Debates of May 28, 2004 (day 15)

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.