Debates of February 1, 2006 (day 20)

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 317-15(4): GNWT’s ‘Letter Of Comfort’ To Mackenzie Valley Pipeline Producers

Mr. Speaker, no. This is a letter of comfort. This is not a contract or something that is binding on a future government. We make it very clear in the letter that there is nothing in this letter that should be construed to somehow fetter the discretion of future governments, nor does it fetter the discretion of aboriginal governments. It’s a letter of comfort saying here is what the government of today’s position is with regard to a stable fiscal environment. That’s as far as it goes. It’s not fettering this one. It is certainly subject to any legislation that we may pass here. That was clear in the letter and in the discussions leading to the letter. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 317-15(4): GNWT’s ‘Letter Of Comfort’ To Mackenzie Valley Pipeline Producers

Mr. Speaker, then, to the assumption that somehow we were giving away the farm with this letter of comfort, I sort of fail to see what we have actually given them. I think the letter has integrity and it has intention attached to it, but I don’t think it’s like a province that sold their power to the U.S. -- a certain province we know -- for years to come. They are going to be stuck with an agreement forever. I don’t think it’s anything like that. So in an effort, then, to clarify how this letter was interpreted or responded to by the Producers Group, I just wish the Premier could put it in context in terms of our intentions, their intentions and how this might have propelled them to go ahead with their hearing process. Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 317-15(4): GNWT’s ‘Letter Of Comfort’ To Mackenzie Valley Pipeline Producers

Mr. Speaker, when Imperial and its partners invest $7.5 billion, that’s a lot of money. It’s enough money to run our whole government for seven years. When they invest that much money in one project, they want to get as much comfort as possible on a bunch of fronts. One of them includes the federal government and they’ve been negotiating with the federal government on that and they had a letter of comfort with the federal government for some outstanding issues. They also realized that we are negotiating devolution and resource revenue sharing. We will become more province-like within the life of this pipeline if not before the pipeline. They realize that is going to happen. So they want some comfort from this current government on where do we stand. Do we have some plan to somehow levy some tax on them? We made it clear to them that this is not binding on anybody. This is not a contract. It is simply a letter of comfort to say we are responsible, we are grown up, we will be fair to you, we will be fair to everybody. We believe municipalities will be fair when they levy municipal taxes, and we believe aboriginal governments will be fair when they negotiate fees for crossing their land. Mr. Speaker, this is simply a letter of comfort. I don’t understand some people who see bogeymen around every corner who are afraid that this letter of comfort is somehow…Mr. Speaker, I realize the Member who asked the question understands what this means as a letter of comfort. That’s all it provides. It’s not binding as a contract. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to report to the Assembly that the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight has reviewed Bill 13, An Act to Amend the Financial Administration Act, and wishes to report that Bill 13 is ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to report to the Assembly that the Standing Committee on Governance and Economic Development has reviewed Bill 14, Public Airports Act, and wishes to report that Bill 14 is ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole.

Mr. Speaker, I am in receipt of response to Petition 2-15(4) presented by Mr. Braden to the Legislative Assembly on October 19, 2005. The response is from Minister Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Friday, February 3, 2006, I will move the following motion: Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Frame Lake, that "designated budget days" be implemented on a provisional basis; and further that Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of each week be "designated budget days;" and further that the House shall commence sitting at 11:00 a.m. on "designated budget days;" and further that the time of adjournment on "designated budget days" shall be 6:00 p.m.; and further that notwithstanding Rule 34(6), the time allotted for Ministers' statements on "designated budget days" shall not exceed 10 minutes; and further that notwithstanding Rule 38(4), on "designated budget days," when a Minister answers an oral question, only two supplementary questions per Member directly related to the same subject may be asked; and further that notwithstanding Rule 27(2), the daily order of business in the Assembly on "designated budget days" be amended on a provisional basis to remove the items: replies to opening address, reports of standing and special committees, and motions; and further that notwithstanding Rule 4(1), the House shall not sit on Friday, February 17, 2006; and furthermore that the "designated budget days" provisional rules be effective Monday, February 6, 2006, until the prorogation of the Fourth Session.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Friday, February 3, 2006, I will move that Bill 18, Appropriation Act, 2006-2007, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, orders of the day for Thursday, February 2, 2006, at 1:30 p.m.:

Prayer

Ministers' Statements

Members' Statements

Reports of Standing and Special Committees

Returns to Oral Questions

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Oral Questions

Written Questions

Returns to Written Questions

Replies to Opening Address

Petitions

Reports of Committees on the Review of Bills

Tabling of Documents

Notices of Motion

Notices of Motion for First Reading of Bills

Motions

First Reading of Bills

Second Reading of Bills

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Report of Committee of the Whole

Third Reading of Bills

Orders of the Day

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Accordingly, this House stands adjourned until Thursday, February 2, 2006, at 1:30 p.m.

---ADJOURNMENT

The House adjourned at 15:24 p.m.