Kevin A. Menicoche

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m just curious as to the process the department used over the past year to help this Nahendeh Air proposal move forward. Earlier last year I spoke and said let’s get somebody from the department identified to work with the groups, to help them through the proposal stages, and at this time I’m here again asking the department look, there was a process here, we asked for your assistance. What happened on your end because from the community level, from the proponent's side, they are doing the best that they can, Mr. Speaker? Will the Minister continue his assurance...

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I wasn’t quite clear if the Minister was willing to allow it as part of the terms of reference when they’re reviewing the Territorial Power Support Program. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the Minister of RWED, with regard to the Nahendeh Air proposal. It was submitted to his office about a year ago, Mr. Speaker, and we’re failing to understand why it’s taking so long to get government support for this program. To date, we’ve got the businesses on side, we’ve got the communities on side, we’ve got the regional people on side, we have federal support and yet nothing is forthcoming from the GNWT RWED department. I fail to understand what exactly we’re waiting for, Mr. Speaker. I would like the Minister of RWED to tell me and...

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. One of the things I’m starting to hear back in my riding is that as I talk to the elders, they’re saying, okay, listen, you guys are helping me subsidize my fuel and I still need assistance with my cost of living. Can the government subsidize the power for elders, those over the age of 65 and on pension? Is that something this review could look at, Mr. Chairman?

Mr. Chairman, I have a motion. I move that this committee recommends that the chairman of the Financial Management Board work diligently with the Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development to deal proactively with the growing financial and human resource liability and that the Sirius Diamond receivership issue be resolved in the public interest no later than April 1, 2005;

And further, the committee recommends that the GNWT establish a firm position for dealing with diamond mines and resolve the issues affecting the viability of the secondary diamond processing industry in the NWT...

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. Just some general comments from me, as well. I spoke about it yesterday to the Minister of Finance; however, it was more appropriate under the Financial Management Board, just with respect to our capital planning process.

I’m not entirely convinced that the capital planning process is working for us. It’s outside of us now and we don’t really see it. The only feedback that I can get is from the communities, hamlets and settlements that tell me that people are flying into the communities, asking them their needs and then flying out again. I am not too sure...

Thank you, Madam Chair. The committee wishes to consider Bill 18, An Act to Amend the Territorial Court Act, as well as Bill 19, Appropriation Act, 2005-2006, specifically the main estimates for the Financial Management Board Secretariat.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m glad to hear the Minister speak about it being a high priority, because it is, indeed, a high priority for the communities because deal breaking is imminent and I don’t want to see this deal fall through. It doesn’t make our government look good when you have the opportunity to create a deal and then we miss that opportunity. It already happened once, as my honourable colleagues keep speaking about, and I don’t want to see this happen in our region, particularly something of this much importance that has the backing of all the chiefs, of all the communities, of...

Mr. Chair, I move that we report progress.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Well, it has been over a year, Mr. Speaker, since the business plan has been completed and the request has been in the department, and we’ve asked time and time again for their assistance and to keep this moving forward. It is a time sensitive issue, as one of the interested parties is willing to sell outside the region and that’s not something the community or the region wants, Mr. Speaker. So I would like to get the Minister’s assurance, Mr. Speaker, that he will continue from hereon in a time sensitive manner and secure and assure the consortium that the...