Brendan Bell

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I certainly continue to support northern manufacturing, will continue to do that, our department continues to do that, this entire government continues to do that. I think that in the specific case of this contract, I illustrated the factors that we had to weigh and balance. In making this determination, we were cognizant of the fact that this was a $2.3 million contract for this year out of a $32 million capital budget for the Housing Corporation, and we were hopeful that northern companies would still compete, would still submit bids. It sounds like 17 northern...

Thank you. I believe that there will be a chance in phase two for all residents to bring forward their significant concerns and I will acknowledge that the concerns of Hay River may not be identical to the concerns of other communities. There are going to be issues specific in nature, but they won’t be from left field. They are going to involve business opportunities, employment opportunities, environmental impacts and those sorts of things. I think the broadest categories of issues are being documented at this point. There will be plenty of room. As well, I’m certain that our department or...

Mr. Speaker, I think it’s important to keep in mind that the board is simply going around to assess whether or not there is significant public concern and, if so, that would trigger the joint panel review. I think we probably all know that phase of the review is inevitable. This preliminary screening and work that they’re doing now is just to confirm and hear from some of the people in the Northwest Territories what those concerns might be. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to take this opportunity to update this House on the implementation of the Waste Reduction and Recovery Act.

As Members are aware, the legislation to enable the development and implementation of waste recovery programs was passed by the 14th Legislative Assembly in October 2003. The new act establishes a framework for waste reduction programs and provides for the formation of a Waste Reduction and Recovery Advisory Committee. This committee will play a vital role in the establishment and operation of waste recovery programs developed by this...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think a good first step was the creation of the maximizing northern employment program, and the 14th Assembly got that work underway. I think the nature of many of the employment opportunities that will flow from this development is very technical. It will require a fair deal of education and training. We recognize that. We acknowledge that, and we know that we have a challenge on our hands. Some of the work may be sporadic in terms of construction. We think there is ongoing work in exploration and other opportunities.

It may be the case that, as we train people...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, again, I think that this is certainly the role of the department. We need to focus as much attention on this as possible to make sure that the business opportunities do accrue to northerners. I had a chance to meet with the Petroleum Services Association of Canada. I had an interesting discussion. It was enlightening for me to know that many of the business opportunities, many of the employment opportunities, likely won’t flow directly from the Producer’s Group and will be subcontracted to these service organizations. It is important that we work closely with...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Wednesday, March 31, 2004, I will move the following motion: I move, seconded by the Member for Nunakput, that Ms. Therese Boullard be appointed as the Director of Human Rights for the Northwest Territories Human Rights Commission during good behaviour for a term of four years by the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories as recommended by the Legislative Assembly;

And further that the Speaker be authorized to communicate the effective date of appointment to the Commissioner.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think, certainly, the work that we will do as a joint committee -- I know the discussion we have had around the terms of reference acknowledges and makes this point very clear -- with our programs and services have to recognize the commitments that have been made, particularly by our government, in land claims agreements and also hold the federal government to the same test. The Auditor General recently reviewed some implementation agreements in terms of land claims and I think offered a fairly scathing review of implementation. It is important that, when the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Certainly we recognize, as a government, the need to work with regional organizations and be supportive. The Member, in his statement, discussed the job opportunities that will flow from pipeline development. I think that is just the tip of the iceberg. The minute we have a pipeline, we have a conduit for gas to markets in the South. I think that we are going to just see an explosion in terms of activity. It is important that we are ready for it.

We have regional petroleum advisors as our eyes and ears on the ground who work with negotiations, but I will...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We look at these on a case-by-case basis, and there is individual case management. I think that that's something important to remember. We recognize that the BCC is a lender of last resort. As such, it takes on loans of higher risk; loans that typically banks are not interested in. In some of our smallest communities where banks won't go, it is the only lender. We acknowledge that there's additional risk, but we don't go into these loans and don't go into working with clients assuming or thinking that the businesses won't work out or that they'll fail. We go in...