YELLOWKNIFE, NORTHWEST TERRITORIES

Page 498 NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HANSARD March 30, 2004

Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly

3rd SessionDay 1115th Assembly

HANSARD

Tuesday, March 30, 2004

Pages 455 - 502

The Honourable David Krutko, Speaker

Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories

Members of the Legislative Assembly

Speaker

Hon. David Krutko

(Mackenzie-Delta)

Mr. Roger Allen

(Inuvik Twin Lakes)

Hon. Brendan Bell

(Yellowknife South)

Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development

Minister responsible for the Workers' Compensation Board

Mr. Bill Braden

(Great Slave)

Mr. Paul Delorey

(Hay River North)

Hon. Charles Dent

(Frame Lake)

Government House Leader

Minister of Education, Culture and Employment

Minister of Justice

Minister responsible for the Status of Women

Mrs. Jane Groenewegen

(Hay River South)Hon. Joe Handley

(Weledeh)

Premier

Minister of Executive

Minister of Aboriginal Affairs

Minister responsible for Intergovernmental Affairs

Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Power Corporation

Mr. Robert Hawkins

(Yellowknife Centre)

Ms. Sandy Lee

(Range Lake)

Hon. Michael McLeod

(Deh Cho)

Minister of Transportation

Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation

Minister responsible for Youth

Mr. Kevin Menicoche

(Nahendeh)

Hon. J. Michael Miltenberger

(Thebacha)

Minister of Health and Social Services

Minister responsible for Persons with Disabilities

Minister responsible for Seniors

Mr. Calvin Pokiak

(Nunakput)

Mr. David Ramsay

(Kam Lake)

Hon. Floyd Roland

(Inuvik Boot Lake)

Deputy Premier

Minister of Finance

Minister of Public Works and Services

Chairman of the Financial Management Board

Mr. Robert Villeneuve

(Tu Nedhe)

Mr. Norman Yakeleya

(Sahtu)

Hon. Henry Zoe

(North Slave)

Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs

Minister responsible for the Public Utilities Board

Officers

Clerk of the Legislative Assembly

Mr. Tim Mercer

Deputy ClerkClerk of CommitteesAssistant ClerkLaw Clerks

Mr. Doug SchauerteMr. Dave InchMr. Andrew StewartMs. Katherine R. Peterson, Q.C.

Mr. Charles Thompson

Box 1320

Yellowknife, Northwest Territories

Tel: (867) 669-2200 Fax: (867) 920-4735 Toll-Free: 1-800-661-0784

http://www.assembly.gov.nt.ca

Published under the authority of the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PRAYER455

MINISTERS' STATEMENTS455

22-15(3) - Meeting with Chairs of Education Boards455

23-15(3) - Waste Reduction and Recovery Programs455

24-15(3) - North Slave Correctional Centre Opening456

MEMBERS' STATEMENTS456

Mr. Delorey on Mackenzie Valley Environmental Review Board Pipeline Consultation456

Mr. Yakeleya on Gameti Spiritual Healing Workshop456

Ms. Lee on Waiving of Business Incentive Policy457

Mr. Ramsay on Waiving of the Business Incentive Policy457

Mr. Allen on Taxation to Facilitate Spending in the North458

Mr. Hawkins on Comments on the Business Incentive Policy458

Mr. Pokiak on Health Care Staffing Shortages in Nunakput458

Mr. Menicoche on the Importance of the Business Incentive Policy459

Mrs. Groenewegen on Investing in the North to Develop Capacity and Affordable Housing459

Mr. Villeneuve on Supporting the Community Involvement of Seniors459

Mr. Braden on Consistent Application of Government Policies460

RECOGNITION OF VISITORS IN THE GALLERY460

ORAL QUESTIONS461

WRITTEN QUESTIONS471

RETURNS TO WRITTEN QUESTIONS471

TABLING OF DOCUMENTS472

FIRST READING OF BILLS472

Bill 6 - An Act to amend the Payroll Tax Act, 1993 and the Income Tax Act472

SECOND READING OF BILLS473

Bill 5 - Tlicho Community Government Act473

CONSIDERATION IN COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE OF BILLS AND OTHER MATTERS473

REPORT OF COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE500

THIRD READING OF BILLS500

Bill 1 - Appropriation Act, 2004-2005500

ORDERS OF THE DAY500

ii

YELLOWKNIFE, NORTHWEST TERRITORIES

Tuesday, March 30, 2004

Members Present

Mr. Allen, Honourable Brendan Bell, Mr. Braden, Mr. Delorey, Honourable Charles Dent, Mrs. Groenewegen, Honourable Joe Handley, Mr. Hawkins, Honourable David Krutko, Ms. Lee, Honourable Michael McLeod, Mr. Menicoche, Honourable Michael Miltenberger, Mr. Pokiak, Mr. Ramsay, Honourable Floyd Roland, Mr. Villeneuve, Mr. Yakeleya, Honourable Henry Zoe

March 30, 2004NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HANSARDPage 497

ITEM 1: PRAYER

---Prayer

SPEAKER (Hon. David Krutko): Item 2, Ministers statements. The Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Dent.

ITEM 2: MINISTERS STATEMENTSMinisters Statement 22-15(3): Meeting With Chairs Of Education Boards

HON. CHARLES DENT: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good afternoon. On February 24th and 25th, I met with the Chairs of the NWT education bodies, including the Chairs of the divisional education councils, the Commission Scolaire Francophone de Division, the two Yellowknife district education authorities and Aurora College.

I discussed with the Chairs the comments and suggestions made by Members of this Assembly regarding schooling. I noted that Members expressed how important schooling is to the futures of our students and our Territory.

The Chairs and I discussed a number of issues including the importance of student success and the need to focus on improving the results of our school system. During the meeting, we talked about programming offered at the high school level and many of the Chairs highlighted the need to meet the needs of all students and ensure that more students complete their studies.

We also discussed the need for an increased focus on accountability and oversight of budgets as they related to program delivery particularly with respect to special needs funding.

In addition, I shared with the Chairs, the importance of a coordinated approach to adult learning so northerners have better access to the post-secondary and skills training required to take full advantage of current and future employment opportunities.

It is important to recognize that our education system has made significant progress over the past 15 years. We now have more students graduating from high school, including an increased number of aboriginal graduates and graduates from community high schools. This growth and development is the result of the hard work by all partners in the education process, especially families and communities who recognize the importance of schooling.

Mr. Speaker, the Chairs and I have committed to meeting two times each year to ensure that we have a regular forum for sharing our ideas and our views on providing the best possible education for meeting the needs of all our students.

I thank the Chairs for their ongoing commitment to educating our children and youth and I look forward to meeting with them next November to hear their ideas, concerns and aspirations for our NWT education system. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

MR. SPEAKER: Item 2, Ministers statements. The honourable Minster of RWED, Mr. Bell.

Ministers Statement 23-15(3): Waste Reduction And Recovery Programs

HON. BRENDAN BELL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to take this opportunity to update this House on the implementation of the Waste Reduction and Recovery Act.

As Members are aware, the legislation to enable the development and implementation of waste recovery programs was passed by the 14th Legislative Assembly in October 2003. The new act establishes a framework for waste reduction programs and provides for the formation of a Waste Reduction and Recovery Advisory Committee. This committee will play a vital role in the establishment and operation of waste recovery programs developed by this government, including the proposed beverage container recovery program.

A recent call for expressions for people interested in serving on this committee was very successful. A number of qualified women and men representing industry, business, municipalities, and environmental organizations, as well as those with an avid interest in recycling from throughout the Northwest Territories, put their names forward to serve on the advisory committee.

I expect to appoint Members to the Waste Reduction and Recovery Advisory Committee within the next few weeks. It is my hope that the committee can hold its initial meeting in April when they can begin discussions on the first proposed program, the beverage container recovery program.

Mr. Speaker, the success of any waste recovery program will depend in large part on the participation and support of the residents of the Northwest Territories. I believe the Waste Reduction and Recovery Advisory Committee will be instrumental in ensuring the necessary support and participation in these worthwhile endeavours. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

MR. SPEAKER: Item 2, Ministers statements. The Minister of Justice, Mr. Dent.

Minister's Statement 24-15(3): North Slave Correctional Centre Opening

HON. CHARLES DENT: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on March