Kevin A. Menicoche

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.

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...

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...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, about a year ago, I brought to the attention of this House a proposal for a regional airline in Fort Simpson. First Nation communities in my region have recognized an opportunity in the airline sector to capitalize on current economic and tourism development and growth to position themselves for the prospect of the Mackenzie gas project.

Mr. Speaker, this is a very exciting business opportunity for participating communities and the people in the Deh Cho. This business venture will be locally owned and controlled by the people of the region. They have...

Mr. Chair, I move that we report progress.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. This has been one of the topics that I’m passionate about, is our Territorial Power Subsidy Program and where we’re going with the territorial power subsidy. I’m just wondering, has the Minister looked at the terms of reference of how they wish to look at this subject. I’m of the mind that everyone has to pay the same, just like every other jurisdiction in Canada. I might be going a bit outside the topic here, but I wonder if there’s leeway at all in the deliberation of the territorial power support and, indeed, of the Power Corporation of looking at their...

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I believe that the seniors were looking for something further. They’re owning their own houses and in the diesel communities, Mr. Chairman, they are paying quite a bit. I don’t know if it’s leaks in their system, but I’m telling the Minister they’re only taking home $750 a month and their power bill is $250. That’s far beyond what they can afford. They’re asking if there’s a way for us to subsidize the power elders are receiving, beyond the way it exists now. Is there some other supplementary way of doing it much like we’re contributing towards our costs of…I...