Debates of March 29, 2004 (day 10)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I stated in my Member’s statement, the issue of name change for the Northwest Territories seems to have surfaced again, this time with our Senator, the Honourable Nick Sibbeston. I would like to ask our Premier if our government has a position on this issue, considering that we have heard from the public at least twice on this issue. Does our government have a position on whether we want to see a name change or not? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Premier, Mr. Handley.

Return To Question 100-15(3): Issue Of Name Change For The Northwest Territories

Mr. Speaker, our government’s priorities are determined by the discussions we have here in this House as well as by other groups and agencies who provide us advice or direction on what should be our highest priorities. Mr. Speaker, to date, I have not had anyone tell me that the name change should be on our short list of high priority items we need to achieve as a government. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary, Mr. Delorey.

Supplementary To Question 100-15(3): Issue Of Name Change For The Northwest Territories

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am glad to hear the Premier say that, that he does look at priorities. Is the Premier prepared to look at what Members’ priorities are as far as name change is concerned, what their views are on that and relate those views to the Senator? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Premier, Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 100-15(3): Issue Of Name Change For The Northwest Territories

Mr. Speaker, when the Senator first raised this issue, he did contact me. At that point, I did tell him that I had received no advice from Members that this should be a priority. We have other things that we wanted to focus on. Unless I hear otherwise, then I will continue to give him that same message whenever I speak with him. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Delorey.

Supplementary To Question 100-15(3): Issue Of Name Change For The Northwest Territories

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this issue has been before us before. We have heard talk about it before. I am wondering if the Premier could tell me if government does know how much it would cost if the government should change the name of the Northwest Territories to something else. Has there been a cost analysis done of what it would cost this government if that should happen? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Laughter

Mr. Premier, Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 100-15(3): Issue Of Name Change For The Northwest Territories

Mr. Speaker, in spite of the suggestion of the other side that we do a study on it, I will not do one on this. There is no estimate that has been done on it. It would depend on how we did it if it was a name change, whether we did it in all one sweep or whether we did it over time. But, at this point, the issue has not reached the point in its importance that I would even think about doing any kind of study at this time. I realize the Members were joking in asking that we do a study on this. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Final supplementary, Mr. Delorey.

Supplementary To Question 100-15(3): Issue Of Name Change For The Northwest Territories

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I guess we can look at it as a joke, but from the people’s perspective out there, that is one issue that they talk about all the time. We talk about changing the name of the Territories and what we have spent to get the Territories to where it is today and what it would cost to change the name. I am going to ask the question to the Premier on process. The Senator mentions, in his pamphlet that he put out, "that eventually I would introduce a bill to change the name of the territory in the Senate, perhaps as early as this fall." Could that possibly happen that way, that now the name of the Territories would change at the federal level and where we wouldn’t even have an input into it? Is that possible? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Premier, Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 100-15(3): Issue Of Name Change For The Northwest Territories

Mr. Speaker, I believe that, technically, that is a federal decision. It could happen that way, but I would be amazed if there was ever an effort on the part of the federal government to change the name of the Northwest Territories without consulting with the people in the territory. So I don't believe for a minute that that would happen by fall. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.