Debates of Feb. 16th, 2010

This is page numbers 4231 - 4280 of the Hansard for the 16th Assembly, 4th Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library.

The word of the day was communities .

Topics

Oral Questions

Members Present

Prayer

Point of Order

Minister’s Statement 72-16(4): Joint Review Panel Report

GNWT Response To Joint Review Panel Report

Reflections On The Needs Of Sahtu Constituents

Medical Travel Policy For Students

Disposition Of Opportunities Fund

Income Support Productive Choice Program

Cleanup Of Contaminated Mine Site Near Lutselk’e

Reducing Deposit Holdback For Recycling Milk Containers

Payday Loans And The Need For Territorial Regulation

Interpreter/translator Programs And Training In The NWT

Completion Of Community Energy Plans

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Availability Of Opportunities Fund

GNWT Response To Joint Review Panel Report

Cleanup Of Contaminated Mine Site Near Lutselk’e

Medical Travel Policy For Students

Gas Tax Agreement And Completion Of Community Energy Plans

Payday Loans And Need For GNWT Regulation

Interpreter/translator Programs And Training In The NWT

Client Service Officers In Remote Communities

GNWT Response To Joint Review Panel Report

Review Of Rent Scale In The NWT

Shelter For Haitian Earthquake Victims

Educational Facilities Review

Tabled Document 74-16(4): Workers’ Safety And Compensation Commission 2009-2011 Corporate Plan

Tabled Document 75-16(4): Letter From Lawson Lundell To National Energy Board On Mackenzie Gas Project Hearing Order Gh-1-2004, GNWT Response To The Recommendations In The Jrp Report Tabled Document 76-16(4): Letter From Bromley To Neb Requesting Termination Of His Intervener Status In The Proceedin

Revocation Of Appointments And Appointments To Standing Committees

Extended Adjournment Of The House To February 22, 2010

Revocation Of Appointments And Appointments To Standing Committees

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Report of Committee of the Whole

Orders of the Day

The House met at 1:36 p.m.

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---Prayer

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Prayer

Prayer

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Good afternoon, colleagues. Welcome back to the Chamber. Point of order, Mr. Miltenberger . What is your point of order?

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Point of Order

Point of Order

Michael Miltenberger

Thebacha

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order under Rule 23(

h) and 23(k). I waited until today to present my point of order because I wanted to view unedited Hansard from Monday, February 15th , 2010. During his reply to

the opening address on Monday, February 15th ,

2010, Mr. Bromley said, and I quote from page 30 of the unedited Hansard for that day: “The February 11th response to the JRP report says that

“the NEB should reject recommendation 8-6 from the JRP, which related to the establishment of the greenhouse gas emissions target or a series of targets in connection with the MGP facilities.”

Mr. Bromley went on to say, and I quote from page 31 of unedited Hansard: “Yet when I look at the government’s published response to such issues with respect to the Mackenzie Gas Project, we are recommending that we reject rather than strengthen the recommendation that attempts to ensure management of emissions.”

Mr. Bromley also said, and I quote also from page 31 of the unedited Hansard: “This government has formally rejected a JRP recommendation on greenhouse gas targets and Regular Members have to read about it in a public registry.”

Mr. Speaker, these comments make allegations against the government and apply hidden motives with respect to the Joint Review Panel. In fact, the GNWT has not rejected recommendation 8-6 from the JRP, but rather has called for additional information to be prepared and considered with respect to anticipated greenhouse gas emissions. The information presented to the House by Mr. Bromley is egregiously incorrect and does little more than create confusion amongst the public and disorder in this House. Thank you.

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Point of Order

Point of Order

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger . I will allow a few comments on this point of order. To the point of order. The honourable Member for Weledeh , Mr. Bromley .

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Point of Order

Point of Order

Bob Bromley

Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I actually stand guilty as charged.

---Laughter

That was a grievous error and, in fact, it reflects the main principal of my argument which was with consultation. These sorts of errors can be avoided but, better than that, we can put forward much better information.

I had today a set of questions I intended to ask. In that, I was going to make the comment that, in fact, I had read that wrong. The letter did say rejected but, upon closer examination, it said the proponents had rejected that recommendation. I have some other difficulty with what we did recommend, but I stand guilty as charged. That was incorrect information. I intended to correct it myself today in the House. So I leave that to your decision. Thank you.

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Point of Order

Point of Order

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Bromley . To the point of order. Hearing no other comments on the point of order, I will... The honourable Member of Hay River South , Mrs. Groenewegen .

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Point of Order

Point of Order

Jane Groenewegen

Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as a Member who’s been here quite some time, I think that Mr. Miltenberger has taken the opportunity to raise a point of order to, in fact, correct the record on a certain matter and I’m not sure that that actually constituted, in my experience, in my opinion, a point of order. I suppose if each one of us stood up on a point of order every time somebody said something in this House that was not correct, we’d be standing up a lot.

I appreciate the fact that Mr. Bromley did err in his assumption or his assertion on this particular matter and has withdrawn his comment, but just in terms of the process of this House, I’m not sure that the Minister would not have been better off to have delivered a Minister’s statement perhaps in response to correct the record and I think that’s what this was about; correcting the record. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Point of Order

Point of Order

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen . To the point of order. The honourable Premier , Mr. Roland .

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Point of Order

Point of Order

Inuvik Boot Lake

Floyd Roland

Premier

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, under Mr. Miltenberger ’s point of order, he stood here and he used Rule 23(

h) and 23(k). As we’ve heard some discussion on this point of order, things are said at times in this House, whether it’s in the heat of the moment that things are said and upon reflection, as Member Bromley has done, has accepted that he provided information in a form that has caused this point of order.

Mr. Speaker, the issue is -- and I believe Member Groenewegen has touched on this a bit -- at times things are said in this House and if we all decided to use points of order, we would consume the time of this Assembly. Well, in fact, I think at times points order need to be used because there’s been too many cases where information that is not necessarily complete gets put out there and as we find out, the people of the Territories and the media pick it up and run with that part of the information. So we need to, as Members, be aware of what we say in this House.

Yes, we have the opportunity and we are protected here, but it also affects so much more of the business we do as government and how we represent the situations and the positions that are put out there. So I look forward to hearing your ruling on this. Thank you.

Speaker’s Ruling

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Point of Order

Point of Order

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Roland . To the point of order. Colleagues, it is my understanding in the debates in this House, there is nothing against the rules of the House to being wrong in information you are talking about. It’s also another forum in a point or forum to correct the record. So I am going to rule on this that there is no point of order. The Members are allowed to talk. Information that is given in this House is not always accurate, but I don’t think it’s a point of order. Thank you, colleagues.

Orders of the day. Item 2, Ministers’ statements. The honourable Minister of Environment and Natural Resources , Mr. Miltenberger .

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Minister’s Statement 72-16(4): Joint Review Panel Report

Ministers’ Statements

Michael Miltenberger

Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about the unique process we are a part of in the review of the JRP report.

As an administrative decision-maker under the MVRMA, as Minister of ENR I have a unique role to play in the decision-making process. As such, I am

part of a process which includes other federal responsible Ministers. Mr. Speaker, as a result of this relationship, I cannot act alone. I have a duty to exercise my functions in accordance with the principles of administrative fairness required of me as a responsible Minister under the MVRMA and I must work with my federal colleagues. As a responsible Minister, I am bound to protect the integrity of the decision-making process as well as ensure that government is not fettered in its ability to make a decision.

Mr. Speaker, responsible Ministers will ensure that our obligation to consult will be met. The MVRMA requires responsible Ministers to accept, reject or modify recommendations of the JRP. At this stage, the responsible Ministers of our respective governments must review each recommendation. This process includes the comments from the proponents and interveners to the JRP/NEB processes and a review of the evidence presented. Although we have started the review process, no final determinations have been made on the recommendations as we are still collecting evidence.

Mr. Speaker, recently questions have arisen about how we as a government plan to involve Regular Members in this process. I would like to assure this House that we do, in fact, intend to continue to brief Members and seek their input as we move forward. We must, however, do so in a manner that respects the unique process and the integrity of the MVRMA and the principles of administrative law. At this time, legal counsel for both the Department of Justice and the Legislative Assembly are actively engaged in exploring possibilities to achieve this.

Finally, Mr. Speaker, I would like to clarify for the record the GNWT’s submission to the NEB with respect to the JRP recommendations which stated: “The proponent submits that the NEB should reject recommendation 8-6 from the JRP which relates to the establishment of the greenhouse gas emissions target or a series of targets in connection with the MGP facilities.

The GNWT believes that it is desirable for the proponent to provide a clear prediction of the anticipated GHG emissions associated with MGP facilities over time including both emission targets and trajectories and the details of any approaches that they proposed to adopt to mitigate GHG emissions.” This information will be important to NEB and other agencies to assist in understanding the implications of the MGP on GHG emissions in the NWT as a whole and to evaluate the effectiveness of measures taken to reduce those emissions. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Minister’s Statement 72-16(4): Joint Review Panel Report

Ministers’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger . Item 3, Members’ statements. The honourable Member for Frame Lake , Ms. Bisaro .

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GNWT Response To Joint Review Panel Report

Members’ Statements

Wendy Bisaro

Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Following on the statement of the Minister of ENR , this is rather interesting. If I thought my job was depressing last week, yesterday set things up for this week to be even worse. I was aghast to discover yesterday morning that the GNWT had submitted a response to the National Energy Board regarding the recommendations in the Joint Review Panel report. I am not trying to suggest that GNWT should not respond to the JRP recommendations. No, absolutely, we should respond. But if it is the government who’s responding, Regular Members must be included in the development of any response. I am very glad to hear the Minister say that we will be.

I acknowledge that the time frame to prepare a response was short. I acknowledge that it can be difficult to

schedule meetings between Cabinet and Regular Members, but really, Mr. Speaker, if this Assembly operates as a consensus government as we keep professing to do, why wouldn’t Regular Members be advised or consulted on a response as vital as this one to the JRP recommendations?

On top of that, as a member of the Standing Committee on Social Programs, I know that that committee had expressly advised both the Minister of ITI and the Minister of ENR that the Social Programs committee wanted to have input into any GNWT response to the recommendations in the JRP report.

As I mentioned in my statement yesterday, I tend to think the best of people, so in regards to a GNWT response, I fully expected that I, as a Social Programs committee member, would be consulted. At the very least, I presumed that we would be advised of any response. Now, not only has a response gone to the NEB without any Regular Member input, but the Minister of ITI kind of forgot to advise the Standing Committee on Social Programs of his actions.

Even if the content of the response had no bearing on the Social Programs committee responsibilities, the Minister had an obligation to copy the committee on his letter to the EDI committee chair. By doing so, he would have shown respect to his colleagues. But we seem to have reverted to the situation we endured about a year ago, a Cabinet who does what they please, when they please, seemingly without regard for the accepted practices of consensus government and without respect for the 11 Members on this side of the House.

We, the Members of this Assembly, are in this job together, Mr. Speaker, no matter which side of the

House we sit on. The Cabinet’s strategic document is titled Northerners Working Together. So let’s try that novel idea, Mr. Speaker, the idea of working together with respect...

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GNWT Response To Joint Review Panel Report

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Ms. Bisaro , your time for your Member’s statement has expired.

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GNWT Response To Joint Review Panel Report

Members’ Statements

Wendy Bisaro

Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I request unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted.

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GNWT Response To Joint Review Panel Report

Members’ Statements

Wendy Bisaro

Frame Lake

So let’s try that novel idea, Mr. Speaker, the idea of working together with respect and consideration for others. We can accomplish a whole lot more together than we can if we antagonize each other. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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GNWT Response To Joint Review Panel Report

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro . The honourable Member for Sahtu , Mr. Yakeleya .

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Reflections On The Needs Of Sahtu Constituents

Members’ Statements

Norman Yakeleya

Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, people in the Northwest Territories want to know that their government is there for them. People want to know when they are asked to put their names next to the ballots as we ran as MLAs, to be there for them stepping up to the plate and be the voice in this House. People want to be consulted in a meaningful way and know that we are there for them, Mr. Speaker. They want to know that we will bring down the cost of living in the North. Mr. Speaker, the people want to know the traditional way of life will be honoured and that we can exercise that right to live our culture.

Mr. Speaker, the people want to know that we will not be shocked about the megaprojects such as the Deh Cho Bridge saga and that this government will abide by its policy to err on the side of caution when going forward.

People want to know that we need to concentrate and be very clear about the emergency measures that our health care system needs in our small communities. We have a right to good, cultural health care. People want to know that more transparency will happen within this GNWT and there will be no more miscommunication or misinformation about the way things are handled.

The people want to know that the rich North can be a place to live, visit, and invest in and that we can live up to this phase by cleaning up our own backyard. Give the power back to the people.

The people want to know that when we are done in this Legislative Assembly, we did what we said we were going to get done and that we will leave this place in a good way. People want to know when they can drive down the Mackenzie Valley Highway all year. People want to know we can pay the same price here in Yellowknife and anywhere else in our

small communities. People want to know we set the power rates in a fair and just manner. People want to know that when they elect us as leaders, that we are leaders and want to listen to our people. People are waiting for us.

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Reflections On The Needs Of Sahtu Constituents

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya . The honourable Member for Hay River South , Mrs. Groenewegen .

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Medical Travel Policy For Students

Members’ Statements

Jane Groenewegen

Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a constituent who is a student attending full-time studies at the Grande Prairie Regional College in Grande Prairie, Alberta. My constituent had a medical specialist appointment booked in Edmonton. She had gone through the appropriate channels for this appointment. She had been seen by a doctor in Hay River, referred to Yellowknife, and in turn received a referral to a specialist in Edmonton.

When booking her medical travel for her appointment in Edmonton, she was informed that she could not access assistance from where she was attending school because medical travel must originate within the Northwest Territories. She was told that she would need to return to her home community of Hay River, fly from there to Edmonton, return to Hay River, and then go back to Grande Prairie. The inconvenience of this process was too difficult for my constituent to manage and, therefore, she had no alternative but to cancel her appointment with the specialist in Edmonton.

My constituent’s medical condition warrants being seen by a specialist and it would be unhealthy and possibly even risky for her to wait until a school break in the summer to return to Hay River to go to Edmonton for an appointment.

Northern students residing outside of the Northwest Territories on a temporary leave of absence to attend college or university are still northern residents. They retain their residency status and they have valid health care coverage. I am uncertain as to why the government would not accommodate someone in this situation, especially in the case of my constituent, considering that the cost of travel between Grande Prairie and Edmonton is less than it would be from Hay River to Edmonton and would in fact be saving the government money.

I am requesting a review of this policy to enable students to tend to their medical needs while going to school, whether inside or outside of the NWT. My constituent would like to rebook her appointment and be seen by the specialist in Edmonton and I would also appreciate if the Minister could provide options available to my constituent for accessing medical treatment as soon as possible.

This is not the first or only case that we have had like this. I understand that it may get complicated in

instances where we have students that are perhaps not as close to the medical facility they’re being referred to, but somehow, some way we have to apply some discretionary common sense to these types of decisions and policies.

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Medical Travel Policy For Students

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen . The honourable Member for Kam Lake , Mr. Ramsay .

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Disposition Of Opportunities Fund

Members’ Statements

David Ramsay

Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to speak today about the disposition of the Opportunities Fund, a fund Members will recall was used to give out a $34 million loan just over a year ago to Discovery Air. In talking about the decision to lend that money I don’t want to relive that whole debate today, but Discovery Air did make some commitments to this government that I believe need to be followed up on.

First, they were to relocate their head office from London, Ontario, to Yellowknife, which I understand is in the works. How come it took over a year for that to happen? Does the move include the CEO, the president, the CFO, and COO?

Discovery Air was also to move and operate a training school in Yellowknife and I was wondering if the government knows whether or not this will in fact happen.

What opening up the Opportunities Fund to allow a loan like the one made to Discovery Air did was raise expectations from other companies across the Northwest Territories that we would look at lending out of the balance of that fund. As chair of the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Infrastructure, I’ve fielded many inquiries about the fund from across the Northwest Territories. Our committee has waited almost over a year for the government to put some workable options in front of committee so we could utilize these funds for others. Mr.

Speaker, we got nothing meaningful to work with in the past year. Not too long ago, Mr. Speaker, I received a letter stating that now Finance Canada has instructed the Government of the Northwest Territories to look at the Opportunities Fund money as debt on our balance sheet. And we all know how close to the edge this government is, given the current disposition of the Deh Cho Bridge Project.

Mr. Speaker, what I’d like to know today is whether or not the decision to lend the $34 million from the Opportunities Fund in any way precipitated the federal government changing their opinion on how we state that money in our accounting. Mr. Speaker, I will have other questions pertaining to the Opportunities Fund at the appropriate time. Thank you.

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Disposition Of Opportunities Fund

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay . The honourable Member for Nunakput , Mr. Jacobson .

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Income Support Productive Choice Program

Members’ Statements

Jackie Jacobson

Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on my recent trip home this past weekend constituents of Tuktoyaktuk have asked me about the Income Support Program and productive choices options in the community. The Department of Education, Culture and Employment has been very strict and narrow in their

interpretation of what constitutes productive choices in the community. For example, many clients, some who are on medication or are elders, have to physically go out into the community and actively seek productive choice options. Mr. Speaker, that’s very limited in the community of Tuk with a limited number of qualified local organizations.

Mr. Speaker, many concerns deal mainly with issues with what has not been explained by case workers to their clients. I understand if a client does not ask for a certain type of assistance, Mr. Speaker, the officer must make the client aware of the offer of assistance to the client. I’m aware of the people getting evicted in my community and having no food in their fridges. Mr. Speaker, that begs the question whether the clients know how to ask for an Income Support Program and what the real options might be.

For example, in a remote community, clients don’t know if they can appeal the case workers’ decision and that the case worker must assist them with that appeal process. That’s not happening.

Mr. Speaker, I ask the Minister responsible for the Department of Education, Culture and Employment to re-examine ways for the Income Support Program that might be improved to better serve those who most need assistance in the communities. Thank you. I will have questions for the Minister at the appropriate time.

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Income Support Productive Choice Program

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Jacobson . The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe , Mr. Beaulieu .

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Cleanup Of Contaminated Mine Site Near Lutselk’e

Members’ Statements

Tom Beaulieu

Tu Nedhe

Mr. Speaker, yesterday I spoke of the need for environment officers in Tu Nedhe. Today, along that same line, I would like to talk about the Stark Lake cleanup near Lutselk’e. Mr. Speaker, I have raised the issue before and with little progress on this, I need to again raise awareness of this important environmental issue.

Mr. Speaker, the community, particularly the elders of the community, have been asking for something to be done ever since the mine closed in the late 1950s. It is unacceptable the way the land was left. Mr. Speaker, according to the community, the mine was a uranium mine that started in 1952 and then closed within a few years leaving behind a large tailings pile that was highly radioactive. The people hardly go near that area.

Mr. Speaker, this is a very serious issue for the community and a very serious issue for the environment. Something needs to be done as soon as possible. According to the community, since the mine closed residents have found fish that were deformed, some fish had unusually high amounts of parasites that may be fish coming from that area. Mr. Speaker, we are talking about a primary source of food for the residents. Again, I cannot stress enough that this is a very serious matter and needs immediate attention.

Mr. Speaker, the government has a great opportunity to address a serious environmental concern and provide some employment opportunities for the community. I have stood up in the House and spoken about limited economic and employment opportunities in Lutselk’e, and it’s no secret there a number of exploration projects underway in the regulatory process or at the discussion stage with the local aboriginal government. This translates into a need for environmental workers and responsible stewardship of the land. This is a traditional territory of the people of Lutselk’e. They know the land. We would be in the best position to work with the government to clean up this site.

Mr. Speaker, the Stark Lake cleanup project is a very serious environmental concern. This government needs to start working through the process of cleaning it up as soon as possible. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Cleanup Of Contaminated Mine Site Near Lutselk’e

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu . The honourable Member for Weledeh , Mr. Bromley .

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Reducing Deposit Holdback For Recycling Milk Containers

Members’ Statements

Bob Bromley

Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to congratulate the people of the Northwest Territories on their major success in taking up the challenge of recycling. Yesterday, the Minister of ENR added seven new beverage container types to the list of containers that can be recycled. Responsible citizens can now return 20 types of drink containers for return of deposits. In three short years, the number of communities with recycling depots has risen to 32 and over 100 million containers or 81 percent of drink containers sold are being returned for deposit.

We can see the benefits everywhere. Not only has beverage container recycling brought four out of five containers back for responsible disposal or recycling, the major nuisance of litter from spent drink containers has almost disappeared from our streets. Volunteer groups have found a new source of income to reward their initiative. I predict that the community cleanups that are coming this spring will be the last time we see major numbers of littered plastic bags included in the cleanup.

Perhaps the most important aspect of all this is that children are learning from early on that resources are precious and that every act can either be

an act of respect for the environment and a contribution to the common good or an addition to the burden placed on the environment. By putting any revenues back into the recovery, what was once a major source of waste, we are building a capacity across the Territory to expand these efforts on other forms of waste.

Through recycling programs with the margin of return we have spurred development of local businesses and facilities needed to begin recovering more and different types of waste. Through government support, communities can look farther afield at controlling the handling of additional waste materials like cardboard and paper, tires, lead acid batteries, electronics and fuel drums. Nothing happens overnight, but we are taking firmer control of this challenge every day and disposing of the wasteful psychology that fuels the disposable society.

On the subject of the recent expansion of our drink container deposits, I would like one improvement. Mr. Speaker, we shouldn’t be taxing essential nutrition like milk. While I support the waste reduction aspect, I will suggest that we should roll back the 10 cents spread between the deposit paid and the deposit refunded on milk containers. Congratulations to all on a great success story and our determination for greater achievements. Mahsi.

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Reducing Deposit Holdback For Recycling Milk Containers

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Bromley . The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre , Mr. Hawkins .

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Payday Loans And The Need For Territorial Regulation

Members’ Statements

Robert Hawkins

Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I want to talk about Payday Loans and the need for territorial regulations. Mr. Speaker, it is in the middle of the month. What does a person have to do if they are short of cash? Well, in Canada, there is a $2 billion industry out there to help. They are eager, Mr. Speaker. This conventional short-term lending isn’t available by the big banks so a person has to go to one of those short-term lending agencies often referred to Payday Loans. Now remember this, Mr. Speaker, convenience does

come at a price. It is a short-term loan and you have to promise to pay it back by your next pay cheque.

According to the Canadian Payday Loan Association, the average loan is about $280 on a 10-day borrowing cycle. But how does the loan work? Well, you have to have a job. You have to have an active bank account, permanent residence, and in some cases you need a current phone bill and a blank cheque of some form so they can make sure they can go get the money. Remember, there is no credit check for this type of service. So you sign the loan agreement and you leave your information and in the short term, you are ready to go.

Mr. Speaker, the law says you can’t be charged more than 60 percent. In Yellowknife, I called around. Apparently their interest fee is 29 percent. But, Mr. Speaker, we can’t forget about those fees because they are built into the price. There is administration, processing, convenience, verification, brokers, collectors, early repayment, late repayment, initial, one-time rollover fees. The fees go on and on.

In Yellowknife if you go to one of the lending agencies to borrow $200 you have to pay $180 back within two weeks. That’s an interest rate of over 2,000 percent. If you went to another lending agency and borrowed $500 you have to pay $136 on top of that. In other words, your final payout is $636, which is roughly 711 percent.

With time running out I’ll say this: something needs to be done. This government needs to make sure its citizens are protected before something goes off the rail. Why wait for a problem and then act? We can act now.

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Payday Loans And The Need For Territorial Regulation

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins . The honourable Member for Nahendeh , Mr. Menicoche .

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Interpreter/translator Programs And Training In The NWT

Members’ Statements

Kevin A. Menicoche

Nahendeh

Today I would like to speak about the interpreter/translator training in aboriginal languages of the Northwest Territories. Last year the Standing Committee on Government Operations visited many communities as part of the review of the Official Languages Act. In every

community, people expressed concern about the lack of interpreters and translators. They were concerned as often there was no one to help people who were fluent only in their aboriginal language. Sometimes, for instance, there was no one to translate for an elder when he had to speak to a doctor or nurse, or for an elder who needs to give evidence in court.

For years the Standing Committee on Government Operations has recommended that the GNWT implement training and certification of interpreters. There have been training activities completed by the Yamozha Kue Society, however, the certification process for aboriginal interpreters/translators has not been established. In order to develop a certificate program, experts in the language are needed to assist with development and evaluation of testing materials. Unfortunately it can be very hard to find qualified evaluators.

We heard from Nunavut the importance of culture, of singing, for instance, as a means to preserve language. One’s native language holds culture within it. It holds a way of looking at the world and it holds a traditional technology of living on the land. I trust that Education, Culture and Employment will take seriously the important task of preserving and revitalizing our aboriginal languages and the significant role that interpreters and translators can play in this task.

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Interpreter/translator Programs And Training In The NWT

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche . The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta , Mr. Krutko .

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Completion Of Community Energy Plans

Members’ Statements

David Krutko

Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Community governments must complete the Community Energy Plan by March 31, 2010. The Gas Tax Agreement requires that all community governments complete an integrated community sustainable plan by the same date. Community energy plans are one component that has been considered. All communities in the Northwest Territories must comply with this arrangement.

March 31, 2010, is only a month and a half away. As the information that has been provided by the Minister indicates that only 10 communities have completed this plan out of 33, yet some 23 communities remain to have their work completed by March 31st . Hopefully we can complete some 13

communities by the end of February and hope that the last remaining one-third of those communities will be completed by the end of March. I think the question has to be asked what happens to those communities that do not complete their energy plan with respect to sustainable plans by March 31st and

what is the penalty those communities will have to pay.

As we already know, a lot of our communities are having difficulties by running deficits, having challenges on capacity issues, and not having the resource people to assist them to complete this work. I feel that we have to ensure that we do everything we can to avoid this situation where communities will be penalized for not complying with the gas tax arrangements that we have with the federal government.

At the appropriate time I will be asking the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs questions on the situation of what happens to communities that don’t comply.

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Completion Of Community Energy Plans

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Krutko . Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake , Mr. Roland .

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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Floyd Roland

Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It gives me pleasure to introduce in our gallery Ms. Rose McConville, office manager of the Department of Aboriginal Affairs and Intergovernmental Relations from our Ottawa office. Welcome.

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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Roland . Indeed, welcome to the Chamber today. I hope you’re enjoying the proceedings. Item 6, acknowledgements. Item 7, oral questions. The honourable Member for Kam Lake , Mr. Ramsay .

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Question 334-16(4): Availability Of Opportunities Fund

Oral Questions

David Ramsay

Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It was about a year ago or just over a year ago when I stood up in this House a number of times asking the government questions about the Opportunities Fund and how it was that they came to make a decision to lend $34 million out of that fund. What that did was to raise expectations from around the Territory for other businesses that wanted to get access to some of these dollars for their own pursuits.

I’d like to ask the Minister of Finance , I’ve got a number of questions for him today, but I’d like to ask the Minister why we haven’t made any decisions on the availability of the balance of that fund for other businesses across the Territory.

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Question 334-16(4): Availability Of Opportunities Fund

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay . The honourable Minister responsible for Finance , Mr. Miltenberger .

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Question 334-16(4): Availability Of Opportunities Fund

Oral Questions

Thebacha

Michael Miltenberger

Minister of Finance

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When we made the Discovery Air loan there was considerable angst and agitation by some Members on the other side of the House.

There was great concern about what was done. A freeze was put on the fund until it could be sorted out as how to go forward with the remaining money. We agreed to do that. We waited five or six months for a response from the committee. They said to come back and give us some options and we’ll tell you what we think. In the meantime, even though this was shared in confidence with committee, the Member has pointed out that we’re having some discussions now with the Auditor General in terms of how the Opportunities Fund will be accounted for in our books.

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Question 334-16(4): Availability Of Opportunities Fund

Oral Questions

David Ramsay

Kam Lake

I don’t want the Minister to be quick to criticize my committee for sitting on this for five months. It’s been a year and these guys have not come up with a plan on the balance of that fund. I’d like to ask the Minister if the decision to lend the $34 million last year changed the way the federal government looks at the fund, now wanting us to book that whole entire fund as debt. I’d like to ask that question.

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Question 334-16(4): Availability Of Opportunities Fund

Oral Questions

Thebacha

Michael Miltenberger

Minister of Finance

Just for the record, it wasn’t the Auditor General, it was Finance Canada that came back to us about how we treat and account for that money. I don’t believe that the Discovery Air loan had any bearing on how we were told we have to account for the money. I understand in Yukon it’s accounted for differently as well. I don’t believe the Discovery Air loan, which in fact is generating enough revenue so this fund does not lose money, had a bearing on this current issue with Finance Canada.

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Question 334-16(4): Availability Of Opportunities Fund

Oral Questions

David Ramsay

Kam Lake

I’d like to ask the Minister what the government’s plans are in the immediate future for the remainder of that Opportunities Fund. If we’re not making any money from the Opportunities Fund and we’re actually paying an administration fee of 7 percent, what are we doing here? Why don’t we just give the money back if it’s going to be booked against our debt?

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Question 334-16(4): Availability Of Opportunities Fund

Oral Questions

Thebacha

Michael Miltenberger

Minister of Finance

The Member’s suggestion is a serious consideration.

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Question 334-16(4): Availability Of Opportunities Fund

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger . Final supplementary, Mr. Ramsay .

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Question 334-16(4): Availability Of Opportunities Fund

Oral Questions

David Ramsay

Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When might the Regular Members finally find out from this government what it intends to do with the remainder of that Opportunities Fund?

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Question 334-16(4): Availability Of Opportunities Fund

Oral Questions

Thebacha

Michael Miltenberger

Minister of Finance

I haven’t yet used in this session in due course and the fullness of time, however, I will say that we are in discussions with Finance Canada. Finance Canada has indicated to us that they have this on their agenda, but they are now very preoccupied pulling their own budget together. So we are in ongoing discussions with Finance Canada about the resolution to this particular issue. As soon as we

have anything to report, we will be coming back to committee. Thank you.

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Question 334-16(4): Availability Of Opportunities Fund

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger . The honourable Member for Weledeh , Mr. Bromley .

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Question 335-16(4): GNWT Response To Joint Review Panel Report

Oral Questions

Bob Bromley

Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are to the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources , as I presume, the lead Minister on the Joint Review Panel. At least six of the Joint Review Panel recommendations to the NEB would require the proponents to demonstrate GNWT approval for various plans like incineration of wastes, wildlife plans and so on, plans strategies or assessments. The February 11th response to the NEB consult to

modify process, in that the GNWT notes that it may be more appropriate to require the proponents to consult dot, dot, dot, instead of obtaining their approval. So the GNWT seems to be asking or shaking their shoulders from the responsibility or accepting the authority to require approval of those plans. Why would the GNWT make a recommendation renouncing an authority for GNWT approval seen by the JRP as necessary? Thank you.

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Question 335-16(4): GNWT Response To Joint Review Panel Report

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Bromley . The honourable Minister responsible for Environment and Natural Resources , Mr. Miltenberger .

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Question 335-16(4): GNWT Response To Joint Review Panel Report

Oral Questions

Michael Miltenberger

Thebacha

Mr. Speaker, I was trying to follow where the Member was referring to in this particular letter, and I’m unable to follow it. The thing that sticks in my mind was the dot, dot, dot. I have the report here. I was trying to listen to what he was saying and find it in the report. So I’m unable to clearly respond to that unless I can be pointed to where it is in this document which, while it’s before all the Members, is not really before this House. Thank you.

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Question 335-16(4): GNWT Response To Joint Review Panel Report

Oral Questions

Bob Bromley

Weledeh

I appreciate that. That’s a fair response. It’s A.(2), on page 2 of the letter. I’m happy to see the Minister has it in front of him. Basically, there’s the point A.(2) and then the immediate sentence below that rejects the opportunity for GNWT to take on the authority that this mechanism is providing us. Why would we do that? Thank you.

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Question 335-16(4): GNWT Response To Joint Review Panel Report

Oral Questions

Michael Miltenberger

Thebacha

Mr. Speaker, we’re in the process of pulling in a final response. A lot of what is in this letter, I’m assuming once again… I look at my A.(2) and I don’t know if we’re actually looking at the same document, which is the trouble, I suppose, with documents that aren’t before this House. Thank you.

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Question 335-16(4): GNWT Response To Joint Review Panel Report

Oral Questions

Bob Bromley

Weledeh

I certainly agree there that this would have been much easier to do during a

committee process, much more straightforward, and I think my views on that are clear. So let me move on to another question, if I may.

The Joint Review Panel makes many recommendations aimed at the GNWT. To meet these environmental, social and economic recommendations would require a lot of money. Without knowing what new funds are available, it will be impossible for GNWT to tell the JRP how it can respond to these recommendations. Has the lead Minister opened negotiations with the federal government to obtain these new dollars? And I am assuming we’re well along in estimating how many dollars we will need to fulfill some of these recommendations. Thank you.

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Question 335-16(4): GNWT Response To Joint Review Panel Report

Oral Questions

Michael Miltenberger

Thebacha

Mr. Speaker, as I indicated in my Minister’s statement, this process is only partway through. We have not come to any final conclusions or recommendations. We have to be very careful how we do that because we’re one of the responsible Ministers. We know that before the start of the JRP process there was $500 million that was talked about as a socio-economic impact fund that would be shared by affected regions up and down the valley.

In conjunction with the fact that we already spend 65 cents of every dollar on social programs, that there would be some opportunity for integrating and coordinating our responses and resources, but at this point we are not anywhere near nor am I in a position to speak to the specifics of this report, because we’re not there yet. When we’re finally ready to move, I’m one of a number of responsible Ministers and I have to be very careful of our legal considerations so that no one can stand up in the Leg. that they have a reasonable apprehension of bias that we went into this with foregone conclusions. Thank you.

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Question 335-16(4): GNWT Response To Joint Review Panel Report

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger . Your final supplementary, Mr. Bromley .

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Question 335-16(4): GNWT Response To Joint Review Panel Report

Oral Questions

Bob Bromley

Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Rather than go on with this charade and have the Minister call this card all the time, I’d like to maybe ask if the Minister will speak frankly to the Members in committee and bring us into the process. I think we would have some contribution to be made to the guidance, to our legal counsel, and part of that would be recognizing Regular Members as part of this consensus government. But maybe I’ll just ask the Minister if we can get that commitment. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 335-16(4): GNWT Response To Joint Review Panel Report

Oral Questions

Michael Miltenberger

Thebacha

The Member makes a good suggestion. In fact, as we speak, we are pulling together an offer for a joint briefing between myself, as the Minister responsible for the JRP, and Minister McLeod for the National Energy Board process to do a full and thorough briefing to committee. We’ll bring in all the folks we need, all our skilled people, lawyers and such and have the

discussion about this process, which has a multitude of moving parts and lots of considerations that have to be accommodated. Thank you.

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Question 335-16(4): GNWT Response To Joint Review Panel Report

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger . The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe , Mr. Beaulieu .

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Question 336-16(4): Cleanup Of Contaminated Mine Site Near Lutselk’e

Oral Questions

Tom Beaulieu

Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I spoke about the Stark Lake cleanup problem near Lutselk'e. Mr. Speaker, this is a very serious environmental issue and I’m talking about some radioactive contamination. I have questions for the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources . Mr. Speaker, will the Minister commit to directing his environmental staff to meet as soon as possible with the community of Lutselk'e on this issue? Thank you.

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Question 336-16(4): Cleanup Of Contaminated Mine Site Near Lutselk’e

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu . The honourable Minister responsible for Environment and Natural Resources , Mr. Miltenberger .

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Question 336-16(4): Cleanup Of Contaminated Mine Site Near Lutselk’e

Oral Questions

Michael Miltenberger

Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would share this information with the Member that the site in question is 22 kilometres east of Lutselk'e on Krys Point and Stark Lake. In the 1950s some advanced exploration was undertaken on site, which included blasting of a tunnel into the hillside in order to obtain samples for an assay. No milling or ore processing took place. The site was abandoned and the tunnel remained open. In the early 1990s, personnel from GNWT mine safety inspected abandoned mine sites around the NWT for safety concerns.

The tunnel at Stark Lake was inspected and determined to be a possible concern and blasted closed. The site is located on Crown land and, therefore, the responsibility of the federal government. Indian and Northern Affairs has the site identified on their contaminated site inventory although it is not known if there are any contamination concerns on site. Thank you.

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Question 336-16(4): Cleanup Of Contaminated Mine Site Near Lutselk’e

Oral Questions

Tom Beaulieu

Tu Nedhe

Mr. Speaker, I do recognize that the majority of the responsibility for cleanup on land and water within the Northwest Territories lies with the federal government. However, I do feel this government has some responsibility. Mr. Speaker, this is an immediate concern and, hopefully, we can get some immediate solutions. I also would be interested in some long-term solutions. Does the Minister have some sort of cleanup strategy for all of the contaminated sites in the Northwest Territories? Thank you.

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Question 336-16(4): Cleanup Of Contaminated Mine Site Near Lutselk’e

Oral Questions

Michael Miltenberger

Thebacha

INAC undertook site reconnaissance in 2009 and identified the tunnel and adjacent blast rock pile remains of a cabin and tent frames and an old beached wooden barge. INAC plans to undertake a

combined phase 1 and 2 environmental site assessment in the summer of 2010. Mr. Speaker, ENR will commit to obtaining the results of the site assessment and share them with the MLA for Tu Nedhe. Thank you.

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Question 336-16(4): Cleanup Of Contaminated Mine Site Near Lutselk’e

Oral Questions

Tom Beaulieu

Tu Nedhe

I thank the Minister for those responses. Will the Minister commit to working with the federal government and the communities of Fort Resolution and Lutselk’e to develop some sort of a strategy to clean up the sites within Tu Nedhe?

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Question 336-16(4): Cleanup Of Contaminated Mine Site Near Lutselk’e

Oral Questions

Michael Miltenberger

Thebacha

Yes, we’ll work with the Member and the communities, and as the environmental assessments phase 1 and 2 are done and we get a sense of what the federal government is finding we’ll be in a position to collectively ensure that we work together to make the right decisions.

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Question 336-16(4): Cleanup Of Contaminated Mine Site Near Lutselk’e

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger . Final supplementary, Mr. Beaulieu .

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Question 336-16(4): Cleanup Of Contaminated Mine Site Near Lutselk’e

Oral Questions

Tom Beaulieu

Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As Stark Lake seems to be the immediate concern to the people around Lutselk’e, will the Minister commit to getting something done with the federal government and getting something done this summer in as far as actual onsite cleanup.

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Question 336-16(4): Cleanup Of Contaminated Mine Site Near Lutselk’e

Oral Questions

Michael Miltenberger

Thebacha

The environmental assessments by the federal government are planned for this summer. I think that it’s a critical first step to make sure we know what’s there and what may require cleaning up and how. We’ll be keeping an eye on this and keeping the Member informed. Once we have that information we’ll be in an informed position to make the right decisions going forward.

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Question 336-16(4): Cleanup Of Contaminated Mine Site Near Lutselk’e

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger . The honourable Member for Hay River South , Mrs. Groenewegen .

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Question 337-16(4): Medical Travel Policy For Students

Oral Questions

Jane Groenewegen

Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the Minister of Health and Social Services . It has to do with our medical travel. We have a very comprehensive Medical Travel Policy in the Northwest Territories and I would suggest that most of the time it works really, really well. Occasionally, though, we bring to the floor of this House some anomaly, some glitches where there are problems.

The policy is well-known that if somebody requires medical travel it has to originate within the Northwest Territories. However, this does not address the situation that I described today in my Member’s statement where we have a student that’s already halfway towards the facility where they need to receive medical attention from the specialist.

Now, the Minister could solve this with a one-off kind of answer about this particular instance, but I would like to ask the Minister if she would be willing to have her department look at the whole issue of medical travel for students attending post-secondary education and how we might come up with a policy framework that allows for some discretionary type approval for situations like this.

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Question 337-16(4): Medical Travel Policy For Students

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen . The honourable Minister responsible for Health and Social Services , Ms. Lee .

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Question 337-16(4): Medical Travel Policy For Students

Oral Questions

Sandy Lee

Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Member brought this matter to my attention about 11:00 this morning. My staff and her staff are looking at the specific situation, but I do agree with the Member that we need to make sure that the students who are away and considered NWT residents in any other way should be able to take advantage of their medical travel. So I am reviewing the policy; not the policy, I have to first find out what is going on with this. I’m sure within the policy we can make this happen.

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Question 337-16(4): Medical Travel Policy For Students

Oral Questions

Jane Groenewegen

Hay River South

There are no doubt, I mean, the Medical Travel Policy is, no doubt, a very expensive policy and very expensive exercise of the Department of Health and Social Services because we do live in the North and we are remote from some of the very specialized services that are required by our constituents. It’s a very large ticket item. It’s very expensive. Sometimes things are done which might actually seemingly waste money, but the opportunity to save money is here before us.

I’d like to ask the Minister if there is anyone within the organization who looks after medical travel or medical insurance issues who she could see her way clear to give the kind of authority to, that could deal with things like this so that they don’t end up having to reach her desk here in the Legislative Assembly.

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Question 337-16(4): Medical Travel Policy For Students

Oral Questions

Sandy Lee

Range Lake

Without having reviewed the specific situation I’m not able to say right now whether or not this is a deficiency in the policy or it’s a case of someone just not using the full breadth of the policy. I do need to look at this first.

Right now we do not have an appeal mechanism under the medical policy. That’s the second part of the question. The review that we’re doing of the policy will contemplate that and the changes that we’re suggesting in other policy that we can’t talk about yet, we are looking at that as a part of the larger review of the medical policy. In this situation I’m hesitant to say that it’s either misapplication of the policy or the lack of the policy or anything until we find out exactly what happened, because in my two and a half years here I’ve not had any case like this. It could be that this might be an anomaly. I need to get some more facts.

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Question 337-16(4): Medical Travel Policy For Students

Oral Questions

Jane Groenewegen

Hay River South

We have a lot of students from the North who do attend post-secondary facilities in Alberta. It seems to almost be a destination of choice. I don’t have any statistics to bear that out. Where a constituent or resident can prove a cost savings to the government, the cost to get from Grande Prairie to Edmonton to see a specialist is a lot less than getting from Hay River to Edmonton. Where it is an absolute, undeniable, proven case of where it would cost less to waive the policy about it having to originate in the Northwest Territories, would this not be something that the Minister could simply and quickly and expeditiously put into place?

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Question 337-16(4): Medical Travel Policy For Students

Oral Questions

Sandy Lee

Range Lake

Yes, I would be interested in looking at that I will get back to the Member quickly.

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Question 337-16(4): Medical Travel Policy For Students

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Ms. Lee . The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta , Mr. Krutko .

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Question 338-16(4): Gas Tax Agreement And Completion Of Community Energy Plans

Oral Questions

David Krutko

Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are directed to the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs . They are in regard to the agreement we have on the gas tax. In the agreement it stipulates that by March 31st the

communities have to complete their community energy plans and their integrated community sustainability plans. Yet, from the information that I have, only 10 communities have completed their plans, leaving 23 communities to complete the work before March 31st . It’s only a month and a half

away.

In the information that’s been provided it states that some communities are in the process of a meeting with council at the middle of March. This is pretty close to the deadline. In other cases they are still in the process of discussions with a consultant.

I’d like to ask the Minister what happens to those communities that do not complete their commitments under the Gas Tax Agreement and what is the penalty for not completing those reports by March 31st .

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Question 338-16(4): Gas Tax Agreement And Completion Of Community Energy Plans

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Krutko . The honourable Minister responsible for Municipal and Community Affairs , Mr. Robert McLeod .

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Question 338-16(4): Gas Tax Agreement And Completion Of Community Energy Plans

Oral Questions

Robert C. McLeod

Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There are 10 that are completed, 13 bringing them to their councils for approval in February, and the balance -- I believe it’s 13 and 10, I may have the numbers backwards -- will have them to their councils for approval in March. We anticipate that all communities will meet the deadline. In the event that they don’t, their funds will be held back until they have their plans completed and approved.

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Question 338-16(4): Gas Tax Agreement And Completion Of Community Energy Plans

Oral Questions

David Krutko

Mackenzie Delta

As we all know, some communities are having difficulties with deficits or lack of core staff to ensure they have capacity to do the work to complete these reviews. I’d like to ask the Minister what other resources are there for communities that do not have the capacity in SAOs or people in the communities who can actually physically do the work. Is the government willing to put more resources into those communities so that we can try to meet the deadline of March 31st ?

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Question 338-16(4): Gas Tax Agreement And Completion Of Community Energy Plans

Oral Questions

Robert C. McLeod

Inuvik Twin Lakes

MACA held five regional workshops to help community governments with their plans. They brought in SAOs, two elected officials from each community to take

part in the workshops. As well, some of the communities have gone to the private sector to help with their sustainability plans. We will continue to track those communities that may be a little behind, but we still anticipate that all communities are going to be completed by the March 31st deadline.

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Question 338-16(4): Gas Tax Agreement And Completion Of Community Energy Plans

Oral Questions

David Krutko

Mackenzie Delta

Could the Minister give us the statistics on the community energy plans and what communities have completed their community energy plans and which ones haven’t? Thank you.

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Question 338-16(4): Gas Tax Agreement And Completion Of Community Energy Plans

Oral Questions

Robert C. McLeod

Inuvik Twin Lakes

Mr. Speaker, well, obviously, there are 10 of them that have completed all four. There are four components to the community sustainability plan and all of the 10 completed have obviously done all of them. I don’t have the exact numbers with me. I’ll get the numbers and I’ll provide them to the Member. But if the 13 that are going to council for approval in February, then we would assume that they have their energy plans done. Then there are 10 that are going to their councils for approval in March. As for exact numbers as to how many have been completed to date, I will get that information and I’ll pass it on to the Member. Thank you.

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Question 338-16(4): Gas Tax Agreement And Completion Of Community Energy Plans

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Your final supplementary, Mr. Krutko .

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Question 338-16(4): Gas Tax Agreement And Completion Of Community Energy Plans

Oral Questions

David Krutko

Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I believe this is the perfect opportunity for this government to really put some capital infrastructure in the communities, especially for the smaller communities where they have higher energy costs and higher operating costs. I believe there’s $40 million for basically looking at the green funds that we have in place.

So I’d just like to ask the Minister exactly is this government going to also be looking at alternative means of energy in communities, more importantly, in regard to the capital dollars we have elsewhere to assist these communities where we realize that they have high energy costs and that basically the communities are unsustainable under the existing systems that they are using.

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Question 338-16(4): Gas Tax Agreement And Completion Of Community Energy Plans

Oral Questions

Robert C. McLeod

Inuvik Twin Lakes

Mr. Speaker, we’ll continue to work with the communities in identifying their energy needs and where they can make

improvements so when the community decides what infrastructure that they’re going to build, then they’ll be able to incorporate a lot of the ideas. That’s why the Arctic Energy Alliance is playing a

part in working with some of the communities in coming up with their community energy plans. So this would go a long way, and I’ve spoken to one community in particular that had some concerns about some of the energy costs and how they were doing some new work and they were going to incorporate some of the recommendations made in the energy plans. Thank you.

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Question 338-16(4): Gas Tax Agreement And Completion Of Community Energy Plans

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre , Mr. Hawkins .

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Question 339-16(4): Payday Loans And Need For GNWT Regulation

Oral Questions

Robert Hawkins

Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in my Member’s statement today I talked about payday loans and the fact that I believe the territorial consumer is being left at risk. I think that’s time for this government to take an active interest in this file and rather than wait for an accident to happen, we should take control of it through sound, reasonable regulations.

Mr. Speaker, seven out of 10 of the provinces in this Dominion of Canada have ensured that low rates exist for people who have to go to Payday Loans, and they’ve ensured that the protection of the citizens is certainly a priority.

Mr. Speaker, the last point I want to make is the federal government says, through the Criminal Code, that you cannot charge more than 60 percent on these types of loans, but the fact is even though they hide it with a cheap introduction loan, the maximum of 60 percent does not take into account the fees that are often charged with this. So I’m going to ask the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs , who’s also the Minister responsible for consumer affairs, is he willing to take a look at prescribing regulations here in the Northwest Territories that protect consumers and don’t put them at risk because of these high interest fees that are charged with the payday loans? Thank you.

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Question 339-16(4): Payday Loans And Need For GNWT Regulation

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins . The honourable Minister responsible for Municipal and Community Affairs , Mr. Robert McLeod .

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Question 339-16(4): Payday Loans And Need For GNWT Regulation

Oral Questions

Robert C. McLeod

Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, MACA is working with our federal/provincial/territorial counterparts to look at issues regarding the consumer credit card market, and we’re looking at ways that we can improve our efforts to protect consumers. Thank you.

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Question 339-16(4): Payday Loans And Need For GNWT Regulation

Oral Questions

Robert Hawkins

Yellowknife Centre

Mr. Speaker, in information that’s been sent to me it says basically it’s at the

discretion of the lending agency. So I’m really curious what MACA is doing as they watch this evolve. Thank you.

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Question 339-16(4): Payday Loans And Need For GNWT Regulation

Oral Questions

Robert C. McLeod

Inuvik Twin Lakes

Mr. Speaker, we haven’t had any concerns brought to our attention yet by the consumers, but we do have a consumer affairs person that monitors a lot of the goings-on out there. If this continues to be a practice or something that consumers need information on or just need reassurance that they are protected, then it’s something that, as a government, we have to do. Thank you.

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Question 339-16(4): Payday Loans And Need For GNWT Regulation

Oral Questions

Robert Hawkins

Yellowknife Centre

Mr. Speaker, I believe there is a firm role here for government to backstop the public to make sure that regulations and oversight exist before something goes off the rails. Mr. Speaker, it’s clear that these types of loans are given to people with low income or, certainly, to middle income Canadians and puts them in financial risk. Why is the Minister waiting for complaints in order to act rather than doing something? Mr. Speaker, the opportunity exists here. Would the Minister act and look into regulations and develop them in a fair way as seven other provinces have in this country?

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Question 339-16(4): Payday Loans And Need For GNWT Regulation

Oral Questions

Robert C. McLeod

Inuvik Twin Lakes

Yes, we’ll look into it. Thank you.

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Question 339-16(4): Payday Loans And Need For GNWT Regulation

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Your final supplementary, Mr. Hawkins .

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Question 339-16(4): Payday Loans And Need For GNWT Regulation

Oral Questions

Robert Hawkins

Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the answer from the Minister. Mr. Speaker, could the Minister elaborate a little further, such as does he anticipate that he’ll look into this right away or is it one of those little things that will hang there and say someday we’ll take a look at it; we’re not against it, but maybe we’ll be for it? So could the Minister, sort of, elaborate a little further on his answer? Because my expectations are reasonable but certainly are there now. Thank you.

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Question 339-16(4): Payday Loans And Need For GNWT Regulation

Oral Questions

Robert C. McLeod

Inuvik Twin Lakes

Mr. Speaker, we’ll look into it right away. Thank you.

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Question 339-16(4): Payday Loans And Need For GNWT Regulation

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Member for Nahendeh , Mr. Menicoche .

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Question 340-16(4): Interpreter/translator Programs And Training In The NWT

Oral Questions

Kevin A. Menicoche

Nahendeh

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I just want to follow up on my Member’s statement with regard to the Interpreter/Translator Program. I’d like to ask the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment what is the existing programming that we do have available for residents out there currently. Thank you.

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Question 340-16(4): Interpreter/translator Programs And Training In The NWT

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche . The honourable Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment , Mr. Lafferty .

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Question 340-16(4): Interpreter/translator Programs And Training In The NWT

Oral Questions

Jackson Lafferty

Monfwi

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we do have a program in place through the Yamozha Kue Society through the Dene Cultural Institute. We deliver a module pilot training program. There have been different training programs in Yellowknife, Lutselk'e and other communities as well. It’s based on the modules. So, Mr. Speaker, once those six training modules are delivered… And a certificate of achievement is also awarded to those individuals. Once the six modules are completed, it’s going to be delivered in all language communities. Mahsi.

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Question 340-16(4): Interpreter/translator Programs And Training In The NWT

Oral Questions

Kevin A. Menicoche

Nahendeh

I’m glad to hear that there will be an expansion of that program throughout the North. Is that something that’s planned for the upcoming fiscal year 2010-2011? Thank you.

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Question 340-16(4): Interpreter/translator Programs And Training In The NWT

Oral Questions

Jackson Lafferty

Monfwi

Mr. Speaker, this is an ongoing initiative that’s been in the works for several years now and we will continue to work on improving in this area so that we can deliver a wide range of

interpretation and also translation training programs into the regions. We’re reaching out to the communities. But, Mr. Speaker, with the upcoming language symposium that’s scheduled for the end of March, this will be one of the topics of discussion at that forum. We want to get input from the language experts to give us direction on this particular piece of work. Mahsi.

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Question 340-16(4): Interpreter/translator Programs And Training In The NWT

Oral Questions

Kevin A. Menicoche

Nahendeh

Will this program be expanded after March 31st to other communities? I know that

the language symposium will give us lots of direction and lots of good ideas as we’ll have the experts from throughout Canada, but I’d like to know if our Interpreter/Translator Program will be expanded to invite other members of the public to join it. Thank you.

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Question 340-16(4): Interpreter/translator Programs And Training In The NWT

Oral Questions

Jackson Lafferty

Monfwi

Mr. Speaker, the modules that I’m talking about is we gave further funding in August 2009 to provide the Yamozha Kue Society to complete the development and product of the training modules for the community-based interpreter and the translator training modules that will be delivered as a pilot project.

Mr. Speaker, we need to reach out to the five regions that we have and it will take gradual steps, but this is an ongoing pilot project that we’re continuing to promote. Again, at the language symposium the experts around the table will give us more feedback on this particular program. Mahsi.

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Question 340-16(4): Interpreter/translator Programs And Training In The NWT

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty . Your final supplementary, Mr. Menicoche .

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Question 340-16(4): Interpreter/translator Programs And Training In The NWT

Oral Questions

Kevin A. Menicoche

Nahendeh

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Will this Interpreter/Translator Program get to the level where the people attending it can be certified trainers in the regions and communities? Even I’m looking towards having something with Aurora College as well. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 340-16(4): Interpreter/translator Programs And Training In The NWT

Oral Questions

Jackson Lafferty

Monfwi

Mr. Speaker, that will be part of the long-term goal that we have where we did have a successful college Interpreter Training Program in the past and also that is the area that we are also looking at as well. In the meantime, we are delivering the training modules in the region. We will continue to work in that area and also improving in what we have on hand. Mahsi.

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Question 340-16(4): Interpreter/translator Programs And Training In The NWT

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty . The honourable Member for Nunakput , Mr. Jacobson .

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Question 341-16(4): Client Service Officers In Remote Communities

Oral Questions

Jackie Jacobson

Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, Mr. Speaker, my Member’s statement was on ECE and the community of Tuktoyaktuk. Mr. Speaker, I try to go home every weekend when we are down here sitting. Every time I go home, I get phone calls from different people in the community saying their first call is always ECE. I’ve been having this problem for the last 18 months. I’m really getting discouraged here.

Mr. Speaker, case workers are sometimes on duty travel and the replacements are often flying in and flying out on a daily basis to fill the regional budget. Are the regional budgets large enough to handle this travel? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 341-16(4): Client Service Officers In Remote Communities

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Jacobson . The honourable Minister of Education, Culture and Employment , Mr. Lafferty .

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Question 341-16(4): Client Service Officers In Remote Communities

Oral Questions

Jackson Lafferty

Monfwi

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. We feel that we need to meet the needs of all clientele in the Northwest Territories. We do provide budgets and funding to each department and also to the respective regions. There has been an increase in the travel budget as it has been highlighted in previous budgets and also this year as well. We continue to go out to isolated communities. It does cost us extra. Mr. Speaker, yes, we do have a budget for that. Mahsi.

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Question 341-16(4): Client Service Officers In Remote Communities

Oral Questions

Jackie Jacobson

Nunakput

Mr. Speaker, the department for those who most need the program do not really know what their options are. Mr. Speaker, how would the department inform the community clients of their options? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 341-16(4): Client Service Officers In Remote Communities

Oral Questions

Jackson Lafferty

Monfwi

Mr. Speaker, we have client service officers that get together every now and then to highlight the key changes or program that is on hand. If there are any new initiatives that the community should be aware of through any client service officer and, Mr. Speaker, we will certainly take this into consideration with respect to the Member’s riding. If there is not enough information being shared, then we need to do that and other communities as well. Mr. Speaker, we will do what we can to provide more

choices and the program delivery into the communities. Mahsi.

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Question 341-16(4): Client Service Officers In Remote Communities

Oral Questions

Jackie Jacobson

Nunakput

Mr. Speaker, there is enough work in the community of Tuktoyaktuk for at least two case workers. Every month there is a line-up of people trying to get to see the ECE worker to get help to provide food for their kids, and not only that, to pay some of their bills. Mr. Speaker, when can the department respond to at least having two case workers in the community of Tuktoyaktuk? Thank you.

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Question 341-16(4): Client Service Officers In Remote Communities

Oral Questions

Jackson Lafferty

Monfwi

Mr. Speaker, we do what we can with what we have in resources in the regions, whether it be the Tuktoyaktuk client service officers and we do have regional representatives as well that go to the communities. Some communities may feel that the caseload is also increasing. Those are areas that we are looking at as ECE department where we can add resources if we need to based on the clientele, the caseload. Those are areas that we are looking at, Mr. Speaker. Mahsi.

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Question 341-16(4): Client Service Officers In Remote Communities

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty . Final supplementary, Mr. Jacobson .

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Question 341-16(4): Client Service Officers In Remote Communities

Oral Questions

Jackie Jacobson

Nunakput

Mr. Speaker, I urge the Minister to get a hold of client services in regards to not only Nunakput but all over, the workers that are working in the communities to start helping the people that are asking for help in regards to productive choices. We have 65-year-old people having to go out and shovel. That is not right. Mr. Speaker, this government, is there a different list of productive choices between a place like Yellowknife than Tuktoyaktuk? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 341-16(4): Client Service Officers In Remote Communities

Oral Questions

Jackson Lafferty

Monfwi

Mr. Speaker, productive choices is throughout the Northwest Territories. It is the same for clientele. The Member has alluded to an elder shovelling. There is an exemption for aged individuals that it is not required to do these kinds of chores unless they participate to do so. Mr. Speaker, I can certainly provide the list of exemptions and also the productive choices that have been highlighted is the list that we follow within the choices that have been offered. Mahsi.

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Question 341-16(4): Client Service Officers In Remote Communities

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty . The honourable Member for Frame Lake , Ms. Bisaro .

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Question 342-16(4): GNWT Response To Joint Review Panel Report

Oral Questions

Wendy Bisaro

Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my Member’s statement, I addressed the response to the JRP recommendations that was filed by the GNWT to the NEB. My questions today are addressed to the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment , who is responsible for the NEB portion of this. It was Minister McLeod who advised the chair of the Economic Development and Infrastructure committee that the response was

filed. Since the Minister was the recipient of a letter from the Social Programs committee, the same kind of a letter that went to the Minister of EDI. I would like to know from Minister McLeod why the chair of the Social Programs committee was not advised of the filing of the response in the same manner that he advised the chair of EDI. Thank you.

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Question 342-16(4): GNWT Response To Joint Review Panel Report

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro . The honourable Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment , Mr. Bob McLeod .

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Question 342-16(4): GNWT Response To Joint Review Panel Report

Oral Questions

Bob McLeod

Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I guess for a couple of reasons. One is we normally work with the Standing Committee of Economic Development. Secondly, we weren’t aware that the Standing Committee on Operations wanted input into the response to NEB. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 342-16(4): GNWT Response To Joint Review Panel Report

Oral Questions

Wendy Bisaro

Frame Lake

Mr. Speaker, I am a little nonplussed, I guess, by the Minister’s response that he would choose to ignore the request of a standing committee. I want to quote from the letter that was sent to the Hon. Robert R. McLeod sometime in January. The date is not evident here, but from the chair of the Standing Committee on Social Programs, and the chair said, “committee members are very interested in the recommendations made in the JRP report on the Mackenzie Gas Project and want both the opportunity to provide input in the development of a response and an opportunity to review the response before it is final.”

I guess from that I would like to reiterate to the Minister and ask the Minister why, in the light of that letter, would he ignore that request and not advise the chair of the Standing Committee on Social Programs. Thank you.

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Question 342-16(4): GNWT Response To Joint Review Panel Report

Oral Questions

Bob McLeod

Yellowknife South

Mr. Speaker, I have the letter right here. It is from the chair of the Standing Committee on Social Programs. There is no reference to the NEB in that letter. I assume that the Standing Committee on Social Programs is only interested in the Joint Review Panel recommendations. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 342-16(4): GNWT Response To Joint Review Panel Report

Oral Questions

Wendy Bisaro

Frame Lake

Mr. Speaker, I guess I have to then ask the Minister of ITI how he can say that that response that was filed with the NEB did not reference the recommendations from the Joint Review Panel. Thank you.

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Question 342-16(4): GNWT Response To Joint Review Panel Report

Oral Questions

Bob McLeod

Yellowknife South

Mr. Speaker, I am just going by the letter that I received from the Standing Committee on Social Programs. As my colleague the Minister of ENR indicated, we are quite prepared to do a joint briefing with the different committees. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 342-16(4): GNWT Response To Joint Review Panel Report

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Final supplementary, Ms. Bisaro .

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Question 342-16(4): GNWT Response To Joint Review Panel Report

Oral Questions

Wendy Bisaro

Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the offer from both Ministers to have a

briefing. I think it is something that absolutely is necessary. It will certainly forestall the lack of feeling that we are being left out over here on this side of the House.

I wonder if I could ask the Minister how the response was filed without any input from Regular Members. What was the rationale for that? Thank you.

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Question 342-16(4): GNWT Response To Joint Review Panel Report

Oral Questions

Bob McLeod

Yellowknife South

I guess there were a number of reasons. First and foremost is we were working under very tight timelines and if we didn’t file by February 11th we would have forgone the

opportunity to appear before the different panel hearings. We didn’t want to be like the federal government where three federal departments that are intervening did not respond because they don’t support the pipeline. So as a responsible government, it was incumbent upon us.

We have to recognize that through NEB we are very limited in scope as to what we can respond on. We’re talking about the technical aspects with regard to construction of the pipeline and toll rates and development of the anchor fields. We can’t introduce any new material, so it’s quite restrictive. Also, it is still unclear as to how information