Joe Handley

Mr. Speaker, a policy outlines an intention and a direction that the government is going to take. It basically describes a purpose, it describes some basic principles that we’re going to work through, it describes the scope of what we will do and what’s covered by the policy and what it’s impact will be. It also includes some background on how the policy will be implemented, what the authority and accountability is.

As well, Mr. Speaker, it also includes a section which says that the prerogative of the Executive Council, which if I may read says, “…nothing in this policy shall in any way be...

Mr. Speaker, it sounds like the Member is asking me to have the government do a policy on when we make exceptions to policies.

---Laughter

That might confuse the whole thing even more. Mr. Speaker, the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development is working on a contract registry. They’re doing some work in the whole area with BIP and how we do our business. We are going to continue to work on that. We’re going to continue to try to improve on our communications when we need to make an exception. I can assure the business community that by far we will find that we are following our...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have to say that in the cases in my experience where the government has had to make an exception to a policy have been driven by competing objectives where we have more than one objective. In the case that the Member is referring to, it has to do with the need for affordable, adequate housing in communities as opposed to ensuring maximum northern benefits. Which one is going to be weighed more highly? We often, Mr. Speaker, make exceptions in another area. Another area as an example is on negotiated contracts. We have a policy on tendering everything and putting it...

Mr. Speaker, I’m honoured to recognize two constituents: Carole Lane and Major Karen Hoeft. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Mr. Chairman, certainly no more than one chief negotiator, no more than one assistant negotiator, and sometimes those two positions are combined and just one of those two will travel. Typically not more than one legal counsel from Justice. The other two I had mentioned, lands negotiator and implementation negotiator, there might be one of them travelling. As I said, not typically, but on occasion depending on the topic and items being discussed.

I would like to provide an overview of the work of the Department of Executive and the department’s main estimates for 2004-05.

The Executive supports the work of Cabinet and its committees. It provides overall direction, management and coordination for all departments. Executive staff provide advice on legislation, policy, communications, corporate identity and protocol, intergovernmental relations and strategic planning, including our participation in the new Council of the Federation and regular First Ministers meetings; women’s issues, and corporate human resources services aimed at...

Mr. Chairman, as I mentioned earlier, $485,000 is for contract services. Again, as I mentioned, this is for costing, modelling of self-government/devolution-related issues; strategic advice with regard to aboriginal issues; and so on. There are a number of contractual obligations or requirements that we have. Thank you.

Mr. Chairman, travel and transportation for staff and board members, $30,000; materials and supplies, office supplies, publications, printing, minor equipment, $7,000; purchased services, telecommunications, delivery and courier, advertising, meeting expenses, $10,000; contract services, this covers the chairman’s salary, the consulting services for rate review activities, equipment leases, $145,000; and fees and payments, membership in the Arctic Alliance, for $12,500, and legal and miscellaneous registration fees of $12,500; for a total of $25,000 in fees and payments. Thank you, Mr...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. For the past year or so, the Power Corporation has done a number of things to help with the cost of power. First of all, they’ve done up to 500 audits and they would be very pleased to go in, if they haven’t done it already, and do audits of power usage by customers in communities like Colville Lake to help them come up with ideas on how to cut down the power. We would also be willing to take the same message to the Energy Alliance. The Department of RWED also has some capacity to help people to find ways to cut down on their power. Mr. Speaker, in the short term, we...

Mr. Chairman, no, everyone doesn’t travel as a team to every negotiation. We have a number of negotiations such as self-government, land and resources devolution, going on at any one time. People are assigned to particular teams. It would only be those people who are involved from the Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs in that particular set of negotiations or meeting who would travel to that one.

Mr. Chairman, in addition to our own staff from MAA travelling, we do at times pay for the cost of lawyers from Justice to travel for specific purposes that are under discussion or negotiation. We do not...