Debates of February 1, 2006 (day 20)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is to the honourable Minister Brendan Bell in regards to the correction services and specifically the wilderness camps that we talked about in previous sessions. I want to ask the Minister, will he inform the House in terms of this progress in terms of establishing wilderness camps in the Northwest Territories? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The honourable Minister of Justice, Mr. Bell.

Return To Question 307-15(4): Wilderness Camp Programs

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the House knows, wilderness camp programs are an important part of our corrections programming. Over the last number of years, I think we had a number of attempts to get the program up and running and make sure that it is well utilized. We have had some success. Kozo Lake is open right now with eight inmates, I understand, as of mid-January. That is pretty much full capacity for that. We really don’t have any other adult facilities operational at this time in the territory. That is a concern for me. I think part of the problem has been that the model we have been using has been overly complex and complicated, so we have had difficulty finding potential operators and also eligible inmates. I have proposed to the committee to undertake a pilot project and look at a new model that is much simpler and seeks to get interested elders out on the land for periods of time with eligible inmates. We are going to try a pilot both in the Sahtu and the Tlicho regions. We are working with the two members in those regions to make sure that happens and make sure we find potential operators who would be interested. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 307-15(4): Wilderness Camp Programs

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the Minister’s willingness to look at new models within the Northwest Territories specifically now a focus on the Sahtu region and also the other regions that have asked for it. In the Sahtu, I know there are a lot of concerns in regards to the complexity. I wanted to ask the Minister if he could provide some updates to me in terms of how that progression is going on. I think we have identified one camp person that may be considered for this new model. Would the Minister provide me with some update as to that progress within the Sahtu? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Bell.

Further Return To Question 307-15(4): Wilderness Camp Programs

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, indeed. We are, at the Member’s suggestion, working with an elder from Fort Good Hope, Charlie Tobac. We are having preliminary discussions with him. I have had staff go up to visit with Mr. Tobac at his home to discuss the model. As I have said, we are trying to be as flexible as possible and, if there have been unnecessary complications in the past, reduce those hurdles. I think that has been part of the problem. Typically, we would issue an RFP and see very little interest. We were expecting elders to provide programming and counselling on the land, be able to also operate a business at the same time, invoice the department to ensure they were paid, and have their own equipment and provisions and own a camp, essentially. I think this is probably unreasonable to expect that we would have a high degree of success with this type of model. We are working with Mr. Tobac to ensure we understand how we could roll out a successful model and make sure it is as smooth and easy as possible to get inmates on the land working with Mr. Tobac. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 307-15(4): Wilderness Camp Programs

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, would the Minister commit to Mr. Tobac or people in the Sahtu that there can be, and will be, hopefully, within the time constraints, the willingness of all parties involved that we could see adult inmates from the correction services moved into a wilderness camp in the Sahtu that is going to be redesigned by the elders and the Sahtu people along with the officials from the Department of Justice, that we would see something within this fiscal year that we would see a new model implemented in the correction services? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Bell.

Further Return To Question 307-15(4): Wilderness Camp Programs

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I can make that commitment. We are in the process of purchasing the equipment that will be necessary. I want to reinforce that, in some of our past efforts, the camps have become quite sophisticated. Cabins on the land are quite the facilities, actually. I want to make the point that this will not be as ambitious in that regard. We think we need a much simpler process. This is about going out on the land and making reparation for the people. We think that, in terms of programming, there could be a number of things undertaken, but certainly providing meat for our community is a worthy endeavour. We want to pursue a number of those opportunities and are looking for a model that can fulfill that. But we will roll it out as quickly as we possibly can. We are in discussions with Mr. Tobac and look forward to concluding those. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Final supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 307-15(4): Wilderness Camp Programs

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to say a thank you to the Minister in terms of taking this initiative to look at new initiatives developed by the people in the Sahtu region and the Northwest Territories in terms of implementing this type of program in our own communities and regions for our own people. I want to ask the Minister, of all the issues that we have to look at with this new model, would he look at taking some people from my region to look at other models that maybe have similar programs in southern Canada in terms of getting some feedback on some of the other types of wilderness camps that we could develop in the Northwest Territories? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Bell.

Further Return To Question 307-15(4): Wilderness Camp Programs

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have, as a department, looked at other jurisdictions that might be able to offer some advice and some support in this area. What we found is that really there aren’t other jurisdictions doing this type of wilderness programming on the land. We have been pioneers in this area. I think the most effective approach for us here is to work with the elders in the region. That is, in fact, why we have undertaken this program. We heard from elders in the region that they were very supportive of on-the-land programming, and yet, when we tried to roll out programs, there wasn’t the uptake and we couldn’t find operators. So we have gone back to them and asked them how we could make this more successful. That is why we are working with Charlie Tobac. That is why we think it is going to work this time. I want to indicate that we are absolutely committed to seeing this through and making it work. I would propose that after we have had some time to try this and we have seen it up and running, we then evaluate the pilot and have a discussion with the elders who have been involved; especially Mr. Tobac. At that point, we would be in a better position to assess it and talk about other options and models that might be feasible. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise on the heels of my Member’s statement which was about the lack of citizenship courts here in the Northwest Territories and specifically in Yellowknife. Mr. Speaker, even though typically citizenship ceremonies would be a federal issue, citizenship court is only held here in Yellowknife once a year. Is the Minister aware of this? What is he doing about this problem? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Minister of Justice, Mr. Bell.

Return To Question 308-15(4): Canadian Citizenship

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am aware of the concern. The Member is right that, under the federal Constitution Act, it is the federal responsibility for these issues. Nonetheless, we are concerned. I did hear the story on CBC and have inquired into the reasons behind what seemed to have happened here. I get the sense from the federal government that setting it up one time a year on July 1st allowed it to be more special. They thought that this was an approach that they wanted to continue with. I have had discussions with our Minister responsible for immigration, Minister Dent, and he has agreed and has proposed to take the approach of writing the newly appointed federal Minister for immigration to suggest that we need to have a mechanism for making sure this can happen here more frequently. We will probably suggest that it need not be a judge. Under the legislation, there are provisions for other people besides judges to undertake citizenship oaths on behalf of Immigration Canada. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 308-15(4): Canadian Citizenship

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the information that the Justice Minister offered. He was quite right that you do not have to be a judge to do this. But, on the short term, we are still suffering under the circumstances of only having this once a year. He is right; I would hate to see July 1st lost as a very important day for new Canadians. Perhaps, would the Minister commit today on the fact that we should contact our territorial counterparts and maybe look at creating a citizen court circuit for the whole North, including the Yukon and Nunavut? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Bell.

Further Return To Question 308-15(4): Canadian Citizenship

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think we could probably go even a step further and have some discussion with other provincial and territorial jurisdictions, because I have looked into the numbers. Apparently, there are only 19 citizenship judges appointed in Canada representing just five of the 13 jurisdictions. That leaves Atlantic Canada, Saskatchewan and the North without citizenship judges. Obviously we need another approach. I think this is something that our Minister of Immigration will take up with the newly appointed federal Minister. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 308-15(4): Canadian Citizenship

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, that is good news by all means. But would the Minister commit today that he will make every process and possibility of happening that we create accreditation for either Supreme Court justices in the Northwest Territories to perform this duty, or someone else applicable that could do this duty? Would he make that commitment that we could do this and work towards this right away? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Bell.

Further Return To Question 308-15(4): Canadian Citizenship

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I understand, there is nothing preventing a Territorial Court judge from conducting this right now. RCMP officers have been used in the past. We could use the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories. There are provisions for this in the Act, currently. It is just a matter of having the federal Minister designate these people as such. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Final supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 308-15(4): Canadian Citizenship

Thank you. That makes the next question even easier. Will he commit today that he will write the federal Minister as soon as they are appointed to make sure this happens right away? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Bell.

Further Return To Question 308-15(4): Canadian Citizenship

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Minister Dent, in our discussions today, had already indicated to me that he intended to do this. I know he intends to do it as soon as possible and, in fact, as soon as we see who the federal Minister will be. I know that we will have some more discussions around that. But I think we can get back to the Member with a response from the federal Minister as soon as possible. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today my questions are for the Honourable Michael McLeod, the Minister of Transportation. I often embark on a drive between Hay River and Yellowknife and vice versa. It is always an adventure. It won’t be such an adventure when the bridge goes in, but it is always interesting now. The Minister, in the past, and his department have been very responsive to suggestions that might keep the travelling public on the highways more informed of the condition of the roads and the status of the ferry crossing and so on. Just over the past couple of months with Christmas and so on, I had a few issues with the information to motorists. I wanted to ask the Minister if he could respond to this. During the Christmas holidays, there were interruptions in the ferry service on the Mackenzie River at Fort Providence. I know because people in Hay River were waiting to go back to Yellowknife and wanting to be updated on the status of the ferry. I went on the web site one day and it said this information will not be updated between December 23rd and 28th. I would like to suggest that if people are going to travel to other communities and visit friends, it is at Christmas. I just wondered why there would have been a break in the provision of current information about the ferry from December 23rd to the 28th. Could it have to do with Donnie days, or everybody was out of the office? I would like to know what happened there. Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The honourable Minister of Transportation, Mr. McLeod.

Return To Question 309-15(4): Ferry Operations Information

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the comments. We always get a good report from the Member on some of her trips along our highway system. However, on this issue of the ferry information not being available during the holidays is not something I was aware of. Our department considers traffic information and maintenance crews an essential service, so I will have to commit to getting back to the Member to see why that information wasn’t available for those days that she mentioned. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 309-15(4): Ferry Operations Information

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. One other question I have for the Minister is with respect to the information about buffalo on the road. Right now there is a big sign which is a cut-out of a buffalo. That is to tell people, watch out, there are buffalo on the road or bison crossing sign. Is it possible or would it be easy to put up signs that would suggest to motorists that if they come across a herd of buffalo close to or on the highway, they could flash their lights for the next motorist coming down the road as a way of warning them that they may be coming upon something that is dangerous? Has that ever been considered? What would it take to do that? Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 309-15(4): Ferry Operations Information

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the issue of buffalo on our highways, Highway No. 3 and especially on Highway No. 7, has been something that we have been trying to deal with for some time now. We have been talking to ENR on a number of occasions to see what we can do to enhance the issue of having buffalo on the road, especially at night, to take all the precautions, to drive slower, to use your headlights in the evenings, and those things. As to whether or not we could incorporate a signal where when we are passing vehicles, that is something we would have to take a look at. That is not something we’ve thought of or discussed up to now. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 309-15(4): Ferry Operations Information

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It was actually a constituent of mine who recommended that. Normal people just flash their lights for oncoming traffic if there is an RMCP radar set up, but I think we should do it for buffalo. I think it would be more important. The other question I have is along the highway, there are signs. When you come by every community, it says…or even not by a community, it can be out in the middle of nowhere. It says, if you are in an emergency, phone this number: 669-1111. I was just curious of all the expense that we went to to put those signs up along the highway, how were you proposing people to get a hold of somebody? There is no cell phone service out there. I would say 99 percent of people don’t have a satellite phone. What was the thinking behind those signs? Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 309-15(4): Ferry Operations Information

Mr. Speaker, the signs were put in place so that the motorists and the traffic along the highways, if they came upon an emergency, and if they had access to a satellite phone or some of the mobile phones entrusted had a number readily available, or once they come into the first community in the case of Highway No. 3, whether it is Fort Rae or Fort Providence, they would know the number and it would be available to them. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 309-15(4): Ferry Operations Information

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, if we are going to have signs kind of out in the hinterland, perhaps something easier to remember would be 911. Can the Minister please tell me what the status is of integrating our highway emergency system with that universally recognized number 911? Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 309-15(4): Ferry Operations Information

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the responsibility for communications in the Northwest Territories falls under a separate department. That is Public Works. However, we have, as the Department of Transportation and Municipal and Community Affairs, had some discussions with some communication companies to talk about a number of things; first of all, the possibility of looking at cell phones or cell service in the Northwest Territories, to talk about what other jurisdictions are doing to bring cell phone services to some of the remote areas. We have also talked about temporary cell phone services. For example, on the Deh Cho Bridge project. We are also working with the emergency preparedness to discuss how we can become more comprehensive in terms of having our communications universal so that our firefighters can talk to the ambulance people, the ambulance people can talk to the highways people. Right now, we don’t have a system that is compatible. So we are discussing a number of these things. We will continue to take these forward. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, earlier I spoke of the Highway No. 3 and the importance of public safety. Highway No. 3 is a major highway to Yellowknife from the South. Given the increase of traffic volume, especially with the winter road opening sometime this month, there is going to be a high increase in the traffic volume on heavy equipment, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, at this time, I would like to ask the Minister of Transportation, will he make the commitment in the House today to have traffic signals installed at the intersection of Highway No. 3 and Behchoko access road? I would suggest something similar to what is in place at intersection of Highway No. 3 and Highway No. 1. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.