Debates of June 2, 2005 (day 7)

Thank you, Minister Bell. Supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 88-15(4): Provision Of Lifeguard Services At Long Lake Beach

Madam Speaker, those are very valid aspects of providing the service, insurance, jurisdiction and all that other kind of thing. But to the kid out there on the street or the mom and dad who are looking for safe options for their child, it comes across as quite bureaucratic and really the kind of excuses we, unfortunately, can use as a dodge. I don’t think they are acceptable. I would like to ask the Minister will he reconsider all of these kinds of things and look at them in the sense of providing a public service that nobody else can? This is our jurisdiction. Will we put a lifeguard at the beach this summer? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Minister Bell.

Further Return To Question 88-15(4): Provision Of Lifeguard Services At Long Lake Beach

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The answer is no. We don’t do it anywhere else in the territory. We aren’t going to start doing it at this beach. We aren’t going to go out and decide we are in the life guarding business. It isn’t our jurisdiction. The city can do it if they choose. I believe the cost is $20,000. They have lifeguards available that they use at the pool. They are set up to be able to do this. They are insured to be able to do this. Obviously it would cost them some money and I respect their decision to not staff lifeguards at the beach because that would mean having to reduce services elsewhere, but that is a decision that they have made and not a decision that this government has made.

Thank you, Minister Bell. Oral questions are now over. Mr. McLeod.

Madam Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to return to item 6, recognition of visitors in the gallery.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I am pleased to recognize a number of northerners present here from all over the Territories, all these people who work very hard to further their education and personal development through training programs that have been offered through the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs. I wanted to take a few minutes here to recognize them. I hope I have everybody. I have been crossing out names and adding names as people have been coming and going. I would like to ask our guests in the gallery if they would rise when I call out their names and recognize them. First of all, receiving certificates for program completion in the area of the Community Management Program are: Marjorie Hansen of Inuvik;

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Elizabeth Ann McKay of Fort Resolution.

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Receiving certificates for the Recreation Facility Operator Program are Shane Thompson of Fort Simpson.

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Under the Community Management Program again, we have Elizabeth Ann McKay from Fort Resolution.

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Also under the Recreation Facility Operator Program, we have Ted Matto from Fort Providence;

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Louis Balsillie from Fort Resolution.

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Through the Community Finance Program, we have Pauline Simba from Fort Liard, formerly from Kakisa;

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Fred Rabesca from Fort Good Hope;

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Anita Simba-Chicot from Kakisa;

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Louisa Wedzin from Rae;

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Ruth Elemie from Deline;

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Sandra Lockhart from Lutselk’e.

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Under the Finance Officer Program, we have Pauline Simba;

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Agnes Aleekuk from Holman;

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Rosemary Gordon from Fort Providence;

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Susan Christie from Fort Providence;

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Jackie Nogasak-Thrasher from Tuktoyaktuk;

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Anne Bayha from Deline;

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Susan Blake.

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Madam Speaker, I would like to ask the Members in this House to join me in congratulating each of these individuals for their hard work, determination and tenacity. I know their success will inspire others. We will have a function tonight at 6:00 at the museum.

I want to take the time to recognize a few other people from my riding, Madam Speaker. I have here in the gallery Julian Landry from Kakisa and his wife, Ruby.

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Welcome. Also with us is Chief Lloyd Chicot from Kakisa.

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I would also like to recognize Mr. Michael Vandel, the president of the Deh Cho Bridge Corporation from Fort Providence…

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…and Vicky Marcellais from Fort Providence is president of the housing association there.

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Welcome. Also with us is Mayor Maggie Lavavasseur. I would like to welcome her also.

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Thank you all for coming.

Congratulations, as the Minister said to all of you, and thank you for coming to visit us at the Legislative Assembly. Item 6, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Premier.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would like to recognize a former Member of this Legislative Assembly, James Rabesca.

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James is a strong supporter of the Dogrib language. He does a lot of work as an interpreter and I saw him working hard and heard him working hard in the booth here today. Thank you.

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Madam Speaker, I was so inspired with the happy answers from the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation, I was inspired to write a written question. These questions are in reference to the past two fiscal years and are limited to the Yellowknife region only.

My question is for the Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation:

What is the total number of people turned away from the program, either disqualified by the department or the financial institution used to apply for a mortgage?

Of the number declined from the EDAP, what number were results of lack of available funding?

What number of those turned down were able to receive a down payment the following fiscal year?

Has the waiting list increased over the past two years?

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, the potential to create a viable future for all NWT communities is before us. Initiatives such as devolution, resource revenue sharing and the Northern Strategy provide us with the opportunity to revamp northern government to reflect concrete commitments to build strong and sustainable communities.

My question is for the Premier of the Northwest Territories.

Is the Premier committed to using these initiatives to strengthen the whole of the NWT?

If so, how does the Premier see it unfolding and taking shape?

What concrete steps are being taken to make it happen?

What will the Premier do to coordinate all of the initiatives?

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. My written question is also for the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, Premier Joe Handley. If this government recognizes and supports the inherent rights of aboriginal people in the development of their self-governments:

What is the GNWT intending to do to strengthen this support and recognize aboriginal governments as legitimate governments representing the aboriginal public?

With the development and negotiations toward self-government by aboriginals in the NWT, does this government accept and endorse aboriginal governments to acquire revenues flowing from their ongoing aboriginal interests in these lands?

If this government views their relationship with aboriginal governments as an opportunity to build sustainable communities through the sharing of responsibilities and resource revenues, what is the process in place to date and the process that this government intends to follow?

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I have a return to written question asked by Mr. Yakeleya on May 26, 2005, regarding alcohol sales and revenue.

The Northwest Territories Liquor Commission tracks sales of alcoholic beverages made by liquor outlets in the Northwest Territories. The data provided is for the 2004-05 fiscal year, the latest complete fiscal year for which data is available.

Total sales of alcoholic beverages from the Norman Wells Liquor Store were $1.884 million and $37.724 million for the Northwest Territories as a whole.

Revenue from the Norman Wells Liquor Store contributed 4.9 percent of the total Northwest Territories liquor revenue.

Most, if not all, jurisdictions in Canada sell overproof liquor. The Northwest Territories Liquor Commission is currently polling other jurisdictions to see if there are any alcohol bans on items such as overproof alcohol in Canada. I will provide the Member with the results of the research once it is available. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Item 9, returns to written questions. At this time, we have a number of items still on the orders of the day, but I am going to ask for a brief break. There are still some members in the gallery that I am sure some Members would like to greet. Let’s take a 15-minute break.

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Thank you, Madam Speaker. I have a petition to submit with regard to infrastructure poll and constituents having issue with the courthouse in Yellowknife. Begging the House’s indulgence, I did not sign this petition.

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Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I wish to table the following document entitled Northwest Territories Law Foundation Annual Report for the Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2004. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you again, Madam Speaker. I wish to table the following document entitled Northwest Territories Mental Disorder Review Board Report, Minister of Justice, February 2005.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I wish to table the following entitled Department of Environment and Natural Resources: Framework for Action, 2005-2008.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I wish to table the following document entitled Workers’ Compensation Board 2004 Annual Report. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I wish to table the following document entitled Public Accounts of the Government of the Northwest Territories Interim Report for the Year Ended March 31, 2005.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I give notice that on Monday, June 6, 2005, I will move the following motion: Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Yellowknife South, that Rule 85(3) of the Rules of the Legislative Assembly be amended by striking out “Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development” and substituting “Industry, Tourism and Investment; Environment and Natural Resources"; and further, that Rule 85(3)(a) be amended by striking out “NWT Development Corporation, the Business Credit Corporation” and substituting “Northwest Territories Business Development and Investment Corporation.”

Madam Speaker, at the appropriate time, I will seek unanimous consent to deal with my motion today.

I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Frame Lake, that notwithstanding Rule 4, that when this House adjourns on Thursday, June 2, 2005, it shall be adjourned until Wednesday, October 12, 2005.

AND FURTHER that any time prior to October 12, 2005, if the Speaker is satisfied, after consultation with the Executive Council and Members of the Legislative Assembly, that the public interest requires that the House should meet at an earlier time during the adjournment, the Speaker may give notice and thereupon the House shall meet at the time stated in such notice and shall transact its business as it has been duly adjourned to that time.

Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Question.

Question is being called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Item 16, motions. Mr. Braden.

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker.

WHEREAS the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development has ceased to exist;

AND WHEREAS the departments of Industry, Tourism and Investment and Environment and Natural Resources have been created;

AND WHEREAS the Northwest Territories Business Development and Investment Corporation has been established to replace the Northwest Territories Development Corporation and the Northwest Territories Business Credit Corporation;

AND WHEREAS standing committees of the Legislative Assembly are given responsibility for the oversight and review of government departments and corporations in Rule 85 of the Rules of the Legislative Assembly;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Yellowknife South, that Rule 85(3) of the Rules of the Legislative Assembly be amended by striking out “Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development” and substituting “Industry, Tourism and Investment, Environment and Natural Resources”;

AND FURTHER that Rule 85(3)(a) be amended by striking out “NWT Development Corporation, the Business Credit Corporation” and substituting “Northwest Territories Business Development and Investment Corporation”.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Your motion is in order. To the motion.

Question.

Question is being called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, that Bill 1, Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 1, 2005-2006, be read for the third time. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Minister Roland. The motion is in order. To the motion.