Thank you, Mr. Nadli. The honourable Minister responsible for Finance, Mr. Miltenberger.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There are two things of interest to the Member, of course: the fibre optic line that’s being proposed to go up the valley hooking Inuvik in as a remote sensing site and then coming down the valley, which would allow us to lateral off and hook into all the communities to provide fibre optic services which would include cell phone services. That is a project that is underway.
The other thing of interest in the CRTC ruling is not only that they opened the door to competition but they took NorthwesTel to task for lack of investment in their aging infrastructure, they refused to grant them their request for a $2 per month rate increase, and they also put them on notice that they have two years to come together with a plan that’s going to lay out how they’re going to invest and modernize what they described as their aging infrastructure.
I think the Minister has clearly indicated a clear commitment for ensuring that the fibre optics line is completed and becomes a reality. At the same time we’re faced with increasing competition, which is, overall, good for the Northwest Territories. I want to ask the Minister again if there has been any preliminary analysis or any kind of studies to indicate that there is a need for perhaps expansion of cellular service in small communities including Fort Providence for the general public safety.
This is a business decision and I can let the Member know that in Fort Smith, for example, it took us years and years of lobbying to convince NorthwesTel to invest, and they brought in an old cell phone tower from somewhere else even though they knew when they asked for a minimum of 250 subscribers. If you went to Fort Smith now, as we told them would happen, they probably have close to 500 or 600 or 700.
Every man, woman and child in the community has a cell phone. This is a business issue. The reason we’re looking at the fibre optic line is because it makes good sense for us as a government to provide that infrastructure and allow that business development to occur. NorthwesTel, as I’ve indicated, has just been taken to task. There are opportunities for them in the communities, and CRTC has told them to go in and modernize and invest in their infrastructure, which to me would mean cell phone service.
Just a final question to the Minister, perhaps just again to see if there’s any formal commitment to consider small communities in terms of their access to cellular service. We all know that once they expand communication infrastructure to all communities, then obviously there’s also a business interest for small communities and give them an equal opportunity equal to all communities in the North.
That is one of our interests and one of the reasons that we, when we looked at the fibre optic line, rather than going laterally north or west, sorry, to the Yukon, we looked at the plan to run the fibre optic line down the valley to hook in down by Fort Simpson so that we would be able to in fact provide those services and infrastructure improvements to the communities up and down the valley.
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Final supplementary, Mr. Nadli.
Just a final question. Has the Department of Finance or any other department considered perhaps a report or an analysis of the possibility of expanding cell service to the smaller communities such as Fort Providence? We all know and recognize that the bridge becoming a reality perhaps within a year or so there will be an increase in public traffic and more likely an increased need for public safety to ensure that communication infrastructure is properly set in place, especially for a community like Fort Providence.
The fibre optic proposal is at the stage where there’s a business case being put together to look at and quantify the business benefits up and down the valley, other than the Inuvik component which is very clearly a business case that has already been made. To put that infrastructure into the communities up and down the valley, that work is being done and we expect that report to be concluded in March of this coming year.
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are addressed to the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. I want to follow up on my statement. I referred to the Minister’s statement made on Monday of this week. The Minister, in his statement, said, “We will talk to them about their governance role as mandated by the department.” My first question to the Minister is if he could explain to me and to the public and to this House what is meant by that.
Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. The honourable Minister responsible for Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. Robert McLeod.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Sport and Recreation Council was formed as a result of a review that they had performed in 2005. It was formed out of the Legislative Assembly, and seeing as we mandate our departments, then we can I think fairly say that their mandate is one that is mandated by the Legislative Assembly.
Thank you to the Minister, I think; I’m not sure. I’d like to ask the Minister in terms of the Sport and Recreation Council and the member organizations within that council, that organization – there are five of them – and if we are basically telling them their mandate, have those five member organizations had any opportunity to provide input to the Minister and/or to MACA or SRC with regard to their roles and responsibilities?
We have had some discussions with the five partner organizations. I’ve had an opportunity to meet with all of them. I’ve met with Sport North on a number of occasions and I’ve met with the Sport and Recreation Council. What we’re trying to do is iron out the whole situation here.
Our intent here is to take more of the politics out of the sport and get sport to the front line, on the ground to the people that most need it. I think we’re moving in that direction. We’ve seen a lot of good work done by all the partner organizations and I think in the last Arctic Winter Games in Grande Prairie we saw a good result of it, having 27 of the 33 communities represented at the Arctic Winter Games.
This is a bit of a learning process. There are high administration fees throughout all the partner organizations that we’re trying to bring down and we’re trying to use that money and invest it back into sports. Our intention is to try to streamline the whole process. Everyone has a role to play in the delivery of sport across the Northwest Territories. Whether some accept their roles as others do, that remains to be seen, but we have to get the politics out of sports.
To the Minister, you mentioned you’ve consulted with Sport North. I hope you’ve consulted with the other four member organizations as well. The Minister also stated in his statement that we will outline plans for implementing the SRC’s goals and objectives. I struggle to understand the relationship of the Sport and Recreation Council to MACA and the member organizations to the Sport and Recreation Council to MACA. Can the Minister give me a bit of an explanation?
The Sport and Recreation Council, as I said, was formed out of a review that was done. They’re brand new. They’ve only been in operation since 2005. It’s been within I think the last three years that they’ve taken on the role of being our funding agent to all partner organizations. We see ourselves as supporting MACA.
The other organization likes to say that they’ve been in the business for 35 years and they’ve done a lot of good work in that time. I’m sure 33 years from now the Sport and Rec Council will have that process down to a T, too, but it is early in the process right now.
We see ourselves as supporting the Sport and Rec Council through this situation and then they’d be able to pretty well take care of the rest of it themselves, and I think they’re moving in that direction. I’ve had some positive meetings with them and I think they’re moving in that direction. They’re starting to understand their role and I think they’re going to take it and run with it, and at the end of the day it’s the athletes across the Northwest Territories that are going to benefit from this whole set-up. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Your final, short supplementary, Ms. Bisaro.
Thanks, Mr. Speaker. Thanks to the Minister. I don’t disagree that I think our youth and our athletes in the NWT are going to benefit at the end of it. It’s interesting that the Minister seems to think I’m talking about one organization. But I’m not; I’m talking about all the member organizations of SRC. I guess I am struggling with the paternalistic attitude of MACA that I hear in his statement. Just a comment. Thank you.
Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. Mr. Dolynny.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The National Energy Board has released today its Arctic review report as well as a National Energy Board filing requirements for offshore drilling in the Canadian Arctic.
I understand with this National Energy Board release, this could fundamentally affect the future requirements for applications to drill and Canadian Arctic offshore developments. My question is for the Minister of ITI. I know this release has just been a couple hours old. Is there any initial response from this government? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Dolynny. The honourable Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment, Mr. Ramsay.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Certainly, we’re confident with the work that the National Energy Board has been doing and we support the work that they continue to do. The key thing for us is that Northerners want to provide input into decision-making about future offshore drilling and they also want to be prepared in developing plans for future drilling projects. I think those are some things that we can take away from it. We’re pleased with the extensive engagement, as well, that Northerners had with the NEB to produce the Arctic review that was released earlier today. Thank you.
Thanks for the Minister’s initial response. Even in its early stages we are hearing from certain groups saying they weren’t consulted during this Arctic review process. Can I ask the Minister of ITI why that was so? Thank you.
The objective of the Arctic review was to gather information and knowledge through meaningful engagement and dialogue. The NEB did extensive consultation across the three northern territories, including more than 40 meetings in 11 communities, again, across all three territories. The review concluded with a week-long roundtable held in Inuvik during this past September so participants could engage in face-to-face dialogue on offshore drilling. Nearly 200 people attended the meetings that were held in Inuvik. Another 300 people logged onto the session via computer to listen to the live Web broadcast that was played. That was also translated into Inuvialuktun, Inuktitut, Gwich’in and French.
We’re pleased with the extensive engagement with Northerners that took place to produce the Arctic review and are confident that everyone had an opportunity to participate in that review.
Thank you to the Minister for going into detail. Fundamentally, we would never want this to happen, but should we have an oil spill in the Arctic offshore similar to what we’ve experienced and seen that affected the world with the Gulf of Mexico, what does this review today mean to this government and to the people of the Northwest Territories?
Mr. Speaker, the prevention of an oil spill in the Canadian Arctic offshore is the primary goal. We’ve got to prevent that from happening. Again, we’re confident with the NEB’s response, that the regulatory regime has the tools needed to protect the safety of northern residents, workers and the environment.
In their application, applicants must submit a contingency plan that outlines what measures they will use to respond to an out-of-control well. A relief well is one contingency measure. Obviously, projects that are occurring in the Beaufort Sea would operate in significantly isolated and under different conditions compared to those in the Gulf of Mexico. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mrs. Groenewegen.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to direct my questions to the government today on behalf of the Patterson Sawmill in Hay River. This sawmill has been in existence for a number of years. It is not a huge company. It is a family-based business. They employ six full-time people. They have the ups and downs with issues with the size of the allowable timber cut being reduced, operating costs and, of course, the market price for the product that they harvest.
Pattersons want to stay in business. They’re the only business of this type in the Northwest Territories. We’re in the middle of a forest here in our part of the North and we would like to keep this business operational in Hay River. It’s extremely important to us. There are bright things on the horizon that may improve the fortunes of this company. How much money would we as a government spend to entice and induce a company like this to come and set up in the North, and yet here’s a company that’s been here many, many years. They are asking for a postponement or abatement of the stumpage fees which they owe this government.
I would like to ask whoever wants to answer the question; I’m not sure if it’s the Minister of ENR or if it’s the Minister of ITI, but I would like to ask this government today. They’re ready to go to work. It’s the time of year when they can go out and cut. What is this government prepared to do to allow this company to continue to operate in Hay River? Thank you.
Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The honourable Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, Mr. Miltenberger.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have been working closely with the Patterson’s operation for the last number of years. We had meetings again yesterday trying to come to some agreement to allow this process to proceed and the operation that the Member talked to about to remain in business. There is still some work to be done, but clearly there are challenges in terms of the revenue that they can generate, the costs that they are incurring and the simple things like stumpage fees and such that they have difficulty generating enough revenue to cover. But we are still at work trying to see if something can be salvaged. Thank you.
The time frame within which this company can go out on roads that are suitable for winter travel to get to the timber that they can harvest is very time sensitive. The clock is ticking. If they do not get in and out and harvest this product within a certain time frame, the option will be to close the sawmill. Tomorrow morning I will be receiving a briefing from a Hay River businessman that hopes to have a business opportunity developed that would make use of waste for biomass for a pellet and briquette mill in Hay River as well. This could potentially enhance the business enterprise of the Pattersons. This is very much on the horizon and very much a possibility to become a reality.
Again, we have written off, forgiven, supported in every kind of way with expensive studies and all kinds of expenditures of this government much more money than this relatively small amount of money that it would take to keep this very long time, established business in operation in Hay River. Time is of the essence. I appreciate the Minister is working on it and I know that his departmental officials did meet with Mr. Patterson yesterday, but I would like to hopefully get some kind of a commitment here on the floor of the House today that would give the Pattersons a signal that they are going to stay in business. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, the fact that the officials continue to meet to try to find alternatives, there were arrangements made a year or so ago that were not successful, and we have, over the years, written off sums of money as well as deferred payments, reduced payments, any number of things that we could try to think of to allow both interests to have their needs met in terms of the business and the role and responsibility of government and as the administrators of the public purse. So the commitment is that we’re still looking at trying to find a way to do this. I will commit to the Member that when I’m finished in the House today, I’ve already indicated to the deputy minister that I would be calling him at the rise of the House and this will be one of the things on my list to talk about. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Final supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.
We do greatly appreciate all of those efforts that the Minister refers to in what they have been able to do. This is not an easy business and strangely, after all these years, it’s still in a lot of ways a fledgling business, but we do hope that the other prospects for the waste material will come to fruition, that this will add additional revenue potential to this company and that we can do something in the short term. They’re not asking for a handout. They’re asking for a postponement or an abatement of the stumpage fees and it is six jobs. The work that they’re involved in in cutting firewood is in keeping with this government’s efforts to reduce fossil fuel consumption in the North and, Mr. Speaker, it is six jobs that are very important to our community. So I would ask the Minister if he would, I’m going to be heading back to Hay River this afternoon, but if he would keep the Pattersons and myself apprised of the outcome of anything they can do to help resolve this issue. Thank you.
I acknowledge, as well, that the Member has been an impassioned advocate on behalf of the Pattersons over the years and to no small way that’s part of the reason that we’re still having these discussions. I appreciate that interest, and I’ve heard her concerns, and I will be following up and I will commit to keep her and her constituents informed. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment. I’d like to follow up, this seems to be a bit of a theme today, but I’m wondering what work does the Minister have underway with his colleagues, the Ministers of MACA and ENR, to free up agricultural land in our South Slave breadbasket, and I suppose the Deh Cho as well, to expand our agricultural industry towards the diversification of our economy away from one industrial sector? Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The Minister of ITI, Mr. Ramsay.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That discussion has to take place with my colleagues on the accessibility of land, but certainly the agricultural component is something that’s of value here. We need to ensure that we’re getting programming dollars out to the various communities around the Northwest Territories. Under the Growing Forward Fund that we have from the federal government, we’ve put that program into 29 communities across the Northwest Territories, mostly small vegetable garden plots, but we are working with the money that we have to get programs out there for people to avail themselves of. Just a couple of weeks ago I was in Norman Wells. I had an opportunity to sample some Sahtu potatoes, a Sahtu chicken, as well as some processed Sahtu moose meat, which is very good.
It’s programs from ITI that are enabling local producers to continue to pursue locally provided fish, meat and agricultural products to not just the local community but they’re looking at perhaps even exporting those out of the Sahtu at some point in time to other communities. Thank you.
Thanks to the Minister for that response. The Sahtu, of course, is a clear leader in this area, along with some other areas of the NWT. So hats off there, but seriously, the biggest issue is access to land. Studies by the Territorial Farmers’ Association have indicated it would be very easy to provide a very large proportion of the food we need in terms of vegetables and even domestic meat with a modicum of support, but land is the biggest issue. So I’ll look forward to progress on that issue.
My second question, briefly, is: What work does the Minister have underway with his colleague, the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, to complete the forest inventories essential to the sustainable development of our forest resources, again, the diversification of our economy? Mahsi.
Obviously the potential in the area of forestry is immense here in the Northwest Territories, especially in the southwest corner of the territory and south of Great Slave Lake. Definitely we need to be looking towards devolution as a way and a means and the settlement of both the Akaitcho land claim and the Dehcho land claim to advance forestry and that sector here in the Northwest Territories, and that discussion will take place with ENR on ways that both ITI and ENR can work together, as we move forward toward devolution on getting the most we can and maximizing the benefits of our forestry industry here. Thank you.
Thank you again for that response from the Minister. My third question along the line of diversification is Avalon Minerals has long been on record of offering secondary processing industry development if a deal can be made on economic electricity rates. What work does the Minister have underway with his colleague, again the Minister responsible for NTPC, to take advantage of this opportunity? Mahsi.
Obviously the opportunity at Avalon, not just for the mine but for the processing and the value added, a component to that is of great value to the economy here in the Northwest Territories and those discussions certainly are taking place. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Bromley.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My final question is I just want to start by noting that a constituent recently returned from Edmonton, to report that Great Slave Lake pickerel was being sold at a shop for $32 a pound. I suppose that’s, what, $75 a kilogram or something like that? So I’m wondering again, what work does the Minister have underway to promote this world-class product and expand markets and production within sustainable limits, of course. Mahsi.
