Debates of October 20, 2004 (day 24)

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Final supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Supplementary To Question 266-15(3): Staffing Appeals Process

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We could argue about this, but let me tell you the union has a designate, and that designate is not permitted to represent the appellant. I think that is another way of saying that it is a prop. Mr. Speaker, the Minister is not saying this, but I am getting a feeling that there is a process being worked out that may not be agreeable to the union. It is going to be maybe an opinion process that would not involve the employer or the union, it would just be a whole third-party process. Maybe that works for us, but I think the Minister is making a big mistake if he is not including the union in discussing this. Sooner or later, you are going to have to deal with that. He did not answer whether or not he is talking to the union about this. Could I get a commitment for the Minister to meet with the union and discuss issues so that whatever outcome comes out is not going to be backfiring on them? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 266-15(3): Staffing Appeals Process

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the union has been consulted in this process. The legislative proposal was brought forward to the committee. Based on that, we have gone ahead and drafted legislation. We are not quite finished with it. It is coming forward. As we feel, there has been consultation enough that we feel comfortable in developing legislation. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today my question is to the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. I just wanted to ask the Minister about another initiative that the local youth in Fort Resolution have taken upon themselves to try and get resolved. I am talking about the youth centre that has been sitting on the blocks and has been boarded up for the last year-and-a-half. The community is still struggling with dollars to open up the youth centre. They were given $80,000 about a year ago by the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs to buy a building, move it, and refinish it and open it up for a youth centre. Mr. Speaker, $80,000 doesn’t buy a youth centre in any community, especially when you have things like architectural costs which are required to meet government standards, taking out a big chunk of that money, leaving the community with a little pot of money which they really can’t do anything with. It is either you have all the money to hire a contractor to do all the work, or you just don’t do any at all. It seems like the youth in the community are basically taking on another infrastructure improvement initiative in their own hands, something that this government should be addressing. I just want to ask the Minister what his department is willing to commit as far as extra funding in the likes of $40,000 to seeing this youth centre becoming a reality in this year. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, honourable Minister McLeod.

Return To Question 267-15(3): Funding For Fort Resolution Youth Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the youth centre in the community of Fort Resolution is a project spearheaded by the community. We have made contributions to the community to the tune of $80,000. We had made previous contributions where, I believe, it was $14,000. At this point, if there is a problem, we would have to sit down with the community to see where the problem stems and where it lies. I am not aware where the problem is at this point. We would have to get our staff in there to meet with the community. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Villeneuve.

Supplementary To Question 267-15(3): Funding For Fort Resolution Youth Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Maybe I will just edify the Minister on what the problem is. The problem is that there is no money.

---Laughter

Basically, the money that was allotted to the community for this youth centre is not sufficient. Basically, their shortfall is to the tune of about $40,000, Mr. Speaker. With the government painting a bright fiscal picture with all of the new developments at the national level, I don’t see what the big issue is with scraping up $40,000 within Municipal and Community Affairs multi-million dollar budget to help the youth in the community. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 267-15(3): Funding For Fort Resolution Youth Centre

Thank you. Mr. Speaker, the proposal that came forward to the Community Initiatives program involved other contributions. It was never intended for the youth centre in Fort Resolution to be built solely on MACA or government funding. If there is a problem, if other partners in this initiative have not been fulfilling their end, we would certainly have to take a look at it and to see where our contribution has ended up and whether or not our involvement is going to continue in this whole initiative.

There is a proposal that comes forward, there are criteria, and we have a limit on the number contributions we make in any given community, which is one per year. So we would have to review the situation and see where the problem lays, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Time for oral questions has expired; however, I will allow you to ask your supplementary questions, Mr. Villeneuve.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to make a motion that I move that we extend the question period. Thank you.

Agreed.

I seek unanimous consent to extend question period.

Mr. Villeneuve, for the record could you restate the motion please?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move that we extend the question period. I seek unanimous consent to extend question period, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude question period. Are there any…to extend question period.

---Laughter

…to extend question period. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Question period will be extended. Supplementary, Mr. Villeneuve.

Supplementary To Question 267-15(3): Funding For Fort Resolution Youth Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I would like to thank my colleagues for extending question period.

Mr. Speaker, just getting back to some of the issues that the local youth and the residents have been working on in reference to the arena facility. Over the last year, the youth and the community council have been requesting extra dollars to help make improvements in the arena facility, which the youth again have taken it on themselves to make these improvements. They have allotted many hours and evenings to doing construction work themselves in the arena, Mr. Speaker.

When I went back there and looked at the improvements that they have made, it was like night and day, Mr. Speaker. This is all done through volunteer work using the few dollars that they do raise in school through bake sales and small school events. But, Mr. Speaker, I don’t think that the youth should be burdened by the fact that they themselves are going to have to come up with something like $40,000, in order to have their youth centre become useful and useable by them. So I just wanted to ask the Minister, through the co-management agreement that has been put in place in the community, how they intend to meet with the Deninu Community Council, the First Nations, and iron out some kind of solution where everybody can make a fair contribution to the centre. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 267-15(3): Funding For Fort Resolution Youth Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to point out to the Member again that we are not the lead on the project in Fort Resolution for a youth centre. The community is the lead, there are other partners, it was the intention to secure industry dollars and other dollars. If there is a problem with raising their share of the money, we would have to take a look at it.

We have certainly contributed a significant portion to this project. We have contributed our funding through the Community Initiatives program for this year. If there is still a need, we would have to be considering it for next year; an application, for next year. At this point, if there is a request being made by the Member, we certainly will take that seriously and set up a meeting with the community. However, there has been no request from the community leadership themselves to meet with us on this issue. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Short supplementary, Mr. Villeneuve.

Supplementary To Question 267-15(3): Funding For Fort Resolution Youth Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I guess the onus again would have to go back to the community members to file some kind of proposal, but I do believe that they have made numerous requests to the department to get the extra dollars that they are required, according to the government standards, building codes, et cetera. There are certain dollars that have to be allocated to make this a reality and, of course, they fell short, and they’ve gone out to industry and the industry came back with a few dollars, but really still fell quite short in meeting the final objective of $140,000, which basically is the number they are looking at.

So I just wanted to ask the Minister, if another proposal -- I’m sure it’s going to be one on a pile of others that he’s already received -- doesn’t get ignored and thrown by the wayside, and saying well, you got your Community Initiatives dollars already, there’s no use even talking about extra money. I just want to know how the Minister is going to address them this time because when they do….

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve, I heard a question there.

Thank you.

---Laughter

Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 267-15(3): Funding For Fort Resolution Youth Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the proposal that came forward for request, we did fund. It sounds, by the nature of the Member’s questioning, that there is a shortfall. We will certainly sit down with the community to discuss the shortfall. However, I would like to raise the point that we did fund our portion that was requested of us. It sounds like there is a problem with contributions that were to be made from other sources and we will have to revisit the whole initiative. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier today, Mr. Speaker, I spoke about the recent grizzly bear attack on one of my constituents, and the increasing problems our hunters, outfitters, and others are experiencing with grizzly bears. My question to the Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development is can the Minister tell me what are the steps he and his department are taking or have taken to curb the increasing problems we are having with grizzly bears? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Zoe. Minister of RWED, the Honourable Mr. Bell.

Return To Question 268-15(3): Steps Taken To Address Encounters With Grizzly Bears

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Let me first say, Mr. Speaker, that it was a very unfortunate incident that happened recently at the Colomac mine site, and very unfortunate that two people were injured. Although it’s not the first time this has ever happened, I would say injuries of this nature and these encounters are still relatively rare. Not to say that they don’t happen, and many times when they do happen it’s a very bad outcome.

The Member, in his statement, pointed out that we are involved and responsible for the protection of wildlife, but I would say that the department is very active in making sure we discuss with people in communities around the North, bear safety issues. We want to make sure that when people are out on the land that they are safe, whether they are working or hunting.

Unfortunately, in this incident the Member is correct; the people working did not have a gun at their disposal. A gun is not always assurance that the outcome will be successful either, certainly not for the bear, but it is no guarantee for the people out on the land. We have all heard of incidents where somebody is attacked by a bear and they are carrying a gun and unable to down the bear. So we work with communities, we have a web site that disseminates information about bear safety. The regional offices all have this information and meet with community members, and there are occasions when they are in schools talking about bear safety. I think that this is the kind of thing that we can do to ensure that when people are out in bear territory, they are aware of it and understand the steps that they need to take to be safe. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Supplementary, Mr. Zoe.

Supplementary To Question 268-15(3): Steps Taken To Address Encounters With Grizzly Bears

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my view, the response from the Minister is that it’s not something new that he’s taken to date. It’s been an ongoing thing. The department has been doing everything that he said he’s doing. My question was what steps has he or the department taken, because this problem has been on the increase for the last number of years, but nothing has been done in terms of changing the Wildlife Act or the regulations respecting grizzly bears. I know the department is working on a new proposed Wildlife Act and they’re always saying they’re going to deal with these types of issues within the new Wildlife Act. But because of the existing problems, are they going to do anything specifically to curb this issue that we’re having with grizzly bears right now? He didn’t really answer my question, Mr. Speaker, so I’d like to reiterate the same question to the Minister. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Zoe. Mr. Bell.

Further Return To Question 268-15(3): Steps Taken To Address Encounters With Grizzly Bears

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Member is right; the development of the Wildlife Act and the Species at Risk Act is underway. It has been underway for a number of years and obviously it’s a very slow process. We are required to consult with land claim organizations and with wildlife management groups. We want to make sure we consult with the entire public across the territory and all of the aboriginal organizations. It has been unwieldy. We have to make sure that we comply with the spirit and intent of all the land claim agreements, and we are aiming to do that. So, yes, I’ve run down a number of safety issues related to grizzly bears and black bears and the kinds of things the department has been doing for some time. The Member is right; this is nothing new. There are increased encounters because we’re spending a lot more time on the land because of the development, I think. It’s not my intention to come out with new provisions related to grizzly bears at this point. We know that you can’t sport hunt grizzly bears. I don’t think that’s what the Member is suggesting. If you are attacked by a grizzly bear, obviously you can kill it. You have to report to us that you’ve done so, but I think that short of the new wildlife legislation that we’ve been working on for some time and are implementing, I’m not aware of anything that the department is doing currently to change the rules around how we deal with problem grizzly bears. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Supplementary, Mr. Zoe.

Supplementary To Question 268-15(3): Steps Taken To Address Encounters With Grizzly Bears

Thank you. That’s the point I’m trying to make, Mr. Speaker, exactly what the Minister has indicated. It seems like the government, although they know we’re having increasing problems with grizzly bears, is not willing to do anything at this point in time. So my question to the Minister is would the Minister undertake to consult with all the regions pertaining to this specific grizzly bear issue to see what the best way is to resolve or manage or deal with improving the safety of the people on the land so it can be assured. Could he undertake that so he goes to the communities and talks to the band councils, the game councils, and seek information from them to see what the best way is or what else we can do to try and curb these increasing problems we’re having with grizzly bears? If it happens to be to change regulations, so be it. But if they come up with a different solution, let’s hear it. Why can’t he do something specifically to deal with this particular problem that we’re having with grizzly bears? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Zoe. Mr. Bell.

Further Return To Question 268-15(3): Steps Taken To Address Encounters With Grizzly Bears

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We can do that. We can certainly engage the regions in this discussion with communities. I think the first thing we can and will do is, in fact, confirm what the Member is suggesting, that there are increased incidents and run-ins of people with grizzly bears. I think that’s the first step. But even if we find that there isn’t a dramatic increase, I think it’s always a good practice to sit down and talk about safety and safe practices when out on the land. Obviously, when you go out into bear country there are a number of steps that you need to take to make sure you’re safe. Workplace safety issues, as well. I think in the case near Colomac, I’m not sure if it was a DIAND contractor, we need to be able to work with contractors and federal government departments to make sure that the kinds of things they require on their worksites don’t preclude worker safety. I think that’s very important. Where we can play an information dissemination role we’ll do that, but I would be interested in working with the regions who, I think, are going to have a very good handle on the issues locally and see if there aren’t other things that we can do besides the Wildlife Act and these kinds of things, see if there aren’t other things we can do to increase safety. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Your final supplementary, Mr. Zoe.

Supplementary To Question 268-15(3): Steps Taken To Address Encounters With Grizzly Bears

Final supplementary. Mr. Speaker, if the department is going to undertake my suggestion that they go to the regions and talk to people and part of that consultation as to how we can curb this increasing grizzly bear problem that we have for hunters and outfitters and other people who are going out on the land, as part of their consultation I know that the department has videos pertaining to bear safety. It is my understanding that they’re not translated into aboriginal languages. Could the Minister undertake to get these videos translated into aboriginal languages, so that when they do go talk to the communities they can also show these videos in terms of safety? At the same time, while he’s doing that, maybe he could also get suggestions from various people who are knowledgeable about the grizzly bear, how they act and how they do things in traditional ways out on the land. Maybe we can find some solution to try and curb this problem we’re having. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Zoe. Mr. Bell.

Further Return To Question 268-15(3): Steps Taken To Address Encounters With Grizzly Bears

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’ll certainly find out what information and materials we have available to us and what materials we use in the regions. I haven’t seen the videos. I’ll take it that they exist and the Member has seen them. I assume that they aren’t available in some of the aboriginal languages and we can look at that too, especially regionally. Obviously it’s not relevant for all regions, but we can talk about where it is relevant. I think there’s also some merit in looking at other materials and making sure that people in communities understand these. Obviously that’s the idea behind communicating. We need to make sure that people understand the material, and understand the issues that we’re discussing. If they can’t, then it’s certainly of no use. So we’ll look at that, and I can discuss that with the Member and we can talk about the usefulness of having these materials translated. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in keeping with my Member’s statement earlier today with respect to youth in our communities that are having a difficult time with certain issues, I had posed my questions previously to the Minister of Health and Social Services. I’d now like to ask some questions to the Minister of Justice on the same vein, and I hope the Minister of Justice will show a little more enthusiasm for the problem and the issue because it is very, very serious and I don’t want to hear oh, there’s really nothing we can do, and it’s a complicated issue. I know it’s a complicated issue. Mr. Speaker, as a result of a change in legislation as federally mandated regarding young offenders, has there been a decrease in the number of young offenders who have been charged and incarcerated in the Northwest Territories?

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The Minister of Justice, Mr. Dent.

Return To Question 269-15(3): Impact Of Youth Criminal Justice Act

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the issue is complex and it does involve or require a cross-jurisdictional, or cross-departmental response. One of the ways in which we’re hoping to deal with that is that the social envelope is working together to try and improve on case management so that we have people in the communities who work in the different departments, whether it’s Justice, Health and Social Services, or corrections, to deal with people in a case management process. We are hoping that we are going to be able to improve the way in which we deal with people who have challenges that need to be addressed.

When the Youth Criminal Justice Act was first introduced in Canada, we did see a reduction in the numbers of people who were incarcerated. It was fairly dramatic. It was something that we had expected because when previous changes to the Young Offenders Act had been brought in, we saw the same sort of reduction in the incarcerates. What we expected was that as time went on we would see an increase in numbers, and to date we are seeing an increase in the last few months over what we had seen right after the passage of the act. So, yes, there has been a substantial decrease in the numbers of people incarcerated under the Youth Criminal Justice Act compared to the Young Offenders Act, but we are seeing a trend where the numbers are increasing in our facilities. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 269-15(3): Impact Of Youth Criminal Justice Act

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So if there are fewer young offenders being incarcerated, then it follows that there are other options and alternatives that are contemplated when these young people do run into trouble with the law. I would like to know what those alternatives are at the community level. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.