Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly 3rd Session Day 16 15th Assembly hansard monday, May 31, 2004
Member's Statement On GNWT Strategic Plan
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- Members Statement On Maintenance Enforcement Concerns
- Members Statement On Sport North Annual General Meeting
Member's Statement On GNWT Strategic PlanMR. HAWKINS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to talk today about the strategic plan of this government presented by the honourable Premier, Mr. Handley, on May 26th. In previous sessions, I presented the issue of legal aid as one of my highest priorities. I repeatedly mentioned there are constituents of mine who have waited over six months to receive assistance. I believe that this period is too long to expect families in crisis to wait. I am pleased that the government agrees with my position. Mr. Handley announced that, during the presentation of the strategic plan, and I quote, “We will be seeking supplementary funding during the current session to open a separate legal aid clinic dedicated to family law.” The government’s position on legal aid, the steps that are being taken to lessen the waiting time to receive assistance, as well as their commitment for a fall implementation is, in my opinion, very commendable. Mr. Speaker, I further would like to note that I will formally put this government on notice that for the next little while I will not be pounding my fist on the legislature’s table, because I truly have seen positive action to deal with this crisis. So, Mr. Speaker, I will be off dealing with other burning bushes. ---Laughter We will see what comes from there. Finally, Mr. Speaker, I will say that I truly and humbly look forward to working with the Minister of Justice because he truly is a Minister who will work with regular Members on any legal aid progress. SOME HON. MEMBERS: Ooh. MR. HAWKINS: Thank you, colleagues, for showing your support of that Minister, I am sure. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I just want to thank the government for taking the initiative of creating this legal aid clinic. I could truly believe that there will be a new functional legal aid clinic that would bring much needed program and progress for our community. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. ---Applause MR. SPEAKER: Item 3, Members’ statements. Member for Hay River North, Mr. Delorey. Member's Statement On Maintenance Enforcement ConcernsMR. DELOREY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today, I would like to address the situation that occurred recently to a single mom in Hay River, one that causes me a great deal of concern and raises many questions around maintenance enforcement. Mr. Speaker, the lady I refer to is a single mom with three children to support who has gone through the courts for some time for financial help. She is currently not receiving anything in the way of maintenance enforcement payments, as the father of the children is in arrears with maintenance enforcement. Recently, Mr. Speaker, the sheriff’s office commenced a seizure of some of the dad’s goods in order to pay down some of the maintenance arrears. The mom was told that she should be provided with the proceeds from the sale of the goods. Here comes the kicker, Mr. Speaker. The goods were sold at auction. After all was said and done, the single mom with the three kids realized nothing by way of monies from the sale. Mr. Speaker, I was informed that it is standard practice for the sheriff’s office to charge a fee for seizing the goods and for storage of such goods. This is why the single mom did not receive any of the money from the auction. Mr. Speaker, to my way of thinking, the sheriff is an employee of this government. As such, any work he carries out in the performance of his duties should be just the cost of doing business. That should not be borne on the backs of single moms. Mr. Speaker, I would think that surely we, as a government, can come up with another solution to address single moms who are struggling to make ends meet. They should not be doubly burdened as a result of actions from this government. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. ---Applause
Sport North is also the body that organizes and manages the NWT’s participation in the Arctic Winter Games. They raise funds for this through the generosity of many corporate sponsors and the proceeds of the Western Canadian Lottery, as the licensed agent on behalf of this government. It is important to recognize the partnership that our government has with the Sport North Federation, Mr. Speaker, and not only for the Arctic Winter Games, but many other programs and services. The organization is a tremendous example of our volunteers. The world of sport and recreation here in the NWT would be nothing without the hundreds of deeply committed coaches, officials and workers who give freely of their days and weeks, Mr. Speaker, every year in the communities. This is a volunteer body that is an incredibly important constituency to us all. It is one that we could never afford to replace. I believe that we are putting these people and their volunteer commitment at risk, Mr. Speaker. A major concern to them is the revamping of the sport and recreation system through the proposed new Sport and Recreation Council. I want to compliment the Premier, Mr. Speaker, who, having just taken on the duties of Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, appeared before the annual general meeting this weekend. I think he was the first Minister, let alone Premier, to do that in the last three or four years, and he’s to be complimented. But he heard very clearly that the sport volunteers just don’t understand the problem that the government is trying to fix with this new governing body. They believe the government is imposing an answer to a problem which has yet to be clearly defined and substantiated. They ask whether a new organization will impose new costs and how their role as volunteers will be affected with the delivery of sport programming across the North. Above all, Mr. Speaker, they seek a degree of recognition and respect that at least matches their dedication to sport and healthy living in the North. Thank you. ---Applause
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