Debates of March 18, 2004 (day 3)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs. It has been 10 years since the Sahtu Dene/Metis land claim agreements were signed, and still the Government of the Northwest Territories has not yet lived up to its obligations, such as the amendment to the Wildlife Act and the Forest Management Act. I would like to ask the Minister how does he plan to ensure that the Sahtu beneficiaries receive these obligations? Thank you.

Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, Mr. Handley.

Return To Question 24-15(3): Land Claims Obligations

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It's true that the Wildlife Act has been under review for a long time, and we're continuing to work on it. The Minister of RWED is the lead Minister on this and I know it's his intention to complete the draft of the act by the end of this year, as well as the Species at Risk Act. The latest delay has been because of requested consultation by some of the land claim beneficiaries in the various regions of the Territories. We expect to have that done this year.

Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 24-15(3): Land Claims Obligations

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A lot of my people in the riding of Sahtu are directly impacted by the Sahtu Dene/Metis land claim agreement. They had high hopes and they still have high hopes of some security in this agreement to fulfill our rightful place in the Sahtu region and in shaping this great territory of the Northwest Territories in Canada. I want to ask the Minister would he consider putting in place a review process with the land claim groups to address and to respond to outstanding implementation obligations of this government? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 24-15(3): Land Claims Obligations

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, under section 12.1.4 there is a review process that is laid out, and one that I would expect we have been following. As agreed, Mr. Speaker, the government shall meet with the Sahtu Tribal Council not less than once every three years to review the effectiveness of programs relating to the objectives of the economic measures section in the land claim agreement. Those sections relate to both traditional economy as well as to broader economic self-sufficiency. We will continue to honour that obligation. If we don't, then certainly there is a dispute provision in the agreement, as well, but I hope we never go there. It is our intention to honour the spirit and the intent of all of the land claim agreements. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 24-15(3): Land Claims Obligations

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Would the Minister commit to assist in the regional land claims, with both financial and logistical support, to develop action plans to prioritize the implementation of the chapters of the agreement that are urgently needed to ensure that we can manage and take care of our lands in the face of a major development such as the Mackenzie gas pipeline to be delivered to the federal government?

Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, Minister Handley.

Further Return To Question 24-15(3): Land Claims Obligations

Mr. Speaker, I would have to look at the implementation agreement with the land claim agreement to be specific in terms of our obligations on that side. But if those were built into the implementation plan, then we certainly want to honour that. In the meantime though, Mr. Speaker, we will work with people in all regions where there is economic activity to help them to be able to identify what the opportunities are, what the potential is, and we are doing that in some specific cases. For example, our government, through the Power Corporation, invested a fair bit of money helping on the hydro development, and we would be prepared to do that in other areas too if it seemed that there was good economic opportunity there. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Final supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 24-15(3): Land Claims Obligations

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Minister. In light of the Sahtu Dene/Metis land claim agreement, we had a good meeting this morning with regard to the Aboriginal Summit and the Minister. I've been hearing that we need to work together in partnership, and I want to support the government in supporting our land claim groups; that we can jointly pursue the federal government in terms of its obligations. My question to the Minister is really that this government needs to make it a priority to fulfill its obligations under the land claim agreements and how do we demonstrate this together with land claim groups and with the federal government? Thank you.

Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 24-15(3): Land Claims Obligations

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Like the honourable Member, I was also very pleased with what moved, the attitude, the commitments that were made around the table this morning in the Intergovernmental Forum meeting. I think it was an excellent beginning. I am really pleased that the federal government has now signed on to the framework agreement. I think those are all good things that mean we are making significant progress here.

Mr. Speaker, I intend, as Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, to ensure that we will always be proud to have the Auditor General or anybody else come and look at the steps we are taking in implementing the spirit and intent of all the land claim agreements, to make sure that we are doing what is right here. I think if we do that, and work in partnership with aboriginal leaders, that that bodes well for our government and our people. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question today is to the Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation. It is in regard to a proposal submitted last year in regard to flat rent scale rates for public housing tenants of the Northwest Territories. The intent of that proposal is to increase this from pro forma from $2.7 million rent recoveries to $5.4 million, which would be reinvested back into economic housing strategies. I will ask the Minister then, would he provide this housing update of that proposal? Thank you.

Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation, Mr. McLeod.

Return To Question 25-15(3): Update On New Housing Re-investment Proposal

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Member is referring, I believe, to a submission to the previous Minister. I don’t have that level of detail. I have not seen the document. I will have to take it as notice, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe this question will be directed to the Premier. I have before me the 14th Legislative Assembly final report of the Special Joint Committee on Non-Tax-Based Community Affairs. What strikes me in this report is that it recommended the establishment of a standing committee on non-taxed based communities. I am wondering if the government has looked at that and are willing to proceed with that in the 15th Assembly.

Mr. Premier.

Return To Question 26-15(3): Standing Committee On Non-Tax-Based Communities For The 15th Assembly

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That is a decision of the Legislative Assembly, not a decision of our government. So it would be up to all of us to make that decision. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in June of 2003, the last Assembly approved amendments to the Motor Vehicles Act and put some teeth into the existing legislation. The changes allowed for tougher sanctions aimed at getting impaired drivers off the road, and encouraging drivers with alcohol dependency issues to get help. The amendments allowed the registrar of Motor Vehicles to require individuals convicted of impaired driving offences to participate in drug awareness education programs before their licence would be reinstated. Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister of Transportation, does the Minister intend to implement the amendments to the Motor Vehicles Act, approved in the House last June? Thank you.

Minister of Transportation, Mr. McLeod.

Return To Question 27-15(3): Motor Vehicles Act Amendments – Mandatory Drug And Alcohol Awareness Training

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Member is quite correct. The former Minister of Transportation presented a bill to the Legislative Assembly in February of 2003. The bill was passed in June of 2003, and the department planned for the legislative changes to come into force early in 2004, and the introduction of regulations to the novice driver program in 2005. However, the funding for implementation and ongoing support is reduced; therefore, we have deferred the bill coming into effect. The amendments to the bill include strengthening the roadside prevention provisions and introducing an automatic 90-day suspension, provide for impoundment of vehicles while suspended, and require an offender as a condition of licence renewal reinstatement to purchase an impaired driving assessment package.

Mr. Speaker, we do not have included a requirement for the driver to take an education program, there is no education component. However, we do have, as part of the impaired driving package, a requirement to do a medical assessment and that is the extent of the legislation. We plan to have this legislation in place by January of 2005. We have identified our revenues and we are confident we will put them in place. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 27-15(3): Motor Vehicles Act Amendments – Mandatory Drug And Alcohol Awareness Training

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the Minister for that update. I would like to know, Mr. Speaker, would the Minister consider asking the registrar to require mandatory participation in a drug and alcohol awareness program before their licence is reinstated? I don’t believe this is something that would have to be included in legislation. This is something that could be introduced as a policy. Would the Minister consider asking the registrar to require that on a mandatory basis? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister of Transportation, Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 27-15(3): Motor Vehicles Act Amendments – Mandatory Drug And Alcohol Awareness Training

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I indicated just now, the legislation requires a driver to obtain a driver’s medical assessment. We will consider, however, the suggestion made by the Member to have an education component and also to make it mandatory. It may be something we will consider incorporating in this legislation. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 27-15(3): Motor Vehicles Act Amendments – Mandatory Drug And Alcohol Awareness Training

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In considering that, the Minister may also wish to take into account that these types of programs are not available in smaller centres and would probably require a mobile awareness program, so it would require some financial resources. With the upcoming prospect of these new regulations being put in place, I would like to ask the Minister if he would consider looking for and identifying funds which could finance this. It is easier to send people for such an awareness program if it is available in their community, but obviously it is probably only available in a few communities on a formal basis, but it could be done very easily as a mobile program. So could the Minister commit to trying to identify financial resources to back up such a program? Thank you.

Minister of Transportation, Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 27-15(3): Motor Vehicles Act Amendments – Mandatory Drug And Alcohol Awareness Training

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the mandatory requirement was something that was considered when this legislation was being drafted. It is something that other provinces and jurisdictions have in place. We had considered it. The difficulty with this whole concept was the limited facilities and programs that we have now. We will take it upon ourselves to look at what the options are on how we can accommodate the amendment that the Member is suggesting. Thank you.

Final supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 27-15(3): Motor Vehicles Act Amendments – Mandatory Drug And Alcohol Awareness Training

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Another aspect of this mandatory education awareness program might be for somebody who is knowledgeable in such a program to actually go into the small communities and train someone or some agency within that community to deliver that, as opposed to sending people into the community to do it. It could be something that could be added on to an already existing function within the community; sort of a train-the-trainer type program. Would the Minister seek out the curriculum or format of these programs and see if it would be viable to train people in the small communities to deliver this on behalf of those requiring it with suspended driver’s licences? Thank you.

Minister of Transportation, Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 27-15(3): Motor Vehicles Act Amendments – Mandatory Drug And Alcohol Awareness Training

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We will certainly take the recommendation from the Member very seriously. We will look at the curriculum that is required. We also have to look at the cost of implementing this whole concept. We also have to look at the availability of resources. So we will certainly commit to that. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question goes back to my Member’s statement that I had earlier, and it is for the Premier. Where does the Premier see the establishment of a permanent trust fund for the residents of the Northwest Territories? Where does he see that fitting into his agenda in the next four years? Thank you.

Mr. Premier, Mr. Handley.

Return To Question 28-15(3): Permanent Trust Fund For Residents Of The NWT

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In principle, I certainly agree with the notion of setting up a trust fund or a heritage fund or something that ensures that the wealth we have in a particular year or years can benefit future generations. In order to have the ability to contribute to a trust fund, we have to have the dollars to put into it. I hope that within the life of this government that we are there, that we have settled devolution and resource revenue sharing and we are in a position where we can have our NWT trust fund or heritage fund. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 28-15(3): Permanent Trust Fund For Residents Of The NWT

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, what is stopping the Premier and this government from communicating to Ottawa that the money they are taking from us should be set aside for us in the future? Thank you.

Mr. Premier.

Further Return To Question 28-15(3): Permanent Trust Fund For Residents Of The NWT

Mr. Speaker, the negotiations that we have with the federal government are three-way negotiations between ourselves, the Aboriginal Summit and the federal government. The Aboriginal Summit, in late January, advised us that they wanted to hold off any further negotiations until April because they were selecting a new negotiator. So we have not had an opportunity to raise this with our northern partner, governor, that’s on this. As soon as negotiations resume, then I will be asking that we put this on the table for consideration. But it is not something that we can do unilaterally, we have to work with the other partners. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 28-15(3): Permanent Trust Fund For Residents Of The NWT

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thanks to the Premier for his response. I know he mentioned it, but I would like to get a commitment from him that he will raise this with our partners and that it will be on the agenda. Thank you.