Debates of February 18, 2005 (day 39)

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mr. McLeod.

Supplementary To Question 420-15(3): Status Of Sir Alexander Mackenzie School

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, Mr. Minister. Would the Minister, now that they have decided to build a new school, commit to consulting with the special interest groups in Inuvik, such as day care, to see if their needs can be incorporated into a new school?

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 420-15(3): Status Of Sir Alexander Mackenzie School

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The department would be willing to consult with people in Inuvik. That’s one of the purposes why the steering committee was set up -- the one that includes the town, the DEA, the DEC and so on -- was to make sure that the structure that is built is reflective of what the community wants. There may need to be some partnerships developed though in order to pay for some spaces that wouldn’t normally qualify for government support, but we’re always willing to look for those partnerships and find ways to accommodate community needs. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions today are for the Premier of the Northwest Territories, Joe Handley. My questions relate to the renewable resource of fish in our territory. Mr. Speaker, Minister Bell had attended in Hay River with the fisherman lately and, as I mentioned in my Member’s statement, RWED has devoted a full-time employee to assist the fishermen in what they are trying to do. I feel that we have entered into, perhaps, a new era in this government in terms of attention to our fishery, and I’m very pleased about that as a Member for Hay River. Mr. Speaker, we have a lot of attention in our government, which is currently being paid to the non-renewable resource sector, which seems like it’s going to be something that brings a lot of economy to our territory in the next while. But I think it will be very meaningful for the Great Slave Lake fishermen representatives here today, Mr. Speaker, to hear the Premier state this government’s commitment to the sustainability of the renewable resource sector in our territory, as well. Could the Premier please make his commitment on that? Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The honourable Premier, Mr. Handley.

Return To Question 421-15(3): Sustaining Our Fishery Resources

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. First I’d also like to welcome the fishermen, and Bea and the others, to the gallery today. They do represent a very important part of our economy and one that we feel very strongly must be sustained. We do have a valuable resource in Great Slave Lake, as well as in other lakes, both for commercial and for sport fishing. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that the Minister of RWED has dedicated a full-time person to this industry. We have long felt, as a government, that we’re not getting a good deal out of the freshwater fish marketing arrangement. It’s where our fish are taken all the way to Winnipeg or wherever it is and mixed in to add value to the whole lot. I don’t think that’s being fair to our northern economy, and I’m very pleased with the work that Minister Bell has done and the work that the staff person will do with the fishermen in ensuring that we do have a sustainable economy. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Supplementary To Question 421-15(3): Sustaining Our Fishery Resources

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, one of the initiatives of the new task force group is to work with the Marine Stewardship Council to have our Great Slave Lake identified and certified as a sustainable fishery. Many other commercial fisheries involve things like restocking, then fishing out the same fish. Issues related to climate and things just do not see those fish having the same quality as our white fish from Great Slave Lake. We’ve known this for a long time, but we have not found a way to brand our fish as unique here. So under this initiative to work with the Marine Stewardship Council to have our lake certified as a stable fishery, would the government commit to support this endeavour? Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 421-15(3): Sustaining Our Fishery Resources

Mr. Speaker, let me say that our government will support this initiative. Having said that though, we have to keep in mind that it is the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans that manages commercial fishing in the Northwest Territories. I hope someday that becomes our responsibility as a northern government to manage but, in the meantime, we’ll work with DFO and we’ll work with the other partners to achieve the goal. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I want to ask the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs a question with regard to the Akaitcho Territory Government’s treaty negotiations that are still ongoing. Just what measures is this government currently incorporating with providing the Akaitcho Territory Government a smooth transition through their treaty negotiation process and how are they supporting them in this process? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. The honourable Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, Mr. Handley.

Return To Question 422-15(3): Akaitcho Treaty Negotiations

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Our government is one of the parties involved in the negotiations. We continue to participate in the negotiation sessions that are going on. We certainly are supportive of the other partners in negotiations that aim at trying to have an agreement-in-principle this year. The main table discussions and negotiations are ongoing. The next session, I believe, is March 1st to 3rd in Ndilo and we will be there with the objective of trying to make this a win for all parties; the aboriginal Akaitcho people, for the non-aboriginal residents in this area and all parties. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Villeneuve.

Supplementary To Question 422-15(3): Akaitcho Treaty Negotiations

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Minister for that response. Hopefully I’ll be able to attend the next session on March 1st to the 3rd in Ndilo. I just wanted to ask the Minister in respect to some of the land development issues that are going on around the city of Yellowknife by Members of this side of the House and two Members on that side of the House about the treatment and exclusion of city council in this government’s so-called preferential treatment of Akaitcho territory residents. I just want to ask the Premier what measures he is going to take for the Akaitcho people in this region to ensure that they should be given the preferential treatment when it comes to any kind of future land development that is currently now under Akaitcho Territory Government negotiations. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. The honourable Premier, Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 422-15(3): Akaitcho Treaty Negotiations

Mr. Speaker, first of all we do, as a government, certainly respect the Akaitcho’s right to negotiate an agreement. Second, we have an interim measures agreement in place, which deals with, among other issues, how land transfers in the interim will be handled before we have a final agreement. Mr. Speaker, it is a process that we respect very much and one that we will ensure is followed as closely as we can. In saying that, Mr. Speaker, we also recognize that the Akaitcho have not yet moved into the land selection phase part of their negotiations. I hope that comes very soon, but there has been some land identification made available to us and, again, we respect their right to do that. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Villeneuve.

Supplementary To Question 422-15(3): Akaitcho Treaty Negotiations

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The land selection phase that the Akaitcho Territory Government will be embarking on in their next phase of negotiations with this government and the federal government is probably something that we all, especially Yellowknife residents, would be looking forward to reviewing. What commitment does the government have to ensure the Akaitcho Territory Government that the land selection process that they present to this government and to the federal government, which is probably going to include a lot of land around the city of Yellowknife…I know the city council is probably going to have a lot of issues with regard to that land selection process and it’s probably going to be a close selection around city boundaries. How is this government going to mediate negotiations and help move this Akaitcho Territory Government process forward when the city comes forward with their objectives for selection process? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 422-15(3): Akaitcho Treaty Negotiations

Mr. Speaker, we won’t know until the land identification stage of the negotiations whether and what kind of conflict or disagreement there might be on land selection. Mr. Speaker, it has to be recognized that there are three parties at the table: the Akaitcho, who are negotiating their rights; the Government of the Northwest Territories, which has responsibility for those things that are under our jurisdiction; and, of course, the federal government. So we can’t really play the role of a mediator in the negotiations. But we are aiming at having a result that is fair and that is a win for all parties. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Final supplementary, Mr. Villeneuve.

Supplementary To Question 422-15(3): Akaitcho Treaty Negotiations

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Let me just rephrase the question to the Minister. I guess the lands in question are Commissioner’s lands right now, with respect to the sandpits and the Con Mine area and other land around the Ingraham Trail, which is in the Minster’s constituency. All these lands are currently under Commissioner’s authority, so this government definitely has authority over that land withdrawal, land application, land permitting, land use process. When the land selection of the Akaitcho Territory Government, which is going to include probably all of that put forward, how is the government going to ensure that the Akaitcho residents and the Akaitcho Territory Government have precedence over what the City of Yellowknife is demanding?

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 422-15(3): Akaitcho Treaty Negotiations

Mr. Speaker, in our view, any Commissioner’s land which is not third party land -- which is land that is owned by someone else, fee-simple title -- is available for the Akaitcho negotiators to identify as part of the land that they would have an interest in. When they do that, then there will be opportunity for others who may have interest to bring forward their case. Through a negotiating process, there will be a determination of what the final land selection will be. Mr. Speaker, I can’t predict what will happen at the sandpits or outside of Con Mine area or wherever else the Akaitcho may choose land because I don’t know right now whether it will. Mr. Speaker, as I say, we as a government want to be fair to everyone in this process. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question today is for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment with regard to the national initiative of childcare and early learning. That’s exactly what the intent is, Mr. Speaker. It’s a national program. I assume it will include the small communities that exist in my riding, Mr. Speaker. Our small communities have single, working parents and double-income families who are anxious to see how this national program will be rolled out. Will the Minister, Mr. Speaker, tell this House the plans to roll out this program into the communities? Thank you.

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

Return To Question 423-15(3): National Child Care And Early Learning Program

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. At our meeting last Friday, I spent a considerable amount of time trying to demonstrate to other Ministers around the table some of the problems that we face in the Northwest Territories trying to deliver equitable services in the smaller communities, particularly the higher cost of infrastructure, the higher cost of trained staff and the difficulty of finding a way to do it in very small communities. I used that as justification for why the Northwest Territories and the other territories needed to have base funding as part of this transfer because if we only get funding through this national program on a per capita basis, we won’t be able to make a significant difference. So I made sure that everybody around the table understood that for us to be able to be part of a national system, to demonstrate that we were able to provide some equity across the Northwest Territories, that we need to have base funding plus per capita funding. If we can get that, Mr. Speaker, then, yes, I believe we can make a significant difference in the way early learning and childcare is delivered in the Northwest Territories.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.

Supplementary To Question 423-15(3): National Child Care And Early Learning Program

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s apparent that the Minister is well aware of our needs throughout the North, including the small communities. Does the Minister have a focus group to help him roll out the programs or design the programs for the smaller communities? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 423-15(3): National Child Care And Early Learning Program

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. At this point, we haven’t done anything to plan for how this money would be spent because we don’t know if we are talking about less than $1 million or $6 million. That’s the range we are talking about. It could be a very small amount of money or it could be $6 million. If we are successful in getting the larger amount of money, obviously we will have to have some process for setting out the expenditure. If we are only going to be offered a few hundred thousand dollars, we are going to have to question if we will even bother to participate because of the reporting requirements. If we are going to lose all of the money in reporting just how we are spending the little bit we are getting, there is not much point in us trying to say that we are part of a national system.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.

Supplementary To Question 423-15(3): National Child Care And Early Learning Program

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Does the Minister foresee any plans, let’s say for a small community like Jean Marie that has about 50 residents? How does the Minister see this program working in a community like that? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 423-15(3): National Child Care And Early Learning Program

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am hoping we are going to get enough money that we are going to be able to make sure we can make a difference in communities like Jean Marie River. I am confident that the other jurisdictions across Canada will recognize the problems we face in the North in delivering programs equitable with what other Canadians receive. I am confident the federal Minister and provincial Ministers will say Canada doesn’t stop at the 60th parallel and we will see enough money to make a difference, but, until we actually do in the federal budget next week, we haven’t set up a process to determine how we spend what money we get. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Final supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.

Supplementary To Question 423-15(3): National Child Care And Early Learning Program

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am glad the Minister will be advocating for the needs in the smaller communities. I am sure that there is going to be some mention of it in the federal budget. Has the Minister given some thought to what would be a fair distribution of the resources when he brings it home to the NWT? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 423-15(3): National Child Care And Early Learning Program

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We haven’t gotten to that point yet because we aren’t sure, as I said, how much money there’s going to be. When we have that announcement and the provincial, territorial and federal Ministers meet shortly after the budget next week to decide how the money will be apportioned, then we will very quickly move to determine the NWT apportionment. Just as the Northwest Territories is fighting for a portion that is not representative of strictly per capita, we will remember that when we talk about how to spend the money in the Northwest Territories as well.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am going to continue on the questions of multi-year funding that were brought up during my Member’s statement. My question is to the Minister responsible for the FMBS. Mr. Speaker, the City of Yellowknife, to a large extent, is planning nine months in the dark every year they pass their budget on December 31st because they have to wait until April 1st for the territorial budget to be passed. Does the Minster agree it would make better sense to approve funding for municipalities to look at approving multi-year funding in accordance with the municipal fiscal year that would better accommodate the municipal needs and help demonstrate relative certainty for the municipalities? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Minister of Finance, Mr. Roland.

Return To Question 424-15(3): Multi-Year Funding For Municipalities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as a government, for any agreement we enter into with other jurisdictions, other governments, municipalities, the transfer of funds with NGOs, we do enter into multi-year funding, but it is based on the fact that we have a cycle that we follow that every year has to be approved by the Legislative Assembly. So we can’t put an unconditional grant in place where for nine years they can do things or for three years. We have set up block funding agreements on a three-year basis with municipalities so they could do better planning, but that is also conditional on the funds passed through this Assembly. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 424-15(3): Multi-Year Funding For Municipalities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister is very correct when he mentions the item as he says, but it’s conditional. It’s hinged on the proviso of one year. Mr. Speaker, I have an agreement here between the Government of the Northwest Territories and the City of Yellowknife and the agreement becomes effective April 1, 2004. It’s signed April 14th of 2004 by both parties, MACA and the City of Yellowknife, and it spans the calendar year of April 1st to March 31st. So what the Minister said was right, but the problem is these municipalities are passing their budgets with nine months in the dark. Could he take a position by investigating a rolling calendar year that would demonstrate certainty, so when these municipalities pass their budget at the end of their fiscal year, they can plan with comfort? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.