Richard Gleeson
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Nov 12/01) - The Deh Cho is not getting much help from the government or industry in training for drilling jobs in its gas fields.

Deh Cho MLA Michael McLeod asked why no rig training program exists in the south Mackenzie area, where this winter 13 wells are slated to be drilled.

Employment Minister Jake Ootes said rig training provided in the Beaufort Delta region last year was a co-operative effort of the federal and territorial governments and Calgary-based Akita drilling. Akita provided the rig the training was carried out on.

"It's an extremely expensive process," said Ootes.

There will be more exploratory drilling in the Deh Cho this winter than in the Beaufort Delta.

Giving people the power

People no longer have to go to court to appoint someone to take care of their financial affairs in the event they are unable to.

The change allows someone to arrange in advance to transfer power of attorney to someone they trust.

MLAs unanimously supported the amendment.

Looking for religion

Ootes is also examining the possibility of including religion classes in NWT schools.

Inuvik Boot Lake MLA Floyd Roland asked the minister to look into it. Roland noted classes on religion once included in Inuvik schools were outlawed under the act.

Not this time

At one point during the session that ended last Tuesday, there was a drive to include first reading of the Northwest Territories first Human Rights Act.

Giving the bill first reading would have allowed review of the act to begin at the end of the sitting.

There was not enough time. Instead, Justice Minister Jim Antoine (the portfolio has since been transferred to Roger Allen) tabled a document outlining the bill being proposed for the department.

First reading will likely take place during next sitting, which begins Feb. 19.

Hunters' bill shot down.

A compromise was not enough to save an initiative to cut down the amount of time people need to live in the NWT before they can hunt here without a guide.

The private member's bill introduced by Frame Lake MLA Charles Dent encountered stiff opposition from MLAs representing largely-aboriginal constituencies. Dent also failed to win the support of cabinet, including Yellowknife MLAs ministers Joe Handley and Jake Ootes.

Dent argued newcomers should not have to wait two years to hunt when they can fish, pay taxes and vote as soon as they arrive.

"Only when there will be sufficient numbers of animals after the aboriginal harvest will quotas be set for non-aboriginal sport hunters," argued Dent.

A suggestion from Inuvik MLA Floyd Roland to reduce the residency requirement to one year failed to sway MLAs from aboriginal constituencies, who said their people have to go farther afield to get meat these days because of increased hunting pressure.

With almost one voice, cabinet ministers said the timing of the bill was the problem. They said it should be part of the comprehensive review being undertaken of the Wildlife Act.

Riding in the back

NWT chief coroner Percy Kinney didn't get what he wanted when it came to his recommended changes to the Motor Vehicles Act.

Kinney had argued for a ban on allowing people to ride in the bed of pick-up trucks. MLAs from remote communities said that was impractical.

Instead of outlawing the practice, MLAs elected to give bands and municipal governments the ability to allow it by requesting permission from the Department of Transportation.

"It's a start," said Kinney. "They've put up a roadblock that at least requires communities to request it."

Kinney said he hopes few communities take the government up on the offer.