Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Government of the Northwest Territories firmly believes in the inherent right of aboriginal people to manage their own resources and govern their own affairs. For years we’ve been active participants in the land claims and self-government negotiations that have seen real power and control pass back to NWT aboriginal governments. That commitment has extended to devolution negotiations as well. From the beginning of our negotiations, we have made sure that aboriginal governments have had every opportunity to participate in a meaningful and active way.
The current devolution process began at a May 2001 meeting of the then Intergovernmental Forum, consisting of aboriginal leadership, the Premier of the Northwest Territories and the Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs. It was at this meeting that an agreement was reached on a memorandum of intent that stated the intention of all parties to begin negotiations.
Tripartite negotiations between Canada, the GNWT and representatives from the aboriginal governments began in September of 2002. The aboriginal governments formed the Aboriginal Summit shortly thereafter, selecting a chief negotiator and adding legal and research staff. The GNWT and Canada shared the cost of funding the Aboriginal Summit to represent NWT aboriginal governments in the devolution negotiations. While the summit has since dissolved, most aboriginal governments continue to participate in negotiations, either at the table or as observers. We continue to
fund aboriginal government participation up to the present day, with the GNWT alone contributing approximately $3.9 million since 2001 in addition to the roughly equal contributions from Canada.
Finance Canada, the lead federal department for resource revenue sharing negotiations, chose to conduct these discussions at a separate table, although these were linked to the main table devolution talks. It was Canada’s preference to conduct these negotiations on a bilateral basis with the GNWT. The GNWT continued to advocate for a seat for aboriginal governments at these negotiations and their lead or chief negotiator attended these sessions as part of the GNWT’s caucus. In addition, the GNWT initiated its own bilateral negotiations with aboriginal governments on how resource revenues would be shared among NWT governments following devolution. This commitment to bilateral negotiations with aboriginal governments on resource revenue sharing continues and provisions reflecting this from part of the proposed devolution AIP.
These early negotiations resulted in a devolution framework agreement, which was signed by the GNWT, Canada and aboriginal governments in March 2004, indicating agreement among all parties on the broad outlines of devolution. In 2005, Canada made an offer to the NWT parties. The Aboriginal Summit’s negotiator was prepared to recommend the draft AIP and advanced it that summer at a number of general assemblies. However, the GNWT declined the offer, not agreeing with Canada over primarily financial matters, including A-base, one-time costs and net fiscal benefit. Changes in ministerial leadership and two federal elections that ultimately resulted in a change of government in 2006 were also factors in the slowing of negotiations.
While negotiations with Canada stalled, discussions between the GNWT and aboriginal governments continued. In May 2007, the GNWT and four aboriginal governments – the Inuvialuit, Gwich’in, Sahtu and NWT Metis Nation – signed an AIP on resource revenue sharing that would see 25 percent of the net fiscal benefit shared among aboriginal governments. The AIP included provisions for the inclusion of the remaining three aboriginal governments in the future negotiations of a final resource revenue sharing agreement. The four aboriginal governments and the GNWT then agreed on a revised devolution agreement-in-principle that they formally jointly transmitted to Minister Prentice for signature. The Minister declined and suggested returning to the negotiation table. The main issues of money remained.
With little left to discuss until Canada and the GNWT had resolved the outstanding financial issues, aboriginal governments agreed that negotiations should continue on a bilateral basis. During these bilateral discussions with Canada since the fall of 2007, the GNWT continued to keep its aboriginal government partners updated on progress through eight regional aboriginal leadership meetings and by providing copies of correspondence with Canada.
During the spring and summer of 2009, Canada and the GNWT began to make progress on resolving the outstanding bilateral issues. With the final elements of a devolution AIP starting to come together, plans were made to brief aboriginal governments and resume full tripartite negotiations. During November and December 2009 and January 2010, briefings were given to:
the president and vice-president of the Gwich’in Tribal Council;
the chair of the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation and senior officials;
all Tlicho leadership and senior staff;
all Sahtu leadership and senior officials;
the majority of Akaitcho chiefs; and
NWT Metis Nation leadership and officials.
Canada provided a separate technical briefing to Dehcho representatives in January 2010.
A technical session with Canada, the GNWT and aboriginal governments was held in January 2010 and main table negotiations were held in April and June 2010. The Inuvialuit and NWT Metis were full participants in the main table negotiations with Canada and the GNWT. The Tlicho, Akaitcho and Dehcho attended the negotiations as observers. The Gwich’in Tribal Council had formally withdrawn from participation in April 2010, despite having some signatories to the 2007 AIP on resource revenue sharing between the GNWT and aboriginal governments.
Following the main table negotiations in June, there was agreement that negotiators had reached the extent of their mandate and a proposed AIP should be forwarded to leadership for consideration.
As I said at the beginning, every reasonable effort has been made to include aboriginal governments in a devolution negotiation in an active and meaningful way. It is simply untrue to suggest, as some have, that the process leading to the proposed AIP excluded anyone that was willing to participate or simply is the result of bilateral discussions between Canada and the GNWT.
I believe the proposed AIP provides the basis for a deal on devolution that will create real benefits for all residents of the NWT. Without devolution, the NWT share of resource revenues will continue to be zero. We have made every effort over the past nine years to involve NWT aboriginal governments in the negotiations and there is nothing in the proposed AIP they have not had a chance to review and fully consider many times before.
Gaining control over public lands, water and resources will be a major step in the political evolution of the NWT, putting NWT residents in charge of decision-making and giving us access to revenues that are now flowing to Ottawa. All NWT residents will benefit from devolution and it is my hope that NWT aboriginal governments will be prepared to take the next step in a process with us. We look forward to the time when they will sign on to become full participants and beneficiaries of devolution.
Thank you, Mr. Roland. The honourable Minister responsible for Health and Social Services, Ms. Lee.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Decisions surrounding health care, particularly who pays for what, are some of the most contentious and sensitive that our government faces. We have seen this over the past few years as we have attempted to resolve the inconsistencies between uninsured supplementary health benefits programs in the NWT.
Later today I will be tabling the Report of the Supplementary Health Benefits Joint Working Group. The report has been developed using our Legislative Assembly’s consensus process, in a partnership of Executive Council and the Standing Committee on Priorities and Planning.
I want to recognize and thank the Joint Working Group members who took on the challenge of addressing this complex area: my co-chair, Mrs. Groenewegen; Mr. Yakeleya; Ms. Bisaro; and Cabinet colleagues, the Honourable Michael Miltenberger and the Honourable Michael McLeod.
On October 22, 2010, I received a letter from the Standing Committee on Priorities and Planning communicating the results of their review of the working group report. I have shared this response with the Executive Council, and again, in the spirit of consensus government, we have agreed to move forward with changes consistent with the principles agreed to by the Joint Working Group and to implement these changes during the life of this government.
Based on these principles, the Executive Council will rescind the 2007 policy on supplementary health benefits.
---Applause
The Department of Health and Social Services will concentrate its efforts on the modernization of our existing policy framework. We will develop proposals for amendments to the Extended Health Benefits and Metis Health Benefits programs to require the use of third-party insurance as the first option and to ensure parity with the federal Non-Insured Health Benefits Program. We will also develop a pharmaceutical strategy to include generic drugs, drug pricing, and efficiencies and cost containment of pharmaceuticals, procurement, distribution and access.
Also consistent with the recommendations of the Joint Working Group, the 2004 grandfathering of extended health benefits will be eliminated.
Mr. Speaker, I will make a further announcement next week regarding the implementation of these changes.
As we know, Mr. Speaker, the NWT is not alone in facing the challenge of sustaining its health care system in an environment of escalating costs and other critical pressures. Difficult decisions about what we can afford and what we cannot will continue to challenge this House in the months and years ahead. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Ms. Lee. The honourable Minister responsible for Environment and Natural Resources, Mr. Miltenberger.
Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories supports global and local actions to reduce emissions of the greenhouse gases that cause climate change.
We continue to build on our efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by advancing a number of alternative energy sources. This government’s energy priorities include solar, wind, hydroelectricity, geothermal and biomass energy projects.
Mr. Speaker, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources has taken on the challenge of expanding the use of solar, wind, geothermal and biomass energy. Although widely used elsewhere in the world, the technologies involved in using these energy sources are relatively new to the Northwest Territories. Through a combination of studies, business case assessments, subsidies and demonstration projects, ENR is making important progress toward expanding the use of alternative energy sources.
Mr. Speaker, experience has shown us that photovoltaic technology is a reliable and cost-effective source of renewable energy for small off-grid camps and residences. We are seeing more remote camps and lodges installing solar panels and battery systems to supplement or replace gas and diesel generators because it saves them money. Solar photovoltaic systems have been installed on buildings in Sachs Harbour, Inuvik, Wekweeti, Ulukhaktok, Paulatuk, Behchoko and Yellowknife.
ENR is working with the Northwest Territories Power Corporation and Northland Utilities on a net billing pilot project so that we can start testing the cost and reliability of solar power on community grid systems. Funds are available for residents and communities that want to join in this pilot project.
ENR is now preparing a NWT Solar Energy Strategy to coordinate these actions and prepare a path forward so that we can take full advantage of energy from the sun using this technology.
Some of the best potential for geothermal energy in Canada has been found in the southern part of the Northwest Territories. This heat from beneath the earth’s surface has the potential to produce power and provide heat to meet the needs for communities and reduce their reliance on diesel fuel.
Considerable potential for geothermal energy from the Con Mine shafts and tunnels exists right under the city of Yellowknife. The tunnels and shafts from old mining operations could provide a thermal reservoir for a district heating system that provides all the heat needed for buildings in the downtown core. A business plan for this project is at the development stage. Another geothermal pilot project to provide one megawatt of electric generation capacity in Fort Liard is also in the business plan development stage.
Wind is the most available renewable energy source in our High Arctic communities. A wind energy project is being developed in Tuktoyaktuk to develop the capacity and experience needed to incorporate wind energy into existing energy systems as has been done in Alaska. ENR continues to work with Dowland Contracting and interested community members to finalize plans to install wind turbines in Tuktoyaktuk in the summer of 2011. ENR is also preparing plans to implement wind power in Ulukhaktok, Paulatuk and Sachs Harbour in future years.
Mr. Speaker, wood has always provided a sustainable source of heat in the Northwest Territories. The development of new efficient technologies has made wood a reliable source of energy for large-scale applications. Work is underway to determine the feasibility of harvesting biomass in Fort Providence and Fort McPherson. A feasibility study on producing wood pellets in the Northwest Territories is also being done.
Biomass energy projects are currently underway in Kakisa, Fort McPherson, Behchoko, Whati and Yellowknife. As Members know, proper forest management practices must be applied to ensure that the harvest of local wood supplies remains sustainable. ENR is committed to ensuring the sustainability of our forest resources as we work to expand the use of biomass.
Mr. Speaker, the GNWT is committed to building on and increasing our renewable energy projects and expanding the use of greener renewable energy sources.
As a government, we are working to become a leader within Canada on alternative sustainable energy. We are committed to advancing our energy priorities in the form of solar, wind, geothermal, hydroelectricity and biomass energy. I believe our work in these areas will not only help cut greenhouse gas emissions, but will also help reduce the overall cost of living for our residents.
As the cost of fossil fuels increase and we become more concerned with the real threat of climate change, we must adopt these alternative energies to ensure a more sustainable future for the next generation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The honourable Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. Robert McLeod.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Later today, at the appropriate time, I will be giving notice of motion for first reading of An Act to Repeal the Settlements Act.
The political development of the Northwest Territories has been dramatic since the establishment of responsible territorial government in 1967. One of the critical elements to our development has been the empowerment of communities to run their own affairs based on local resources, priorities and conditions.
As many Members of this Assembly know from their personal experience, the opportunity to be elected to sit on a community council has provided many of us with the foundation and the knowledge to be able to sit here today. The development of our communities has also contributed greatly to the quality of life that we enjoy today.
In the 1960s and ‘70s, the GNWT supported unincorporated settlement councils that acted as advisors to settlement managers. These early councils were well received and councils wanted to pursue more real and meaningful control over their community affairs.
While many of these councils became hamlets, there were some communities that wanted to gain more experience and authority without taking on the full responsibility of community government that accompanies hamlet status.
For these communities, the GNWT put in place the Settlements Act. Through this act, communities were able to be incorporated and could take on more responsibility and learn the business of government. Over time, the communities built on their experience as settlements and now have moved onto other forms of community governments. In recent years, Colville Lake has transitioned to a designated First Nations authority and the other two incorporated settlements, Enterprise and Fort Resolution, have obtained hamlet status. There are no longer any settlement communities in the Northwest Territories.
Mr. Speaker, the pace of change over the last 40 years has been quite rapid. Residents and leaders of all communities are to be commended for the work and effort they continue to devote to ensuring their governance structure evolves based on local needs and priorities.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to say that the outcomes envisioned decades ago when the Settlements Act was first put in place has now been accomplished. We can all celebrate the achievement of the long-term goal of the empowerment of the former settlement communities. The Settlements Act was a useful and important tool for community development. Now it has served its purpose and the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs will be advancing a bill to rescind this legislation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Following on the Minister of Health and Social Services ministerial statement today on the Supplementary Health Benefits Policy, I would like to add a few comments.
Mr. Speaker, I had the opportunity to co-chair a joint working group made up of Cabinet Minister and Regular Members to look at this topic. This is something that has received a lot of public attention. Mr. Speaker, I think if I could characterize the Supp Health Policy as it was proposed, it comprised of some very good initiatives and some very good principles. Unfortunately, bundling them all together and expecting to advance all of those initiatives in concert was a problem.
We don’t even have to think about them; things like pharmaceutical bulk buying, buying generic brands. These are the kinds of things that should be regular, run-of-the-mill business decisions within the department that would make economic sense and contribute to the sustainability of our provision of these services. Mr. Speaker, some of the other ones do require more analysis, more consultation and perhaps some thought to the timing and the implementation.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the Minister for her comments today and we do look forward to working with her and with Cabinet on advancing these principles. Although we could not accept the wholesale change to the Supplementary Health Policy as it was proposed, ironically the individual initiatives and individual principles are all things that have merit and need to be pursued further.
I think that we have arrived at a good conclusion here going forward. The main things that we were concerned about, like medical bankruptcy with catastrophic conditions and catastrophic costs for pharmacy, the fact that there are people in our communities and our society that do not have any coverage, the fact that third-party insurance should come to play before our government insurance kicks in, many of these very, very important issues need to be addressed.
Leadership is not always about what’s doing the popular thing; it’s about what’s doing the right and responsible thing in ensuring the sustainability of our ability as a government to continue to deliver these programs and services into the future.
Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Abernethy.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Ditto. I’d like to thank the Minister for her Member’s statement today.
Frankly, the Executive Council’s decision to rescind the 2007 policy on supplemental health benefits is a great step forward. Since this policy came into place and it was passed by the 15th Assembly in their dying days, it’s caused nothing but problems. It’s fundamentally flawed.
Sure, something needs to be done. We can’t argue that. We need to find a way to provide support to the low-income families who don’t have access to insurance or can’t get insurance. Clearly, that needs to be done. We’ve heard since the Minister started bringing this forward that the direction that this government was going wasn’t the right way. I think they’ve finally heard all the information, they finally gathered all the information that they needed to make a decision. I’d like to thank them today for rescinding that policy.
I do have one area of concern. I’ll ask the Minister later today. In her statement she said that she will make a further announcement next week regarding the implementation of these changes. I think it’s important, given the interest on this side of the table and the interest in the community, that the Minister meet with us and talk to us and give us a bit of an idea of what she means by an implementation plan. I’m not 100 percent certain what is ready to be implemented. I’m not sure that anything is ready to be implemented.
In my opinion, we need to go back to the drawing board on a lot of the issues. The Minister is working on a Foundation for Change for the health system in the Northwest Territories and I think that’s part and parcel of everything that needs to be done in order to fix the health system overall. I’m looking forward to the Minister coming to us and talking to us about what she means by implementation plan next week and that anything that does start to roll out that has a clear plan, that people are informed, that people are consulted, that people understand what’s being done and why.
Communication is important. A solid communications plan on any changes that come forward with extended health benefits in the future is required for anything that’s ever implemented. Let’s work with our people. Let’s make sure they understand. Let’s make sure they have input.
Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The long-awaited response from the Health Minister with regard to supplementary health benefits is finally here. I’d like to thank the Minister for her statement today. Many, many people in the public have been asking for a response to the Joint Working Group, to the changes to the Supplementary Health Benefits Policy, and they’ve been looking for information on these changes literally for months. I appreciate the Minister advising the public today through her statement.
I have to say that the 2007 policy, the rescindment of that policy is music to my ears. I believe that Cabinet and the Executive Council have finally seen the light. The 2007 document is just bad policy; I’ve said it before and I will say it again. I look forward to discussing amendments to that policy and to the implementation to both the Extended Health Benefits and the Metis policy, as is mentioned in her statement, with the department and the Minister. I know we can develop a policy which will work and that will be fair and equitable for all NWT residents.
However, and it has been mentioned, there is one thing in the Minister’s statement and I’m dismayed about the lack of statement with regard to any action to cover those people who are not currently covered by extended health benefits or its conditions. I hope that is expected, but it’s not in the statement and I would like to know from the Minister at a later time whether or not actually that is the plan.
I certainly hope that’s in there, because it is the right thing to do. We do need to cover those people. I believe if we really try hard, if we are creative, that we can identify efficiencies and savings in the current Supplementary Health Benefits Program. Some of them have been identified already. Those savings will significantly offset any costs to add more clients to the program.
I look forward, as I’ve said, to the Minister’s of Health and Social Services announcement next week about implementation. I have the same concerns as my colleague Mr. Abernethy. There needs to be ample opportunity for Regular Members and the public, hopefully, to provide input on this implementation plan.
I want to thank the members of the Joint Working Group, of which I was a member, for the work that it did do relative to this particular issue.
Lastly, the Minister talks about difficult decisions and I agree. But if we work together, consider the needs of all residents and be objective, we can be successful.
Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today is a fantastic day for the people of the NWT. The people of the North have certain cause to celebrate. The people have won a decisive victory in their struggle for health care, for everyone who has worked tirelessly on this problem of second-class health care proposed back in the 2007 Cabinet directive.
Health care is no less important to anyone across this North. Health care is one of the defining factors that helps identify Canadians. It makes us the envy of the world and certainly the envy of our neighbours to the south.
Today the Health Minister has heard the voice of the people and I personally want to thank her. She has, with the support of her Cabinet colleagues, pulled back the 2007 directive that gave direction to change the Supplementary Health Benefits Policy. That must have been a tough thing to do.
I’m going to acknowledge the Health Minister and her Cabinet colleagues for the courageous consideration and decisive action of finally pulling this off the table. Today’s statement demonstrates that the ground has really moved; an impossible day that many of us thought would never come. The improbability was overcome and it has.
So with great respect, I certainly will never say any one person or one group has done anything wrong, but I will say that the people have won a common sense victory. The struggle to protect health care will not be over, as the fight will wield on for many of us for many years to come. The principles of health care must live on, namely access and fairness, just to name a few.
Today clearly shows government can listen to the people and to the Members of this Assembly. I want to give credit to them, the people. This struggle was not won only by the voices on the floor of this Assembly, it was won by the people who braved to speak out, by those who signed their names to petitions and postcards; many who have never signed or spoken out before. I want to thank them and many others who stomped out there on this problem, challenged and e-mailed, and told all of us to stand for our rights. Health care is a principle we need to fight for and protect at all costs. Protection of the principles, yes; reform, we should not be afraid of that; but it should be fair and we should make sure everyone is covered in a fair way as well.
As our future is before us and this government has turned to a new page and perhaps even a new chapter on this problem, the time to unite Northerners could not be greater. The people look to this government to continue to demonstrate leadership in courageous decisions such as today that have been made. Today was one of the small steps going forward. I applaud this government for hearing the voices of the people.
Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Member for Kam Lake, Mr. Ramsay.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, would like to speak today about supplementary health benefits. First off I would like to say thank you to the government. You’ve done the right thing by rescinding the 2007 Supplementary Health Benefits Policy.
Equality and fairness are principles that should build the foundation of any health benefit policy in the Northwest Territories. I’ll continue to work toward ensuring that any of these policies include these principles.
As much as I’m very happy to hear that Cabinet has decided to rescind the 2007 policy on supplementary health benefits, I’m left wondering how the other proposed changes will be implemented in the next 10 months. The Minister said she’d be speaking next week to an implementation plan and I do hope this plan will allow for a full dialogue with the public and Regular Members of this House as changes move forward. She has a lot of room for improvement when it comes to that.
The Minister states in her statement today that it was the spirit of consensus government that moved Cabinet to actually listen to the concerns Members and the public have had with the 2007 policy on supplementary health benefits. The spirit must be evident every day, not just when they’re faced with a crisis.
This government just seems to continually take issues to the wall even though Members are here day in and day out telling them that what they’re doing is wrong and that they’re making a mistake. They continue to push us to the very limit of our tolerance and of our patience.
In closing, I want to thank the Members of this House, my Cabinet colleagues especially, for trying to get this right. Thank you, as well, to all the Regular Members whose dogged determination has turned this decision around. To the many members of the public, the NWT Seniors’ Society and all those people who have spoken out over the past two years against this policy, I want to say thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My kudos today are for a constituent of Fort Simpson. The Royal Bank of Canada has a very prestigious recognition called the Local Hockey Leaders Award. They choose 14 winners from across Canada annually. We know that it takes a lot of time and energy of volunteers to keep our national game of hockey going. We need to recognize all the work that organizers, coaches and parents give to this great sport.
This spring my hometown of Fort Simpson nominated Mr. Owen Rowe for the award and threw their full support behind him for his efforts and dedication to hockey as a coach, player, volunteer and parent.
I was very pleased to receive the news that the Royal Bank of Canada did select Mr. Owen Rowe for the Local Hockey Leaders Award for our region. Owen Rowe was recognized formally by being flown to Toronto for a special ceremony. He received his award, a signed Team Canada Jersey and $10,000 towards a registered hockey cause in Fort Simpson.
Also, he and the other winners are recognized in a permanent display at the Hockey Hall of Fame and there will be a banner recognizing his achievement in the Fort Simpson Arena.
Owen Rowe has been coaching minor hockey for the past 15 years. He also started and coached the Fort Simpson Women’s Hockey League, the Moosehide Mamas. He has been a player/coach on the senior men’s league and has taken many young men of Fort Simpson to compete in tournaments. The Fort Simpson Flyers are always the team to beat no matter where they go.
The people of Fort Simpson are proud of their players and the successes of our hockey teams. This is due in large part to the efforts of Mr. Owen Rowe. So you see how he has helped hockey on so many levels. He is definitely a local hockey leader. He has volunteered, raised funds, donated funds, coached and played, all for the love of hockey.
On behalf of my constituents and the community of Fort Simpson, I would like to congratulate Mr. Owen Rowe for this much deserved hockey leader award.
Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The honourable Member for Nunakput, Mr. Jacobson.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I’m speaking on the firefighting equipment in the communities. Per capita the Northwest Territories has one of the highest rates of fire-related disasters that occur in small, remote communities. The remote fly-in communities with equipment to fight fires is seriously deficient.
Recently I received a response from Municipal and Community Affairs, the Honourable Robert McLeod, commenting that the territorial fire marshal’s office is planning to conduct a community fire department capacity assessment. Today is October 29th. February 9th was the first time I brought this statement into the House. I can still say that the fire marshal hasn’t been to Tuk.
This government can save lots of money conducting assessments of Nunakput communities, and as MLA I can honestly say our equipment and infrastructure is inadequate and needs a complete overhaul.
The fire marshal’s office has mentioned time and again that community governments are responsible for the operation of their community fire departments and their office can provide advice and training from time to time. If the fire marshal’s office thinks they can come into communities and invest in improving the firefighting equipment to southern standards alone, then they are more out of touch. Where does a community like Paulatuk find hundreds of thousands of dollars for equipment? Sometimes when I visit various community fire halls, their equipment is not only old but incomplete. Why is this government continuing to place our firefighters in harm’s way just to reduce their budget?
I have visited Nunakput communities enough to know each community desperately needs a complete overhaul in their fire halls, Mr. Speaker. I mentioned previously they are risking their lives in service to protect their communities. The least we can do is have proper training and equip them accordingly.
Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for the Minister at the appropriate time. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Jacobson. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I applaud the government’s reconsideration of changes to the Supplementary Health Benefits Program. The Minister shows, with this action, that she has listened and respected the clear voice of democracy and has benefited from the input of Members and the public in reaching a wise decision. The response of the government shows that the detailed input of Members and the public has been, and will be, taken into account. The announcement of the requirement for third-party insurance where it is available, measures to ensure parity between the emergency health benefits of other plans, and the development of measures to take advantage of group buying for medicine shows a progressive and equitable approach to serving all the members of our society with similar benefits and programs.
I have often spoken on the essential point that our government services should help those most in need when they are most in need of help. I thank the government for ensuring our services are equitable and universal. I have also taken the position that we should use the tax system and use of progressive taxation to put the costs on those who can afford them most, but only after we have taken our most effective action to reduce costs and increased efficiencies and demonstrated need. Members of the public have been consistent in supporting this approach and we need to recognize this. Should they be needed, I will support changes to tax regimes for the progressive distribution of the cost of government throughout society. In announcing these changes, the Minister has extended a hand of cooperation and commitment to work with all Members in finding the best system possible and I look forward to her proposals.
I thank the Minister again for listening, acting, and asking for the participation of all Members in the continued improvement of our health services and programs, but in particular, Mr. Speaker, I salute all those citizens who demonstrated their faith in the processes of our democracy, and responsibly and actively participated in the political process. This response by our government once again shows that committed citizens can make a difference. Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to rebut some of the comments made by the Premier over the last couple of days in regard to the devolution process.
Mr. Speaker, in the devolution process agreement-in-principle, a letter was handed or sent to aboriginal organizations around the Northwest Territories and asked them, basically, to respond and determine what their role and participation will be. Mr. Speaker, the Premier basically admitted that the Dene/Metis did not have...(inaudible)...basically were involved in the negotiations of the agreement-in-principle, but simply as observers.
Mr. Speaker, under the Gwich’in Land Claims Agreement, the Sahtu Lands Claim Agreement and the Tlicho Land Claims Agreement, it’s pretty clear. It states the government shall involve those aboriginal organizations in development and implementation of a Northern Accord oil and gas agreement, subject to the agreement signed September 8, 1988, which is the devolution agreement.
Again, Mr. Speaker, we’ve heard from five of the regional organizations, making it perfectly clear they have an issue with this agreement-in-principle. They have problems with that agreement. More importantly, Mr. Speaker, there was a letter sent to the Premier on April 19th from the Gwich’in Tribal Council -- and it was specifically sent by the president, it was sent by the tribal council -- which outlined six areas of concern in relation to the consultation process this government has been put into. All they ask is that they take into account these items, have discussions with the Premier and Aboriginal Affairs to relate the questions and find clarification on their issues. But again, seven months later, not a response from this government. We talk about inclusion of aboriginal organizations in the devolution process, but when groups raise questions and make issue of a particular issue, the government pushes them aside and says, sorry, we’ll deal with you later.
For me, the Constitution is clear that aboriginal treaty rights are constitutionally protected. The government has a right to abrogate or derogate any affects on those land claim agreements, treaty rights or aboriginal rights in Canada. Again, Mr. Speaker, it clearly underlines the reluctance of this government to hear the issue of our aboriginal so-called partners in this process, and simply push them aside…
Mr. Krutko, your time for your Member’s statement has expired.
Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
---Unanimous consent granted
Again, the aboriginal leaders are requesting a meeting with the Premier and the Minister of Indian Affairs to clarify exactly what the intention of this legislation is and what affects it will have in regard to the land claim agreements, treaty rights, and also clarify what the abrogation clauses are and exactly how are you going to remedy those situations where you have land claim agreements that clearly state that you shall consult, you shall include them in these processes, not simply saying, well, if you don’t respond, we’re kicking you off the table.
Mr. Speaker, I will have questions to the Premier on this matter later. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Beaulieu.
Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Earlier this week I spoke about the need to provide more support to aboriginal languages and about the important role that language plays in maintaining aboriginal culture. Today I would like to talk about the important work the schools in Lutselk'e and Fort Resolution are doing to preserve aboriginal culture in those communities.
Mr. Speaker, in Lutselk'e, aboriginal language and culture classes are held three times a week for kindergarten to grade 9. In addition, there are two half-day classes each week for grades 5 to 9, also grades 8 to 10 students take one semester of a three-credit aboriginal language course. Mr. Speaker, classes regularly go out on the land throughout the school year. Depending on the season, they will go hunting, trapping, fishing and camping. On top of all this, Mr. Speaker, the school has a daily program of prayer and song in the Chipewyan language. Periodically, classes are held to do traditional craftwork, and preparation and cooking of traditional foods.
I would like to take this opportunity to applaud the hard work of the dedicated staff at the Lutselk'e Dene School for their important work in preserving aboriginal culture in Lutselk'e.
Mr. Speaker, in Fort Resolution, the Deninu School is also delivering a vibrant aboriginal language and culture program. They have a daily program of elders coming into the school to talk to the students. Also, on a regular basis, a variety of demonstration workshops are done in skinning, beading, sewing and traditional food preparation, as well as periodic aboriginal culture theme day using print, audio and visual resource materials. In addition to all this, Mr. Speaker, the school has a monthly cultural program that includes activities such as going out on a moose hunt, fish net setting, drumming lessons, moosehide tanning, canoe trips and Dene games.
Again, I would like to take this opportunity to applaud the hard work of the dedicated staff at the Deninu School for their important work in promoting and preserving aboriginal culture in Fort Resolution.
Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned earlier this week, there is no shortage of dedicated volunteers, elders and professionals that are committed to preserving aboriginal language and culture in the Tu Nedhe riding. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize a former member of the Great Slave Riding and a current member of the Yellowknife Centre riding, Mr. Blake Lyons.
Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. The honourable Member for Kam Lake, Mr. Ramsay.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize all the visitors in the gallery today. I, too, would like to join my colleague Mr. Abernethy in welcoming Mr. Blake Lyons, a former colleague at Yellowknife City Council and mentor of mine when I was a much younger man. Thank you.
