Debates of May 28, 2004 (day 15)

Mr. Speaker, we are engaged in discussions throughout the North with developers, with the development corporations, with the private industry. We are talking to a number of people who are interested in new concepts. I am not clear what the Member is referring to, but I would be wiling to take any proposals or any contact names that the Member is referring to and take it under advisement. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I stand alone on behalf of the people of the Sahtu to ask about the possibility of this government moving towards more recognition of the Sahtu with regard to a stand-alone region. My question is to the Premier. I am making a request of this government to devolve some programs from Ottawa to the Northwest Territories. I was asked this request by the Sahtu region, that this government takes the leadership in setting the example that the Sahtu also becomes a stand-alone region where decisions are being made in the Sahtu by the Sahtu people. Right now, it has to go to Inuvik and come back. I would like to ask the Premier to inform the House and the people of the Sahtu what his plans are in terms of developing more authority into the Sahtu region. Thank you.

Mr. Premier.

Return To Question 174-15(3): Devolution Of Government Programs To The Sahtu Region

Mr. Speaker, over the past number of years, there has been a gradual movement of creating more self-sufficiency within the Sahtu region. Education, for example, has been in the Sahtu for quite a number of years. The last couple of years there have been moves to establish health in the same way. So, Mr. Speaker, there has been considerable work done on this already. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 174-15(3): Devolution Of Government Programs To The Sahtu Region

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I applaud the 14th Assembly and this government to start moving towards the autonomy of the Sahtu region. More specifically, I would like to ask the Premier if he would consider moving FMBS out of the Inuvik area and having the office in the Sahtu region. Right now, we are considered out of the Inuvik region and I would like to ask the Premier to consider moving the Financial Management Board office out of Inuvik into the Sahtu region. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Premier.

Further Return To Question 174-15(3): Devolution Of Government Programs To The Sahtu Region

Mr. Speaker, that issue has come up before and our government is currently looking at the workload. We have to keep an eye on our fiscal situation as well, and our capacity as a government, and also the workload that will be generated doesn’t warrant a separate office. That is being reviewed right now as we speak. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 174-15(3): Devolution Of Government Programs To The Sahtu Region

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, given the answer from the Premier, I would like to ask would this government consider calling the Sahtu region and these programs…Sometimes we are lumped into the Inuvik region and sometimes we get confused. In some cases, it doesn’t make much sense in terms of the programs that are being developed in the Sahtu region. I would like to ask this government if they would consider calling us our own stand-alone region. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Premier.

Further Return To Question 174-15(3): Devolution Of Government Programs To The Sahtu Region

Mr. Speaker, certainly the policy of our government is to distribute our services and our programs as equitably as possible. That includes moving some things out to other communities. In the case of the Sahtu, there are some things that may make good sense to move to the Sahtu as a stand-alone region. There are also some other challenges that are very expensive when we try to go in that direction. For example, to try to build a stand-alone hospital in the Sahtu may not make good fiscal sense. Mr. Speaker, I want to say that we are reviewing this. We certainly support developing regional services, and the issues that Mr. Yakeleya is raising are ones that we are reviewing. Thank you.

Final Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 174-15(3): Devolution Of Government Programs To The Sahtu Region

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I understand the cost of doing business in the Sahtu is expensive because we are isolated and we don’t have any roads up there going into the Sahtu. Everything is flown in and by summer it’s by boat and in the winter we have access to the winter road, but only for a short period of time. Would the Premier consider committing to some good discussions with the Sahtu leadership in terms of moving our region to a stand-alone region that will be fast tracked to the Sahtu leadership in terms of dealing with programs and services with the Government of the Northwest Territories? Thank you.

Just recognizing the clock, time has run out for oral questions, but I will allow the Premier to answer the question. Mr. Premier.

Further Return To Question 174-15(3): Devolution Of Government Programs To The Sahtu Region

Mr. Speaker, I would be pleased and honoured to meet with the Sahtu leadership to discuss this issue further with their MLA and look at how we might work together on it.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would just like to table a report to the Office of the Public Guardian on Aboriginal Partners and Youth Society. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document entitled Report on the Staff Retention Policy, Year Ending March 31, 2004. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Monday, May 31, 2004, I will move the following motion: Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Sahtu, that the Premier immediately signal to the people of the Northwest Territories, to this assembly and to the Prime Minister his intent to pursue provincehood for the Northwest Territories; and further, that the Premier begin immediately to seek the support of provincial Premiers for the Northwest Territories to become a province; and furthermore, that the Premier report back to this assembly on his progress during the fall session. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Monday, May 31, 2004, I will move the following motion: Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Kam Lake, that Ms. Nitya Iyer be appointed as the Equal Pay Commissioner, in accordance with the Northwest Territories Public Service Act, by the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories as recommended by the Legislative Assembly; and further, that the Speaker be authorized to communicate the effective date of appointment to the Commissioner. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Monday, May 31, 2004, I will move the following motion: Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River South, that this assembly formally revoke the pleasure of the assembly from the appointment of the Honourable Henry Zoe as Member of the Executive Council; and further, that this assembly recommend that a new Member be chosen to be a Member of the Executive Council.

I call Committee of the Whole to order. What is the wish of the committee today? Before I ask that, I think we will call a break.

Sorry, I wasn’t here for the conclusion of Committee of the Whole yesterday. I am sorry. I thought we were still dealing with something. Mr. Menicoche.

I move that we report progress.

Thank you. The motion is in order. It’s not debatable. All those in favour of the motion? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

I will now rise and report progress.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, your committee would like to report progress and, Mr. Speaker, I move that the report of Committee of the Whole be concurred with. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Can I have a seconder for that? Mr. Ramsay. 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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Thebacha, that Bill 6, An Act to Amend the Payroll Tax Act, 1993 and the Income Tax Act, be read for the third time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Mr. Speaker, there will be a meeting of Caucus at 12:00 noon today in the Caucus Room and a meeting of the Accountability and Oversight Committee at 9:00 a.m. Monday morning.

Orders of the day for Monday, May 31, 2004 at 1:30 p.m.:

Prayer

Ministers' Statements

Members' Statements

Returns to Oral Questions

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Oral Questions

Written Questions

Returns to Written Questions

Replies to Opening Address

Petitions

Reports of Standing and Special Committees

Reports of Committees on the Review of Bills

Tabling of Documents

Notices of Motion

Notices of Motion for First Reading of Bills

Motions

- Motion 8-15(3), Pursuit of Provincehood for the

Northwest Territories

- Motion 9-15(3), Appointment of Equal Pay

Commissioner

- Motion 10-15(3), Revocation of Appointment to the

Executive Council

First Reading of Bills

- Bill 7, An Act to Amend the Legal Profession Act

- Bill 8, Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act,

2004

- Bill 9, Write-off of Assets and Debts Act, 2004-2005

- Bill 10, Forgiveness of Debts Act, 2004-2005

- Bill 11, Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 1,

2004-2005

- Bill 12, An Act to Amend the Education Act

Second Reading of Bills

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

- Bill 5, Tlicho Community Government Act

- Committee Report 4-15(3), Report on the Review of

Bill 5, Tlicho Community Government Act

20.

Report of Committee of the Whole

21.

Third Reading of Bills

22.

Orders of the Day

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. This House stands adjourned until Monday, May 31, 2004, at 1:30 p.m.

---ADJOURNMENT

The House adjourned at 11:31 a.m.