Debates of Oct. 19th, 2004

This is page numbers 819 - 854 of the Hansard for the 15th Assembly, 3rd 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 work .

Topics

Members Present

Item 1: Prayer

Progress Report On Health And Social Services In The Nwt

Activities Of The Ministry Of Aboriginal Affairs

Risks Associated With The Bear And Taltson Hydro Projects

Importance Of Northern Commercial Fisheries

Search For Four Tuktoyaktuk Hunters Called Off

Location Of New Legal Aid Office

Mackenzie Valley Winter Road Bridge Program

Congratulations To New Chiefs In Nahanni Butte And Wrigley

Condolences On The Passing Of Lucy Greenland Of Aklavik

Difficulties With Living In Remote Locations

Centralized Human Resource Centre

2004 Core Housing Needs In The North Slave

Municipal Election Results In Inuvik

Sustainability Of Universal Health Care

Motion To Move Minister's Statement 54-15(3) Into Committee Of The Whole

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Mackenzie Winter Road Bridge Program

Point Of Order

Centralizing The GNWT Human Resource Function

Support For The NWT Commercial Fishery

Funding For The Bear And Taltson Hydro Projects

Eligibility For Student Financial Assistance

Staffing Appeals At The North Slave Correctional Centre

Health Priorities In The Nwt

Funding For The Bear And Taltson Hydro Project

Revert To Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Spending To Date On The Bear And Taltson Hydro Projects

Options For Housing Clients In Arrears

Addressing Power Rates In The Sahtu Region

Aurora College Lease In Northern United Place

Bear River Hydro Development

Pipeline Uptake Of Proposed Bear River Power

Mackenzie Valley Pipeline Office

Ensuring Winter Road Safety In The Sahtu Region

Interest In The Bear River Hydro Development

Written Question 41-15(3): Winter Roads In The Sahtu

Written Question 42-15(3): Organizations Receiving Year To Year Funding

Written Question 43-15(3): School Funding Policies

Written Question 44-15(3): Deton' Cho Corporation Funding

Tabled Document 72-15(3): News Release Re: Annual Conference Of Federal/provincial/territorial Ministers Of Health, Vancouver, B.c., October 16-17, 2004

Bill 17: Modernization Of Benefits And Obligations Act

Bill 18:

An Act To Amend The Territorial Court Act

Bill 13: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 2, 2004-2005

Bill 14: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 4, 2003-2004

Bill 13: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 2, 2004-2005

Bill 14: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 4, 2003-2004

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Municipal Compliance With Access To Information And Protection Of Privacy Legislation

Monitor Effectiveness To Personal Information Protection And Electronics Documents Act

Contracting Clauses Requiring Compliance With The Access To Information And Privacy Protection Act

Item 20: Report Of Committee Of The Whole

Bill 8: Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2004

Bill 7:

An Act To Amend The Legal Profession Act

Bill 12:

An Act To Amend The Education Act

Item 22: Orders Of The Day

Members Present

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

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---Prayer

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Item 1: Prayer

Item 1: Prayer

Page 819

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Good afternoon, Members. Item 2, Ministers' statements. The honourable Minister of Health and Social Services , Mr. Miltenberger .

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Minister's Statement 54-15(3): Progress Report On Health And Social Services In The Nwt

Item 2: Ministers' Statements

Page 819

Michael Miltenberger

Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to provide Members with a progress report on Health and Social Services in the Northwest Territories.

It is almost three years since the NWT Health and Social Services system action plan 2002-05 was released. This plan outlined 45 action items with specific commitments, timelines and deliverables. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to report to this House that the actions outlined in this plan are either completed or being implemented.

As we look back on the last three years, there have been a number of significant changes in the NWT health and social services system that have, and will continue to, improve the services for the residents of the Northwest Territories. Some of these are:

• We will continue to add telehealth sites every year until we have a telehealth capability in all communities across the Territories. We are expanding our telehealth services by adding or upgrading four sites this year in addition to the existing 10 sites.

• We launched a new toll-free tele-care service that enables residents to get advice and support from nursing professionals 24 hours a day. When a young mother in Paulatuk has an infant with a fever in the middle of the night, she can get the advice and the reassurance that she is doing the right thing for her child.

• We enacted changes in our legislative framework so that we can add nurse practitioners into our system to enable better patient care and ease the pressure on our family physicians and specialists.

• We are also in the process of finalizing the necessary steps to add midwives to the health and social services team to provide another option to expectant mothers outside of Yellowknife.

• Our Northern Nursing and Nurse Practitioner program has been very successful in supporting our goal of developing a northern nursing workforce.

Over 20 northern nurses have graduated each year, and we have hired each and every graduate that wants to stay in the Northwest Territories.

• We are completing work on the integrated service delivery model that provides our blueprint into the future to define and provide health and social services in a coordinated and collaborative way beginning where it is most important: at the community level.

• We have made significant increases to the number of frontline care providers, including physicians, social workers, mental health and addictions workers, nurse practitioners and nurses.

Mr. Speaker, over the last few months, I visited the communities in the Mackenzie Delta, Nahendeh, Nunakput and South Slave. I had the pleasure of meeting many of the staff that deliver services at the community level, such as nurses, social workers, community health representatives, lay dispensers, home support workers, interpreters, and caretakers. Each and every one of these individuals contributes to ensure that residents of the Northwest Territories receive the best services possible. I would like to take this opportunity to personally acknowledge the efforts of all our frontline care providers. Their dedication to the health and well-being of our citizens is the backbone of our system.

Mr. Speaker, as I have already mentioned, we are making progress, but by no means is our work done. Still today we face challenges on a number of fronts.

The unfortunate continual reality is that northerners are generally not as healthy as other Canadians. Life expectancy is lower. Lung cancer mortality rates are high. Rates of hospitalization for influenza and pneumonia are higher. Our rate is more than four times the national average.

These are influenced by the lifestyle choices that each of us makes.

• We eat poorly. Nutritious food is expensive and, in some communities, not readily available. Our high cost of living often makes eating a balanced diet challenging and this leads to problems with obesity and increased occurrence of diseases such as diabetes.

• We smoke more. Northerners are twice as likely to smoke or live in a home with a smoker. Smoking causes cancer and makes diseases like asthma, tuberculosis and RSV worse.

• We drink too much alcohol. Substance abuse is related to many of our social problems and is also linked to mental health issues.

• We suffer from preventable diseases, whether it is higher incident rates of sexually transmitted diseases or injuries.

Mr. Speaker, another ongoing challenge is in recruiting health care professionals to live and work in the smaller communities and regional centres. For example, we have an ongoing shortage of nurses at the community level. We have to pay a premium to employment agencies just to find nurses to work in isolated communities to ensure services are available to residents. This is expensive and not sustainable in the longer term and, therefore, our efforts to develop a northern nursing workforce must continue.

As we work towards the goal in our strategic plan of healthy educated people living in safe communities, we are able to contribute and take advantage of life's opportunities. It is important that we use a broad definition of health beyond medicine and treatment. The health of NWT residents is greatly affected by external influences, such as levels of education, income and employment opportunities, access to affordable and appropriate housing, clean air and water, and a supportive social environment.

This provides an extra challenge in improving the health and well-being of northerners and requires the cooperation of various government departments and agencies to address. To this end, I am pleased to report that the Ministers of the social program departments, Health and Social Services; Education, Culture and Employment; Justice; Municipal and Community Affairs; and the NWT Housing Corporation, now will meet regularly to ensure that there is more collaboration and joint planning and priority setting.

Another challenge involves utilization of our system's facilities. We know that many of our acute care beds in NWT hospitals are not being used anymore, and yet we have pressure to expand other areas of the system, such as in meeting the special needs of dementia clients in our long-term care facilities. The department and authorities are currently reviewing facility utilization and will soon be making recommendations.

Mr. Speaker, as we look to the year ahead and in order to continue to work toward improving the lives of northerners, we are applying to undergo a process to review and update the Department of Health and Social Services strategic plan. The current plan entitled Shaping Our Future - A Strategic Plan for Health and Wellness was put forward and approved in 1998. In the intervening six years, much has changed both within the Northwest Territories as well as within the health and social services system.

It is time for us to review and renew the strategic directions of the department and the health and social services system as a whole. All Members of this Assembly, the authorities, frontline workers and the public have a stake in this and, therefore, will be involved in this endeavour.

Furthermore, to follow up to the system action plan 2002-05, I am committed to coming forward in 2005 with a detailed action plan that will outline further steps to improve service delivery.

Finally, Mr. Speaker, I want to spend a moment to mention the ongoing work in implementing the results of the September First Ministers' meeting on health.

I returned Sunday from the meeting of federal, provincial and territorial Health Ministers where the results of the First Ministers' meeting were discussed. This meeting was positive in that there is a new spirit of cooperation between the federal government, provinces and territories to move forward on a variety of health reform initiatives. Rather than repeating this information now, I will be tabling a copy of this communiqu‚ later today.

Also, the Health Ministers from the three territories met separately with the federal health Minister, the Honourable Ujjal Dosanjh, to discuss the special $150 million announced in funding for all three territories over the next five years starting with 2005-06 comprised of the following:

• $75 million will be provided for medical transportation. The NWT share of this fund is estimated to be approximately $3 million annually;

• $65 million will be provided to the three territories to target innovative and adaptive strategies for long-term health reform, and,

• $10 million will be used to create a joint federal-territorial working group to look at policy and program management approaches to health delivery in the North.

These discussions were positive and led to an agreement where our officials will quickly work out the details. Some of the concerns and interests the officials discussed related to the specifics of how the funding will be allocated and passed along to the three territories. They will work with the federal officials to ensure that the implementation of the new funding agreements accurately reflects the commitments made by the Prime Minister to the territorial Premiers.

In addition, progress in addressing a number of other long outstanding issues were discussed with the federal Minister. These include:

• needed improvements in dental health and other services under the Non-insured Health Benefits Program;

• the need for improved integration of federal health programming and delivery in the three territories between Health Canada and DIAND;

• the need to review functions, structure and location of Health Canada's Northern Secretariat as it is presently located in Ottawa, but it is supposed to represent and serve the North;

• exploring opportunities to enhance health promotion and prevention activities given the generally poor health status of northerners.

There was an agreement that the territorial and federal Health Ministers would meet again in February of 2005 to discuss the progress on issues discussed.

Mr. Speaker, in supporting our strategic goal to build a strong northern voice and identity, the people of the NWT can rest assured that the North is being heard loud and clear at the national level as equal partners at the table. Building on a foundation established by the three northern Premiers, we have made a conscious effort to develop a very strong partnership with Nunavut and Yukon Health and Social Service ministries enabling us to present a united northern front. This has resulted in a better recognition, understanding and support of our unique northern health and social service issues by our provincial colleagues.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, let me reiterate that, over the last few years, progress has been made in providing improved health and social services. However, we have by no means solved the many problems we face. We are committed to working with all northerners, Members of this Assembly, the authorities, our health care providers, and the federal government to improve all of our lives. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

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Minister's Statement 54-15(3): Progress Report On Health And Social Services In The Nwt

Item 2: Ministers' Statements

Page 821

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger . Item 2, Ministers' statements. Minister responsible for Aboriginal Affairs , Honourable Mr. Handley .

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Minister's Statement 55-15(3): Activities Of The Ministry Of Aboriginal Affairs

Item 2: Ministers' Statements

Page 821

Joe Handley

Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, one of the key priorities outlined in our government's strategic plan is to negotiate, with federal and aboriginal governments, resolutions to outstanding land resources in self-government agreements. As Minister responsible, I would like to update my colleagues on the progress that has been made over the past little while.

First, I want to congratulate the people of Tulita on their recent initialling of their Self-Government Framework Agreement. This agreement sets out the subjects and process for upcoming self-government negotiations and is an important first step. I look forward to signing the Framework Agreement on behalf of this government in the very near future.

---Applause

Meanwhile, I am optimistic that negotiations for a final Deline self-government agreement will also be nearing completion by the end of this year. The progress of the Tulita and Deline negotiation tables comes on the heels of news that implementation negotiations have now been successfully concluded on a new 10-year implementation plan for the Sahtu Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement.

---Applause

Mr. Speaker, the Akaitcho process negotiations have begun to address the core elements of lands, resources and governance. These subjects are made particularly challenging in the Akaitcho Dene's assertive territory in light of unique circumstances involving the City of Yellowknife and overlapping interest with other aboriginal peoples in the South Slave. However, recent efforts by all parties defined a solution to the Con and Rycon trailer court situation suggest the parties are prepared to find practical solutions and complete an Akaitcho agreement.

The government also continues to participate in negotiations with both the Manitoba and Saskatchewan Denesuline to clarify their rights to harvest wildlife in the south-eastern NWT while protecting the overall interests of our territory, and particularly the residents of the South Slave. Over the summer, we signed interim measures agreements with the Denesuline to allow negotiations to continue towards a final agreement.

We have seen progress on a number of key chapters in our negotiations with the Northwest Territories Metis Nation. A work plan has been developed to conclude an agreement-in-principle in 2005. As with the Akaitcho process, the overlapping interest of other aboriginal people in the South Slave presents a significant challenge to these negotiations.

In the Beaufort-Delta, all parties are continuing negotiations towards a Final Self-Government Agreement and are jointly identifying the costs of implementing the agreement.

Mr. Speaker, before I finish updating the ministry's activities in the Inuvialuit region, I would like to pass on a belated happy anniversary to the people of Aklavik, Inuvik, Sachs Harbour, Tuktoyaktuk, Paulatuk and Holman, who celebrated the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Inuvialuit Final Agreement in June.

---Applause

As the NWT's first comprehensive land claim agreement, the signing of the Inuvialuit Final Agreement was an historic moment for the Inuvialuit people, the Government of the Northwest Territories, the Yukon territorial government and Canada. The achievements of the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation and the Inuvialuit Game Council are a testament to the success of this agreement and the hard work of their leaders.

Mr. Speaker, to continue my update on the progress that Aboriginal Affairs has made, I will now turn to the Deh Cho. I'm sure it comes as no surprise that the Deh Cho process negotiations have been sidetracked following the recent court action taken by the Deh Cho First Nations regarding the review process for a Mackenzie Valley pipeline. The GNWT remains optimistic, however, that once Canada and the Deh Cho First Nations address this issue, the parties will quickly make progress towards a Deh Cho agreement.

Mr. Speaker, the Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs is coordinating the GNWT's efforts on a very aggressive agenda aimed at completing a devolution agreement during the life of this government. In addition, together with our territory's aboriginal leaders, we're also pursuing an interim resource revenue sharing agreement with the federal government.

Finally, I'm pleased to note that the Government of the Northwest Territories has now completed its consultation with the Tlicho on the final piece of legislation required for ratification. As my colleagues are already aware, the Tlicho Community Services Agency Act has been introduced for review during this session.

Mr. Speaker, our government's vision of a strong northern voice and identity is dependent on the successful negotiation and implementation of aboriginal land, resource and self-government agreements in all regions. It is in light of the progress that I have outlined to you today that I am confident that we will realize this goal. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

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Minister's Statement 55-15(3): Activities Of The Ministry Of Aboriginal Affairs

Item 2: Ministers' Statements

Page 822

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Handley . Item 2, Ministers' statements. Before we go on, I'd like to draw the Members' attention to the gallery of the presence of a former Member of this House, former Premier , Mr. Jim Antoine.

---Applause

Welcome to the House. Item 3, Members' statement. The honourable Member for Kam Lake , Mr. Ramsay .

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Risks Associated With The Bear And Taltson Hydro Projects

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 822

David Ramsay

Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to use my Member's statement today to speak about the government's involvement in developing the NWT's hydro potential. Firstly, I'd like to state that I am supportive of the economic activity and involvement in the communities that are spearheading both the Bear River hydro project and the Taltson expansion. I am fully aware of the excitement that both projects have on communities like Tulita, Deline and Fort Resolution. I've had an opportunity to sit through various briefings and information sessions on both projects and they are both exciting and potentially key pieces of strategic infrastructure here in the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, by nature, I am a risk taker, especially when I can make some logical sense of what is at play. Thus far, in both cases I have seen the Government of the Northwest Territories assuming all the risk. Funding for both projects has been borne out of government funding and, if I could, Mr. Speaker, I would like to draw the government's attention to a

section of the recent Auditor General's report which was tabled in this House last week. Under

section 2.10, the Auditor General comments in regard to the failed loan guarantee to Deton' Cho Diamonds, and I quote, "...while the precautions that the government had built into the contract for the loan guarantee should reduce its losses, it also provided funding to the company through other programs and the total cost of this failed business to the government is not known with certainty at this time." If that statement by the Auditor General doesn't scare our Premier and government, something is wrong. The funding to continue on with these projects and where it comes from is an issue we should all concern ourselves with.

Also, Mr. Speaker, this issue has not had the benefit of being debated publicly, yet the government continues to throw caution to the wind and supply both projects with more money.

Mr. Speaker, in both projects there is no customer and with no customer there is no business case that can be made for either project at this time. Mr. Speaker, we do not have to look too far to find an example of a poor government decision on power infrastructure. The people, the Government of the Yukon and its energy corporation continue to pay dearly for the transmission line that runs into Faro, Yukon.

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

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Risks Associated With The Bear And Taltson Hydro Projects

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 822

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

The Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. There are no nays. You may conclude your statement, Mr. Ramsay .

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Risks Associated With The Bear And Taltson Hydro Projects

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 822

David Ramsay

Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Ratepayers in the Yukon will be paying for the mistake for generations to come and I'm sure they cringe every time they have to pay a power bill in the Yukon. We have to ensure that in both cases we have solid business cases before we proceed. If we do otherwise, we are failing to protect the financial interest of our residents. It reminds me of the movie Jerry McGuire, Mr. Speaker. They said, "Show me the money," and I say it to the Premier today, "Show us the customers." Thank you.

---Applause

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Risks Associated With The Bear And Taltson Hydro Projects

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 822

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay . Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Hay River South , Mrs. Groenewegen .

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Importance Of Northern Commercial Fisheries

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 822

Jane Groenewegen

Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the commercial fishing industry, along with the hunting and trapping industries, only occupies about one percent of the NWT's export, but more than half of our population routinely hunts and fishes at least on a part-time basis. These activities generate an estimated $30 million annually in food. Fishing is very important to the well-being of the residents of the Northwest Territories. Wild game can be difficult to access at certain times of the year, but, Mr.

Speaker, with about 48 species of freshwater fish, there is always some kind of fish to eat in the winter, spring, summer or fall. Fishing for domestic or commercial purposes is a very important cultural, social and economic activity to many northerners.

I would like to specifically focus on the issue of commercial fishing today. This very important industry is in jeopardy. Besides all the obstacles and hard work associated with being a fisherman, most of the many years of experience and expertise rests with people who are now getting close to retiring. Youth have more options from which to choose today in the NWT and there is little or no incentive to choose the difficult life of a fisherperson.

Commercial fishing is very labour intensive. Fish prices are relatively low. Options for marketing outside the NWT are limited by our federally-legislated marketing corporation. In order to realize a profit and be commercially viable, boats need to be outfitted with modern equipment. Fish processing and handling plants need to be efficient and well managed to support the activities of the fisherman.

Commercial fishing is subsidized by the GNWT, but the subsidies aren't fully accessible because established quotas are not being harvested. Mr. Speaker, this government needs to do everything within its power to support a diversified economy that isn't limited to non-renewable resource development. I know that commercial fishing can be a bigger part of that economy. We need some fresh ideas, some innovative support and a renewed commitment to this industry. Mr. Speaker, later today I will have questions for Minister Bell in this regard. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

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Importance Of Northern Commercial Fisheries

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 823

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen . Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Nunakput , Mr. Pokiak .

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Search For Four Tuktoyaktuk Hunters Called Off

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 823

Calvin Pokiak

Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last night I received a call from a constituent in Tuktoyaktuk. A Tuktoyaktuk search and rescue team, after a full day of searching on October 18, 2004, have decided to call off the search for the four young men lost while out hunting. They are now considered missing persons. This is not to say there is still not hope. The Tuktoyaktuk search and rescue team, RCMP and the Hamlet of Tuktoyaktuk are now accepting donations for the families of Donna Steen and Darlene Felix.

Mr. Speaker, once again I would like to thank all of the volunteers, search and rescue crews, and outlying communities for their support of the families of Frank Steen and Ronald Rufus. In closing, Mr. Speaker, once again our prayers are with the family. Thank you.

---Applause

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Search For Four Tuktoyaktuk Hunters Called Off

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 823

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Pokiak . Indeed, our thoughts and prayers are with the families. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Range Lake , Ms. Lee .

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Location Of New Legal Aid Office

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 823

Sandy Lee

Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I know that I have a habit of repeating things in this House, but only if I think that it's worth repeating, Mr. Speaker. So I'd like to just take this opportunity to clarify, in case there is any confusion out there, exactly why I'm so appalled at the government's proposal to open the second Legal Aid office at the Centre Square Mall.

Mr. Speaker, there is nothing wrong with the mall. I just want that to be clear. They got a good deal and good on them. What I'm only interested in is the government's actions in this regard. Mr. Speaker, I must say, when I first heard of this idea in a private committee meeting, a red flag went up inside of my head thinking what a bad political move this was. Then as I got more details, this picture is getting worse all the time. This seems to be a perfect picture case of how government sometimes stops thinking and loses sight of the objectives.

Mr. Speaker, I have fought hard in the last Assembly for more money for legal aid and I was told over and over that unless the federal government helped us, we couldn't really do more. So now that we've finally got some extra dollars, I want to see it go to dealing with the problem, not to waste it frivolously. I want to see that money go to mothers with children who are looking for spousal and child support, for example. I believe, Mr. Speaker, this is our job on this side of the floor.

Mr. Speaker, it is simply wrong, in my humble opinion, for the government to rent a shoe store knowing that it has to spend a whole lot of money to turn it into an office. That is called a waste, Mr. Speaker, and we can't, as a Legislature, look at government waste squarely in the eye and just blink to see if it will go away.

Mr. Speaker, just last week Mr. Roland admitted, in an ever so pitiful way, that he did not have one extra dollar in our situation of restraint to hire extra payroll staff required to take care of the backlog of the retroactive pay for correctional officers for almost an entire year. But apparently he has money to rent a shoe store and pay the money necessary to turn it into an office and pay for all the extra costs. I'm sure, Mr. Speaker, there are many Members here who could think of a few projects they could use in their riding for the money that it would take to turn this into an office.

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

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Location Of New Legal Aid Office

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 823

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

The Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude her statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Ms. Lee , you may conclude your statement.

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Location Of New Legal Aid Office

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 823

Sandy Lee

Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. Mr. Speaker, I can tell you that most law firms in town -- many of them with fancy headquarters in Vancouver and Calgary -- would think twice before paying the premium rent in a shopping mall that this government is willing to do for the next five, 15 or more years. I'm sure legal aid services are not going to go out of business.

Mr. Speaker, the most important point of all is that one of the main reasons we have such a backlog in legal aid is because the government refuses to pay competitive hourly rates to private lawyers so they will be enticed to do family practice. I think we'd be better off paying the private lawyers more money so they can take on more files, pay their own rent in their own office, rather than government having to open an entirely new office and have more money going to the rent and fixing it rather than to the family who needs it.

So, Mr. Speaker, this is why I'm so appalled and I am not going to let this issue die and I'm going to continue to pursue this for the rest of the Assembly. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

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Location Of New Legal Aid Office

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 823

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Ms. Lee . Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Sahtu , Mr. Yakeleya .

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Mackenzie Valley Winter Road Bridge Program

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 823

Norman Yakeleya

Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my Member's statement today is about the Mackenzie Valley winter road bridge program. This past July, much to my dismay, I received a letter from the Minister of Transportation advising me that $1 million would be taken from the Mackenzie Valley winter road bridge program. The Mackenzie Valley winter road program is an ongoing capital infrastructure project that began in 2000 with the goal of extending the operating system of the Mackenzie Valley winter road with the installation of permanent bridges over the stream crossings. The plan for this fiscal year was to complete 12 bridges between Norman Wells and Fort Good Hope at the cost of $8.4 million.

In this letter, the Minister assured me that the nearly 20 percent reduction would have no effect on the number of bridges to be installed, nor the abutment. He told me that reduction in the funding would only affect grade improvements. Mr. Speaker, all of us can do the math. If a 20 percent cut to the total program budget for this year will not affect the bridges or the abutment, the greatest portion of the program must be absolutely gauged. I'm quite troubled with the Minister's officials who were unable to exactly tell me what effects the reduction in funding allocated to grade improvements would have been.

I'm sure any of you who have travelled this road know that grading has a huge impact on the quality and safety of the highway.

Mr. Speaker, I strongly object to the reduction of the funding for this important project. The Mackenzie Valley winter road bridge program is an important project, not only for the people of the Sahtu but also for the oil and gas development in the region and the economy of the NWT as a whole.

Mr. Speaker, I believe that solid infrastructure is the key to development. Our highways are under a lot of pressure and it's essential that they continue to be safe for the arrival for all oil and gas development in the region and for families who use the road as a link to capital cities and further south. It seems like a crazy time to be delaying a project like this.

With the filing of the application late last week, the pipeline is now one step closer to being a reality. The Mackenzie winter road project will only see more industrial traffic in the future. The winter roads really take a beating from the heavy trucks. As a father, quite frankly it frightens me to think of my family travelling down the highway. I worry about the safety on the highway of the people in the Sahtu, as well as those who make a living driving up and down that highway.

Mr. Speaker, I put the Minister on notice that until such time he can properly assure me that the $1 million reduction to the budget for grade improvements for the 2004-2005 Mackenzie Valley winter road bridge project program will have no effect on the timing and completion of the project...

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Mackenzie Valley Winter Road Bridge Program

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 824

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Mr. Yakeleya , your time for Member's statement has expired.

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Mackenzie Valley Winter Road Bridge Program

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 824

Norman Yakeleya

Sahtu

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my Member's statement.

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Mackenzie Valley Winter Road Bridge Program

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 824

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

The Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. You may conclude your statement, Mr. Yakeleya .

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Mackenzie Valley Winter Road Bridge Program

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 824

Norman Yakeleya

Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, honourable colleagues. Number two, that the Minister can provide some estimation of what possible effects this substantial budget reallocation will have and, finally, that the Minister can assure me that removing $1 million from the budget this year will have no effect on the safety of the highway. I cannot support this reallocation of funding. I'll have questions for the Minister at the appropriate time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Mackenzie Valley Winter Road Bridge Program

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 824

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya . Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Nahendeh , Mr. Menicoche .

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Congratulations To New Chiefs In Nahanni Butte And Wrigley

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 824

Kevin A. Menicoche

Nahendeh

Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate Mr. Eric Betsaka as being elected as the new chief of Nahanni Butte. This community of 117 has many challenges before it and I know that Mr. Betsaka will rise to the challenge for his people and his community.

Mr. Speaker, I would also like to congratulate Mr. David Moses on his being elected as the new chief of Wrigley, NWT.

As a special note, I would also like to thank the outgoing chiefs for their hard work as well; Mr. Peter Marcellais from Nahanni Butte and Mr. Tim Lennie of Wrigley. Thank you very much.

---Applause

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Congratulations To New Chiefs In Nahanni Butte And Wrigley

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 824

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche . Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta , Mr. Krutko .

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Condolences On The Passing Of Lucy Greenland Of Aklavik

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 824

David Krutko

Mackenzie Delta

Good afternoon, my friends. Today I'd like to send condolences to the people of Aklavik with regard to a resident of Aklavik, Lucy Greenland, who passed away on Saturday, October 16th. She was 72 years old and lived most of her life in Aklavik. Lucy was one of the remaining elders in the community who was able to speak the Gwich'in language fully and also understand it. Lucy was a very traditional person with a strong connection to her culture and the land. She was a descendant of the Kassi family of the Vuntut Gwitchin of Old Crow in the Yukon.

For someone who battled cancer three times in her life, Lucy was one of the few who never let her ailment get the best of her. Her children can be proud in acknowledging that she also was a person who was very compassionate to other people around her and from the other communities.

At this time, I'd like to send my condolences to the Greenland, the Archie and Kassi families for the loss of a mother and sister, and that her compassion will be deeply missed by all the people in the Mackenzie Delta. With that, mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

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Condolences On The Passing Of Lucy Greenland Of Aklavik

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 824

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Krutko . Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe , Mr. Villeneuve .

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Difficulties With Living In Remote Locations

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 824

Robert Villeneuve

Tu Nedhe

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in my Member's statement yesterday I talked about education problems associated with families choosing to relocate to the larger centres. Today, Mr. Speaker, I want to talk about dilemmas families are up against when they choose to reside in very remote locations in the Northwest Territories; the remote locations that do not qualify as a community or are not located within any municipal boundaries. Mr. Speaker, there are families who choose to establish their homesteads in remote locations be it because of sheer enjoyment or economic or employment opportunities, as did Mr.

David King, his wife and their six children. Most are located on our Northwest Territories highway system.

Mr. Speaker, I am talking about places like Little Buffalo River village on Highway No. 6, the Buffalo River Junction on Highway No. 5, Checkpoint on Highway No. 1, Blackstone on the Liard Highway No. 7, and Willow River also on Highway No. 1. Mr. Speaker, all of these places do not receive consideration for financial assistance should there be a family living there with children who require education. I feel that this government should develop some type of education assistance, be it gas coupons or monetary assistance, for the school year to assist them with the high transportation costs in getting their children to school every day.

Mr. Speaker, I would encourage this government to develop a policy or make changes to the current ones to accommodate or find ways to provide assistance to these northern residents. It seems impractical and unreasonable to penalize the families who live in these remote areas and not consider them a part of any municipal boundary when they do in fact contribute to the northern economic stratum despite the fact that they reside in these remote areas.

I believe there must be a means to support everyone living in the territory regardless of the location of his or her residence, especially the children who at the end of the day get affected for the sole reason that they are pursuing an education for their own future and for the betterment of our territory. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

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Difficulties With Living In Remote Locations

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 825

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve . Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre , Mr. Hawkins .

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Centralized Human Resource Centre

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 825

Robert Hawkins

Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today in the House to speak about the April 2003 Deloitte and Touche report calling for a centralized human resource centre. It will draw significant benefits to our government. During fiscal restraints and tough times, it makes sense to consolidate programs and services, and we share that mandate across the territorial government. Mr. Speaker, yesterday I spoke passionately about the TSC, our technological services centre, and what a great model it is and how it can work. I even saw enthusiasm in the Minister's eyes when he spoke about it yesterday.

---Laughter

I'm losing time on my clock here, Members.

---Laughter

Mr. Speaker, I'm talking about a model and I'm talking about how we can pool our resources and get a great bang for our buck. I'm a huge proponent for a centralized model for a government human resources section. In addition, we can gain in terms of efficiencies, cost savings and a standardization of hiring practices. But if we don't have clear and fair hiring practices, who knows what the little autonomies out there in departments and agencies are doing on their own. We've all heard of the phrase Darwinian law; well, those policies and hiring practices could have evolved to who knows what by now.

Over the years the GNWT has established a number of programs and policies that are aimed to nurture a representative public service; the Affirmative Action Policy being a primary one, but policies are only effective if they are properly adhered to. So my question would be who really monitors these things unless someone complains? We need some consistency and fairness on our hiring practices. I believe, Mr.

Speaker, that assembling government hiring in one centralized area will increase government accountability to implement a fair hiring practice to achieve a representative public service, but this must be done across the board. A large portion of our government public service hiring is administered outside of departments through boards, agencies and corporations. If we are looking to consolidate human resource functions where appropriate, and therein lies the critical mass and we need it to bring it together.

Mr. Speaker, Regular Members had the opportunity during the draft mains of 2004-2005 and spoke with their support in Committee of the Whole with the motion.

Mr. Speaker, may I seek unanimous consent to continue my statement? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Centralized Human Resource Centre

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 825

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

The Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. You can conclude your statement, Mr. Hawkins .

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Centralized Human Resource Centre

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 825

Robert Hawkins

Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, honourable colleagues. As the government continues to move forward with their plans, hopefully someday to create a centralized human resource function or department, it is my hope that they will do this very quickly and comprehensively and include all departments, boards, agencies and even corporations and commissions where, of course, it's reasonable. They should not have a policy where a group can opt in; it should be strictly everyone must opt in. It should be a mandatory policy, Mr. Speaker.

If I may end quickly here with a very short quote from the Deloitte and Touche report, "an integrated and coordinated approach to enable the GNWT to deal with human resource issues has yet to be developed. This lack of coordination is a function of both the accountability structure of human resources management and the human resources service delivery model." So, Mr. Speaker, it's about clear accountability, and later in the day I will have questions for the Minister. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

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Centralized Human Resource Centre

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 825

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins . Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for North Slave , Mr. Zoe .

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2004 Core Housing Needs In The North Slave

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 826

Henry Zoe

North Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, according to the 2004 housing needs survey, the percentage of households in core needs in my constituency ranges from 25 percent in core needs in Rae Lakes and Wekweti, to 36 percent in Wha Ti, and 37 percent of households in core needs in Rae-Edzo, respectively. These are the percentage of households that are dealing with issues of suitability, adequacy and affordability. Quite simply, Mr. Speaker, these percentages are extremely high.

I'm aware, Mr. Speaker, of several constituents in Rae-Edzo who live in social housing that have very good paying jobs at the diamond mines. These people have turned their lives and fortunes around, but cannot get out from under the arrears they owe the housing associations. Many people have told me the reason they owe arrears to the housing association goes back many years to when they worked seasonal work or when they could find work. Rents were calculated, Mr. Speaker, based on what they made.

Sometimes the higher rent continued after the person was either laid off or when they moved or else when they went to a different job. That's where the majority of the arrears came from. Now because they make good money, they pay really high rent. Because they pay high rent, Mr. Speaker, they cannot afford to deal with the arrears they owe the housing association; a classic catch-22 situation.

Mr. Speaker, there are people who need social housing who are living in substandard units or are overcrowded. There are people who are living in social housing units who can afford a mortgage on their own houses if they could deal with their arrears. It makes no sense, Mr. Speaker, to me to write off a debt of $20,000 and gain their social housing unit rather than spend $200,000 to build a new one.

In the smaller communities I represent, there is not as much social housing, and people look after their own housing needs. The problem there is that...

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2004 Core Housing Needs In The North Slave

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 826

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Mr. Zoe , your time for Member's statements is expired.

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2004 Core Housing Needs In The North Slave

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 826

Henry Zoe

North Slave

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude.

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2004 Core Housing Needs In The North Slave

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 826

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

The Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. You may conclude your statement, Mr. Zoe .

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2004 Core Housing Needs In The North Slave

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 826

Henry Zoe

North Slave

Thank you, colleagues. Mr. Speaker, in the smaller communities I represent, there is not much social housing and the majority of them look after their own housing needs, but the problem in the smaller communities, Mr. Speaker, there never seems to be enough of the HAP or IHP units to meet the demand. There also needs to be more single housing in each of the smaller communities to reduce overcrowding. Another problem I have encountered since I came into this position, Mr.

Speaker, is that my constituents that were verbally informed that they have been approved for a HAP or IHP unit are getting letters later on, like four months later, stating that they didn't make the cut for a unit for that particular year and they will have to wait for the following year. Mr. Speaker, can you imagine the...(inaudible)...that these people experience when they are told they will be getting a house? Can you imagine the emotional kick in the gut when you are told sorry, you won't be getting a house this year?

There has to be a better way of handling these applications so that people understand that just because their application was approved, it doesn't mean they are going to get a house.

Mr. Speaker, I am concerned with the level of cooperation and support from the district office of the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation for the housing authority in Rae-Edzo. There needs to be a stronger presence. Mr. Speaker, on a positive note, I am pleased with the cooperative approach taken by the Minister and his department thus far in dealing with the concerns of my constituents and myself. It does make me think there is some hope we can improve housing conditions in the Tlicho region. Later on today, Mr. Speaker, I will be questioning the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation . Thank you.

---Applause

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2004 Core Housing Needs In The North Slave

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 826

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Zoe . Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Boot Lake , Mr. Roland .

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Municipal Election Results In Inuvik

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 826

Floyd Roland

Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to report on the results of the election held yesterday in Inuvik. Elections were held for the mayor and councillors, as well as for the district education authority. Elected as Mayor is the incumbent, Peter Clarkson.

---Applause

As well as town councillors elected were Gayle Gruben, Terry Halifax, Arlene Hansen, Karen King, Paul Komaromi, Derek Lindsay, Denny Rodgers and Clarence Wood. As well, Mr. Speaker, elections were held for the Inuvik District Education Authority and those elected to the authority were Nancy Chinna, Judy Harder, Shauna MacKay, Nick Saturnino, Gerri Sharpe-Staples, Clarence Wood and Ruth Wright. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

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Municipal Election Results In Inuvik

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 826

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Roland . Item 3, Members' Statements. The honourable Member for Great Slave , Mr. Braden .

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Sustainability Of Universal Health Care

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 826

Bill Braden

Great Slave

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. It was only about a month ago that the First Ministers of Canada, including our Premier , Mr. Handley , came out and announced a $41 billion 10-year health care funding deal through expansion to the health care funding in this country. That was a great achievement and something that all those leaders should be congratulated on. Expectations are high now, of course, that there will be results from this breakthrough financing deal and political deal between the federal and provincial levels.

I will take the signal from the Minister, Michael Miltenberger , and his address to this House earlier today that it is early days, and, indeed, a lot of the accounts in the press and from other organizations try to signal that. But I would like to flag one thing among all the different levels and layers of, as I say, expectation. There is a program that is already on the agenda or could be included in this over the next few months and years, Mr. Speaker, and that is the issue of sustainability. That just doesn't surface in any of the lines that I am seeing or hearing lately.

Mr. Speaker, if there is one thing that in my mind that was the catalyst for this deal it was the sustainability over decades and generations of this very cherished institution in Canada, our universal health care system. If I could leave one message on the table today, Mr. Speaker, it is that I would like our Minister, our Premier , and their colleagues across Canada to take a look at this issue, not just what can be delivered in the short term over the next few years on this, but how are we going to make the system work for the next generation and after that. That is what is significant to Canadians. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

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Sustainability Of Universal Health Care

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 827

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Braden . Item 3, Members' statements. The Chair recognizes Mr. Menicoche .

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Motion To Move Minister's Statement 54-15(3) Into Committee Of The Whole, Carried

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 827

Kevin A. Menicoche

Nahendeh

Mr. Speaker, I move that the progress report on health and social services in the NWT by the Honourable J. Michael Miltenberger be moved into Committee of the Whole, seconded by the honourable Henry Zoe , the Member for North Slave .

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Motion To Move Minister's Statement 54-15(3) Into Committee Of The Whole, Carried

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 827

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche . A motion is on the floor, the motion is in order. To the motion.

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Motion To Move Minister's Statement 54-15(3) Into Committee Of The Whole, Carried

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 827

An Hon. Member

Question.

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Motion To Move Minister's Statement 54-15(3) Into Committee Of The Whole, Carried

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 827

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Question is being called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Motion is carried.

---Carried

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Motion To Move Minister's Statement 54-15(3) Into Committee Of The Whole, Carried

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 827

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

The Minister's statement will be moved into Committee of the Whole. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Sahtu , Mr. Yakeleya .

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Motion To Move Minister's Statement 54-15(3) Into Committee Of The Whole, Carried

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 827

Norman Yakeleya

Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in my statement earlier today I put the Minister of Transportation on notice of my objection to the reallocation of $1 million in the Mackenzie Valley winter road bridge project. I have indicated in my statement that my concern centres on two issues. First I am concerned that the Minister would choose to pull money from this project as development in the Sahtu is rising. According to the information supplied to me from the Minister of Transportation , the Sahtu region expects to see amongst the highest, if not the highest...

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Motion To Move Minister's Statement 54-15(3) Into Committee Of The Whole, Carried

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 827

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Mr. Yakeleya , my mistake, I missed an item on the order paper. So we will go back to recognition of visitors in the gallery and then come back to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Boot Lake , Mr. Roland .

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Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 827

Floyd Roland

Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to recognize in the gallery my father, David Roland, and my partner, my wife, Shawna. Thank you.

---Applause

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Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 827

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Roland . Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Premier , Mr. Handley .

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Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 827

Joe Handley

Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm pleased to recognize my constituent Major Karen Hoeft. Thank you.

---Applause

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Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 827

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Handley . Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta , Mr. Krutko .

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Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 827

David Krutko

Mackenzie Delta

I would just like to recognize the other people up there who haven't gotten recognized. Thank you.

---Applause

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Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 827

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Krutko . Certainly we welcome everyone in the gallery. Welcome to the Legislative Assembly. I'm going to apologize again. We'll go to item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Sahtu , Mr. Yakeleya .

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Question 243-15(3): Mackenzie Winter Road Bridge Program

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 827

Norman Yakeleya

Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my statement earlier today I put the Minister of Transportation on notice of my objection to the reallocation of $1 million in the Mackenzie Valley winter road bridge project. Mr. Speaker, my questions today are to the Minister of Transportation . Can the Minister assure me that the $1 million reduction to the budget, with great improvements to 2004-2005 Mackenzie Valley winter road this program, will have no effect of the timing of the completion of the project as a whole? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 243-15(3): Mackenzie Winter Road Bridge Program

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 827

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya . The honourable Minister of Transportation , Mr. McLeod .

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Return To Question 243-15(3): Mackenzie Winter Road Bridge Program

Question 243-15(3): Mackenzie Winter Road Bridge Program

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 827

Michael McLeod

Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Member is quite correct. We did, as per our Financial Administrative Act, notify the Member that we would be moving some money out of his riding to be redirected towards the Highway No. 1 upgrades. We are moving money that was targeted for the Mackenzie Valley road program towards realignment and we don't feel that it will have a negative factor to the projects that are happening in that riding. There are still plans to spend $5 million this year, including the Sahtu. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Return To Question 243-15(3): Mackenzie Winter Road Bridge Program

Question 243-15(3): Mackenzie Winter Road Bridge Program

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 827

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. McLeod . Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya .

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Supplementary To Question 243-15(3): Mackenzie Winter Road Bridge Program

Question 243-15(3): Mackenzie Winter Road Bridge Program

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 827

Norman Yakeleya

Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have a letter from the Town of Norman Wells saying that the activity in the Sahtu will be increasing. Can the Minister provide me with some estimation of what the effects of are moving $1 million from the grading portion of the Mackenzie winter road bridge program will have? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Supplementary To Question 243-15(3): Mackenzie Winter Road Bridge Program

Question 243-15(3): Mackenzie Winter Road Bridge Program

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 828

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya . Mr. McLeod .

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Further Return To Question 243-15(3): Mackenzie Winter Road Bridge Program

Question 243-15(3): Mackenzie Winter Road Bridge Program

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 828

Michael McLeod

Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I also have letters from other jurisdictions indicating we need investment in their roads and, of course, we only have so much money. Mr. Speaker, we have plans to invest $40 million into the Sahtu roads. We have met with the GED committee and they have advised us that some of our investments should be moved. This year we decided to move $1 million out of the Sahtu, we also are planning to move money out of the Ingraham Trail program into Highway No. 1. Last year, we moved money into Highway No. 7.

We have to be able to react and deal with the resources impact in all the different ridings on all the different highways. We don't believe this is going to have a negative impact. As I indicated earlier, this money was targeted for realignment of some of the ice roads and some of the grade work, and we don't think it will have a great impact. Thank you.

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Further Return To Question 243-15(3): Mackenzie Winter Road Bridge Program

Question 243-15(3): Mackenzie Winter Road Bridge Program

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 828

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. McLeod . Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya .

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Supplementary To Question 243-15(3): Mackenzie Winter Road Bridge Program

Question 243-15(3): Mackenzie Winter Road Bridge Program

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 828

Norman Yakeleya

Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Why then, Mr. Speaker, did the Minister put the money there in the first place? Certainly there was a reason based on that decision to allocate $1 million for a particular project, or am I to understand that the capital infrastructure fund is arbitrarily set and arbitrarily changed on a year-to-year or month-to-month basis? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Supplementary To Question 243-15(3): Mackenzie Winter Road Bridge Program

Question 243-15(3): Mackenzie Winter Road Bridge Program

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 828

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya . Mr. McLeod .

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Further Return To Question 243-15(3): Mackenzie Winter Road Bridge Program

Question 243-15(3): Mackenzie Winter Road Bridge Program

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 828

Michael McLeod

Deh Cho

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Further Return To Question 243-15(3): Mackenzie Winter Road Bridge Program

Question 243-15(3): Mackenzie Winter Road Bridge Program

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 828

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Supplementary To Question 243-15(3): Mackenzie Winter Road Bridge Program

Question 243-15(3): Mackenzie Winter Road Bridge Program

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 828

Norman Yakeleya

Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister provide some degree of assurance to the people in the Sahtu who travel those roads on a regular basis, when there's a winter road in the Sahtu that we're moving $1 million from the budget in this year's portion for the grading that it will have no affect on the safety of the highway and the safety of the people in the Sahtu who use that highway? As I indicated, there's a letter that was faxed to me by the Town of Norman Wells asking for signs of safety in the Sahtu region.

Now we have no money for signage, so can the Minister assure me that reallocating the dollars from this project into other regions will not affect the safety of the people in the Sahtu? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Supplementary To Question 243-15(3): Mackenzie Winter Road Bridge Program

Question 243-15(3): Mackenzie Winter Road Bridge Program

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 828

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya . Mr. McLeod .

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Further Return To Question 243-15(3): Mackenzie Winter Road Bridge Program

Question 243-15(3): Mackenzie Winter Road Bridge Program

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 828

Michael McLeod

Deh Cho

Mr. Speaker, our plans are to construct 23 bridges in the Sahtu in the next five years, and we're planning to invest a total of $41 million into that riding. We feel that will significantly improve the safety and the condition of that road and increase the season. I can assure the Member that over the next few years the road will continue to get better, and that safety will be less and less of an issue. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Further Return To Question 243-15(3): Mackenzie Winter Road Bridge Program

Question 243-15(3): Mackenzie Winter Road Bridge Program

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 828

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. McLeod . Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre , Mr. Hawkins . There's a Point of Order. What's your Point of Order, Mrs. Groenewegen ?

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Point Of Order

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 828

Jane Groenewegen

Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I just wanted to raise a Point of Order that when Ministers share information with standing committees like GED or the Social Programs committee, that we are obliged to keep that information to ourselves and not to raise it in direct reference in the House in order to obtain information about future years' plans. I want to raise this because Minister McLeod was just referencing the plan and decisions of his department.

He made reference to the fact that these were discussed with the GED and the GED approved them, and it makes it sound as if this was done at the initiative of a standing committee, as opposed to the department. We share information in the standing committees, but referring to decisions in direct reference to consultation of information that happened and communication that happened within the standing committee is inappropriate in the House. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

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Point Of Order

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 828

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen . Do you have a specific rule that you want to raise your Point of Order under? The Chair will take your Point of Order under advisement and rule at a later date. Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen .

Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre , Mr. Hawkins .

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Question 244-15(3): Centralizing The GNWT Human Resource Function

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 829

Robert Hawkins

Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I was almost concerned for a moment that that was going to be called upon me.

---Laughter

Mr. Speaker, earlier in my Member's statement I spoke in favour of a centralized human resource centre and unit. Centralized human resources will enable our government to work more efficiently and, ultimately, get us better bang for our buck. In addition, centralized and standardized hiring practices will better enable our government to achieve a high level of consistency and demonstrate fairness in this regard. I expressed my opinion that all government departments, boards, agencies, commissions and corporations should be brought on board.

My question for the Minister responsible for the Financial Management Board is will this government be moving to a centralized human resource centre model? Will it be an inclusive policy where all departments, corporations, et cetera, have to participate, and, if not, why not and who? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 244-15(3): Centralizing The GNWT Human Resource Function

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 829

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins . The Minister responsible for FMBS, Mr. Roland .

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Return To Question 244-15(3): Centralizing The GNWT Human Resource Function

Question 244-15(3): Centralizing The GNWT Human Resource Function

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 829

Floyd Roland

Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the decision to proceed on this initiative was made with the intention of including all departments and the boards and agencies. We haven't dealt with the issue of including the corporations. Thank you.

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Return To Question 244-15(3): Centralizing The GNWT Human Resource Function

Question 244-15(3): Centralizing The GNWT Human Resource Function

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 829

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Roland . Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins .

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Supplementary To Question 244-15(3): Centralizing The GNWT Human Resource Function

Question 244-15(3): Centralizing The GNWT Human Resource Function

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 829

Robert Hawkins

Yellowknife Centre

Mr. Speaker, will the Minister responsible for the FMBS commit to working with these corporations and possibly even boards or whoever may be excluded at this time, to be brought into the plan of this future amalgamation of the HR unit? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Supplementary To Question 244-15(3): Centralizing The GNWT Human Resource Function

Question 244-15(3): Centralizing The GNWT Human Resource Function

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 829

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins . Mr. Roland .

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Further Return To Question 244-15(3): Centralizing The GNWT Human Resource Function

Question 244-15(3): Centralizing The GNWT Human Resource Function

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 829

Floyd Roland

Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we will, as we are going down this road to creating service centres in the regions as well as at headquarters, be working with the departments as well as boards and agencies. Once we have that established and things moving along smoothly, then we can re-look at the issue of whether we should be incorporating those that are not included right now. Thank you.

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Further Return To Question 244-15(3): Centralizing The GNWT Human Resource Function

Question 244-15(3): Centralizing The GNWT Human Resource Function

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 829

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Roland . Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins .

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Supplementary To Question 244-15(3): Centralizing The GNWT Human Resource Function

Question 244-15(3): Centralizing The GNWT Human Resource Function

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 829

Robert Hawkins

Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the Minister tell me if this policy will be mandatory, therefore, all departments, boards, commissions, et cetera, need to participate in the centralized human resource centre? Will he ensure that all corporations -- I think as he alluded to -- will be involved in that? Thank you.

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Supplementary To Question 244-15(3): Centralizing The GNWT Human Resource Function

Question 244-15(3): Centralizing The GNWT Human Resource Function

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 829

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins . Mr. Roland .

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Further Return To Question 244-15(3): Centralizing The GNWT Human Resource Function

Question 244-15(3): Centralizing The GNWT Human Resource Function

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 829

Floyd Roland

Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I stated, there is a significant bit of work yet to be done as we go down here, and we need to get that up and running and get things working out and working with my Cabinet colleagues, as well, to ensure that what we have designed is going to be working. So we need to get that down first and then we can look, as I said earlier, at other options that may be out there.

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Further Return To Question 244-15(3): Centralizing The GNWT Human Resource Function

Question 244-15(3): Centralizing The GNWT Human Resource Function

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 829

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Supplementary To Question 244-15(3): Centralizing The GNWT Human Resource Function

Question 244-15(3): Centralizing The GNWT Human Resource Function

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 829

Robert Hawkins

Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Minister refers to when work will be done. Will the Minister commit behind the principle and the rationale of why we centralize resources, such as yesterday when he spoke with enthusiasm to the TSC, as I referenced earlier today? If we do not believe in this process, we shouldn't be doing it. We need a comprehensive plan. Will the Minister assure us that he will be committed to us to demonstrate this, because GNWT staff and potential future staff deserve to know that the same system applies to them everywhere, that the processes and standards will be demonstrated fairly across the board? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Supplementary To Question 244-15(3): Centralizing The GNWT Human Resource Function

Question 244-15(3): Centralizing The GNWT Human Resource Function

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 829

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins . Mr. Roland .

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Further Return To Question 244-15(3): Centralizing The GNWT Human Resource Function

Question 244-15(3): Centralizing The GNWT Human Resource Function

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 829

Floyd Roland

Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I stated earlier, we are working on this initiative going forward. There has been work now and discussions happening internally as to the process that will be used and what needs to be done. To the principle of pulling our resources together and spending efficiently and effectively, yes, I believe in that, but we must take things in a way that is coordinated and planned to make sure that what we are doing is in fact going to be the right thing. Thank you.

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Further Return To Question 244-15(3): Centralizing The GNWT Human Resource Function

Question 244-15(3): Centralizing The GNWT Human Resource Function

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 829

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Roland . Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Hay River South , Mrs. Groenewegen .

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Question 245-15(3): Support For The NWT Commercial Fishery

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 829

Jane Groenewegen

Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I very much appreciated Minister Bell 's attendance in Hay River to meet with the executive of the NWT Fishermen's Federation. I am sure the Minister can appreciate this is a very unique and interesting industry. I just hope that back in Yellowknife now -- maybe it seems like a long ways away from the centre of commercial fishing -- I hope it's not out of sight, out of mind.

There are very many challenges facing the folks involved in commercial fishing on Great Slave Lake, and I would like to ask Minister Bell if upon his return he has any new ideas as to how we could support the commercial fishing industry to ensure its continued viability? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 245-15(3): Support For The NWT Commercial Fishery

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 830

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen . The Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development , the Honourable Mr. Bell .

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Return To Question 245-15(3): Support For The Nwt Commercial Fishery

Question 245-15(3): Support For The NWT Commercial Fishery

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 830

Brendan Bell

Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Let me first start, Mr. Speaker, by saying that this sector, like other renewable sectors -- trapping, tourism -- is very important to this government, and we recognize the need to make sure that we have a diversified economy. I think when you see the work that we hope will be coming out in short order on the Northern Economic Development Strategy and the lobbying we've been doing with the federal Minister, that we intend to, on a go-forward basis, target these areas to make sure that the areas that do need our government's support and do need our help receive that. I assure the Members we will focus on these areas.

The issue of support to the fishery and the sustainability of the fishery is a very difficult one. I think there are, certainly, at this point, no easy answers. We do recognize though that we need to do some work and some analysis of the Great Slave Lake fishery and talk about commercial recovery of this industry. One of the first things that we've done towards this was to have an employee of RWED seconded to the Great Slave Lake fishermen's federation to work with them on this issue. It's a multi-faceted issue. As I said, there are no easy solutions.

We're hoping that we'll have some constructive approaches, and I assure the Member that it is not out of sight, out of mind and we are working on this problem. Thank you.

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Return To Question 245-15(3): Support For The Nwt Commercial Fishery

Question 245-15(3): Support For The NWT Commercial Fishery

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 830

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Bell . Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen .

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Supplementary To Question 245-15(3): Support For The Nwt Commercial Fishery

Question 245-15(3): Support For The NWT Commercial Fishery

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 830

Jane Groenewegen

Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, some people within industry would be of the opinion that part of the problem is that we are locked into a federally-mandated marketing corporation. It is legislated, it is not something we, as a territorial government, have much ability to influence. But some fishermen would say that if they had more flexibility in terms of their ability to export and market the fish themselves, that they could do better than they do currently through the Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation.

Does the Minister, in the foreseeable future, see any opportunity to test whether or not in fact there are markets in southern Canada for Great Slave Lake fish outside of the mandate of the Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Supplementary To Question 245-15(3): Support For The Nwt Commercial Fishery

Question 245-15(3): Support For The NWT Commercial Fishery

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 830

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen . Mr. Bell .

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Further Return To Question 245-15(3): Support For The Nwt Commercial Fishery

Question 245-15(3): Support For The NWT Commercial Fishery

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 830

Brendan Bell

Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, this is a difficult question. I understand the concern from some segments, at least of the Fishermen's Federation. I recognize that the fishermen feel that they're getting very low prices for their higher-value fish, for the trout and whitefish and pickerel in that lake, and some may feel that they could be more successful marketing on their own. The difficulty is that probably not all of the fishermen have the capacity to engage in those marketing activities; some probably do.

But as the Member has pointed out, once you are under the legislation of the FFMS, it is as if you're either in or you're out. We have had discussions about exemptions from that quota, and I'm just not sure that that is the wish of all the fishermen in the federation. If that is the wish of all the fishermen in the federation and they would like to see me lobby the federal Minister on that matter, we can do that.

There is quite a history here. I think almost 10 years ago one of my predecessors wrote a letter to the fisheries Minister at that time asking for an exemption, only to find out that some segments of the Fishermen's Federation were not in support of that. I think the department was soundly criticized for taking that action. Before I would do that, I would want to know that the entire Fishermen's Federation supported that initiative.

Obviously, there are questions around how the quota would be divided up in the event we were successful in getting it, but I'm reluctant to lobby a federal Minister to later find out that in fact the Great Slave Lake fishermen's federation is not consolidated behind that position. There are some difficult issues here. I will commit, though, to working with committee and with Members going forward. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Further Return To Question 245-15(3): Support For The Nwt Commercial Fishery

Question 245-15(3): Support For The NWT Commercial Fishery

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 830

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Bell . Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen .

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Supplementary To Question 245-15(3): Support For The Nwt Commercial Fishery

Question 245-15(3): Support For The NWT Commercial Fishery

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 830

Jane Groenewegen

Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it's obvious from the Minister's response that he does have a very good grasp of the situation as it stands today, and a bit of the history of it from the past and I'm very impressed with that. Also in reference to his mentioning of a secondment to the Fishermen's Federation, I also want to thank him for that. I think that was a very productive move.

Mr. Speaker, with respect to the support that has traditionally been provided to the fishermen, primarily so far it has been a freight subsidy. Occasionally there have been special programs related to upgrading equipment. There was a program at one time to allow fishermen to purchase vessels. But primarily it has been a freight subsidy. Does the Minister see merit in perhaps expanding that to provide for a little more flexibility?

The problem with the freight subsidy is that if the quota isn't accessed then the subsidy isn't accessed, and then this is money allocated by our government which actually never does benefit the fishermen. So could he foresee a subsidy program with more flexibility in it? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Supplementary To Question 245-15(3): Support For The Nwt Commercial Fishery

Question 245-15(3): Support For The NWT Commercial Fishery

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 830

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen . Mr. Bell .

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Further Return To Question 245-15(3): Support For The Nwt Commercial Fishery

Question 245-15(3): Support For The NWT Commercial Fishery

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 831

Brendan Bell

Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Member is right; and in the past, the $390,000 roughly -- and it has been around the same for the last number of years -- was primarily targeted toward a freight subsidy. We did change the program, I think it's two or three years back now. I don't have this information in front of me, but if I remember, there are about four schedules. One of them is for capital upgrades, one of them is to support new entrants to the industry, freight subsidy is still in there, there's another schedule. If I recall, last year the federation had a small surplus in one of the schedules -- I hope I'm right on this -- I think they were allowed to transfer that into another

schedule where there was a bit of a deficit. So we think there's adequate flexibility built in. We think the money is being spent each year. I agree that in the past, it probably wasn't if it was reliant on the freight, because if the quotas aren't being reached then that isn't of much use to the federation. So we think that the feedback has been fairly positive on this. There are issues about who decides who gets which money and these kinds of things, and we are using the federation to help us with the determination of that allocation. But there are some issues to work though. We think it's suitably flexible.

We think the larger question and larger issue is the long-term viability of this industry, because I think, as the Member has pointed out, even with the subsidy, there are major challenges to this industry going forward. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Further Return To Question 245-15(3): Support For The Nwt Commercial Fishery

Question 245-15(3): Support For The NWT Commercial Fishery

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 831

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Bell . Your final supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen .

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Supplementary To Question 245-15(3): Support For The Nwt Commercial Fishery

Question 245-15(3): Support For The NWT Commercial Fishery

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 831

Jane Groenewegen

Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have one final question for the Minister and that is does the Department of RWED have within their possession anywhere some kind of an indication of if operating under optimum conditions with maximum capacity, what kind of an impact this industry could have on not just the economy of Hay River, but on the economy of the Northwest Territories? I think it would be good for us to fully understand what the potential of this is so that we have goals to work towards. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Supplementary To Question 245-15(3): Support For The Nwt Commercial Fishery

Question 245-15(3): Support For The NWT Commercial Fishery

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 831

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen . Mr. Bell .

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Further Return To Question 245-15(3): Support For The Nwt Commercial Fishery

Question 245-15(3): Support For The NWT Commercial Fishery

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 831

Brendan Bell

Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm not sure that we have the comprehensive information that the Member speaks of. It would certainly be a good idea. I would agree with that. There are a number of variables in looking at this. Maybe one thing I should point out is, despite the challenges, this industry I think employs almost 150 people, both on boats and in processing. So it is not insignificant. It is important to our economy; the economy of the entire Territories. We recognize that. That is why we want to support it, but to understand the full potential of the industry would make sense. We know we are under quota.

We know that that quota isn't excessive. We believe that if the quota were being caught every year, the fish stocks would still be sustainable. What kinds of ships would make the most sense? Potentially, what would make more sense is to have one or two or three boats on that lake and possibly it would be more economically viable in that manner, but there are a lot of concerns about people who have been established in this industry for a number of years. There are many questions going forward.

I will certainly work with committee and with the Member to see if we can't do a little bit of research into the viability of the industry were it at full potential. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Further Return To Question 245-15(3): Support For The Nwt Commercial Fishery

Question 245-15(3): Support For The NWT Commercial Fishery

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 831

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Bell . Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Kam Lake , Mr. Ramsay .

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Question 246-15(3): Funding For The Bear And Taltson Hydro Projects

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 831

David Ramsay

Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the Premier , who is the Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Power Corporation. It goes back to my Member's statement that I spoke of earlier. It is the funding for the hydro projects in the Northwest Territories. I go back to the Auditor General's report talking about loan guarantees and having difficulty pinning down where money came from. I am wondering if the Premier would be able to let us know how the government is funding these hydro projects: directly or indirectly? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 246-15(3): Funding For The Bear And Taltson Hydro Projects

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 831

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay . Minister responsible for the NWT Power Corporation , the honourable Premier , Mr. Handley .

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Return To Question 246-15(3): Funding For The Bear And Taltson Hydro Projects

Question 246-15(3): Funding For The Bear And Taltson Hydro Projects

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 831

Joe Handley

Weledeh

Mr. Speaker, a review of our hydro potential in the Northwest Territories has been ongoing since 2001-02. For a year and a half or so, the government funded the research of hydro potential ourselves. Then, later on, we funded those projects through the Energy Corporation, which is a subsidiary of the Power Corporation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Return To Question 246-15(3): Funding For The Bear And Taltson Hydro Projects

Question 246-15(3): Funding For The Bear And Taltson Hydro Projects

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 831

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Handley . Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay .

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Supplementary To Question 246-15(3): Funding For The Bear And Taltson Hydro Projects

Question 246-15(3): Funding For The Bear And Taltson Hydro Projects

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 831

David Ramsay

Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Premier didn't really answer the question that I had asked. If you have the Energy Corporation, the Power Corporation, RWED and ECE, where is the funding coming from? Can the Members on this side of the House and the publi