Debates of March 29, 2004 (day 10)

My colleagues, I would like to direct your attention to the visitors’ gallery, to the presence of former Speaker of the House, former Member of the House, Mr. Tony Whitford. Welcome to the House.

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Mr. Speaker, homelessness is a complex social problem. It does not lend itself to a simple solution or quick fixes. There are a number of departments involved in addressing different aspects of homelessness: Education, Culture and Employment, Health and Social Services, Justice and the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation. To ensure that we move forward in the development of a coordinated response and to optimize scarce resources, I have assigned the lead responsibility to the Minister of Health and Social Services, the Honourable Michael Miltenberger.

A coordinated response to this critical issue must address the many underlying causes of homelessness. Addressing those issues in addition to ensuring an adequate supply of appropriate housing, providing options for employment, ensuring adequate income and dealing with the results of inadequate housing such as increased family violence and health problems is essential if there is ever to be a long-term solution to homelessness.

In recent weeks, the government has initiated steps toward the development of a comprehensive, coordinated, interdepartmental strategy for addressing homelessness in the Northwest Territories. A number of meetings have been held between the various Ministers and officials involved in the delivery of homeless programs, as well as with the chairperson of the Yellowknife Homelessness Coalition, Major Karen Hoeft.

On Thursday, March 25th, the deputy minister of Health and Social Services attended a meeting of the Yellowknife Homelessness Coalition and confirmed the government’s short-term priority to work with the coalition to provide adequate shelter space in the city of Yellowknife for next winter. We hope that the lessons learned from this work will assist in addressing homelessness issues in other centres such as Inuvik.

Over the next month, the Minister of Health and Social Services will work with his colleagues, other agencies, the homelessness coalition and other communities to arrange

a workshop where issues and possible approaches to addressing homelessness can be identified. During the term of the 14th Legislative Assembly a draft homelessness paper was developed for discussion. This paper will be circulated for further discussion within the next month.

Mr. Speaker, these are some of the preliminary steps taken by this government to address the serious issue of homelessness. It is critical that we work together across government and with our non-government partners to ensure people across the Northwest Territories are able to access and sustain affordable, appropriate housing over the long term. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good afternoon. Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure today to recognize nine outstanding individuals who will receive the Language Leader Awards. These awards are especially meaningful as each of the award winners are nominated and chosen by their peers from the communities and regions. We need to ensure the grassroots work being done by leaders such as the people we are recognizing today continues. These people don’t just talk about the importance of their languages; through their daily activities and lives, they demonstrate how important their language is.

I’m pleased to announce the 2003 Language Leader Awards:

For Chipewyan - the Deninu Kue Chipewyan Language Working Group for their work on a volunteer basis developing and promoting the Chipewyan language, including evening language classes, traditional sewing classes, a youth carnival and maintaining the Chipewyan Language Resource Centre.

For Cree - Mary Cardinal. Mary is a devoted individual teaching children in the Head Start aboriginal language program, parent’s language and craft classes, and performing translation work for the NWT Cree Language Program.

For Tlicho - David Gon. David has been a strong advocate promoting language through music, singing, writing, recording and performing in the Dogrib language. As well, David has been involved in many musical programs with students in the Dogrib region.

For French - Ann Marie Vigeant. Anyone who knows this dynamic lady knows that she is always eager to promote her language. Ann Marie has been vital in teaching after- school programs, adult French conversation classes, and organizing all francophone cultural activities in Fort Smith.

For South Slavey - Philip Constant. If you have ever listened to the local radio in Fort Providence, chances are you’ve heard Philip. He volunteers his time transcribing the stories of elders for learning materials and assisting elders to understand and interpret local issues important to them.

For North Slavey - Lucy Jackson. Lucy has been very active in her community of Fort Good Hope translating for workshops, organizations and corporations in the area. She is very active on the local radio station scene and uses her language in her capacity as a community leader.

For Gwich’in - Ann Firth-Jones. Ann has been instructing Gwich’in on her own time and has made sure that everyone in her place of work is learning a Gwich’in word of the day. As well, she’s an active contributor to the Gwich’in newsletter in Fort McPherson and has ensured that the traditional crafts and community events have thrived in her home community of Fort Smith.

For Innuinaqtun - the Holman Sing-along Group. This traditional group has kept their language alive through sharing their songs in Innuinaqtun, including translating hymns and singing traditional songs throughout their communities for special occasions and in times of hardship.

For Inuvialuktun - Mary Tatti. Working as a resource person for language officers at the Inuvialuit Cultural Resource Centre in Inuvik, Mary has also been instrumental in working on the original dictionaries and subsequent updates. She uses and encourages others to use their language on a daily basis.

Mr. Speaker, through the work of these individuals and people just like them in each and every community of the Northwest Territories, we will ensure that all our languages not only survive, but thrive. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it is a known fact and an embarrassing truth that our legislature is the only jurisdiction in Canada without representation of women in Cabinet. Our sister territory, Nunavut, has really shown us how they can do much better in this regard and I’d like to congratulate them on having chosen two women Ministers in Cabinet; both of them in senior portfolios. Mr. Speaker, I understand fully that under our system of consensus government the Premier does not have full control over who gets to sit on Cabinet, but he does have the power and responsibility to take actions that would show that he does not support that and to show leadership of inclusion.

In recognizing that, I made a statement in the House on December 12th -- the day after the Cabinet was chosen -- putting the Premier and Cabinet on notice and challenging them to do what is within their power to take strong measures to improve this situation. I suggested to the Premier that in all important senior appointments of the government and boards, I expect to see an increased number of women and aboriginal peoples being selected.

Mr. Speaker, there are 13 departments and corporations that report directly to the legislature. Of those there are currently only two women deputy ministers. In the last legislature it had increased from one to two and at some point we had three. In this Legislature so far it remains at two. But in the last government, the secretary to Cabinet, the most senior deputy minister, was female and the principal secretary to Cabinet, the chief political advisor to Cabinet, was female for a significant period of its life.

Rather than improving on this score, Mr. Speaker, we have taken major steps backward. With the appointment of a male principal secretary and Cabinet secretary and shuffling of all male deputy ministers in different positions, we are now faced with the real possibility where not only will there be no women Ministers, but all of their key advisors in the room will be men also. I must say, Mr. Speaker, the Premier and Cabinet Ministers should be ashamed of creating and condoning this wall of male club at the top.

Mr. Speaker, for the mainstream male operators, it might seem quite normal to sit around the table where all the players are men. They might not even notice that something is amiss when this is happening.

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. Mr. Speaker, for the mainstream male operators, it might seem quite normal to sit around the table where all the players are men. They might not even notice that something is amiss when this is happening. But I’m telling you this is not acceptable in the year 2004. I must say over and over again that we must have a government that reflects the face it serves. We expect the Premier and Cabinet to take intentional and deliberate actions to make sure this happens: that our decision-making body has real representation from the other gender and all of our different regions and socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds.

I realize it has only been four months in the life of this government, but so far the ratio of all senior government and board appointments has been 100 percent male to zero percent female. This has to improve, Mr. Speaker, and the Premier and every Cabinet Minister sitting on that side has a collective responsibility to make it happen.

I want to put the Premier and Cabinet Ministers on further notice that I expect to see a marked improvement by the time we meet again in this House in May and June. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’m here to tell you today that the Sahtu is open for business. There were four wells being drilled near Colville Lake and two wells drilled just south of Tulita from this past winter’s drilling season. Altogether, that makes six exploration wells and geographical programs running for a total of $56 million and 200 hundred jobs that have been created as a result of this exploration. This doesn’t even begin to recognize the potential, Mr. Speaker.

It is estimated that by the year 2009, if all goes well, more than 6,000 jobs will be created during the three years of construction of the pipeline. Once the pipeline is shipping gas from the Mackenzie Delta, billions of dollars will flow into the Northwest Territories.

Between now and then, however, four years will be spent in public consultation, technical studies, environmental field work, benefit plans and regulatory reviews. These are just the first steps to get the approval for the pipeline to be built. We have to get on with it, Mr. Speaker.

This government has a role to play and the government should be making it easier for these companies to get through all the consultations, environmental work and regulatory processes. Industry needs a one-stop shop, a coordinated approach. The government needs to train our people on how to negotiate with these companies to get all the benefits of exploration and development. We also need the government to encourage industry to work with us. We need help to form joint ventures so our people can get the training to build this pipeline and secure our future. We especially need the government to keep working on the settlement of land claims so all this development can proceed.

I can see an exciting future for our people, Mr. Speaker. We need the government’s help. Thank you.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’m going to respond to the Premier’s ministerial statement today on homelessness. I was struck when I was listening to this today, Mr. Speaker, with all of the nice government and fancy jargon that goes with this and it just absolutely sometimes is amazing to me the words that we find to describe things. The average person must wonder what in heaven’s name it means.

Mr. Speaker, the Premier said that homelessness is a complex social problem. It is a complex problem; I agree with him. However, I think the solutions might be a little simpler than what we are making. I think we are making the issue more complex than what it really is. He uses words like “as we move forward with a coordinated response." Now, these people are homeless, so I’m sure they’re very interested in options for employment and adequate income. When I think of homelessness, I think of emergency-type situations. Surely there’s some middle ground between somebody sleeping on the street or sleeping on someone’s sofa and figuring out how to build them an entire home addressed to their specific needs. Surely there’s, yes, a need for long-term solutions, but sometimes, Mr. Speaker, I just wish this government could just be a little bit more practical.

When I listen to this, it sounds like we’re going to build a whole religion around this or something. They have initiated steps, they’ve held a number of meetings, they’ve confirmed the government’s short-term priorities, the government’s long-term priorities. They’re trying to learn lessons from the work that they’re doing, they’re arranging workshops. They have drafted a homelessness paper for discussion, then it will be circulated for further discussion. Then they talk about preliminary steps.

So they are meeting with folks and NGOs and stuff in the communities who are probably more on top of this, but, Mr. Speaker, when I listen to this I just can’t help but think that maybe there’s a practical solution. Like maybe someone should take a crowbar down to the Akaitcho Hall building there next to the school and tear some of the boards off some of these buildings that are boarded up in town and put a big wood heater in there or something. Try and just take, for once, a practical approach to an urgent need instead of, like I said, building a whole department or -- I don’t even know how to describe it -- a whole doctrine around it. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to take this opportunity to recognize the efforts and dedication of Ms. Karen Polkoff of Inuvik. Ms. Polkoff is a tireless coach and a tireless volunteer with the Inuvik speed skating group. At a recent meet in Yellowknife, Mr. Speaker, the participants made a great deal of accomplishments which were made in recognition of Ms. Polkoff’s efforts. On behalf of my constituency, the people of Inuvik and the speed skating community, a heartfelt gratitude is extended to her for her tireless efforts. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to honour a young constituent of mine from Fort Simpson who has joined the Canadian Armed Forces. I was honoured to be at his signing-in ceremony and he’s in the gallery today. He’s the son of a former MLA who served in our House and his father served time in the Canadian Infantry. His name is Mr. Arthur Lafferty. He enrolled today, which is a pretty significant event for Nahendeh, and I’d just like to commend him on his efforts and following through on his dream to do something that he has always wanted to do.

He will complete his basic training at CFB St. Jean, Quebec. Following this, he will commence basic infantry training in Wainwright, Alberta, then join the ranks of the renowned Princess Patricia Light Infantry. Thank you very much and way to be there, Arthur.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the issue I want to address today is one that has come before territorial governments in the past and, in particular, the 13th and 14th Legislative Assemblies. The issue, Mr. Speaker, is the question of whether the Northwest Territories is the right name for our territory. The people of the NWT have spoken loud and clear on this topic and a vast majority have said leave it alone. Yes, there are a few individuals who -- for whatever reason, be it personal preference or leaving a legacy -- would like to see the name changed. Yes, there have been a few names tossed around. Names such as Denendeh, Deh Cho, and I can’t forget the most popular of all: BOB. Mr. Speaker, the last one I heard comes from my colleague, Mr. Yakeleya, and he suggests that we should be called Robin Hood because the federal government keeps robbing from us all the time.

Whatever the name, consensus has not and will not be easy to achieve on this issue. Our Senator, the Honourable Nick Sibbeston, has stepped up to the plate and has decided to take his turn at swinging the renaming bat. I hope, Mr. Speaker, that the pitcher is on target and the strikeout is fast and painless.

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Mr. Sibbeston claims the time is right, that our territory is maturing and is stable. However, Mr. Speaker, with all the land claims and self-government negotiations taking place at this time which have the potential of fragmenting our territory even further, I question whether stable is the right word to describe our territory.

Mr. Speaker, on February 23rd of this year, Hay River Town Council passed a motion rejecting the proposal of a name change and received overwhelming support. They further stated that they are proud of the unique history, tradition, cultures and identity associated with the Northwest Territories the world over. Mr. Speaker, we have spent a lot of money over the last few years promoting the Northwest Territories in the world and what it stands for.

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

The Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. You have unanimous consent to conclude your statement.

Mr. Speaker, Mr. Sibbeston has taken an approach to this issue that I have a lot of questions about and I would like to ask our Premier some questions during question period as to where our government stands on this issue seeing that, in my opinion, we have some much bigger fish to fry. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on Sunday, March 21st, 2004, Edward Fabien, a former chief of the Katlodeeche First Nation, passed away. Edward Fabien was a resident of the Hay River Reserve and throughout his life was an active member of that community. Edward had a long, distinguished career as the chief of the Katlodeeche First Nation. He was first appointed in 1965 by the elders and served as a chief until 1971. He was also one of the founding chiefs of the NWT Indian Brotherhood, which later became the Dene Nation. Mr. Fabien continued to be involved in local politics and helped establish what we know today as the Hay River Reserve.

Former Chief Fabien is survived by his children: sons, Roy, Frank and Lee Fabien; and daughter, Jackie Gibb; in addition to many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Last Thursday the community, friends and family said good-bye to this great Dene leader, father and community supporter. On behalf of the people of the Deh Cho, I would like to send our condolences to his family and know that he will be missed. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Sport and recreation and healthy lifestyles are more and more critical to our society, to the health of our population, to our enjoyment of this great land. We have many wonderful and successful partnerships in this between governments at all levels, between businesses here in the Northwest Territories, and, of course, a huge body of very dedicated and committed volunteers. Over time, though, Mr. Speaker, we have seen a number of different bodies come into existence and be recognized by government for some part or other in the sport and recreation milieu. There are, I believe, seven different organizations that have now been recognized by this government. They’re sharing a pie that hasn’t really grown very much, if at all, in the last few years and now, Mr. Speaker, we’re considering or -- if I have my information correct, we’re beyond the consideration point -- we are going to be seeing the creation of yet another one, the NWT council of sport and recreation partners, in the very near future.

I know, Mr. Speaker, that especially among the volunteers in the territorial sporting organizations -- and they number in the hundreds and serve thousands of people in the NWT -- even after a couple of years of working through some issues they’re still not clear, Mr. Speaker, on what the objectives, what the vision, what the purpose of this new organization. I want to speak for those people here today, Mr. Speaker, to point this area out and to look at whether or not we’re really, in creating this new organization, creating yet another layer of bureaucracy and administration for approval or consultation in what many see as an already top-heavy and over-governed system of sport in the Northwest Territories. I am going to be asking the Minister responsible for this some questions later on, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the gallery today, we have a young man I spoke about in my Member’s statement, Mr. Arthur Lafferty; his mother, Christina Holman; his partner, Tracy Covalenche; friends, Indira Bagg and Jake Waugh; and members of the recruitment team, Captain Frank Bird and Warrant Officer Floyd Powder. Mahsi cho.

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Welcome to the House. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Ramsay.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to again recognize a constituent: former Sergeant-at-Arms and former Speaker of this House, Mr. Tony Whitford. Thank you.

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Welcome. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. For those people who haven’t gotten recognized, I would like to welcome you to the House. Thank you for coming.

Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Zoe.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize my constituency assistant from Rae-Edzo, Ms. Sherry Knapaton-Pain in the gallery.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in my statement today, I spoke about the tremendous oil and gas development in the Sahtu. I explained how much our people need help in negotiating with the oil and gas companies in forming joint ventures and assessing and creating opportunities so that we can build that pipeline and get all the benefits we can from exploration and development. Will our Minister commit to working with the organizations in the Sahtu to determine what assistance they need in negotiations and how the department can assist them and when? Minister of RWED.

Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Bell.

Return To Question 98-15(3): Assisting Oil And Gas Development In The Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Certainly we recognize, as a government, the need to work with regional organizations and be supportive. The Member, in his statement, discussed the job opportunities that will flow from pipeline development. I think that is just the tip of the iceberg. The minute we have a pipeline, we have a conduit for gas to markets in the South. I think that we are going to just see an explosion in terms of activity. It is important that we are ready for it.

We have regional petroleum advisors as our eyes and ears on the ground who work with negotiations, but I will acknowledge that I think past governments haven’t paid enough attention to this very important file. We need to make sure that resources do flow. That is why I am particularly excited and encouraged that we are seeking to create a joint Member and Cabinet Member committee to address these issues and provide strategic advice and let us know where we can make improvements in terms of government programs and services.

The other point that I would make, I guess, is that there is quite a bit of federal help and federal resources available, but it is a matter of us working with the federal government to coordinate our approach and making sure that local communities and organizations can tap into these resources. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 98-15(3): Assisting Oil And Gas Development In The Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am pleased to hear about the initiative of the joint committee on oil and gas. Mr. Speaker, will the Minister commit to working with the organizations in the Sahtu to determine the assistance they need in forming joint ventures and how he can assist and when?

Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Bell.

Further Return To Question 98-15(3): Assisting Oil And Gas Development In The Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, again, I think that this is certainly the role of the department. We need to focus as much attention on this as possible to make sure that the business opportunities do accrue to northerners. I had a chance to meet with the Petroleum Services Association of Canada. I had an interesting discussion. It was enlightening for me to know that many of the business opportunities, many of the employment opportunities, likely won’t flow directly from the Producer’s Group and will be subcontracted to these service organizations. It is important that we work closely with them to understand their needs.

I did make a point that we learned from our experience with mining companies. The most successful business approach was meaningful joint venture, not store-front companies; not paying lip service, but meaningful partnerships. These folks acknowledged that that was their intention as well. I look forward to building on this and building on that initiative. We have a lot of work to do. Certainly, my department will coordinate with other government departments; with the Department of Education, Culture and Employment in terms of training and also with the federal government in this regard. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 98-15(3): Assisting Oil And Gas Development In The Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, also, would the Minister consider looking at the land claims agreements in the Sahtu region, where economic measures is a chapter that is being negotiated. It has been 10 years since the land claims were settled and to see how the people of the Sahtu region could benefit from that negotiated chapter. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Bell.

Further Return To Question 98-15(3): Assisting Oil And Gas Development In The Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think, certainly, the work that we will do as a joint committee -- I know the discussion we have had around the terms of reference acknowledges and makes this point very clear -- with our programs and services have to recognize the commitments that have been made, particularly by our government, in land claims agreements and also hold the federal government to the same test. The Auditor General recently reviewed some implementation agreements in terms of land claims and I think offered a fairly scathing review of implementation. It is important that, when the rubber hits the road, these land claims agreements are adhered to, are fully supported and our programming and services, we will go in lock step with those commitments that we have made. Thank you.

Final supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 98-15(3): Assisting Oil And Gas Development In The Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Minister, for one of the biggest forces in getting the pipeline off the ground and working through the Mackenzie Valley, the Treaty needs of the people in the local communities in the regions. The Minister informed the House as to what steps he will take with the Department of Education, Culture and Employment in terms of assessing the Treaty rights in their regions. Thank you.

Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Bell.

Further Return To Question 98-15(3): Assisting Oil And Gas Development In The Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think a good first step was the creation of the maximizing northern employment program, and the 14th Assembly got that work underway. I think the nature of many of the employment opportunities that will flow from this development is very technical. It will require a fair deal of education and training. We recognize that. We acknowledge that, and we know that we have a challenge on our hands. Some of the work may be sporadic in terms of construction. We think there is ongoing work in exploration and other opportunities.

It may be the case that, as we train people, after taking advantage of these opportunities, they will become more transient and move around the world to utilize their new expertise. I think that would be a good problem to have, Mr. Speaker. I have had discussions with my colleague, the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. This, certainly, is one of the greatest hurdles and greatest challenges on the horizon. If we don’t adequately build a capacity and aren’t able to train our people, we can be assured of one thing. That is that the jobs will flow to southerners. I don’t think that is acceptable. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, my question this afternoon is for Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. It relates to the imminent creation of the NWT council of sport and recreation partners. Could the Minister advise what are the issues and problems that are going to be resolved with the creation of this new sport governing body in the NWT? Thank you.

Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. Zoe.

Return To Question 99-15(3): Rationale For NWT Council Of Sport And Recreation Partners