Living

Members’ Statements

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to highlight the important role of the Yellowknife Association of Community Living. This association is a non-profit organization that helps people with intellectual disabilities and their families live meaningful lives in support of communities. The association provides services in a wide variety of areas to people of all ages. Their programs stress important areas of need in Yellowknife and the North.

The Association of Community Living provides a program support to children who may be affected by or diagnosed with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. Their family project works with families from birth on to bring about change so that the relatives with disabilities are welcomed into community life and can participate and contribute to their community in valuable ways.

The association also provides a planned part-time relief service to families supporting people with disabilities. In partnership with Aurora College their Literacy Outreach Program recruits and trains volunteer literacy tutors to provide inclusive literacy instruction and reaches out by targeting specific hard-to-reach groups.

The Association for Community Living offers a Skills Training in Community Inclusion Program and their successful Employability program partners with Yellowknife businesses to create training and job opportunities for people with disabilities. The program promotes disability awareness and encourages diversity in the northern workforce. It also empowers people to live highly productive lives. The Abe Miller summer cafe offers business and work experience to people with intellectual disabilities and has operated successfully for many

years. Finally, supportive living services help people who choose to live on their own move towards their full potential as members of society.

All of these programs work towards the goal of allowing people with intellectual disabilities to lead meaningful, self-determined lives to the fullest extent possible. They promote dignity, respect, equality, diversity, human rights, mutual responsibility, inclusion, and moral courage. These are virtues society needs more and more and we can be proud of the resources offered to the Northwest Territories by the Yellowknife Association for Community Living.

I encourage Members of this House and people of the Northwest Territories to join me in applauding the hard work of dedicated staff and volunteers of the Association of Community Living and in supporting their continued efforts.

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Yellowknife Association Of Community Living

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Jmr Biomass Energy Initiative

Members’ Statements

Kevin A. Menicoche

Nahendeh

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. During my recent tour of Nahendeh I met with the chief and leadership of Jean Marie River. They are very enthusiastic about becoming more self-sufficient by using their own natural resources. It was interesting to listen to their ideas about using alternative energy sources and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The community wants to install a biomass cogeneration unit in Jean Marie River to produce power for the community. This unit could also be designed to use residual wood from the sawmill to produce wood pellets. In turn, the wood pellets could be used as fuel through gasification, thereby virtually producing their own fuel.

Residual heat from this unit could also be used for a wood kiln to dry lumber from their sawmill. In addition, residual heat is also a good alternative to heat homes and other buildings.

I am pleased to see that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources is developing a Biomass Strategy. ENR’s budget includes a number of alternative energy programs, including funds for new initiatives in biomass. This project in Jean Marie River is indeed very complementary to this strategy and is a practical fit and will provide a good news story for our government.

Logging has been part of the history of Jean Marie River’s economy since 1915 and a sawmill was built in 1965. The Jean Marie River Development Corporation would like the logs and the sawmill to

be part of the project and they see many applications that will support this important aspect of their community. The support and implementation of this community-based initiative for installing a biomass cogeneration unit will provide many benefits for the community and the residents of Jean Marie, the most important of which is to create durable, long-term jobs, economic opportunities, and the potential of lower power rates.

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Jmr Biomass Energy Initiative

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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State Of Consensus Government

Members’ Statements

David Ramsay

Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to speak today about the state of consensus government in our Territory. Yesterday we witnessed hundreds of people coming here to demonstrate against Cabinet’s proposed Board Reform Initiative. A few weeks back we again had the gallery full with seniors and others opposed to the proposed changes to supplementary health benefits. These two issues and the way in which this government has conducted themselves speaks volumes about what is wrong with consensus government.

In the ranks of the Regular Members we have got to come to work every day and seek consensus amongst ourselves in order to move on with our issues and bring them to the forefront. We have a very capable, intelligent, and experienced group of Members and I’m proud to be part of the team that we’ve developed amongst the Regular Members. The most beautiful part of this is that we’re all free to express our feelings. Of course, Regular Members do not always agree with each other, but we respect each other and Members are free from intimidation, fear, or reprisal. Consensus is alive and well with Regular Members, as many recent motions and yesterday’s theme day have shown.

The problem is the government’s inability to get over itself. All 19 of us serve in this House in real roles.

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State Of Consensus Government

Members’ Statements

An Hon. Member

Real.

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State Of Consensus Government

Members’ Statements

David Ramsay

Kam Lake

We call ourselves and our system of government consensus. But then why does Cabinet act and behave like a majority government and think like a political party, throwing blind devotion behind the Premier and the Deputy Premier .

I personally don’t think it’s too late to save our system of government. If we don’t take the necessary steps to improve it, party politics will arrive in our Assembly. Many may say it’s already

here with Cabinet having no genuine free votes, Cabinet solidarity, and Cabinet Ministers unable to speak their mind. If we had true consensus government, Mr. Speaker, what happened yesterday would have been avoided. We would have better decisions being made, adversarial debate would be minimized, Ministers could represent and speak for their constituents without fear. Yes, decisions may be harder to arrive at, but at the end of the day, those decisions would indeed reflect the true feelings of the people that we represent. Mahsi.

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State Of Consensus Government

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Need For Environmental Monitoring Programs In Tu Nedhe

Members’ Statements

Tom Beaulieu

Tu Nedhe

Mr. Speaker, today I would like to talk about the need to deliver environmental monitoring programs for residents of Fort Resolution and Lutselk’e. Mr. Speaker, Lutselk’e is a small, isolated community located on the East Arm of the Great Slave Lake. It is right in the heart of the proposed new national park and sees a lot of resource exploration. Fort Resolution is situated on the south shore of the Great Slave Lake near the mouths of the Slave and Taltson rivers, both of which have been impacted by hydro and tar sands projects and is a close neighbour to the former lead/zinc mine in Pine Point.

Mr. Speaker, both communities are located in prime ecological and wildlife treasures. Local residents have inhabited these areas for hundreds and hundreds of years primarily because of the abundance of fish and game which continue to support a subsistence lifestyle for some to this day. However, Mr. Speaker, times have changed; in activities such as resource development like diamond mining and the Fort McMurray tar sands, are having long-lasting negative effects on plants, marine, wildlife, animals, the water and the air.

Mr. Speaker, with all of these activities and recent changes in the climate, we need to do more and need to know more exactly what it is that is being affected. We need to properly and accurately collect records necessary on environmental and wildlife data on a regular basis so that we can measure and better mitigate and adapt to these impacts.

Mr. Speaker, many residents of Fort Resolution and Lutselk’e have lived there for generations. Not only are they not planning on leaving any time soon, Mr. Speaker, but these residents are very familiar with the land around their prospective communities.

Mr. Speaker, with all this resource development exploration, the Tu Nedhe people want to protect their environment, their water and their wildlife. They would like opportunities to monitor the land, wildlife and the water.

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

---Unanimous consent granted

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Need For Environmental Monitoring Programs In Tu Nedhe

Members’ Statements

Tom Beaulieu

Tu Nedhe

Mr. Speaker, they are aware that the environment affects climate and it even affects discussions as far as future land claims and so on. Mr. Speaker, there is a complex environmental assessment process. There is a real need to have a good supply of environmental monitors, and what better candidates are there than those who live in Lutselk’e and Fort Resolution. Later today, I will have questions for the Minister of ENR . Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Need For Environmental Monitoring Programs In Tu Nedhe

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Rising Rental Rates In The North

Members’ Statements

Robert Hawkins

Yellowknife Centre

I would like to talk today about an issue that affects a lot of Northerners. It is an issue about trying to be able to afford basic living here in the North. Whether you are a one-income family or two, everyone needs to be able to afford to live somewhere. In many cases, and not all, but many of these people can’t afford to buy and own their own homes so they do what everyone else does in this situation, they rent. Now over the last few years, I have seen rent rates jump 16 percent or more each year here in Yellowknife.

I have learned that even in some small communities around our great North, rents have jumped to an impossible rate of 33 percent up. This is just one example I have been informed about.

I don’t have an issue with a landlord that needs to cover their costs and most certainly I think that they should be able to make a reasonable profit, Mr. Speaker, but I dare them, I challenge anyone to explain to me and justify a 33 percent increase. I dare them to look me straight in the eye and do so.

Now in Yellowknife, our most recent rentals officer report says we have a vacancy rate of 1.2 percent for 2007. So what options does that leave the average family, a family on a tight budget, to find another place to live? Largely none, Mr. Speaker. Between the costs of the move, the cost of changing address information, the new damage deposit that must be paid up front, it doesn’t really leave a lot of room for any type of decision.

Now what do you do when you live in a small community where there are no vacancies? What do you do when you live in a small community and you live in the only apartment or rental complex? Now that is a real rock and a hard place. In the end, you have to pay. Some of you start to make choices that average families shouldn’t have to, and then they fight to get by. So what does that mean? Maybe less school clothes for the kids, maybe less meat at the dinner table, perhaps maybe even less food at the kitchen table, but thankfully most of them find ways to get by. Obviously, Mr. Speaker, the ball is in the landlord’s court. The game is being played by their rules only.

Mr. Speaker, there are a lot of options before us that could be done to help this average family trying struggling to get by. The options before us are simple. The Residency and Tenancy Act is being reviewed right now. There would be no better time to implement a process to help protect the average family.

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

---Unanimous consent granted

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Rising Rental Rates In The North

Members’ Statements

Robert Hawkins

Yellowknife Centre

Mr. Speaker, time is of the

essence. The Residency and Tenancy Act does not come open every time to discuss the elements of what it means. Mr. Speaker, the Minister will tell you that landlords can raise the rent only once a year. Of course, the Minister will be right about that fact. I will tell you that the way the law is written today, the landlord has every right to raise the rent to whatever percentage they want to. Mr. Speaker, don’t be fooled. Some do. Mr. Speaker, let’s not call this rent control. Let’s call it fair protection for working families trying to get by. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Rising Rental Rates In The North

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Lack Of High School Student Accommodation

Members’ Statements

Jackie Jacobson

Nunakput

Mr. Speaker, today I am speaking on the lack of high school student accommodations. I remember my first days in secondary school a long time ago. It was very scary, new friends, new pressures, and new environment. For most students from small isolated communities, it is a new place to live, due to the fact that most small communities do not have a high school. Many students leave their strong family support network and go to a larger community such as Inuvik. Unfortunately, what seems to be a growing trend in many regional centres is students

The recent closure of these homes for the students, many regional centres across the Northwest Territories, has emphasized these problems. Students embarking on a new adventure in school, a new place, should not have to worry about having a safe, reliable roof over their heads. The necessities of life must be given to them, must be supported 110 percent by this government. Anything else would only be the shame of this series of derelictions of responsibilities. Many of us who have lived in the North for a long time have all heard the challenges.

Problems and statistics related to students in small isolated communities and hearing situations makes me wonder if these are some of the causes and if this government is truly serious about our children’s education. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Lack Of High School Student Accommodation

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Debate On Board Reform Initiative

Members’ Statements

Wendy Bisaro

Frame Lake

Mr. Speaker, today I’d like to speak to the debate held yesterday in regard to the board reform motion. Firstly, I want to thank all of those who came to the Assembly yesterday: the trustees, the employees, the parents and the grandparents, the students, the preschoolers and the babies. They all took the time to show us in person where they stand and how they feel about the proposed Board Reform Initiative.

One of my colleagues called yesterday’s debate and the resulting vote democracy in action, and I agree. It was the most fundamental display of democracy that we can have. The debate was enlightening and I was pleased that both the remarks and the Member’s actions remained respectful throughout. I have to commend Minister Miltenberger for surviving oral questions. It’s got to be tough to be on the hot seat for an hour with a packed gallery hanging on every word and still maintain composure.

As with the supplementary health benefits proposed changes, I sense a willingness on the part of

Members on both sides of the House to find some efficiencies, effect some change in our current board structures and keep most people happy; we’re not all going to be happy. I appreciated the remarks to the motion made by the Premier which explained his and Cabinet’s position and I take Mr. Roland at his word when he said, “I would say that we would agree there needs to be a different process to this.” I take Mr. Roland at his word when he said, “We’ve heard from Members of this Assembly. We’ve heard from the people of the Northwest Territories and would say that the motion as it’s worded we would be supportive.

I look forward to sitting down with Members to try and come up with a better approach as to how we can make it work for the people we represent in the spirit of consensus government.” Thank you to the Premier for acknowledging to MLAs and to the public that the motion has value, that the process needs changing and that both Cabinet and Regular Members should work on this difficult issue. Together we can find a solution that is workable for the residents of our Territory. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Debate On Board Reform Initiative

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro . Members’ statements. The honourable Member for Sahtu , Mr. Yakeleya .

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Regional Health Care Centre For The Sahtu

Members’ Statements

Norman Yakeleya

Sahtu

Mr. Speaker, this morning I had the opportunity, along with a constituent of mine, to visit the Stanton Hospital as one of our elderly people was brought in from the region to receive medical care at this hospital. This elderly lady is in her 90s and I’ve watched these dedicated staff up there, the nurses, take care of her. As she was lying there -- me and my constituent were talking -- I had a vision there in the hospital, Mr. Speaker, in terms of wouldn’t it be nice if we had this type of facility in the Sahtu where we could bring our elderly people into the Sahtu region rather than fly all the way to Inuvik or to Yellowknife.

Mr. Speaker, I want to say to the nurses in the hospital that they do take very good care of our elderly people while they are in these facilities. However, because of the way things are, you have a dedicated group of nurses that are dedicated to the care of our people here. I thought, well, wouldn’t it be nice to have this type of facility in the Sahtu where you have a group of dedicated professionals to look after our elderly people in the Sahtu region. I know there is a time when we’re going to have further discussions on this.

Actually, I phoned the chair of our Sahtu health board and I asked him, is this regional wellness centre or a hospital or whatever you call it, is it still a priority of the

regional board members. He said, yes, it’s still a priority.

I’m asking the Minister here if she could take some time to discuss with her staff and have a dedicated person to sit down with the regional health board members and look at options as to how we could fund a regional wellness centre. Certainly they have done it with the Dementia Centre, they have done it with the primary consolidated health clinics in Yellowknife, and they have looked at other avenues in terms of how they can get support from the other hospitals. We are asking for that in the Sahtu region.

There are over 250 elders in the Sahtu region and sooner or later a lot of them are going to be needing care like this lady in the hospital. Again, I’m pleading to the department and this government to see if they could put in a regional wellness hospital centre in the Sahtu region. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Regional Health Care Centre For The Sahtu

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya . The honourable Member for the Deh Cho , Mr. McLeod.

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Condolences To The Family Of The Late Alistair Geddes

Members’ Statements

Michael McLeod

Deh Cho

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the people of Fort Providence gathered together to say goodbye to a well-known member of the community, Mr. Alistair Geddes, or Sandy as he was better known, who passed away unexpectedly last Friday.

Mr. Speaker, he was born, as he liked to put it, somewhere 60 miles north of Regina on November 9, 1930. He came north to Hay River in the ‘50s to work as a commercial fisherman and went on to work for NT and also BNR Construction. In the ‘70s, Mr. Geddes moved to Fort Providence to raise his family and to work in the building construction projects that were going on there. Mr. Speaker, I would venture to say that he was involved in some way in every construction project that was delivered in that community over the last 30 years. Even on his last day of life, Mr. Speaker, at 78 years old, he was out talking to businesses and companies about potential work.

Mr. Speaker, I also had the opportunity to personally work alongside Sandy for many years during the days of the Norman Wells Pipeline Project and I will remember him as a very strong, physically strong man, very intelligent person who could build anything that he put his hands on. He was very good at working with wood, cement, bricks. He could fix furnaces. He did plumbing and heavy equipment. He was truly a jack-of-all-trades. Sandy was very well-respected in the construction industry and by all those who knew him. He was a

very head-strong person but was also, at the same, time very compassionate and committed to his family and his friends. He always kept us on our toes and really every time we saw him he always brought a smile to our face. Mr. Geddes will certainly leave a lasting legacy in our community. He did much to make our community what it is today by his attitude to hard work and setting a pace that others needed to follow.

Mr. Speaker, he is survived by his wife, Harriet, his daughter, Cheryl, his sons, Herbie and Jerry, and many grandchildren. I’d like to offer my condolences to all the members of his family. Thank you.

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Condolences To The Family Of The Late Alistair Geddes

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Item 4, reports of standing and special committees. Item 5, returns to oral questions. Item 6, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Nahendeh , Mr. Menicoche .

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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Kevin A. Menicoche

Nahendeh

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I’m pleased to recognize Chief Isadore Simon from Jean Marie River who is in the gallery here today. I’m very happy to see him. Welcome to the Legislative Assembly. As well, with him is Ms. Nina Firth-Larsson of Heating Technologies Limited. Her company is assisting the chief in the biomass proposal. Thank you very much.

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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

David Ramsay

Kam Lake

Mr. Speaker, I’ve been looking for a sure sign of spring and I’d like to recognize our local golf professional, Mr. Gord Brayton, back to Yellowknife and to the House today. Welcome.

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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Wendy Bisaro

Frame Lake

Mr. Speaker, it’s my pleasure today to recognize Mr. Stuart Hamre, who is working as a Page for us this last couple of weeks and probably will be with us for another couple of weeks yet. Thank you, Stuart, for doing the good job you’re doing.

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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro . Welcome everyone to the gallery today. Item 7, acknowledgements. Item 8, oral questions. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe , Mr. Beaulieu .

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Question 158-16(3): Community Funding For Environmental Monitoring

Oral Questions

Tom Beaulieu

Tu Nedhe

Mr. Speaker, today in my Member’s statement I spoke of the need to have environmental monitoring in the Tu Nedhe area around Lutselk’e and Fort Resolution. I have questions for the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources . I would like to ask him if he could tell me if ENR has allocated any money in the area of environmental monitoring that could be transferred directly to the communities. Thank you.

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Question 158-16(3): Community Funding For Environmental Monitoring

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Question 158-16(3): Community Funding For Environmental Monitoring

Oral Questions

Michael Miltenberger

Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In the budget that’s currently before the House, there is some money to train Northerners in the area of environmental monitoring mainly focused on the regions that are going to be directly impacted by the proposed pipeline. How the money is going to be allocated has not been finalized, as far as I’m aware, but there is that money in addition to, of course, recognizing that the broader issue of environmental monitoring, especially of the water, is mainly a federal jurisdiction. But we are starting to invest money in there because it’s such an important issue. Thank you.

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Question 158-16(3): Community Funding For Environmental Monitoring

Oral Questions

Tom Beaulieu

Tu Nedhe

There is a limited amount of monitoring going on around both Lutselk’e and Fort Resolution. What I’m interested in doing is seeing if the Department of Environment and Natural Resources could expand that environmental monitoring. I’d like to ask the Minister if he would be prepared to have his staff meet with the environmental workers in both Lutselk’e and Fort Resolution so that they could start to develop some sort of plan for the future environmental monitoring in those areas.

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Question 158-16(3): Community Funding For Environmental Monitoring

Oral Questions

Michael Miltenberger

Thebacha

What I’d like to suggest as a first step would be that the Member and myself and the deputy sit down to talk about the issue, frame it out thoroughly, see what’s possible, and then map out next steps from there.

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Question 158-16(3): Community Funding For Environmental Monitoring

Oral Questions

Tom Beaulieu

Tu Nedhe

I’d like to thank the Minister for that response. I recognize that we’re just going through the budget process now; however, I’m interested in seeing if the Minister can commit to adding more money that’s targeted directly to the communities in the area of environmental monitoring.

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Question 158-16(3): Community Funding For Environmental Monitoring

Oral Questions

Michael Miltenberger

Thebacha

We’d be prepared to look at that whole issue, as I indicated, with the Member, myself, and the deputy, recognizing that the budget is currently before the House. While there may be some latitude, we may also want to consider how we would best address this through the upcoming business planning process, which will be starting once this particular budget is passed. I am willing to commit to sit down with the Member to look at this issue in its entirety.

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Question 158-16(3): Community Funding For Environmental Monitoring

Oral Questions

Tom Beaulieu

Tu Nedhe

I recognize that even in the recent federal budget announcement that there is money put in for environmental assessments all pertaining to the Mackenzie Gas Project. I’d like to ask the Minister if he could commit to increasing the GNWT’s share of the Interim Resource Management Agreement so that more money can be put into environmental monitoring in the non-settled areas.

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Question 158-16(3): Community Funding For Environmental Monitoring

Oral Questions

Michael Miltenberger

Thebacha

Once again we can add that to the list. We’ll pull the IRMA agreement. The Member is very familiar with that. As we look at the issue and mapping out next steps, we’ll include that as part of the discussion, recognizing that there is also federal money in that mix.

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Question 158-16(3): Community Funding For Environmental Monitoring

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Question 159-16(3): Provisions For Rent Controls

Oral Questions

Robert Hawkins

Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This Assembly, like many others, will always try to find a special hallmark to hang its hat when they’re finished their business at the end of their term. Helping the working family would certainly be a highlight of anyone’s career and a certain Assembly. I talked about rent control and my questions are directed to the Minister of Justice , who will be in charge of the overseeing of the Residential Tenancies Act rewrite. Would the Minister be willing to make sure that there is some element in that act that provides protection for renters out there?

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Question 159-16(3): Provisions For Rent Controls

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins . The honourable Minister responsible for Justice , Mr. Lafferty .

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Question 159-16(3): Provisions For Rent Controls

Oral Questions

Monfwi

Jackson Lafferty

Minister of Justice

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. The Residential Tenancies Act was passed in June of last year. Right now my department’s working on the regulations within that act itself. There are areas that we need to look at. One area of controlling the rent has a clause in there that once a year they can raise their rent. The

Member has alluded to that as well. Those are the areas we will be focusing on.

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Question 159-16(3): Provisions For Rent Controls

Oral Questions

Robert Hawkins

Yellowknife Centre

That certainly puts the average person, whether they’re single income, double income, whatever the case may be, at a significant disadvantage because, as I cited today, they’ve had increases of 16 percent in Yellowknife that have been quite regular over the last few years and certainly have a single example of 33 percent rental increase at an apartment unit. That’s barely affordable if it’s affordable at all. What is the Minister willing to do to put support behind the average family that’s out there trying to rent and get by at the same time?

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Question 159-16(3): Provisions For Rent Controls

Oral Questions

Monfwi

Jackson Lafferty

Minister of Justice

The thing with the process of having a rental office and rental officer is the main point of contact, if there are disputes from the tenants and the landlords. According to the figures that we have since last year there were no applications made regarding rent increase. If there is such a thing then the rental officer should be notified and in due process they’ll follow through with the tenant as well.

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Question 159-16(3): Provisions For Rent Controls

Oral Questions

Robert Hawkins

Yellowknife Centre

I’m glad the Minister points out that annual report by the rental officer because, I’ll tell you, it doesn’t point to that. He’s quite correct because it’s not under the authority of the rental officer. So how would he monitor, gauge, or deal with anything of that nature? That’s the whole problem. There’s no way to deal with this under the mechanism. If somebody came to the rental officer and said my rent was raised twice within 12 months then the rental officer would have a case to stand on.

If somebody came to the rental officer and said the landlord doubled my rent once this year, the rental officer would be forced to say, oh, well. That’s the problem. Would the Justice Minister go back and review this situation and recognize that in many jurisdictions, such as B.C., we have a 3.7 percent cap, in Ontario we have a 1.5 percent cap, and other jurisdictions are recognizing this. Would the Minister go back and review this file and take a look at it from the working family point of view?

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Question 159-16(3): Provisions For Rent Controls

Oral Questions

Monfwi

Jackson Lafferty

Minister of Justice

This particular issue was before the standing committee and even passed in this House. We are working on regulations. There were a lot of questions from the Members and we took those into consideration and made some amendments to the act itself. Like I said earlier, there are rental officers that deal specifically with the issues or concerns from the tenants. There are certain protocols that they need to follow. There is a process through the rental office.

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Question 159-16(3): Provisions For Rent Controls

Oral Questions

Robert Hawkins

Yellowknife Centre

The Minister is right; there are things the tenant can take to the rental officer, such as the heat wasn’t there, the power wasn’t turned

on, maybe my lock was changed. But there’s nothing there about fair rent; fair and reasonable. Yes, I believe a landlord should be able to make a profit. Yes, recognizing that oil and power are going up, those things need to be protected, absolutely. But by raising rent at 33 percent, can the Minister explain to me how that would be considered fair and reasonable and what grounds would a tenant be able to challenge this under the existing rental act? Because there is none. Could the Minister show me how they could challenge that?

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Question 159-16(3): Provisions For Rent Controls

Oral Questions

Monfwi

Jackson Lafferty

Minister of Justice

If there is an issue with an increase in rent, there is an avenue. The rental officer can deal with that with the tenants. That’s a process that we’ve initiated with the new act in play. Also we’re looking at the regulations. Like I said earlier, there is a process in place. There is a reason why we have a rental office. That’s the avenue that the complaints and issues can be brought forward.

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Question 159-16(3): Provisions For Rent Controls

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Question 160-16(3): State Of Consensus Government

Oral Questions

David Ramsay

Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the Premier . It gets back to my Member’s statement where I talked about the state of consensus government in our Territory. The two events that I spoke of in my Member’s statement, both the proposed changes to the supp health benefits and more recently the initiative on board reform, these two issues just bring to light that there are problems with our system of government here in the Northwest Territories. I mentioned the fact that Regular Members need to form consensus. When we come to work every day that has to happen.

But in Cabinet that doesn’t seem to be the case. The first question I have for the Premier is, why does Cabinet solidarity exist in our system of government today?

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Question 160-16(3): State Of Consensus Government

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay . The honourable Premier , Mr. Roland .

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Question 160-16(3): State Of Consensus Government

Oral Questions

Inuvik Boot Lake

Floyd Roland

Premier

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We could probably get into a long orientation about the structure of this government when it first moved up from Ottawa to the Northwest Territories. The Westminster Style of government that this is based on, yes, we call it consensus for the way we share information and work with committees and that we don’t have political parties, but the structure of the operation of this House itself is still based on those fundamental principles of Westminster Style of governance. So that’s one of the fundamental pieces in place. We share information as we do through budget, legislation, policy, and, as

highlighted here, we’ll continue to build on that through a set of protocols that will help clarify the relationship we can have with Members of this Assembly. But it takes everybody to work in a consensus style.

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Question 160-16(3): State Of Consensus Government

Oral Questions

David Ramsay

Kam Lake

I look forward to the work that’s underway in what the Premier was saying, but I believe we do have to work together. We have to stop driving these wedges between one another. The divisiveness has to stop. The adversarial approach has to stop. The way that I can see that really stopping is with Cabinet; and Cabinet having more free votes, less Cabinet solidarity, Cabinet Ministers able to speak their own mind.

I don’t know if there’s anything written where in our system of government, in a consensus style of government, true consensus, there isn’t any Cabinet solidarity and there shouldn’t be any Cabinet solidarity. I’d like to ask the Premier whether or not he would investigate whether or not we could take away this Cabinet solidarity and allow Ministers more freedom to speak their mind in this House.

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Question 160-16(3): State Of Consensus Government

Oral Questions

Inuvik Boot Lake

Floyd Roland

Premier

The process we operate under is one that has been existing for quite a number of years. In fact, many of the aboriginal governments in the Northwest Territories and aboriginal people say that this style is not representative of the people that live here in the North and that we should take a look at it. In fact, a number of processes were undergone. The 13th Assembly started some work; I believe it started in the 12th Assembly and went on into the 13th Assembly.

In fact, I have recently spoken with the Dene national chief, Bill Erasmus, about looking at a process that would look at the Constitution, one, and a constitution of the Northwest Territories because there is not one right now. We operate under the NWT Act. First Nations and aboriginal governments working with self-government arrangements with the federal government, and we’re at the table. I would say that I agree that the consensus style of government and the system or, as some Members say, maybe the personalities at the table trying to make this work, we’ve been having quite a bit of difficulty.

We need to take the next step to function and get things done for the people of the Northwest Territories. So I would say here’s the opportunity. Let’s take it up and let’s agree and let’s approach the aboriginal governments of the Northwest Territories and set up a new process where we can review how the Northwest Territories will be governed overall.

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Question 160-16(3): State Of Consensus Government

Oral Questions

David Ramsay

Kam Lake

I don’t know if that necessarily answered my question. I think the Premier is right in one regard. When you do have strong personalities in a system like we have today, just because we have the system today doesn’t make it right. But if you have seven individuals on that side of the

House and you’ve got two or three Members that pretty much run the show and others aren’t allowed to express their opinions or speak their mind, that causes problems. Like I said earlier, we want to be able to work together. When we go to P and P in the morning every Member is allowed to speak their mind. When we come to the House we’re allowed to speak our mind. And my belief is that if we had a more open system of government where everybody in this room, all 19 of us --18, sorry, Mr. Speaker -- could speak their mind.

I’d like to ask the Premier , how does he think this is going to work? What’s his plan going forward on trying to make this work? Does it include loosening up the control that they have on Cabinet?

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Question 160-16(3): State Of Consensus Government

Oral Questions

Inuvik Boot Lake

Floyd Roland

Premier

The Member has a number of times used language in this House that I guess to some degree would be insulting to the ability of the Cabinet elected by this Assembly.

---Applause

The simple fact that we work on initiatives together, we’ve put items out on the table, and, yes, Members are free to speak their mind, but sometimes there’s little fact to when they speak on the issues around the table. We put proposals on the table. The Member said he’s willing to work in a consensus style and let’s put the personalities aside. Yet again today he fires off with much more rhetoric than substance. The fact is we’ve put an offer on the table. I’ve reached out to Members to say let’s make this work.

I think even a bigger opportunity here is if the concern about consensus government is real -- and I believe it is -- that we have to look at a structure within the Northwest Territories that does make sense. And it will be more than protocols that will have to be put in place. That’s where we look at a new constitutional process that involves aboriginal governments that we put in place that makes something happen for the Northwest Territories, not just recommendations.

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Question 160-16(3): State Of Consensus Government

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Roland . Final supplementary, Mr. Ramsay .

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Question 160-16(3): State Of Consensus Government

Oral Questions

David Ramsay

Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It wasn’t my intent to insult any of the Cabinet Ministers over there. Completely not my intent. That was not my intent and I apologize if some Cabinet Ministers took that the wrong way. What I’m saying is we have the ability on this side of the House. Some of you have served on this side of the House. We share ideas. We respect one another. When we come into this forum we can’t do that. There’s no free-flowing dialogue because Cabinet Ministers cannot speak like Regular Members. What I’m saying is we need to take a look at how this

government operates and we need to allow Cabinet Ministers the opportunity in this House to speak their own mind. I think that gets us back to the spirit and intent of a true consensus system of government. Again, I’ll ask the Premier , how is the Premier going to work with Regular Members to allow something like that to happen? It’s not rhetoric; I’m just asking how Regular Members are going to be plugged into this.

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Question 160-16(3): State Of Consensus Government

Oral Questions

Inuvik Boot Lake

Floyd Roland

Premier

It is one of the things that’s always been, I guess at some stage, a point of contention for Members when they consider running for a Cabinet position. It does impact your ability to speak freely about your constituency issues. That doesn’t limit the debate that happens at the Cabinet table about initiatives, but the simple fact that the process we’re involved in right now is fundamental in the existing framework and establishment we operate in.

If we want to change that I think it is so fundamental that if we want to change that structure, then we should really be talking about an overall process that would involve governance in the Northwest Territories in those structures here. I wouldn’t say necessarily party politics. Is it a way of consensus government with aboriginal leadership at the table at the same time? What does that take in?

I think we have now reached the stage of our evolution in the Northwest Territories, we have one signed self-government agreement in the Northwest Territories, we know that’s going to be the base and others will work to that or higher, so we have that in place. We know our structures and the limitations of our structures. So here’s the opportunity to take a real run at what the next government might have to look like or might look like or that they might work on implementing.

I think in our time frame the best we’re going to be able to do is what I’ve reached out with as let’s come up with some protocols on the communication, the information we share, the involvement at committee levels, whether it’s joint Cabinet committees, things of that nature. We’re working on that and we’re working with the Members of this Assembly in trying to come up with a process that will work, and work better for the time frame we have left. Beyond that we will, I believe, need to look at the bigger picture.

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Question 160-16(3): State Of Consensus Government

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Question 161-16(3): Review Of High School Students’ Accommodations

Oral Questions

Jackie Jacobson

Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just to let you know, I’m here for you.

Today my questions are for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment . Will the

government conduct a thorough review of limited availability and suitable high school student accommodations for students coming from small communities specifically in the Beaufort-Delta?

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Question 161-16(3): Review Of High School Students’ Accommodations

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Jacobson . The honourable Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment , Mr. Lafferty .

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Question 161-16(3): Review Of High School Students’ Accommodations

Oral Questions

Jackson Lafferty

Monfwi

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Currently we do provide funding to the local boards, the regional boards. They offer assistance to the students if the high school will be out of the community. So we do provide assistance through that avenue. If we need to look at the structure of the residents outside of the small communities, then they will have to be part of that process. Whether it be a district education authority or district education at the regional level council, I think we need to have a consultation process in that respect.

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Question 161-16(3): Review Of High School Students’ Accommodations

Oral Questions

Jackie Jacobson

Nunakput

That ain’t happening. Will this government allocate the appropriate resources for these accommodation problems to be adequately resolved to ensure the quarterly reviews and benchmarks are carefully monitored in the future?

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Question 161-16(3): Review Of High School Students’ Accommodations

Oral Questions

Jackson Lafferty

Monfwi

We need to gather the information from the local district education authorities and district education councils at the regional level. They’re the ones who have all the information at the community level and how many students are attending outside their communities to regional centres. We need to gather all the facts and then meet with them. We have our own regional representatives that work for us that can certainly meet with the board, with the MLA, and identify if there are solutions that need to be worked out. I’m more than willing to do that.

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Question 161-16(3): Review Of High School Students’ Accommodations

Oral Questions

Jackie Jacobson

Nunakput

My problem is I have five students from a small community that I represent where two of them have dropped out due to lack of housing. That’s my problem. I look forward to seeing that information that you are going to get me. I’ll bring it back to my constituents of the community.

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Question 161-16(3): Review Of High School Students’ Accommodations

Oral Questions

Jackson Lafferty

Monfwi

That information will likely come from the regional council. Like I said, they have all the information. I’m willing to have my staff meet with the regional representative and provide that information. Whatever information we have from our department perspective we can share with the regional council. But then again, it is the regional council that is responsible for looking after the students based on our funding allocation through the council.

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Question 161-16(3): Review Of High School Students’ Accommodations

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Question 162-16(3): Criteria For Review Of Atco Proposal

Oral Questions

Bob Bromley

Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question I believe is for the Minister of the Power Corporation or the ATCO proposal. I’m wondering what criteria have been given to the review committee who are looking at the ATCO proposal. Are they asking is it well written, will it reduce power costs, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase employment, lower environmental impacts? I’m wondering what guidance has been given to that review committee. We certainly didn’t have any input to that.

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Question 162-16(3): Criteria For Review Of Atco Proposal

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Bromley . The honourable Minister responsible for the NWT Power Corporation , Mr. Roland .

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Question 162-16(3): Criteria For Review Of Atco Proposal

Oral Questions

Floyd Roland

Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I guess, first of all, the Power Corporation itself is not a part of that process. It is under the Executive branch that we’re doing this review on that piece. I’ve requested some time with committee to sit down and go over it. It is general in nature initially. We want to do the first phase as to what they’ve put on the table and get some more detail. In fact, the group will be meeting with a couple of the experts in the field coming up, so they can sit down with them to get further indication of what they would want to do. But it’s based on what the offer’s been put on the table is the initial phase of looking at that.

We have a number of other things within the Power Corporation itself and the review of the Power Corporation around electricity distribution delivery that we’re doing some work on as well. Also, the Minister of the Energy Coordinating Committee tabled in the House the Hydro Strategy for the Northwest Territories. All of these pieces will have to fit together as we look at the future of the Northwest Territories and development of energy possibilities.

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Question 162-16(3): Criteria For Review Of Atco Proposal

Oral Questions

Bob Bromley

Weledeh

I appreciate those comments. Just for clarification, is there a terms of reference for this ATCO power proposal review committee? Is there a terms of reference for them? If so, would the Minister table that in the House?

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Question 162-16(3): Criteria For Review Of Atco Proposal

Oral Questions

Floyd Roland

Inuvik Boot Lake

It’s one thing to engage with a private sector company and look at a proposal and establish a terms of reference for our crew to have a look at that. I’m prepared to sit down with committee to go over that and present the terms of reference at that time, but I’m not prepared at this time to table them.

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Question 162-16(3): Criteria For Review Of Atco Proposal

Oral Questions

Bob Bromley

Weledeh

Given that this is clearly a behind-the-scenes, behind-closed-doors process, and we’ve had no input into it, and we’ve had repeated calls for a public/private partnership

policy, I’m wondering what guidance this Premier has given along the line in the absence of that policy and exactly what process he will provide the Members on this side of the House for real input that can assure the public that this behind-closed-doors process is a valid one.

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Question 162-16(3): Criteria For Review Of Atco Proposal

Oral Questions

Floyd Roland

Inuvik Boot Lake

I guess clearly the 3P process or work that’s beginning is separate from an initiative like this. We’re looking at a partnership potentially that could help us. As well, I’ve said to other groups out there, for example the regional leadership, if they want to put a proposal in, we’d be prepared to look at it. We don’t know the levels of partnership that would be involved.

But at this time, as I’ve committed to Members and said a number of times, the initial review of the proposal that was brought forward I’ll get a response, I will go back to Cabinet and then committee before any further decisions and decide if this is the right avenue to be going, so Members are well aware of steps that need to be taken or should be considered.

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Question 162-16(3): Criteria For Review Of Atco Proposal

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Question 162-16(3): Criteria For Review Of Atco Proposal

Oral Questions

Bob Bromley

Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, I just have to say if this public government is partnering with a private company, it sounds like 3P policy would be appropriate to have in place to help guide that process. Can the Minister at least assure me that there are strong environmental considerations that the committee has been alerted to, to ensure is part of the review of this unsolicited proposal?

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Question 162-16(3): Criteria For Review Of Atco Proposal

Oral Questions

Floyd Roland

Inuvik Boot Lake

One of the overall things, our own interest in the Northwest Territories is how we can reduce our footprint when it comes to the environment. The Hydro Strategy that we’ve put out there is one of those avenues, as this budget also speaks to alternative energy. So we’re definitely interested in that piece. As we go forward, looking at those initiatives, it would be the next stage. The first stage is looking at what they’ve actually brought to the table and what it means in detail for any steps going forward. I’m prepared to sit down with Members on that and go through a process with Members.

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Question 162-16(3): Criteria For Review Of Atco Proposal

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Question 163-16(3): Federal Infrastructure Stimulus Fund

Oral Questions

Wendy Bisaro

Frame Lake

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are addressed to the Minister of Finance . In the recent federal budget millions of dollars were highlighted that are available to

Canadians for infrastructure and many other projects. Some of that money has been identified as an Infrastructure Stimulus Fund. Possibly $5 million could accrue to us. I would like to ask the Minister of Finance if he knows what that money can be used for and when it might be available.

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Question 163-16(3): Federal Infrastructure Stimulus Fund

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro . The honourable Minister responsible for Finance , Mr. Miltenberger .

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Question 163-16(3): Federal Infrastructure Stimulus Fund

Oral Questions

Thebacha

Michael Miltenberger

Minister of Finance

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We are still waiting for the detail of how these many pots of money are going to roll out. Some are clearer than others. The Building Canada Fund, for example, is an existing program where we’re compressing the time frame. This Infrastructure Stimulus Fund, along with their Green Fund and a host of other smaller pots of money that we may be eligible for, we’re still awaiting the detail to see what’s possible for us in terms of the conditions and criteria, how they apply to us as a Territory and how they may possibly apply to municipalities.

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Question 163-16(3): Federal Infrastructure Stimulus Fund

Oral Questions

Wendy Bisaro

Frame Lake

Thank you to the Minister for that response. I understand that details are probably not known yet. The federal government is not known for their speed on providing detail. I guess I would like to know if the Minister knows from the general comments that were part of the federal budget whether or not if a project is shovel ready -- to use the federal term -- by the summer of 2009 whether or not that would speed up access to funds from this Infrastructure Stimulus Fund.

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Question 163-16(3): Federal Infrastructure Stimulus Fund

Oral Questions

Thebacha

Michael Miltenberger

Minister of Finance

Given the federal government’s stated commitment for a two-year stimulus and to use it or lose it, the more shovel ready projects we have are design ready, that are ready to be put in on the ground, I think is going to be a key criteria given the short time frames for the fund. Thank you.

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Question 163-16(3): Federal Infrastructure Stimulus Fund

Oral Questions

Wendy Bisaro

Frame Lake

It is good to hear that. The Minister is probably aware, as are hopefully Members in here that I have an area in my riding that is under almost a state of emergency in terms of replacing their water and sewer infrastructure. I would like to ask the Minister whether or not he would be willing to look to the federal government for some of the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund dollars to have them flow through from GNWT to the City of Yellowknife to assist the Northlands Condo to replace their water and sewer infrastructure. Thank you.

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Question 163-16(3): Federal Infrastructure Stimulus Fund

Oral Questions

Thebacha

Michael Miltenberger

Minister of Finance

Mr. Speaker, I will make a commitment on behalf of my colleague, the Minister of MACA , that he would be looking at how this money would flow, working with the City of Yellowknife to make sure that we can access each and every one of these pots even though they may

be project-based or would have to compete with other communities and provinces from across the country. Yes, we will make sure that we work with the City of Yellowknife to see what is possible. Thank you.

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Question 163-16(3): Federal Infrastructure Stimulus Fund

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger . Final supplementary, Ms. Bisaro .

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Question 163-16(3): Federal Infrastructure Stimulus Fund

Oral Questions

Wendy Bisaro

Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That is good to hear. I am really pleased to hear that both MACA and the Minister of Finance are looking to see if we can’t assist my residents on this project. I would just ask the Minister whether or not he would be willing to sit down with the City of Yellowknife and myself and the Minister of MACA to try and determine what could be done and how fast it could be done. Thank you.

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Question 163-16(3): Federal Infrastructure Stimulus Fund

Oral Questions

Thebacha

Michael Miltenberger

Minister of Finance

What we will commit to is, of course, to get the very latest information that we have in terms of any detail that would add or allow us to have a fully informed discussion. When we have that, we will share it with the Member and then we can arrange to have the discussions necessary to see not only Yellowknife but across the North where we are in the best position to take best advantage of this funding. Thank you.

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Question 163-16(3): Federal Infrastructure Stimulus Fund

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Question 164-16(3): GNWT Contracts With Gwich’in Businesses

Oral Questions

David Krutko

Mackenzie Delta

Mr. Speaker, as I noted in my statement that there was a meeting earlier today between the president of the Gwich’in Tribal Council and a couple of the leaders in Inuvik and also in Fort McPherson. Mr. Speaker, in my statement, I have never been so frustrated as I am today realizing that the Gwich’in people that I represent and the claim that I helped negotiate some 17 years ago, I hoped was really going to make a difference but yet, Mr.

Speaker, it seems pretty obvious to me that this government is undermining everything that the Gwich’in Tribal Council has worked for for the last 17 years by way of establishment of its retail business, its rental space business, the aviation business that it is in in regards to the Discovery Air deal, a lost opportunity by way of the $34 million government loan, a construction of $100 million school in Inuvik where they ended up getting six loads of gravel to the job site.

Mr. Speaker, in Inuvik alone, there are $140 million worth of capital expenditure. Is this government in

the business of putting aboriginal organizations such as the Gwich’in Tribal Council out of business?

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Question 164-16(3): GNWT Contracts With Gwich’in Businesses

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Krutko . The honourable Premier , Mr. Roland .

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Question 164-16(3): GNWT Contracts With Gwich’in Businesses

Oral Questions

Inuvik Boot Lake

Floyd Roland

Premier

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I was a part of that meeting as well, as the Member has pointed out. Though there are some differences on some of the contracts that are being looked at and the projects that are in place, this government is not, for the record, undermining aboriginal rights and the processes that have been there. We have worked hard to come up with all the pieces. In fact, if you look at the implementation side of it, as I am aware, my last update is that there are no outstanding issues on the implementation side of the land claim. Self-government process is underway.

That will continue to be underway and worked on. The projects the Member has spoken about, those initially were started as joint support from both aboriginal groups in the area. There is some dispute as to the actual authority whether it is a land claim or GNWT under the municipal boundaries of any of our communities involved. In that area, we are going to, as I committed to the president, put our information together on paper and share that with them and see where we can go from there. Thank you.

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Question 164-16(3): GNWT Contracts With Gwich’in Businesses

Oral Questions

David Krutko

Mackenzie Delta

Mr. Speaker, again, as a government, why is this government having to take the position where groups have actually had to take this government to court to get their attention? Don’t you think it is easier if we can sit down, talk through our differences and if it comes to that, bring in an arbitrator? If we can’t get to that, go to family counselling because I think you definitely need it. Mr. Speaker, the Premier represents the Inuvik region where the Gwich’in Tribal Council is.

You’d think, if anything, as the Premier and in his riding, that he would be consulting with the Gwich’in Tribal Council on a daily basis. What is the Premier going to do to avoid the possibility of a court case and work out the differences by way of consultation?

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Question 164-16(3): GNWT Contracts With Gwich’in Businesses

Oral Questions

Inuvik Boot Lake

Floyd Roland

Premier

Mr. Speaker, the comment about family counselling, maybe we could all use that in the Northwest Territories in trying to come up with an approach forward. Realistically, Mr. Speaker, we have and we can put on record the many things we have done as a government started in previous governments honoured by this government in working with the aboriginal governments in the Northwest Territories. The MOU process is one that started with the Gwich’in is now expanding to other regions and will continue to expand as rights become more clarified. There are times, and unfortunately, there will be times when we will disagree on certain

interpretations. At that

time, yes, it may be a process that should go through arbitration but it is also up to the groups if they feel that is not an avenue they want to go with. Unfortunately, the courts are there and they will set absolute clarity for all parties. I would, as well as I mentioned to the president, prefer we try to work something out on coming to a common understanding. If we can’t do that, then we do have to look at other options out there. The process we have in place is the MOU through ITI and a contracts issue is still in place and our understanding is that they are going to renegotiate that process for a new one to come in place hopefully after March. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 164-16(3): GNWT Contracts With Gwich’in Businesses

Oral Questions

David Krutko

Mackenzie Delta

Mr. Speaker, yes, there is an MOU that used to work and which we find out today it doesn’t work. Also, in regards to the issues that I mentioned, this government has put forward a $100 million negotiating contract in Inuvik. Every negotiating contract has to be brought forward to Cabinet with a list of sub-contractors that are going to be used on that job site. There are companies working in Inuvik right now who weren’t on that original list. Again, that is a breach of our policies in government.

In regards to the deal and in regards to Discovery Air deal, the $33 million deal, the government has made it clear, oh, sorry, we didn’t do a market disruption review because we didn’t think we needed one. Again, that is a breach of government policy. How can this government be trusted to work with aboriginal organizations that basically want to compete in the northern economy but yet are struggling with government decisions on that side of the House?

Would the Premier do a review in regards to the issues that were discussed today and bring forth recommendations either by way of how Cabinet can resolve this issue or people in the field so we won’t be in the situation where we end up in court? Thank you.

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Question 164-16(3): GNWT Contracts With Gwich’in Businesses

Oral Questions

Inuvik Boot Lake

Floyd Roland

Premier

Mr. Speaker, as I have said earlier, I committed to the president that I would have the appropriate paperwork and the process clearly put together so that we all have the same paper in front of us and go through that process together. There are existing agreements in place. The MOU is in place and was extended I believe and renegotiation has been committed to. The fact of the $100 million contract school was debated here in this Assembly with the infrastructure budget put in place and I believe information on the contract list was provided to members.

If not, I will request that the Minister responsible provide that to the Member. Again, that project is actually just getting underway. There was a separate contract for the foundation work that was a public tender process. The other thing we do have to realize is if there is either negotiated contract request, that because there are two aboriginal groups in the region, that has to work.

Now the dispute, Mr. Speaker, comes in when one says, well, the community of Inuvik proper belongs in a particular land claim agreement or the other. Our reference material shows the fact that the municipal boundaries, the community of Inuvik is Commissioner’s land and operate under the NWT Act and those agreements apply outside and around that within the settlement area proper.

We are going to put the paperwork together. The preferred approach is let us sit down and let us roll up our sleeves and come to an understanding. Where we can’t, then it is the arbitration process or further yet, as highlighted, court action. Thank you.

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Question 164-16(3): GNWT Contracts With Gwich’in Businesses

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Roland . Final supplementary, Mr. Krutko .

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Question 164-16(3): GNWT Contracts With Gwich’in Businesses

Oral Questions

David Krutko

Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe one of the key areas of contention is the area around the office building in Inuvik. Again, there was a person in the field who basically made reference that they don’t want to get into a negotiated contract in regards to that office building. They are going to go public tender and it was said verbally to one of the community leaders. There was a meeting between the Premier and the Gwich’in Tribal Council leadership.

There was a verbal understanding that the Gwich’in were going to negotiate that facility by way of a negotiated contract but yet, now we are already told the contract has been put out. Would the Premier seriously consider pulling that contract until you can work out the dispute with the Gwich’in Tribal Council and continue to move forward? Thank you.

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Question 164-16(3): GNWT Contracts With Gwich’in Businesses

Oral Questions

Inuvik Boot Lake

Floyd Roland

Premier

Mr. Speaker, the issue of the office building as the Member has raised here was debated during the infrastructure budget process. It did come up again this morning. When we were up in Inuvik, the Minister responsible informed the leadership that he was at the stage of going o