Debates of December 11, 2003 (day 1)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I, too, would like to congratulate all the Members on their election to this House and welcome those who have come back and offer a special welcome to those who are new. I’d also like to congratulate you on your selection as Speaker. I know that you’ll be fair and impartial as you facilitate our work. I must say that, as the longest serving Member, it was an honour to work with one of the newest Members to drag you into your new Chair.

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank a great crew of volunteers who helped me get re-elected. They really were dedicated, coming out evenings, no matter the temperature and the wind, with me to knock on doors, or to staff the office and work the phones. Some came in nearly every day. I’d especially like to thank Kirby Marshall, who headed up the team as my campaign marshal. Campaign manager. Kirby Marshall, campaign manager.

---Laughter

He marshaled the campaign well. I’d also like to thank my family: my wife Eileen, for supporting me in my decision to run, and our young son Tyler, for giving up all the time we otherwise would have spent with him. Apparently Eileen got pretty good at tying up hockey skates, which is something he thought only I could do up until this campaign.

I’d also like to thank Mr. David Wind, who ran against me. He made sure the voters in Frame Lake had a choice and he ran a good, strong, issues-based campaign.

Finally, I’d like to thank my constituents for the trust and confidence that they have shown in me by sending me back to this House. I will do my best to honour that trust by working hard not only for my constituents, but for all of us in the Northwest Territories.

Thanks, too, to my colleagues for your trust in electing me to Cabinet. I think we have tremendous potential here over the next four years and look forward to working with all Members in this House as we move forward to realize that potential. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m going to begin by trying to slow down after some of my constituents told me to, which means to speak slower so I can become more audible. Mr. Speaker, they also gave me a very strong philosophical statement by saying to take pride in being a good MLA, which I hope I will be able to do in this 15th Assembly.

Recognizing that statement, Mr. Speaker, I want to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of my campaign team. If there has ever been a book written about how to campaign and how to organize a campaign it can be done by a very valuable family member of mine, my sister Gloria, who lead and followed up with all the necessary work that required me to be re-elected to the 15th Assembly.

Also, I have committed to making a statement to a friend and colleague, Mr. Vince Sharp, who went way beyond the call of duty to get voters out to the voting polls. Also, my nephew, Kurt.

Mr. Speaker, I, too, like every Member of this Assembly, will be bringing forward a mandate. The mandate was drafted and articulated by my riding of Inuvik Twin Lakes that foresees the progression towards our goals and ambitions and where we should be looking forward to future governments.

I won’t be extending my time too long because I think we have other official duties to carry through, but in conclusion I want to congratulate all the Members who have been elected, re-elected or acclaimed to this Assembly. As well, to you, Mr. Speaker, I convey my personal congratulations on behalf of my riding, as well as to the Premier-acclaimed and the new elected Cabinet. I look forward to working with yourself because we all have a duty to perform in this Assembly, whether it’s as a Cabinet Minister or as a regular MLA. So I look forward to being able to work with the Members over the next four years.

Before I conclude, very special people in my life who I need to acknowledge for their dedication and support: my wife Dodie, Rolland, Jessica and Vanessa who bear the absence of myself on many occasions; my mother and father, who are getting elderly; as well as my young nephew who watches TV every day, and Liam who are watching tonight -- it’s from Uncle, hello. Thank you so much.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to quickly say a few words. I’d like to first off welcome the many people from my riding to the Legislative Assembly. It’s good to see. It’s not very often I have people in the audience that are here and watching us as we conduct our business. I want to start off also by saying thank you and congratulations to you, Mr. Speaker, and also to our new Premier Joe Handley, who’s already setting a tough agenda. We really have our work cut out for us. Also, congratulations to all the new Ministers who were elected and to all the people that put their names forward. It’s not an easy decision to go out there and put your name forward and I commend their effort.

I want to take the time, also, to thank the people in the riding, in the communities, that were working with me on my campaign team. I also have to acknowledge Mr. Mike Nadli who ran against me. He brought a lot of credibility and came to the table with a lot of credibility and brought many issues forward. I want to wish him all the best.

Once again, I also have to thank my family for their support and for dealing with a lot of the stress that comes with running a campaign and going through an election period; my wife Joyce, my son Kevin, my daughters, Robyn and Shawna.

I also have to thank all my colleagues here today for all their support in electing me into a Cabinet position.

I never really had a chance to publicly thank my official agent, who’s here today, Albert Lafferty. Also, a couple people who went out of their way to support me during my campaign, Mr. Rocky Simpson and Mr. Wally Shuman.

So, once again, I want to thank the many people in the audience and say Merry Christmas to all the people in my riding from Kakisa, Hay River Reserve, Enterprise and Fort Providence. I’m looking forward to working with all the Members of this House for all the people out there in the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it’s not very often I get a chance to recognize visitors in the gallery and I have quite a few people who are here from the different communities in my riding. I’d like to, I can’t see them here, but I have a classroom at the Aurora College in Fort Providence, they’re here with their instructor, Margaret Field: Anthony Bonnetrouge, Lance Minoza, Dion Elleze, Joseph Landry, Evelyn Constant, Veronica Gargan, Beverly Bouvier, Wilma Gargan and Wanda Minoza. Also from Fort Providence we have our SAO from the Hamlet of Fort Providence, Susan Christie. Also, the mayor of Fort Providence, Maggie Levavasseur and her husband, Serge.

---Applause

And from the Deh Cho Bridge Corporation, the chief operating officer, Albert Lafferty.

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I’d also like to welcome the chief of Kakisa Band, Lloyd Chicot.

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And I believe the sub-chief is also here someplace, although I don’t see him, Alan Landry.

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And, of course, my brother, Bob McLeod. Welcome.

---Laughter

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Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As my colleagues have noted, it’s tough for us to see everybody who’s in the gallery, so I’ll probably miss some, but I’m going to try and recognize some of my constituents. You’ve recognized a couple of them already. I see up there Barb Saunders, who is executive director for the NWT Status of Women; Lyda Fuller, who is executive director for the YWCA. You did recognize, he’s a former constituent, he’s no longer a constituent, but Justice Ted Richard is also a former Member of this House. He was the Member for Yellowknife South. I thought we should mention that and recognize that.

---Applause

Along with Supreme Court Justice John Vertes is Mrs. Louise Vertes, who is no stranger to the government. I’d also like to recognize Mrs. Barb Wyness of the UNW and Mr. Blake Lyons from the NWT Association of Communities and, finally, my new executive secretary, Kathy Wind.

---Applause

Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Braden.

Mr. Speaker, among the people in the gallery today are representatives of a number of the business and social organizations in the communities of the Northwest Territories. I’d like to recognize Jennifer Marchant of the Northern Frontier Visitors Association, and Ms. Cecily Hewitt, who is the executive director of the NWT Council of Persons with Disabilities. Also in the gallery today, Mr. Speaker, are Bea Daniels -- I believe she is still the president of the NWT Seniors’ Society -- and Ms. Barb Hood. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Delorey.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to recognize a couple of constituents of mine in the gallery today. A very well-known northerner and a gentleman who has been associated with seniors for a long time is now the president of the Hay River Seniors’ Society, Mr. Lloyd Brunes.

---Applause

Also, another constituent of mine and one that is no stranger around the Legislative Assembly and was my campaign manager in the election, Dawna O’Brien.

---Applause

I would also like to recognize the mayor of Hay River in the audience today, Ms. Diana Ehman.

---Applause

Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would also like to recognize our very recently elected mayor of Hay River, Mayor Diana Ehman. Also very good friends of ours from Hay River and supporters, Stan and Karen Boudreau. Also I would like to recognize the presence in the gallery today of my lovely daughter -- I am very biased, I love her -- Jillian.

---Applause

Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it’s with great pleasure I get to introduce people into this Assembly. It’s not too often we get people down from Inuvik. In the gallery, I have Ms. Shirley Kisoun and Ms. Pam Williams. As well, I would like to especially recognize the man who received me with open arms even though he didn’t know he was going to get a new baby boy, my father David Roland.

---Applause

Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to just take this opportunity to recognize my family and friends. I know my mother hates being recognized, but she did a lot of work to get me here. My mom Taejeong Lee, and my supporter and friend, Connie Henderson. Thank you very much.

---Applause

Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Handley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to first recognize my wife Theresa. I hope she continues to recognize me.

---Laughter

I would also like to recognize Mayor Gordon Van Tighem from the city of Yellowknife and also all the deputy ministers who are sitting here nervously today.

---Laughter

Also, Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize all the other people who work behind the scenes who keep our government functioning well, particularly board members and board chairpersons. I see Andy Wong from the Workers’ Compensation Board; Reanna Erasmus, a constituent and chairperson of the Yellowknife school board. It wouldn’t be tradition if I didn’t recognize Major Karen Hoeft as well. Thank you.

---Applause

Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Pokiak.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize my son Darren Pokiak up here and his uncle Rick Kikoak. I would also like to recognize my daughter, along with Gilbert Thrasher and his wife Lottie from Paulatuk, and also my brother Ernest Pokiak from Tuktoyaktuk and also Blake Noksana. Thank you very much.

---Applause

Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would also like to recognize an elder from the Sahtu: John Kenny. Also a leader from Fort Good Hope, Anthony Grandjambe from Sahtu and also my cousin Ernie Lennie up here, a former Olympic skier. Also elders in the gallery, aboriginal leaders, dignitaries and the lovely group of school children who sang O Canada. Mahsi cho.

Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is an opportunity that comes every four years. I would like to recognize my wife, Jeri Miltenberger.

---Applause

As well from Thebacha, Ms. Bea Campbell, president of the NWT seniors.

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Last, but certainly not least, Mr. Rob Tordiff, president of the Northwest Territories Metis Nation.

---Applause

Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Villeneuve.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would just like to take this moment to recognize a very prominent leader in the Tu Nedhe region, our Chief Archie Catholique from Lutselk’e.

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Also another very prominent leader from the Tu Nedhe, our Dene National Chief Noeline Villebrun.

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I just want to say thanks to all the other leaders who couldn’t make it here today and the rest of the constituents who were unable to make it here today.

---Applause

Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Although some of them have been recognized, I am still going to mention them again. Bishop Sperry, a constituent of mine who was here earlier. I am not sure if he is up there. Commissioner Glenna Hansen; chief superintendent and his wife; soon to be former constituent, former Clerk David Hamilton. I would like to recognize Reverend Flumerfelt -- I just saw him earlier -- Didier Bourgois, my neighbour; Esther Braden, a constituent. She snuck off there I believe. Dr. Judith Knapp, Jennifer Marchant and Audrey Zoe and my eyes aren’t so good, so I am sorry if I missed anyone.

---Applause

Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Menicoche.

There are a couple of guests from my riding today. I would like to recognize my aunty Yvonne Norwegian, special guests from Liidlii Kue First Nations, Hazel Isaiah Tanche and her sister Betty Hardisty. Thank you.

---Applause

Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Zoe.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize Grand Chief Joe Rabesca. I believe he’s in the gallery. Also Chief Eddie Paul Rabesca from the Dogrib Rae Band and Mr. Dan Marion, representing Dogrib Nations Group of Companies and Ernest Smith and his wife Christine Smith. I believe they are in the gallery. Also, councillor or former councillor Noel Bishop is also in the gallery. Oh, I can’t forget her, my wife, Audrey Zoe, is in the gallery.

---Laughter

---Applause

Mr. Speaker, I can’t see up there to see if I missed anybody. Thank you very much.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Monday, December 15th, I will move the following motion: Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River South, that the Member for Weledeh, the Honourable Joseph L. Handley, is hereby chosen to be Premier and Member of the Executive Council of the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time, I will be seeking unanimous consent to deal with this motion today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Monday, December 15th, I will move the following motion: Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, that this Assembly recommends to the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories that the following Members be appointed to the Executive Council: Mr. Brendan Bell, Member for Yellowknife South; Mr. Charles Dent, Member for Frame Lake; Mr. Michael McLeod, Member for Deh Cho; Mr. Michael Miltenberger, Member for Thebacha; Mr. Floyd Roland, Member for Inuvik Boot Lake; and, Mr. Henry Zoe, Member for North Slave.

Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time, I will be seeking unanimous consent to deal with this motion today. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Monday, December 15th, I will move the following motion: Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, that Ms. Sandy Lee, Mr. Robert Villeneuve and Mr. Norman Yakeleya be appointed to the Striking Committee of this Assembly.

Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time, I will be seeking unanimous consent to deal with this motion today. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Monday, December 15th, I will move the following motion: Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Nunakput, that the honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Jane Groenewegen, be appointed as Deputy Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time, I will be seeking unanimous consent to deal with this motion today. Thank you.

Item 11, notices of motion. Item 12, notices of motion for first reading of bills. Item 13, motions. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to deal with the motion I gave notice of earlier today. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

WHEREAS section 61(1) of the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act require that there shall be an Executive Council of the Northwest Territories;

AND WHEREAS the Executive Council shall be comprised of a Premier chosen by this Legislative Assembly and persons appointed by the Commissioner on recommendation of this Legislative Assembly;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River South, that the Member for Weledeh, the Honourable Joseph L. Handley, is hereby chosen to be Premier and Member of the Executive Council of the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

The motion is in order. To the motion.

Question.