Debates of January 20, 2004 (day 1)

The honourable Minister for the Financial Management Board Secretariat, Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 4-15(2): Correctional Officers' Pay Scale Dispute

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, the Member is correct in the decision. As I stated, I will be bringing forward the decision paper to FMB and will be making a decision around that issue. We have had a chance to look at a preliminary and, following that, will be bringing it forward. My intention is to do the right thing for all of government and we need to look at the whole decision and its impacts for government, but my intention again, is to bring it forward and to have the decision made in the very near future around this issue. Thank you.

Supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Supplementary To Question 4-15(2): Correctional Officers' Pay Scale Dispute

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the answer from the Minister. Could I have a commitment from the Minister that he will do everything in his power and exercise good will in doing everything he can to avoid a situation like the pay equity dispute that we had that was long and protracted and very expensive, and that he would do everything he can to shorten this process and get to the conclusion as soon as possible? Thank you.

The honourable Minister for the Financial Management Board Secretariat, Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 4-15(2): Correctional Officers' Pay Scale Dispute

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yes, it is my intention to ensure that we as a government are doing the right thing for the benefit of all people in the Northwest Territories. In this case it has gone to arbitration, a decision has been rendered and we will be bringing that forward for a decision by FMB. I will ensure, from my part, that we will be doing the best for those affected as well as for the Government of the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

Your final supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Supplementary To Question 4-15(2): Correctional Officers' Pay Scale Dispute

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I must say, for the first day he is very good at rounding out his answers because he keeps saying that he will do what is good for the government and the workers. We know that this arbitration has to do with the grievance that the employees have against the government as an employer, and they have now a fair and just arbitration decision. So could I get the commitment from the Minister to do all he can to commit with Cabinet Ministers that we cannot afford any more pay equity disputes that cost us millions and have for years? Would he give me a commitment that he will do everything he can to avoid that? Thank you.

The honourable Minister for the Financial Management Board Secretariat, Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 4-15(2): Correctional Officers' Pay Scale Dispute

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will do everything in my power to ensure under my watch that we do not get into another scenario of pay equity that has cost the Government of the Northwest Territories millions over the years. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I made reference to certain points in my Member's statement regarding the Youth Criminal Justice Act, I want to ask the Minister if he would advise this Assembly upon request to his department, that they would work more closely with RCMP under the policing agreement as well as in accordance with subsection 3.2.1 to provide greater clarity for the police officers who arrest or detain young offenders under the act, and if he could kindly explain how he plans to do that. Thank you.

The honourable Minister of Justice, Mr. Dent.

Return To Question 5-15(2): Treatment Of Young Offenders

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I hope to have an opportunity to meet fairly soon with the chief superintendent of the RCMP and will certainly offer to work in collaboration with the RCMP to ensure that we are moving issues of justice and law enforcement forward.

I would like to make clear though, that the RCMP's ability to arrest youth has not changed under this act. The Youth Criminal Justice Act hasn't changed the circumstances under which a young person could be arrested, but the RCMP must consider extrajudicial measures now before proceeding with charges. I think that may be the issue that the Member would like us to address. I can commit that we will move to address that quickly.

Supplementary, Mr. Allen.

Supplementary To Question 5-15(2): Treatment Of Young Offenders

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There are a number of contentious issues under the new act, but it's important that the Minister conveys to the public on an official basis that they need to be aware of the process used to deter any youth criminal activity, as it is certainly becoming a territory-wide problem. Would he kindly address that? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister of Justice, Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 5-15(2): Treatment Of Young Offenders

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think that it's important that people become more aware throughout the Territories of the options that are available now for dealing with youth who have run afoul of the law. Alternative measures, such as youth justice committees, are certainly an important aspect to deal with those circumstances. I think it's important that we try to make sure more and more people are aware of these options, and that we do what we can to support the committees in their operations throughout the Territories. So we'll certainly work towards further emphasizing the use of youth justice committees. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary, Mr. Allen.

Supplementary To Question 5-15(2): Treatment Of Young Offenders

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again I refer to the point that this whole issue speaks mainly for provision of counsel. It doesn't speak to the provisions under the act of how they're going to eradicate youth crime in the communities, and that's a contentious issue across the Northwest Territories. So I'm asking the Minister again, is he willing and prepared to work more closely with the community-vested interest groups who deal with youth crime, and how he intends to deal with it through his portfolio? Thank you.

Minister of Justice, Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 5-15(2): Treatment Of Young Offenders

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories currently funds one position with the RCMP to work with communities across the North in trying to address community concerns about crime, and particularly youth crime. It certainly is an issue that is of concern to the department and this government. If the Member has any suggestions for how we can better work in the communities to address issues around youth crime, I'm prepared to commit to work with him to do that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question this afternoon is for the Premier and it regards the issue that I made my statement on, as did Mrs. Groenewegen: the operation of consensus government. I would like to ask the Premier what are Cabinet's procedures when it comes to major government initiatives, and the expectations that are on Ministers when it comes to consulting with Members in committees? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Premier, Mr. Handley.

Return To Question 6-15(2): Cabinet Consultation With Regular Members

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I stated in my sessional statement, our government intends to operate on the principles of inclusion and partnership. We intend to bring all major decisions to the regular Members, mostly through the committees, and also to work in partnership with other governments. That's the reason we're planning the Circle of Northern Leaders meeting later this year, as I announced. But inclusion, partnership, consensus, I think, are cornerstones for our type of government and we intend to do everything to adhere to that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 6-15(2): Cabinet Consultation With Regular Members

Mr. Speaker, in the Premier's response, he indicated that it is the intention to be inclusive, to promote partnership and I certainly support that. But the question I would like to ask is, in his response he said it's the intention of Cabinet to take all major decisions to committees and partners. This is very much the point, Mr. Speaker, of what we have a problem with: whether decisions are brought to committees or Members, not the question of whether there is an issue to be discussed or to be negotiated. So I would like to ask the Premier again, would he care to clarify that statement? Is Cabinet simply going to make decisions, or are we going to be indeed included in discussions that would lead up to those decisions? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Premier, Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 6-15(2): Cabinet Consultation With Regular Members

Mr. Speaker, any decision requires a lot of consultation and discussion. I think over the last days since our government was elected, we've had a lot of discussions and I think a lot of topics were dealt with. We certainly want to continue with that kind of consultation. In arriving at a decision, then we will work very closely with committee. We will bring the information we have, we will listen to what the concerns are and then we will proceed. In the end, a decision has to be made and I think that in the end, it will fall to us as a government to make that final decision after the consultations take place. We would hope that we would get the endorsement of this House for the decision that we do make. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Honourable Joe Handley, Premier of the Northwest Territories. Mr. Speaker, in my line of questioning a little earlier with the Minister of Justice, it seems to me that I heard that the Minister is not prepared to go to Cabinet with a decision on the replacement of the resident judge in Hay River and that he's getting his direction from the judiciary. So it creates some concern, Mr. Speaker, that if his information is coming from the judiciary, who is looking after the interests of the people? I just heard the Premier say that every decision that's made requires a lot of consultation and input. I would like to ask the Premier if he would commit to making a recommendation to Cabinet that the resident judge in Hay River is re-established. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Hear, hear!

Mr. Speaker, I had a good meeting in Hay River last week with the mayor and some council and MLAs from Hay River. This issue was raised at that meeting. I committed to making sure we have all of the information, the best information available to us in making this decision. A paper will be brought to Cabinet by the Minister of Justice, and at that point we'll look at the information and Cabinet will make a decision at that time. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Delorey.

Supplementary To Question 7-15(2): Resident Justice Vacancy In Hay River

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Premier just said that when the paper comes to Cabinet they will look at all the information and make a decision at that time. What avenue do we have or do people have to get the information to Cabinet that we want Cabinet to look at, not just the information that comes from the judiciary? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Premier, Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 7-15(2): Resident Justice Vacancy In Hay River

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think all of the MLAs are now aware of this issue. If there are any questions, I certainly invite you to talk to me or talk to the Minister of Justice. Our door is open, we welcome you to come and discuss it with us. When I met in Hay River, the concerns were raised. At that meeting, I also invited people to provide me with information. I gave them a summary of the information I had and asked that if they felt it wasn't correct, then provide me with the other side as well. So the door is open for Members to approach us with more information, better information if they want. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Delorey.

Supplementary To Question 7-15(2): Resident Justice Vacancy In Hay River

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, will the Premier commit to also passing on to Cabinet the negative possible impacts that not replacing the resident judge in Hay River could have on the community; both what he has been informed of so far and any information that comes to him between now and the decision? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Premier.

Further Return To Question 7-15(2): Resident Justice Vacancy In Hay River

Mr. Speaker, yes, we will. I listened very carefully in Hay River last week. I listened very carefully to the Member’s statement today. If there’s other information, I welcome that as well. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Premier and they are with respect to the issue of devolution, which I referred to in my Member’s statement, and some comments that he had made.

Mr. Speaker, we have a new Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development. We have a new Prime Minister. Everyone, I think, in the territory agrees that devolution and discussions with Ottawa and with our aboriginal governments and partner governments is a very critical thing. I’d like to ask Mr. Handley for an update on the status of the work of the Intergovernmental Forum and the devolution framework agreement. Thank you.

Mr. Handley.

Return To Question 8-15(2): Update On Intergovernmental Forum And Devolution

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Intergovernmental Forum has not met since last spring when we had our meeting in Inuvik. At that time, the then-Minister of DIAND, Robert Nault, asked that a framework agreement -- basically a process document that would outline how negotiations would proceed -- be prepared and be signed. Over the summer, that document was prepared and, in fact, it was initialed off, I believe, by all or at least most of the aboriginal leadership and also by our government.

The Intergovernmental Forum meeting in the fall was postponed and the framework agreement is now waiting for signature by all of the participants. I believe four of the aboriginal leaders who are leaders of the economic forum have already signed, and others have indicated that they are considering it. I expect we will have six out of seven of the aboriginal leaders willing to sign, with some negotiations yet to be completed. So that document is proceeding.

I had some brief discussions with the Minister of DIAND, Andy Mitchell, last week. He indicates to me that devolution is still very much a priority for his department and for the federal government. So I’m looking forward to the next opportunity to discuss the framework agreement and devolution generally with him, as well as with the Prime Minister. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 8-15(2): Update On Intergovernmental Forum And Devolution

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in light of how important this is in terms of the timing of some of the resource development and things which are emerging, when will the Premier be meeting with Mr. Mitchell and Mr. Martin on the subject? Thank you.

Mr. Premier, Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 8-15(2): Update On Intergovernmental Forum And Devolution