Debates of February 14, 2005 (day 35)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to speak in favour of the National Childcare Program. Mr. Speaker, I am very excited about the debate going on across the country that has put this issue on top of the national agenda. This is long overdue, and I strongly urge the federal government and all provincial and territorial governments, including this government, to apply all of their energy and commitment necessary to make this happen once and for all.

Mr. Speaker, a recent survey has shown that, in Canada, more than 50 percent of children are taken care of by a person or persons other than their own parents; a huge jump in only a very short time. I venture to say that the percentage is even higher in a city like Yellowknife where the cost of living is very high and most families cannot afford to not have a double income and where most families do not have extended families to rely on for childcare needs.

Mr. Speaker, over the years, I have heard from my constituents and women of my generation about the need for the government to step in and give the working parents a financial break with the high cost of raising their children, whether they choose to do it themselves or obtain the service of others. I believe that any national childcare program must have appropriate flexibility for families to make the choices that work for them. Whatever this works out to be, it has to be one that puts in place good quality early child education, not just a babysitting service at a basic minimum level. In the end, Mr. Speaker, I really believe this is about our society making it clear once and for all that we really value the importance of good early education for all of our children that we, as a society -- whether it is done by parents staying at home or by those who we pay to do it -- value the work of childcare because it is about our children and their future. The work of childcare and those who do it have been undervalued and underappreciated by the governments for too long, and it is time now to say no more, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I really see much opportunity for this in the North as well. I am sure Minister Dent and the Cabinet see it as well. We need to implement a spectrum of quality early childcare education that begins as early as…Mr. Speaker, may I seek unanimous consent to finish my statement?

The Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude her statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. You may conclude your statement, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. May I just conclude by saying that I really see this debate as an opportunity for all of us in the North. It is an opportunity to implement a spectrum of quality early childcare education that begins at the age of one, not at the age of five, so that we give our children a real head start in life. There is just no more important work for us to do. In closing, Mr. Speaker, I know that Minister Ken Dryden is a huge hero to the hockey fans all across Canada, but, oh boy, if he could score this one in the net, I know he will be a hero to all Canadians for ever and ever. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I am again going to use my Member’s statement to talk about diamonds and the future of our secondary industry here in the Northwest Territories.

The Northwest Territories, as most of us know, produces 14 percent of the world’s total production of diamonds by value. Our diamonds place Canada at number three in the world in terms of production by value. We have the diamonds. We must continue to forge ahead, trying to get all that we can for the economy and for the future of the Northwest Territories. I am still trying to understand why this government stood by and watched a deal to save Sirius go off the tracks. I would suggest, Mr. Speaker, that it is tantamount to leaving the scene of an accident. The GNWT stood by and watched the train wreck unfold. I believe that BHP has reneged on all of its implied or specific obligations and undertakings to the Northwest Territories with respect to the secondary industry. It has never supplied the 10 percent share of its productions that it was committed to, often under the false excuse that the buying company did not have the financial wherewithal to complete the transaction.

The Sirius factory had initially negotiated a 5,000 carat monthly supply which was agreed to, but subsequently, that was unilaterally decreased to 2,500 carats a month by the producer. The people of the Northwest Territories cannot and should not accept this behaviour by the diamond mines. One would have expected that the mines would be interested in maintaining a good working relationship with the Government of the Northwest Territories. I see us as partners in trying to develop the secondary industry here. No one is asking the producers to give away their diamonds. They have only been asked to sell diamonds to manufacturers who want to be here doing business in the Northwest Territories. Mr. Leviev wanted to be here, and now he won’t be. We are going to be paying a heavy price for it. It would seem clear that the producers here in the Northwest Territories are not interested in a successful secondary industry. Why does BHP Billiton charge local manufacturers some five to six percent higher prices for the goods in Yellowknife than they charge in Antwerp for comparable sales?

Mr. Speaker, I know I asked the Finance Minister questions on this topic last week. At the appropriate time on today’s order paper, I will have some specific questions for the Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development. Thank you.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Later today, at the appropriate time, I will be tabling, on behalf of the residents of Inuvik, a petition related to the need for improved rent control legislation to protect the residents of the Northwest Territories from unreasonable rental increases. Our economy is booming, particularly in Inuvik and Yellowknife. With the boom, the price of rental accommodation is rising on an annual basis. Some of these increases are for legitimate things like power and electricity costs, but some increases, Mr. Speaker, seem to be only to take advantage of an over-stimulated economy. One of the problems is that as rental rates rise more and more, the working people will have a problem in making their rent payments and may have to rely on the social safety network.

Mr. Speaker, for this reason and for others, I urge the Department of Justice to examine the Residential Tenancy Act and make sure that it protects tenants from unreasonable rent increases while ensuring that landlords have the ability to recover their costs. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Mr. Speaker, today I want to talk to you about the Housing Corporation mortgage guidelines. They aren’t making sense. I think it is time the Housing Corporation reviews them. Mortgage within the Housing Corporation is based on income. If your income goes up, your mortgage goes up. A constituent of mine has a mortgage with the Housing Corporation. Last year, the constituent was fortunate enough to receive an arts grant of $5,000 from this government, Mr. Speaker. This raised her income and her mortgage went up. My constituent went out and used the grant money to buy art supplies related to her art project; it wasn’t used to supplement her income. The next year the Housing Corporation raises the mortgage and the grant money has all been spent. Now my constituent is deeper in the hole than before she got the grant.

Why is this government giving with one hand and taking with the other? Mortgages from the Housing Corporation should come with little warning signs, like cigarette packages, that say, “Warning, this mortgage may be detrimental to your financial health.”

Furthermore, Mr. Speaker, if you own your own business, the better the business does, the higher your mortgage goes up. I have to wonder what incentive is there to work harder and try to make a better life for yourself in this country and territory. The higher your income, the more money the federal government will take and if you have a Housing Corporation mortgage, your mortgage will climb higher too.

Mr. Speaker, with these guidelines, isn’t the Housing Corporation saying to people sit home on your hands and keep your income low, because the more money you earn the higher your mortgage will go? That is a real disincentive, Mr. Speaker, and that is real shame, because we all know that active, well-employed people make better lifestyle choices and, as a consequence, make better contributions to their community.

Hear! Hear!

In honour of Valentine's Day, Mr. Speaker, I’m asking the government to have a heart.

Have a heart.

It is time both the government and the Housing Corporation reviewed their financial policies and guidelines. Happy Valentine's Day and thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Many teachers who are new to the North get off to a very rough start in our northern communities, because they do not understand our northern culture. This is a highly stressful situation for them, Mr. Speaker, and it’s often very disruptive to the community and the students-at-large. It prevents teachers from developing a relationship with parents, students in the community, and the general wellbeing of everyone, which causes a serious effect on the work that needs to be done. This is a highly negative situation that we need to learn from very quickly and to change.

Mr. Speaker, at present, there is no cross-cultural training program provided to the teachers by our government in the communities. District education authorities and councils take on this task by themselves. This needs to be a government project led by the government in a way that we can ensure that our southern hires, although that sometimes has to happen, get cultural training for our northern people. We need this done.

Mr. Speaker, our government doesn’t provide funding to district education councils directly related to funding to ensure that these teachers get cultural awareness training. Mr. Speaker, later this afternoon, I will have questions for the Minister appropriate with regard to implementing cultural training, not unlike the Government of the Yukon does as well as the Government of Alaska does to ensure that their teachers teach their students appropriately. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would just like to wish my wife, Mrs. Pokiak, back home all the best for Valentine’s Day, along with my family. It’s really tough being away from home, but we are down here working for the people and representing people of the NWT and our constituents.

I got a call this morning, Mr. Speaker, with regard to a long-time resident of Holman, requesting that I recognize Mr. Gary Bristow, the former mayor of Holman. They will be recognizing him with a supper tonight. On behalf of the people in Holman, Gary Bristow, we wish you the best of luck in the future.

Also, as the Premier said on Friday, Mr. Speaker, I would also like to recognize Mr. Andy Carpenter, Sr., who has done outstanding work for the Inuvialuit, both in negotiating…(inaudible)…with regard to the environment and wildlife. Mr. Carpenter deserves something very special and I wish him well in his endeavours. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. A brand new day, this is what Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Danny Williams is proclaiming today.

During the ceremonies that were held earlier today, Mr. Speaker, to sign a new resource deal between his province and Ottawa, Prince Edward Island was also involved in that same historic deal, Mr. Speaker. After weeks of contentious debate, this province, Newfoundland and Labrador, is going to get $2 billion. Over the next eight years, they are going to be able to keep every dollar of their potentially enormous wealth coming off of their offshore energy fields. Mr. Speaker, they are going to escape the dreaded clawback from Ottawa and they will even get to keep the coveted safety net of equalization payments if their economy falters. It’s a great deal for Newfoundland and Labrador and Prince Edward Island, Mr. Speaker, a bold and progressive step by the Prime Minister in recognizing the right and duty that each province has to protect their own resources.

How familiar this all sounds, for here we are in the NWT like those other two provinces watching billions of dollars, our legacy, shipped out of the NWT in the diamond packets and the oil and gas pipelines while Ottawa returns a paltry eight percent to us. Ottawa stands to reap billions from our lands over the next two decades. We are told that the Prime Minister understands our plight and that there are talks underway to redo the formula financing agreement and get a framework deal in place for resource revenue sharing by this spring.

I am concerned, Mr. Speaker, that with just about every other province now jumping on the bandwagon and declaring their demands for the same thing, that our situation is going to be left behind again in the face of overwhelming demands from other provinces.

On Friday, Mr. Speaker, the Premier said we must have a resource revenue sharing agreement in place before the pipeline is completed. I want to put my faith in the Premier and the Prime Minister to deliver, but we have a very brief time to make this work. In failing this, I am absolutely committed to supporting the words of our Premier in our interest for resource sharing. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Property Assessment and Taxation Act is nearly 20 years old. A lot has happened in our territory since the act was passed in 1987. Land claim agreements have been signed, we’ve divided from Nunavut and there’s been a tremendous surge in resource development with much more on the horizon. The Property Assessment and Taxation Act has not kept pace with these changes with our policy goals or with best practices across the country.

In the last few years, there seems to have been a general consensus that it needs to be rewritten and updated. There have been band-aid amendments from time to time to deal with specific issues, but the act has never been revisited. In March of last year, I welcomed indications to the Committee of the Whole that MACA would be doing a full review of the act.

Like other taxation legislation, PATA, as it’s called, is a policy instrument. It needs to be designed to complement our view on things like what school and community programs and infrastructure we want to have and how we would pay for it, what share industry, small businesses and residents should pay and what defines agricultural land assessment and which sectors of our economy need a break so they can grow to their potential.

There was a need to bring clarity to the process of assessing larger parcels of land within the NWT, especially lands related to agriculture. Practically speaking, it needs to be written in a way that allows taxpayers and administrators to make sense of it. Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time today, I will be asking the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, for an update on this important initiative. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, over the weekend, I had the pleasure and opportunity to meet and speak with some very special people. I visited the Aven Centre in Yellowknife, a place for elders. I would like to say hello to Art and the gang right now at the Aven Centre.

Mr. Speaker, what I witnessed at this place in Yellowknife is the elders are being looked after, programs are in place for them and the staff have the capacity to take care of the elders here in Yellowknife.

Mr. Speaker, we, in the Sahtu, have long waited to have such a home for elders in this capacity. Mr. Speaker, we have such a place in Deline. The Ministers responsible for the Housing Corporation and Health and Social Services are fully aware of the building. Mr. Speaker, we are spending thousands of dollars each year maintaining these beautiful facilities. We are sending elders out of the region to be looked after and, Mr. Speaker, we have our elders in some of the really good homes outside our region, however, it’s about high time that we keep our elders at home in their region.

Mr. Speaker, our elders will continue to play an important role in our lives, either by advising us in our personal lives or providing guidance in our professional lives. Mr. Speaker, when will this government have a change of heart and let the people in the Sahtu, especially our elders, know that the Deline seniors' home will be in operation to take them and that we can keep them home like other regions do in the Northwest Territories? Mahsi.

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Mr. Speaker, I would like to announce that one of my former constituents, Robert Arthur Alexis, along with Penguin Books of Canada, will be releasing his second novel, The Pale Indian, this month. Robert was born and raised in Fort McPherson and served as sub-chief and then chief of Tetlit Gwich’in of Fort McPherson. Robert was also instrumental in assisting the Gwich’in to realize their claim in 1992. He served two terms on the Gwich’in Tribal Council as vice-president and is currently with the Gwich’in Land and Water Board in Inuvik.

Robert’s first novel, Porcupines and China Dolls, which depicts the effects of residential school on a people, was published by Stoddart in 2002. The book received rave reviews across Canada. Unfortunately, Stoddart went into receivership shortly after. Porcupine and China Dolls did not get the exposure to the public that it should have.

The Pale Indian, so I’m told, takes place in the fictitious community of Aberdeen in the not-so-fictitious Northwest Territories. I have also been informed, Mr. Speaker, that Porcupines and China Dolls would be re-released sometime this year, also by Penguin.

At this time I would like to congratulate Robert on the hope he continues for many more years to come with his stories well into the future. With that, thank you very much.

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Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I just want to wish everybody in the House and the general public a happy Valentine’s Day today, Mr. Speaker.

I rise today to speak about the need for improved communications within the government system and to the public in general from our public service, Mr. Speaker. I know this is not a new issue, but I’m particularly concerned about communications in departments like Education, Culture and Employment and Health and Social Services where the need to relocate to another community or perhaps down south is primarily determined by the type of communication that is received, be it positive or negative. These changes can have a large impact on people’s lives here in the NWT.

Mr. Speaker, I know that it is always in one’s best interest to wait until a decision is received in writing from any government department that the request is being made to before making any decisions to either relocate, make changes to your employment status or whatever the case may be which could have a large impact on one’s living arrangements or financial status. Mr. Speaker, this is not always the case as there are situations that arise where people are not notified of their requests until the last minute, or in cases where members of the public decide to phone in to the department or visit the office and get a verbal response to their request. Many people take these as the final decisions and carry on only to find out later, after they have relocated or rearranged their lives based on this verbal confirmation, that this is not the decision that they have received by mail later on and it is, in fact, the very opposite of what they initially received verbally.

The point I want to make, Mr. Speaker, is we have to make sure that everyone in the government and public service who has a direct contact with the public to inform of their applications or requests are not communicating any misleading information to their clients and should inform the clients that they cannot make any rash decisions until they have formal written consent from the proper authorities. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in follow up to my Member’s statement about the Property Assessment and Taxation Act, I will direct my questions to the Honourable Michael McLeod, Minister of MACA. Mr. Speaker, in March 2001, the Territorial Farmers' Association received correspondence from this government indicating that a major overhaul was about to start sometime in 2002 and that the work would involve organizations like the Territorial Farmers' Association in that process. The TFA, Mr. Speaker, is still awaiting contact from this government on this issue. Mr. Speaker, my question is can the Minister tell us whether the department is working on a comprehensive review of the Property Assessment and Taxation Act and will this work include input from organizations such as the Territorial Farmers' Association? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. McLeod.

Return To Question 372-15(3): Property Assessment And Taxation Act Review

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we have received several requests from communities to do a comprehensive review on the PATA. At this time, we intend to do a review over the long term. However, for the immediate future, we are only looking at doing several amendments. We are going to look at the issue of exemptions to land where land is granted through a land use permit and we are also looking at some technical amendments. We haven’t been able to commit to when we will do a comprehensive evaluation or review on the whole act itself. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 372-15(3): Property Assessment And Taxation Act Review

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Given the number of concerns I have heard about PATA over the years and indications that were given just one year ago that the department was working on a full review, I am surprised at the Minister’s response. I would like to know why the department is backing away from a comprehensive review of this act. He referred to some minor amendments. I would like to know if any of those minor amendments will have a positive impact for those people using parcels of land that are indicated as agricultural. Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 372-15(3): Property Assessment And Taxation Act Review

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We are not backing away from the commitment of doing a review of PATA. We are intending to do it in the future. At this point, we have focussed on a couple of issues. We are still doing some research. We have hired a consultant to do some work on assessing some works and mobile equipment policies that need to be dealt with in that area. Again, at this point, we haven’t made that commitment. We would like to see that done. There has been a request from a number of organizations and communities. So we realize it’s a priority. However, we have still some discussion to do before we make that commitment. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Supplementary To Question 372-15(3): Property Assessment And Taxation Act Review

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Mr. Minister, for that response. The second part of my question was could the amendments that you are looking at to the act include a response to the concerns raised by people involved in agricultural activities south of the lake? There are some major impediments to them being involved in agriculture given the Property Assessment and Taxation Act as it stands now. Could amendments also encompass their concerns? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 372-15(3): Property Assessment And Taxation Act Review

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. At this point, the amendments the Member is requesting us to take a look at haven’t been included as part of what we are planning to do. My understanding is our department has been having discussions with the Territorial Farmers’ Association, so I will certainly reconsider that request. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Your final supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 372-15(3): Property Assessment And Taxation Act Review

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That is good to hear and when the consultant that has been hired is considering amendments to this, I would like to ask the Minister if he could commit to putting out a consultation paper or perhaps holding workshops in Hay River for meeting with the Territorial Farmers' Association to ensure that their input is registered and is reflected in any amendments that come forward. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 372-15(3): Property Assessment And Taxation Act Review

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’m not sure if I can commit to having the consultant work on the request the Member is asking us to look at with the farmers; however, I will consider looking at it as a separate issue. I believe the consultants that have been brought online have already done a lot of work in one area and most of the report is concluded. So it would have to be a separate issue, but we certainly will look at it. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to ask questions in furtherance today on day care programs, Mr. Speaker, and my questions go to Minister Dent. Mr. Speaker, we’re all aware of the weekend meetings that were held with his provincial counterparts and other territorial Ministers responsible for day care, including the federal Minister Dryden. Could the Minister update us as to what transpired at that meeting and what seem to be the points of agreement that they still have to reach? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. The Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, the Honourable Charles Dent.

Return To Question 373-15(3): Meetings With Ministers Responsible For Day Care

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there was a good deal of progress made at the meetings on Friday. My provincial and territorial colleagues and the federal Minister went quite a ways towards finalizing what we think will be the wording in a draft agreement. What remains as the biggest stumbling block right now is the money, and without knowing what sort of commitment we’re going to see in the federal budget, there was unwillingness for Ministers around the table to move the process any further. So really the stumbling block right now is money and its allocation. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Supplementary To Question 373-15(3): Meetings With Ministers Responsible For Day Care

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I can appreciate that the money might be a factor in something like this, but putting that aside I would like to get a more clear picture from the Minister as to what the GNWT’s position is as to what this National Childcare Program should look like. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.