Joe Handley

Madam Speaker, no.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Yes, the policy looks at a number of factors, including the government's organizational design, its flexibility to deliver programs, best use of personnel, best use of fiscal infrastructure, delivery of the program closest to the people who are being served, equitable distribution of social and economic and employment benefits around the Northwest Territories.

Madam Speaker, there are a number of issues that we have to take a look at. No one of those would trump all of the others, it would be a matter of looking at everything and saying where can we best deliver the...

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The government has a policy on government organization. That policy does outline how major organizational changes are made. In the case of moving a facility like TTC from Yellowknife, that would fit into the category of major organizational change. That’s a decision that’s made by Cabinet. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr. Chairman, I think that’s good advice, very good advice. We will certainly consider that as we get ready for the general assemblies and for our own trips out to communities where we are meeting with them. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Chairman, first of all on the resource revenue sharing and devolution, that one we do have a commitment from the Prime Minister and I continually remind the federal government that he made a commitment to have an agreement-in-principle this spring and that we are working toward it.

I think we are closer than we ever have been. As I said, there are five outstanding items. When I get a chance to meet with Minister Scott -- he is the lead Minister on the devolution side -- I intend to propose to him that we resolve those at the political level in what Ms. Lee has referred to as one of those...

Mr. Chairman, on the devolution side, that is the transfer of responsibility, there are five outstanding issues. I don’t think those issues can be or will be resolved at the negotiating table. I am prepared to sit down with Minister Andy Scott and whoever he needs, to come to political agreements on those outstanding items if necessary. As soon as I get a meeting, I want to talk about those.

On the resource revenue sharing side, there has been less of a willingness to come to the table and talk seriously about resource revenue sharing. What we are asking for is an agreement that is very similar...

Mr. Chairman, the federal government has been more accessible to our government than I have seen and any other government in recent times. They have done a number of things. The most significant so far in terms of getting us new money is the changes to our fiscal formula, but also the Northern Strategy where the Prime Minister has committed to a more strategic view of the North, the commitment to provide us with $40 million. That money, I understand from our Member of Parliament, is coming to us in June. So there is a $40 million commitment there.

On the other area that I don’t know if I...

Madam Speaker, I am sure there are lots of options we could look at to move different programs different places. There is probably a list of 20, 30 or 50 things we could be looking at. In our case, the Territorial Treatment Centre was looked at. It was felt, when looked at all of the factors as I outlined before that we consider in making these types of organizational changes, that this was a reasonable move to make, given the responsibility we have to look after the interests of people all throughout the territory in these treatment centres. We could have put something else somewhere, I don’t...

Madam Speaker, I would like to provide Members with an update on the establishment of the Council of the Federation Panel on Fiscal Imbalance.

Earlier today, the panel was formally announced by current chair of the Council of the Federation Premier Dalton McGuinty.

This panel is an initiative lead by all Canadian Premiers. Its purpose is to examine the vertical and horizontal fiscal balances among federal, provincial and territorial governments in Canada and to make recommendations on how fiscal imbalances should be addressed.

If I may, Madam Speaker, when we speak of vertical fiscal imbalance...

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would like to recognize a constituent of mine, Jim Lynn from Detah.