Good afternoon, colleagues. Welcome back to the House.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Early Friday morning, Norman Wells detachment members responded to the serious situation of a man with a gun. After 40 hours of emergency action, police were able to defuse a stand-off in a local residence and apprehend a young man before he could commit harm to others or himself.
This was a very serious situation that involved RCMP specialty teams from Yukon and Alberta, as well as our own “G” Division and all the hard-working members of the Norman Wells detachment.
There was excellent co-operation from all members to ensure safety of the public, the officers and the young man.
In order to ensure public safety, emergency personnel acted proactively to secure the area and provide information to residents. The residential area was evacuated while the police conducted negotiations with the individual.
As a precaution the local school kept children inside and asked parents to pick up their children at the school so they would not be walking home.
This was yet another reminder that serious threats to public safety can occur in any community. As elected officials we must continue to find ways to ensure the safety of our families, our homes, our streets and our communities.
I would like to extend my heartiest thanks to the brave men and women who risk their lives in the line of duty to deal with violence and dangerous situations in our communities.
The RCMP officers’ training and dedication ensured the prompt and professional handling of a serious incident. I am proud of the work they do.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Recycling waste products is a way for all of us to help reduce the impact we have on the environment. It means we use fewer natural resources, use less energy to make new products, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and save money.
Under the Waste Reduction and Recovery Act, government can develop programs to recover and recycle products and materials rather than put them into landfill.
In November 2005 we implemented the Northwest Territories’ first Territorial-wide waste recovery program: the Beverage Container Program. This highly-successful program continues to enjoy a high level of public support throughout the Northwest Territories.
Last year we completed research on the recovery and recycling of other waste materials. A discussion paper on expanding the types of waste we recover and recycle was widely distributed this past January. The document contains background information and an analysis of seven waste types commonly generated in the Northwest Territories, including electronics, tires, lead acid batteries, fuel drums, plastic grocery bags, milk containers, paper and cardboard.
Mr. Speaker, it is unrealistic to think we can expand the program to recover all these waste products. However, these public consultations will help us determine residents’ priority areas. Following our consultation we will prepare recommendations for program expansion. I will have these recommendations completed by spring 2008.
As seen in the Beverage Container Program, waste reduction and recycling is very important to the people of the Northwest Territories. Expanding this program will not only help reduce the amount of material disposed of in local landfills but will also improve the quality of our environment. I encourage residents, communities, municipalities, industry and organizations to provide their input on expanding this program.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to inform this Assembly that the Northwest Territories Business Development and Investment Corporation is establishing a new subsidiary in Ulukhaktok in partnership with the Ulukhaktok Artists’ Association.
Ulukhaktok has a longstanding tradition of excellence in the creation of arts and crafts, particularly in the area of print-making. The new subsidiary will build on the community’s existing skills by providing a facility for print-making, carving and the production of qiviut or muskox wool products and by marketing these items across Canada.
The BDIC is mandated to promote economic development and employment across the Northwest Territories, especially in the smaller communities. The subsidiary in Ulukhaktok will create two full-time positions and 60 part-time or seasonal positions in the community. For this community of 400 people, this represents a significant influx of employment.
When they met on January 31, 2008, to approve the establishment of this new subsidiary, the BDIC board of directors also appointed a board of five individuals to provide administrative leadership and guidance for the new subsidiary. They are Mr. Louie Nigiyok, from the Ulukhaktok Artist Association; Mr. Joseph Perry, also from the Ulukhaktok Artist Association; Mr. Merven Gruben, the BDIC board member from Tuktoyaktuk; Mr. Paul Komaromi, the BDIC board member from Inuvik; and Mr. Pawan Chugh, the Chief Executive Officer of the BDIC.
Mr. Speaker, as the Members of this 16th Legislative Assembly we have identified the goals and priorities that will guide our work over the next four years. One of our goals is “a diversified economy that provides all communities and regions with opportunities and choices,” We have placed a priority on supporting sustainable local economic sectors, such as arts and crafts, and on reducing disparities between communities and regions.
The new BDIC subsidiary in Ulukhaktok will make a significant contribution to a sustainable, diversified economy in that community and also in the Inuvik region.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to acknowledge the support that this initiative has received from the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation and both the current and former Nunakput Members in this Assembly. It is their commitment, together with the work of staff at both the BDIC and the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment, that have allowed this project to become a reality.
Mr. Speaker, at this time I’d like to take an opportunity to thank Flint Energy of Calgary for taking on the initiative of going into Mackenzie Delta communities to consult individuals and take applications for employment in the oil and gas industry in Alberta. I also would like to thank the oil and gas industry for looking at the potential resources that we have — which are the people of the Northwest Territories, especially in the Mackenzie Delta — to look for job opportunities in the oil and gas industry.
The company also committed to pay for the transportation costs of the individuals that are being hired through the application process and will fly them to Alberta to work in the oil and gas industry. Yet our own industry in the Northwest Territories, specifically the mining industry, is paying some $300 million in salaries to import people from southern Canada to work in the mining industries.
I think it’s time that this government stuck up for the residents of the Northwest Territories and made sure that we’ve fulfilled those job opportunities with Northern residents before anyone else takes advantage of those job opportunities.
I think it’s critical that this government looks up to other companies such as Flint Energy out of Calgary for taking the initiative to go into our isolated communities, take applications and find the residents from the Northwest Territories an opportunity to work in industry, especially oil and gas. But more importantly, I think the mining industry has to take note of what is happening in regard to recruiting people in the Northwest Territories and elsewhere than simply in the North Slave.
At the appropriate time I will be asking the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment questions on this matter in regard to what the Department of Education is doing to ensure that we have our residents employed in all segments of our economy.
I recently received a list of concerns from a constituent on the Energy Efficiency Incentive Program with a specific focus on the rebates available for hybrid vehicles. In principle, the program delivered by the Energy Alliance on behalf of the G.N.W.T. is a really good program.
The primary intent of the program is to help residents of the N.W.T. reduce their energy costs; however, with any new program there are some hurdles that become obvious during its implementation. In the case of this program, one of the difficulties, in my opinion, is that it limits choice. For example, the program is limited to vehicles that can be purchased in the N.W.T. only. This means that any vehicle that meets the criteria for rebate but isn’t supplied by a local dealer won’t be covered.
Now, I understand the importance and value of buying North. For maintenance and servicing purposes, I personally would choose to buy a vehicle from a Northern vendor. This is not the same for everyone. Some people have preference based on brand. Some people would prefer to buy a Honda, a Nissan, a Volkswagen or even a Smart Car. If they did, they would be ineligible for the rebate.
To me, this seems to go against the primary intent of the rebate program, which is to help residents of the N.W.T. reduce their energy costs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
I believe the program should be reviewed so that the primary intent is met. This can be done by removing the restrictions on providing the rebate for Northern residents who choose to buy vehicles that are not available through local N.W.T. vendors: the Nissan, the Volkswagen, the Hondas and Smart cars. However, there is value in supporting local Northern business. To address this, the program could be modified to require that an eligible vehicle available through a Northern vendor must be purchased in the North in order for the purchaser to receive the rebate.
These changes would allow our residents the choice they desire and still encourage them to buy products which help them reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reduce their energy costs. This is good for everyone.
At the appropriate time I will be asking the Minister Responsible for Environment and Natural Resources questions concerning the Energy Efficiency Incentive Program.
During the life of the 15th Assembly there was much discussion in the House about the plight of the caribou throughout the N.W.T. We have pressing matters facing the 16th Assembly in the early stages, but I’d like to again bring attention to the plight of the caribou, because I believe that we’re coming into a critical situation that needs our attention and needs some action taken quickly.
There had been much discussion regarding the caribou numbers and how we came to those numbers. Questions were asked of the government about how they came to these numbers and if traditional knowledge was used.
I’ve heard stories of hunting practices that continue to concern me. Too many caribou being killed, a lot of wasted meat — just the hind quarters being cut off — and shooting off roads and ice-roads and the highway. I do understand that caribou are a way of life to many residents of the N.W.T., and I’d never tell people not to hunt caribou. But I do ask them to show some wisdom and ensure that our grandchildren’s generation enjoys a way of life with the caribou that we’ve been fortunate enough to live through.
Mr. Speaker, harvesting caribou is part of our traditional way of life. Hunting with high-powered snowmobiles, sport hunting, hunting with trucks and hunting off the highway is not a traditional way of life. Hunting with dog teams, with snowshoes, breaking trails — now, that’s a traditional way of life. And I admit I have been just as guilty as the next guy, because I have hunted with snowmobiles; I’ve hunted off the highway. So I’m not pointing fingers at anybody.
Mr. Speaker, the caribou has sustained our people for generations. Now the caribou need our help, and we have to do what we can to ensure their survival so that our grandchildren can enjoy the way of life with the caribou that we’ve been blessed with. Let’s not hunt the caribou into a critical situation or to extinction so that all we have left to share with our grandchildren are stories and memories about the once-mighty herds across the N.W.T.
Mr. Speaker, I’ll have questions for the Minister of ENR at the appropriate time.
Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. [English translation not provided.]
Mr. Speaker, today I would like to talk about the importance of getting and retaining good, qualified recreation workers in our communities. As you know, recreation staff play an important role in the positive development of our youth, as well as contribute to overall community wellness with the delivery of effective sport, culture and recreation programming.
Mr. Speaker, many communities struggle to find and retain good, qualified recreation staff. Often they hire unqualified local individuals. Often these individuals, who have the passion and athletic skills, lack the theory and practical training needed to effect the delivery of programming to the youth. Some of the reason is pay. There is no secret that many of our community recreation staff earn far less than what they are worth — or, for that matter, often earn less than many other community staff positions. For example, in Fort Resolution the starting wage for a recreation worker is $15 an hour, and in Lutselk’e a recreation worker makes $18 an hour. That’s about 30 per cent less than what other community workers make.
With the booming diamond industry to compete with as well as higher-paying jobs elsewhere, communities are constantly struggling to find and keep good, qualified recreation staff. We all know about the benefits of good sports and recreation programs. We are healthier individuals and healthier communities. We hear this from time to time in MACA’s “Recreation and Sport in the N.W.T.” report, and again in the “Northwest Territories Sport Direction 2000” and yet again in their “Partners in Action: Sports and Recreation Direction for the Nineties” — and any other reports since, Mr. Speaker. Are we doing all we can as a government to back up our words?
Mr. Speaker, I would like to seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
Unanimous consent granted.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker; thank you, colleagues.
Are we doing all we can to support our communities? It’s true the government has a number of recreation and youth programs available. What good are they if the communities cannot take advantage of them because they do not have qualified, properly trained recreation staff? Healthier individuals, healthier communities, are only possible if we have the right people working to deliver these programs.
Later on I will ask the Minister of MACA questions on this.
In my third day in this House I raised the issue of full-cost accounting: accounting that looks at all impacts and considers environmental consequences. The Premier, at that time, agreed to look closely at full-cost accounting — a quite reasonable response — but apparently has not yet implemented that. This allows costs to continue to accrue.
I have a constituent — a filmmaker, an artist — who through her work brings in considerable dollars and work opportunities to the Northwest Territories, as well as contributing to the unique Northern identity of the North, our jurisdiction and our people. She happens to be very environmentally aware, quite progressive, and has a can-do attitude. Similar to a Yellowknife city councilor, who is allowed to travel by bus to minimize his greenhouse gas emissions while on city business, this person wanted to use the support she had from G.N.W.T. to travel in the most responsible environmental way. Yet when she asked to use her support in that way, she was refused — apparently by ITI — the ability to travel by train, bus or however, rather than by air travel, in order to minimize her greenhouse gas emissions. She was willing, and stated so quite publicly, to pay any extra price, and that any extra time would be at her own expense, yet she was denied this opportunity.
The Minister indicated the most economical mode of transportation for travel was by air. But requiring travel by air ignores pollution, greenhouse gases — with the eventual climate change costs — and airport subsidies, and in fact is the most expensive form of travel that we can take. This is a poor state of affairs, and I’m hoping that full-cost accounting will become part of this government’s approach in the immediate future.
The Minister also said this was a federal responsibility. This “Atlas Shrugged” business is quite crazy. We need to all take on responsibility for this issue. I would dearly love to see this government take a leadership role on this issue. We are paying the costs up front. Let’s take a leadership role. Let’s implement full-cost accounting and support our citizens in their attempts to deal with this issue.
Over the last several weeks, as the mercury slid to minus 40 or more, our homes and businesses were gulping fuel to keep us warm and cozy, unfortunately to the detriment of our environment. The indications of climate change are all around us — we see them throughout the North — but there's hope. Alternative energy sources are available. We just have to accept and advance them.
The N.W.T. currently has such an opportunity. Last November the community of Tuktoyaktuk hosted the Remote Community Wind Energy Conference, and by all reports it was very successful and produced a number of excellent recommendations. It’s time to put those recommendations into action.
The G.N.W.T. Energy Plan and Greenhouse Gas Strategy documents tabled in the House in April of 2007 both state that the G.N.W.T. is committed to selecting a community for wind energy demonstration projects in 2008 and also having an operating wind turbine by 2009.
Tuk has essentially established itself as the best location for this project. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has been working with the community on this idea for some time. Let’s declare Tuk the selected community and get on with it. If we're to have an operating wind turbine by next year, we must act now. Assuming that the project is successful, the right regulatory and policy framework to allow for production and selling of wind energy must also be put in place. That development, too, must be started now.
A demonstration project which shows positive results can lead to a number of other opportunities for the N.W.T.: federal support for cold-weather wind energy testing; a wind or an alternative energy training program offered through Aurora College, something that will benefit all three territories; an aboriginal-owned commercial alternative power producer; and the export of N.W.T. operations and maintenance expertise to service wind turbines at sites across the North.
This is a good-news story, Mr. Speaker. Economic development and saving the environment. It doesn’t get much better than that. I urge the government to remember this story as the budget is developed. At the appropriate time I will have questions for the Minister of ENR.
I’d like to speak today about where the Northwest Territories is at on the federal government’s agenda. I’m surprised this government seems to be taking, let’s say, a more laid-back approach to devolution and resource revenue sharing, especially given our current financial situation and our desperate need for increased revenue streams. Our Territory has never had such a great demand for investment in transportation, energy, education, housing and community infrastructure.
Mr. Speaker, it is a shame the last government could not get substantial infrastructure investment dollars into our Territory. As we’re all well aware, they also made the decision to proceed with the Deh Cho Bridge project without any federal investment.
Mr. Speaker, on Friday our sister territory Nunavut signed a seven-year, $242 million infrastructure deal with Ottawa. I’d like to congratulate Premier Okalik and his government on delivering for his territory much-needed infrastructure dollars.
Mr. Speaker, seeing the size of investment in Nunavut makes me wonder about what our Territory is doing in Ottawa and what our game plan is to try to secure some much-needed infrastructure money. The list of projects here in the Territory is a long one: the Mackenzie Valley Highway, the extension of Highway 4 to Gordon Lake and beyond, the city of Yellowknife bypass road, the access road to gravel source 177 near Tuktoyaktuk, just to mention a few. It’s not too late for the federal government to come up with some money for the Deh Cho Bridge.
The reality, Mr. Speaker, is that Nunavut is not the cash cow for Ottawa that the Northwest Territories is and will continue to be for years to come. We need to have our infrastructure needs addressed. The last government failed to get much done. I wonder: will this government follow in its predecessor’s tracks? I certainly hope they don’t. We can’t afford to wait, as opportunities will pass us by if we’re not ready for them.
Mr. Speaker, we can’t afford to have that laid-back attitude. We need to be more aggressive in our discussions and negotiations with the federal government. We need to, as Conservatives like to say, “demand better.” Our residents here, and Members on this side of the House, are waiting for this government to deliver on substantial infrastructure dollars for our Territory. Mahsi.
Mr. Speaker, over the course of the weekend, while out and about in Yellowknife and in phone calls I have received in my office, I’ve heard from Northerners who seriously question if we need a $160 million bridge over the Mackenzie River at Fort Providence. I know the government is worried about our liability if we don’t proceed with the bridge. Obviously the government is not worried enough to have obtained a legal opinion they could share with us, detailing the potential extent of that liability.
Mr. Speaker, I’m worried about our liability if we do proceed with the bridge. The cost-benefit analysis that was finally posted on the Transportation web site isn’t really anything to brag about. I don’t know who wrote it, but no wonder they didn’t want to give us a copy of it, despite many requests. It doesn’t represent a normal kind of due diligence and analysis that would precede a project of this magnitude. I’d be curious to know if that’s the information they took to the lender when they tried to borrow the money to build the bridge. I’d be very surprised if that particular cost-benefit analysis would have been used in making a case to borrow that kind of money.
I’m at a loss to understand the lack of leadership in protecting our government’s interests in managing this project. I have many questions about this project still, in spite of the assertion by someone in the newspaper that we’ve had “dozens of briefings.”
What has the $9 million been spent on to date that’s been guaranteed by our government? The person who is defending this project in today’s newspaper has been on the Deh Cho Bridge Corporation’s payroll since the corporation’s inception.
There are so many things asserted in there that I just don’t understand. How could the previous shareholder pulling out of the project cause the project to collapse? That’s one of the assertions that’s made. There is no minimum required; there’s no minimum for the Deh Cho Bridge Corporation. All there is, is a maximum amount of equity. So how could another shareholder pulling out have possibly caused the bridge project to collapse?
The contractor stepped up the day before the deadline. It was in their interest to do so. If there was no minimum equity threshold, why was it in their interest to do so? It wasn’t going to stop the project even if the Deh Cho Bridge Corporation had only put up $2 million.
The article goes on to say that there’s a couple of people just trying to mess it up. Well, Mr. Speaker, I have better things to do than try to mess up people’s plans. I have a duty and an obligation as a Member of this Assembly to ask these kinds of questions. I’m sorry if they mess up someone’s plans. Thank you.
Today I’d like to speak about prevention of head injuries in our youth. I had the opportunity to be home for the weekend, and while I was walking around there, Mr. Speaker, I noticed that we still have people ski-dooing around and pulling children around without proper head gear. My condolences, of course, go out to the family in Fort Smith at the beginning of this year with their child who had sustained a head injury in a similar event. And we’re still doing that in our communities. I’d like to urge this government to start looking at prevention of head injuries in the schools and with our children and, indeed, the community as a whole.
It is standard practice now, when playing hockey, that you wear a helmet. It never used to be, but head injuries became prevalent in the NHL, so now it’s standard practice to prevent head injuries. I don’t know why that type of attention is not being given to snowmobiles.
So I’d like to urge, at this time, the public and families and parents to urge your children to wear protective head gear when they’re out ski-dooing. And also I’d like to urge this government, Mr. Speaker, to indeed strive towards prevention of head injuries in our youth and children in our communities. Mahsi cho.
In this heated economy many Northern employers face shortages of both skilled and semi-skilled workers. Allowing employers to fill their labour shortages through foreign employees, both on a temporary or permanent basis, is a win-win for our economy, and there is a role for the G.N.W.T. to play.
There are shortages in a variety of industries, and we lack the number of interested people to catch up. Eleven jurisdictions, including the Yukon, have a provincial nomination system that helps speed up the immigration process for skilled and semi-skilled workers who wish to become permanent residents of that jurisdiction. Of course, Citizenship and Immigration still have the final say, but these programs do cut the red tape and make it easier for these employers to help fill those labour shortages.
I believe the G.N.W.T. needs to take a look at setting up such a program. I’m also aware of the difficulty and expense the employers go through in the food and hospitality industry as they face trying to recruit staff. It is extremely difficult to find workers who are willing to work for the wages that they can provide. Some food service operators have had some success in hiring temporary foreign workers, but this process is expensive and very time consuming.
We need to help our employers meet these challenges, Mr. Speaker. The resulting tax revenue and increased grant from Canada that will result from higher immigration levels could easily help with that expense involved.
Mr. Speaker, I can best describe the situation as a Scylla or Charybolis. If we do nothing, the six-headed monster will chew those hard-working small business people down, wear them out and cause them to give up. Or equally as bad, the whirlpool of bureaucracy will swallow them up in a frustration type way in a system that was designed to always help them. If we do nothing the ambition of small business will be sunk, and it is embarrassing for this government to watch that sailing ship sink without helping it.
Mr. Speaker, residents of the Sahtu were shocked to learn that on Friday, February 8, an armed stand-off was in progress in the town of Norman Wells. The incident disrupted school, business and many residents. Thankfully, the incident ended Saturday when the gunman surrendered to the police. I was in Norman Wells over the weekend and witnessed first-hand the professional approach taken by the RCMP and many others in defusing this potentially tragic situation.
I met with the released hostages and was alarmed at the trauma they had experienced during and after the ordeal. These brave citizens must be commended for keeping their nerves under very trying circumstances. Our thoughts and prayers go out to you and your families as you continue to work through this terrifying experience and attempt to get back to your normal routine.
Mr. Speaker, I want to sincerely thank the Norman Wells detachment of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police for their handling of the situation. You are fortunate to have the services of Corporal Donna Rorison, Constable Scot Neuberry, Constable Mike Redmond and Auxiliary Constable Jeff Walker.
I’d also like to recognize the kind assistance of the “G” Division Emergency Response Team negotiators led by the Incident Commander Mike Payne. There were capably assisted by the “K” Division Emergency Response Team from Edmonton, and the “M” Division Response Team from Whitehorse.
In addition, the RCMP was supported by members from Inuvik and the “G” Division headquarters in Yellowknife. My constituents are grateful for your outstanding assistance provided by the dedicated men and women of the RCMP who work for us every day to keep our communities safe.
Mr. Speaker, there are many other individuals and agencies who assisted the RCMP in dealing with this alarming incident. Special thanks to Mayor Peter Guther, staff of the town of Norman Wells, the Norman Wells Fire Department, Global Technical Services, Northwestel, managers of the Mackenzie Hotel, Heritage Hotel, Yamouri Hotel and the residents of Norman Wells. Your patience, understanding and cooperation were greatly appreciated.
Mr. Speaker, we are fortunate this incident in Norman Wells ended peacefully. I ask Members to join me in thanking the RCMP and others for bringing this dangerous situation under control. Thank you for a job well done. We appreciate your efforts. Mahsi.
Applause.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize some interpreters and elders that have come in from the riding. They are Terry Villeneuve and Bernadette Lockhart.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize Sabet Biscaye, chairperson of the Official Languages Board and the Aboriginal Language Revitalization Board. Mahsi.
I’d like to recognize Mrs. Villuence at the other end and also, in the gallery, Bernadette and also to Beth.
If we’ve missed anyone in the gallery today, welcome to the House. I hope you’re enjoying the proceedings.
Mr. Speaker, today I wish to acknowledge an educator in my riding, Moh Odeen, principal of the Deninu School in Fort Resolution. Recently Moh was recognized as one of Canada’s Outstanding Principals.
South Slave Education Council Superintendent Curtis Brown said that “Principal Moh Odeen is an inspiration and role model to students, colleagues and community members…his unwavering dedication to education and to young people cannot help but make a difference….”
Originally from Guyana, Moh’s perspective on education, in his own words, are “From the time they arrive in school, I want the students to dream of all the things they want to be so that they realize the world is theirs.”
Please join me in acknowledging and congratulating a very dedicated and passionate educator, Principal Moh Odeen of Fort Resolution.
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment in regard to industry, trade and investment. In regard to my Member’s statement, I mentioned a company out of Calgary that was recruiting individuals in the Mackenzie Delta and trying to find people to work in the oil and gas industry in Alberta, preferably Fort McMurray. Again, we also have other industries in the N.W.T. that seem to be lacking in that type of endeavour. So I’d like to ask the Minister: would he pass on a message to the N.W.T. Mining Association that they can try a similar arrangement by recruiting outside of the North Slave in the N.W.T.?
The diamond companies in the Slave Geologic Province have been leaders in hiring out northern employees in the N.W.T., particularly from the North Slave region. We were following very closely the announcement that Flint Energy had decided to also look at the N.W.T. in an attempt to hire skilled workers. Having worked with the diamond companies, the socio-economic agreements that the Northwest Territories has signed with them, it came up as a result of the environmental review process. Certainly, this is an area in which we are having discussions with the diamond companies, and we’re hoping to be able to work something out in the near future.
Mr. Speaker, there are some $300 million in wages leaving the Northwest Territories every year and going south in Canada. Yet for residents of the Northwest Territories to get a job, now they have to go to Alberta to find work because the companies in the Northwest Territories are not hiring Northwest Territories residents. I think that as a government we have a responsibility to ensure we take care of the interests of residents of the Northwest Territories first.
I’d like to ask the Minister again: would he make sure the N.W.T. Mining Association along with Diavik, BHP, and other companies make their best efforts to look outside the North Slave of the N.W.T. and go to the Mackenzie Delta, to the Mackenzie Valley, and other places in the Northwest Territories to start recruiting other people from the Northwest Territories?
The three socio-economic agreements we have negotiated with the diamond companies require the hiring of employees from pick-up points at various centres in North Slave. The diamond companies have been quite successful in doing so. We are having discussions with them. We’ve expressed concern about arrangements whereby employees are being flown in directly from southern points, and we are having discussions with diamond companies to find the solution that would meet all of our different objectives.
Mr. Speaker, as a government I think we do have an obligation to the residents of the Northwest Territories I’d like to ask the Minister if he is willing to consider opening the socioeconomic agreement to expand it to include other regions of the Northwest Territories for employment in the mining industry.
The socio-economic agreements cannot be opened except by mutual consent, so we are looking at other avenues to increase the catchment area for the hiring of skilled N.W.T. employees.
Mr. Speaker, I believe that during the 15th Assembly the Minister’s predecessor opened up that agreement and allowed more people to be flown in from southern Canada, with no consideration for other people in the Northwest Territories. Since that was the position given to the companies in the 15th Assembly, I don’t see why this government could not also ask for an addition to that agreement, like we already gave in the previous negotiations. I’d like to ask the Minister again: will he consider opening up that agreement to ensure that there are more Northwest Territories residents working in the mining industry?
