Brendan Bell

Thank you, Madam Chair. I think it’s a good point, and I think it is something that’s necessary. We will make sure that copies of the access and privacy policy and guidelines manual are sent to access and privacy coordinators, and also to contacts, the relevant contacts of NWT boards, which are subject to the act once the amendment is passed.

I guess the other point I should make is, we have scheduled some training for the end of October with the various different agencies that would be affected if this amendment is passed.

Just to respond further and clarify, in my earlier response what I...

Thank you. As I’ve indicated, the request came from the Department of Health and Social Services. They were dealing with IT contractors, and recognized that, in terms of protection of privacy, those IT contractors wouldn’t be held to the same standard as GNWT employees. So there was a need to revisit the definition of employee, and sufficiently broaden that to make sure that it captured at least this aspect of contracting. It does that now, as well.

Also, the Department of Justice analyzed the definition, and suggested that it should also be broadened to include those who are appointed; or...

Thank you. With me today are Glen Rutland and Janice Laycock from the Department of Justice.

I do. Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I am pleased to introduce Bill 3, An Act to Amend the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act. This legislation will make minor amendments to clarify the definition of "employee," and to provide greater certainty regarding the responsibility of public bodies and their employees to protect personal information.

Madam Chair, the request originated with the Department of Health and Social Services. They have identified the need for contractors to be included in NWT privacy legislation, specifically information technology contractors who...

I agree with the Member. I would say we have contacted the Department of Health, and they have indicated to us that there is a contact who would be responsible for contribution agreements in the department.

They are responsible for spelling out the deliverables in those contracts and all the contribution agreements, the same way the Department of Justice does. Periodically, they request a report on the project initiative results. So my understanding is that that is very clearly laid out and stipulated in these contracts. If there are contracting issues with individual departments where this isn...

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Deh Cho, that Bill 6, Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2005, be read for the third time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’ll certainly investigate that possibility, and I think it could be a component of an NWT manufacturing strategy. This is something that I think is very important. So I can give the Member the assurance that we’ll discuss that as a department; discuss it with the BDIC; and certainly talk to chambers of commerce about that initiative; and, again, give the Member my commitment that we do intend to develop an NWT manufacturing strategy. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have, for some time, been without an NWT manufacturing strategy, and it’s been something that we’ve discussed and wanted to move forward on. I’ve asked the department and the BDIC, the newly created BDIC, as part of the terms of reference for the program and service review they have embarked on, to also consider what we might do and what kind of support we might better provide to the manufacturing sector. It is difficult. There are many hurdles in order to have a viable manufacturing sector. We’re very distant from markets. The cost of inputs, labour and utilities...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To the question of an RCMP presence in the Northwest Territories, I have indicated the RCMP did submit a business plan to this government that deals with the need for resources going forward. We have decided to approach it with a three-year response. We are into the third year of that response coming up in the budget session. We will have additional resources for the RCMP but, again, the level of detail that the Member is looking for is probably something that we had best deal with in the budget session. I can tell the Member that additional resources are coming...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday, I indicated I believed the dog was already present in the Northwest Territories. In fact, that was wrong. I understand the dog will be here November 6th and will be based in Yellowknife but available for use right across the territory in their operations. I think we can look forward to that. That gives us some additional capacity in this regard and it’s much needed. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.