Floyd Roland

Mr. Speaker, I’m not aware if the board at this point have had discussions. I’m sure, as they go through their corporate plan, they have much discussion about how they would provide the information and provide for the service necessary. More importantly, as the Government of the Northwest Territories, we have looked at the issue around the capital plan and had some discussions from our side to see what could be done differently. As well, as the Member is aware, through the Ministerial Energy Coordinating Committee we’ve had some work done looking at our rates, subsidization and regulation...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Power Corporation plans for maintenance as well as replacement of assets on an ongoing basis, so it would be part of their corporate plan that they put forward. Thank you.

We’ve continued to highlight the significance of that report, their response and the potential impact it would have on the Northwest Territories. I think the bigger question, as the Member has asked, is what are we going to do in the North with the aboriginal leadership and ourselves coming together in a common voice saying this is where we think we can work together and pursue the changes that are required. So I think that’s the avenue that we are going to start to put our energies into, is start coming up with a common message and support from a northern perspective on that initiative...

It’s difficult to answer what’s holding back the federal government. Of course, there are quite a number of issues that have to be dealt with. It’s a complex matter, it involves a number of departments, it involves settled claims, it involves different areas of responsibility and that example is one why we continue to pursue devolution and resource revenue sharing, for example, so we can streamline through that process as well. Thank you.

Again, without having the background information what other agencies and what some of our departments are involved in, supports in this area, it’s hard for me to commit to establishing a position. We would have to go through our business plan process. We would have to see what this position would be doing and advocating for and what would be required. Whereas, right now, we do have some supports through our departments, Education, Culture and Employment being one of those. Again, I would have to get that information and provide that to the Member and decide where we would go with something...

There are a number of organizations involved in the residential school area between the federal government, our government and outside organizations and agencies. Before I could respond to that, I would have to see what’s happening out there. Again, I would go through the appropriate Ministers to get the information and respond at that point.

As a government, we’re prepared to work with Members of the Legislative Assembly. I know there’s a lot of interest in different areas by all Members, whether it is a contracting issue or an income security question and so on and so forth for ourselves. If Members of this Assembly want to see some changes, we’re prepared to work with Members.

The Member has raised this issue on a number of occasions during this sitting. We’ve provided him information. I’ve said that if Members want to see a change to this, we would work with members of the committee. So if standing committee wants to write a...

Instead of going into a process of what my opinion might be on some of this work, what we would be prepared to do is take the items, for example, we have a number of contracting sources or ways of getting services from contractors out there, sole sources. One of them is by invitational tender, negotiated contract, public tender, RFPs, RFQs. What I’d be prepared to do is, if Members want to see a particular area looked at, I would be prepared to go to my Cabinet colleagues to see what areas were there and bring a paper back for discussion through committee. Thank you.

Again, before I can respond to that, I would need to get all the information as to what’s been done, what resources have been in place, the supports that are in place right now to make sure we don’t create an overlap or divert away from what other groups have there, what mandates might be established out there. So once we get that information we will be able to respond to the Member and get additional information as well. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would have to touch base with the appropriate Ministers and get that information or have those Ministers reply back to the Member in this area. Thank you.