Debates of May 31, 2004 (day 16)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d just like to recognize a friend and former colleague of mine in the gallery, Mr. Gerry Cheezie, the manager of the housing projects in Ndilo.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions this afternoon are for the Premier, Mr. Handley, as he has taken on, at least on an interim basis, the duties and responsibility for MACA. It follows on my Member’s statement regarding the Sport North organization and the creation of the proposed sport and recreation council. I want to compliment the Premier for being there. He heard the message quite clearly and, I think, bluntly from this organization that as they want to participate in the improvement of the sport organization and they need to know what the circumstance is.

Could Mr. Handley, the Minister, articulate for us the issues and difficulties that are being addressed in the creation of this proposed new sport and recreation council? Thank you.

Mr. Premier, Mr. Handley.

Return To Question 175-15(3): Proposed Sport And Recreation Council

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Northwest Territories would be proud of the achievements of a lot of our people, both in sports and recreation. We do have challenges though, as many Members have mentioned in this House, of having a fair distribution of opportunity for people, particularly from the small communities. So the one challenge that the proposed board would have would be to work to ensure that our small communities and remote communities have fair opportunity to take advantage of the sports and recreation activities that are available to northerners.

Second, Mr. Speaker, is to ensure that we have representation from all of the Territories on the board, that all the people, whether they’re from small communities or large communities, from the North or the South, also have a chance to participate and be part of the operation and decision-making on sports and recreation.

The third area, Mr. Speaker, is on decision making. It’s sometimes frustrating for people to have decisions made for them by organizations that they may not be represented on. So trying to find a way of more fair decision making for all people in the Northwest Territories, all communities, large and small, North and South, remote and large centres, is the third challenge.

Mr. Speaker, generally, those are the three challenges that are put out to the proposed board. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 175-15(3): Proposed Sport And Recreation Council

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the outline of those issues. The Premier mentioned that fair decision making is part of the role of governance, and I would be one of the first to agree that this is something we should all strive for. But I would remind the Premier of a message that came through, at least pretty clearly to me when I was listening to the discussion yesterday morning and in previous years from Sport North meetings, that there’s a large body of sport volunteers that feel they have not been included in the decision making regarding the creation of this new sports council. Can the Premier advise of the kind of communications and dialogue that has gone on where things may have been missed with Sport North on this issue? Thank you.

Two questions. Mr. Premier.

Further Return To Question 175-15(3): Proposed Sport And Recreation Council

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There are a lot of sport organizations in the Northwest Territories. In fact, there are five main groups that are represented in the discussions and in the proposed board and those, as we know, include the Sport North board itself, the Aboriginal Sports Circle of the Western Arctic, the Beaufort-Delta Sahtu Recreation Association, the NWT Recreation and Parks Association, and the Mackenzie Recreation Association.

Mr. Speaker, as well, I may point out that the Sport North board does involve or include 27 territorial sports organizations in itself. So there has been a lot of involvement by most of the boards, if not all of them. Mr. Speaker, I know there have been some communication difficulties, I was told yesterday. Those are things we want to work to overcome. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Final supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 175-15(3): Proposed Sport And Recreation Council

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Sport North Federation yesterday afternoon, after the presentation that the Premier gave, passed a resolution. It is a six-point resolution and it very clearly indicates that they still have yet to really come on side with this process. In fact, the first of their six recommendations is that MACA halt the current sport and recreation council process immediately. Would the Premier respond to this? Is the Premier prepared to respond to this today, even as the interim Minister? Is this something that he will ask the Minister? I take it that there will be a new Minister of MACA. Will that new Minister be directed to halt the process as the Sport North Federation has requested? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Premier. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 175-15(3): Proposed Sport And Recreation Council

Mr. Speaker, I don’t want to halt the process because this has been an ongoing consultation since October 2001, when Minister Allen at the time began the process. There have been a number of consultations that have been held. Some of them seem to not have reached the people that they should have. It’s been a long consultation process. I’m not tied, as I said yesterday, to a June 18th date. That was thrown out as being the date for implementation of this. But I do want to continue to work toward coming up with a board that represents all the sports organizations and volunteers and people who work with our young people in sports and recreation.

Mr. Speaker, the other piece I need to find out is, yesterday I met with the Sport North board and its representation. I still want to find out from the other four partners where they stand on this and ensure that everybody has all of the information that is necessary before we move ahead with this. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions today are for the Minister of the Department of Justice, the Honourable Charles Dent. It’s to do with my Member’s statement and the process used for maintenance enforcement. I’m not going to get into any specific case, but just for the policy surrounding maintenance enforcement, first of all, Mr. Speaker, I would like the Minister to explain to me what the role of the sheriff is. Is the sheriff actually an employee of this government? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister of Justice, Mr. Dent.

Return To Question 176-15(3): Maintenance Enforcement Policies

Mr. Speaker, I believe that the sheriff is an employee of the government, yes.

Supplementary, Mr. Delorey.

Supplementary To Question 176-15(3): Maintenance Enforcement Policies

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as well, I’d like the Minister to inform the House of why there is a fee charged for when there are goods seized on behalf of a parent that is receiving maintenance enforcement, and in order to try and get some of that money the government or sheriff would move to seize some property. Why is there a fee charged for the seizure of that property? Is it a flat fee or is it based on how big the article is, what it’s worth? How does that work? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister of Justice, Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 176-15(3): Maintenance Enforcement Policies

Thank you. Mr. Speaker, I don’t know if I can answer all the detail of the question the Member has posed. However, it’s not uncommon for this government and most governments to charge fees for services that they provide to the public. For instance, if you go in and want to register a document in court registries, there is a fee. If you want to get a driver’s licence, there is a fee for that. When the public asks that a service be performed that isn’t being provided to everybody, it isn’t unusual that there would be a fee charged. My understanding is that that’s the situation also with maintenance enforcement, that if a sheriff has to take some action there is a fee charged for it. It’s not just in maintenance enforcement, it would be the same with serving papers and so on. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Delorey.

Supplementary To Question 176-15(3): Maintenance Enforcement Policies

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the other part of that question was is this fee charged as a flat fee, or is it based on a wide range of the articles being seized? The other question I had, Mr. Speaker, is if it is also common practice to have items that are seized stored somewhere and have storage fees accumulating on this item before it goes for sale. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister of Justice, Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 176-15(3): Maintenance Enforcement Policies

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can’t answer Mr. Delorey’s question about whether or not it’s a flat fee for every service that’s performed. I would expect on most occasions it is a flat fee per service, but I can’t say that with certainty. I would be happy to investigate and get back to him on that.

On the other case, if an article is seized and stored somewhere, then, yes, it is common for charges to be levied for that storage, particularly if a third party is responsible for the storage. For instance, if a car is seized for non-payment of some bill and there’s a judgment received, if that car has to be stored at the property of the company, that towed the car then, as well as the fees owing, whoever owned the car, if they wanted it back, would have to pay the storage fees.

Final supplementary, Mr. Delorey.

Supplementary To Question 176-15(3): Maintenance Enforcement Policies

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the part that gives me great concern when we’re adding fees to articles is I don’t know whether there’s any study done as to what articles are worthwhile seizing if there’s going to be a fee charged to it and then a daily rental or storage fee if it’s going to be there for two months. I would expect that with the amount of government property there is everywhere across the Territories, there must be a place that we can store this without accumulating daily fees. Why are we even bothering charging it if it’s not going to bring in any money for who it’s intended to benefit? Is that consideration given to use government properties in the communities rather than having it somewhere where there’s a daily fee attached to it? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister of Justice, Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 176-15(3): Maintenance Enforcement Policies

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would agree with Mr. Delorey that we should try and minimize any expenses in these sorts of situations and maximize the payments that would be going to affected individuals. I will certainly look into whether or not we can, in the future at least, find a way to use government properties for storage and I’ll report back to the Member what my findings are. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions today are to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. As I stated in my Member’s statement, the Metis people aren’t eligible for university and college entry programs. I realize the department is only delivering programs as directed by the federal government’s policies, however, Mr. Speaker, can the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment tell me whether the department has ever considered extending the university and college entry programs to Metis people? Thank you.

Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Dent.

Return To Question 177-15(3): Metis Access To Aboriginal College Entrance Program

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can tell the Member that on more than one occasion during the 13th Assembly when I was Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, I sent letters to the federal government and asked the Ministers to reconsider their position on the university and college entrance program, which is offered only for treaty people. I have always been rebuffed in those approaches. I haven’t tried it again since becoming Minister, but I am prepared to immediately write to the federal government and again see if they will reconsider their position.

Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 177-15(3): Metis Access To Aboriginal College Entrance Program

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Mr. Minister. There are several constituents in the Sahtu region who have applied for programs and been turned down. What type of interim solutions can we provide to some of my constituents in the Sahtu region with regard to continuing on with their education and training for the upcoming opportunities that they see in the Sahtu? This government tells the people in the Sahtu that there is some way we can look at that issue in the interim. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 177-15(3): Metis Access To Aboriginal College Entrance Program

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just want to reinforce what the Member said in his statement. This is a federal program and we deliver it in the Northwest Territories only for the convenience of our residents to make sure that it’s easier for people to get it, rather than having to write to someone farther away to get it. We don’t set the terms and conditions. What the residents of the Sahtu will have is access to the same programs that residents have across the Northwest Territories, which in general are very supportive of education and training. If the Member has some specific issues, I would certainly welcome an opportunity to meet with him and see whether or not there are some programs that would meet this individual’s needs. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 177-15(3): Metis Access To Aboriginal College Entrance Program

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Mr. Minister. I will take you up on your offer to meet at a later date. As we know, sometimes we send information out to the federal government and some days it takes very long. Like the devolution issue. It takes a long time to get some answers from the federal government.

Mr. Speaker, the present student financial assistance program will provide assistance for 20 semesters of university. Would the Minister consider allowing Metis people to attend the university and college interest program through Aurora College under the overall eligibility? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 177-15(3): Metis Access To Aboriginal College Entrance Program

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would have to take a look at the terms and conditions under which the program is offered. As I said, it’s a federal program. The federal government pays for the entire cost of the program and, therefore, they set the rules and conditions of who qualifies for it. We may not have the flexibility to allow for that, even if somebody was prepared to pay. But I can’t say that for sure, so I’ll look into it and get back to the Member.

Final supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 177-15(3): Metis Access To Aboriginal College Entrance Program

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I thank the Minister. I guess I would ask him if he would consider looking at some of the policies that he alluded to that may help the Metis people access other programs. Right now you have to go into low income support or to the ARDA programs and they get bounced around. So, Mr. Speaker, I would ask if the Minister could look at his programs again and look at some of the other programs within his department that would help alleviate some of this frustration that the Metis people are facing today in terms of getting their higher education and being a productive force for the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 177-15(3): Metis Access To Aboriginal College Entrance Program

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it’s in all our interests to make sure anybody who is capable of getting a higher education in the Northwest Territories is given a hand to get that education. So the department is constantly reviewing the programs that are offered and looking at ways to improve them. I would say that as part of our regular reviews we will continue to do that and make sure our programs are offered in the best way possible. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, last week in a Member’s statement I raised the issue of constituents of mine who have children who have been suspended from the public school system who are now at home with very little opportunity for education in the community. I didn’t have a chance to follow up with questions to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, so I’d like to do that today. My question for the Minister is what education opportunities are available for these children who cannot be accommodated in the public school system? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Dent.

Return To Question 178-15(3): Students Suspended From School

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, each individual situation is going to require a unique solution, so it is difficult to answer it in a general way. There are in every instance monies available for dealing with children who have special needs given to the divisional education councils, which in turn funds the district education authorities to provide the services. So the legislation in the Northwest Territories requires that the councils provide an appropriate level of education for all students, and that may take the provision of an individual’s support in a classroom, or it may take some discussion within the community of a different approach, which could involve any number of different facilities or situations. So I can’t answer specifically that something is available. The best opportunity would be to see as much as possible the education provided within the school so that everybody is provided with an opportunity to attend school. Sometimes that isn’t always possible, but that is the first choice. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 178-15(3): Students Suspended From School