Debates of February 6, 2006 (day 23)

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Dent. Sorry; Industry, Tourism and Investment, Mr. Bell. Mr. Hawkins, could you clarify for the Chair who you had directed your question to? Mr. Hawkins.

Mr. Speaker, I asked my question to the Minister of ITI. I said Arslanian Cutting Works spoke to the Ministers of ITI and Finance, but my question was directed to the Minister of ITI. They can do whatever they want with it. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Minister responsible for Industry, Tourism and Investment, Mr. Bell.

Return To Question 340-15(4): Support For Northern Diamond Polishing Facilities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Member is right that I, along with the Minister of Finance, met with the owners of Arslanian and Polar Bear factories to have this discussion. The allegations they have raised are concerning for us, so we have asked them to provide us with some documentation and that is something that we can then take to the company to have this discussion. I should point out the factory seems concerned only with one of the mines. I don’t want to make the suggestion that it is all producers. We do have MOUs in place with both mines. Under the terms of our socio-economic agreement, there are diamonds set aside for northern producers. One of the challenges we have is that there was never any discussions or reference made to pricing in those agreements, but it is something we are sitting down to deal with with that company and look forward to making some progress. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 340-15(4): Support For Northern Diamond Polishing Facilities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Minister of ITI could let me know what is the problem of possibly just calling up the president of that particular diamond mine that we are referring to and asking what the problem is. We shouldn’t be choking our local diamond mines with the facts that you can buy diamonds in Antwerp cheaper than you can buy 300 kilometres north. Mr. Speaker, could the Minister look at placing a phone call so we can giddy-up on this problem and make sure we solve it quicker, rather than later? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Bell.

Further Return To Question 340-15(4): Support For Northern Diamond Polishing Facilities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We are looking to get to the bottom of the issue. The Ministers prior to myself have had the same concern raised and have sought to address it. One of the difficulties is that it’s not as if this is a commodity traded on the open market and we can see the pricing arrangements made with various customers. The mines have customers overseas that they term core customers. They have private arrangements made with those customers. We are not sure how much the diamonds are sold to those customers for, so it’s very difficult for us to make a determination around what kind of pricing arrangements, compared to other companies, our local industry gets, but we are working on it. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Final supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 340-15(4): Support For Northern Diamond Polishing Facilities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Minister mentioned or alluded to the fact that it’s an historical problem. I would like to hear that the Minister is working to put this in writing, so we can make sure at least a fair premium is charged in recognition of where we are in comparison to where Antwerp is. The diamond mines are on our doorstep, Mr. Speaker, yet they cost more. I would like to hear what the options are that the Minister is going to look at if the diamond mine that we are talking about doesn’t step up to the plate and supply diamonds at a fair and reasonable price to our local cutters. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Bell.

Further Return To Question 340-15(4): Support For Northern Diamond Polishing Facilities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe the problem is an allegation of premium being charged to one of our companies over and above the price that Antwerp customers can pay. Of course, these diamonds are very easy and cheap to move to another location, so it’s not as if it’s onerous transportation costs that would lead to a higher price having to be charged in Antwerp. We are looking at it. It’s hypothetical at this point as to what we might do if we are not able to resolve it. I do think we will be able to sit down with the company and talk this through and get some better understanding if a premium is being charged to northern companies. We believe that is not what should be happening. So I would like to work this through with the Finance Minister, as well, and with the company and see if we can’t come to a beneficial arrangement for northern factories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I indicated in my Member’s statement today, with the overwhelming support of the residents of Holman to change the name to Ulukhaktok in December 2005 and with my support, my question is to the Minister of ECE. When will the department implement the official name change to Ulukhaktok to reflect their culture? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Pokiak. The honourable Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Dent.

Return To Question 341-15(4): Name Change For Holman

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The names will change officially on April 1st, 2006.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mr. Pokiak.

Supplementary To Question 341-15(4): Name Change For Holman

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Thanks for the information, Mr. Dent. In that regard, will the Minister be travelling to Holman for the official name change? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Pokiak. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 341-15(4): Name Change For Holman

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I had not planned on travelling to Ulukhaktok…

Nay!

…for the name change on April 1st, but I would be happy to accompany the Member to the community sometime in the not-too-distant future to celebrate the change of name.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Final supplementary, Mr. Pokiak.

Supplementary To Question 341-15(4): Name Change For Holman

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just in that regard, since it’s going to be officially changed on April 1st, wouldn’t it be fair for the Minister to actually come down on that date, to accompany me to Ulukhaktok for the name change? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Pokiak. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 341-15(4): Name Change For Holman

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will endeavour to look at whether or not I can move things around in my schedule to accomplish that. I do have some other travel plans, but if it’s possible I would be happy to join the Member on that occasion.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Premier of the Northwest Territories, in light of his meeting this weekend with Premier Danny Williams in terms of some sort of a cooperation strategy not to take our flags down, but to get the attention of the federal government in terms of our similar types of resource revenue sharing deals. What are the Premier’s plans in terms of working with the province and through the Council of the Federation? I’d like to ask the Premier in terms of his meeting with the Premier of Newfoundland. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The honourable Premier, Mr. Handley.

Return To Question 342-15(4): Meeting With Premier Danny Williams

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I had a very good meeting with Premier Williams on Saturday. The meeting was to talk about a national energy strategy. Of course, that includes resource revenues and where they will be allocated. Mr. Speaker, Premier Williams chairs a committee of the Council of the Federation. The other members of that committee are myself, Premier Klein from Alberta, and Premier Charest from Quebec. So what we are doing is working on a national strategy that hopefully would be presented on behalf of all the Council of the Federation Premiers to the Prime Minister and federal government. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 342-15(4): Meeting With Premier Danny Williams

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When can the Northwest Territories, along with two powerful Premiers on this committee, Alberta and Quebec, when would this council make the national energy strategy known to the other Premiers so that they can go forward to the federal government and, like Mr. Williams said, hopefully we can have all 13 areas in Canada, or provinces in Canada, all 13 be like Alberta. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 342-15(4): Meeting With Premier Danny Williams

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just want to make one correction. There are four powerful Premiers on that committee.

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I take very seriously my responsibility to represent the North. I think it’s very important that the North be on this committee. I hope that I can carry as much influence to the committee’s decisions and recommendations as do the others.

Mr. Speaker, our intention is to table a draft national strategy at the Council of the Federation meeting in July. Assuming that the other Premiers are onside with what we’re recommending, it would then become a document forwarded to the federal government and, of course, then the public. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Final supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 342-15(4): Meeting With Premier Danny Williams

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My apologies to the powerful Premier, Mr. Handley. I hope he doesn’t tell me to take a hike here. I’d like to ask Mr. Premier, in terms of the National Energy Strategy going forward to the Premiers and forwarded on to the Prime Minister, what would be in the National Energy Strategy involved this side here in terms of putting together something that would be supported by all Members within the Territories to bring this forward to a final recommendation? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 342-15(4): Meeting With Premier Danny Williams

Mr. Speaker, I would certainly be very willing to brief all of the Members of this House as we progress in putting the strategy together. This was our first face-to-face meeting to think through how the strategy would be put together, what would be the elements to it, how it would be structured. I can’t make it public at this point because we would have to have the agreement from all of the Premiers before we’d do that. But I’d be happy to brief Members privately and when it’s agreed that it should go public, I’ll certainly be the first to make it available to everyone. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. My question today is to the Minister of Transportation. The community of Nahanni Butte have long-term plans of completing their access road and are looking for assistance from the Department of Transportation in that they’re wondering if they can work with them to advance the funds or even co-sign a loan to advance the funds on constructing the road. I think it’s $1.2 million, where the government has plans to spend $200,000 a year. The community is looking at getting a guarantee from the government to build the road in one or two years. Is the Minister and is the transportation ministry willing to look at an alternative like that to complete this road? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The honourable Minister of Transportation, Mr. McLeod.

Return To Question 343-15(4): Nahanni Butte Access Road

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yes, we’d be interested in sitting down with the community of Nahanni Butte to talk about the proposal for the public access road to the community. It’s something we’re in discussions with in the case of other communities, so we’d, of course, be glad to sit down and discuss this with them also. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.

Supplementary To Question 343-15(4): Nahanni Butte Access Road

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Just with that, I was wondering how much work was going to be done by the department on that access road this year, because this discussion has to take place soon so that they can start looking at the bulk of the construction next year. I know that the Minister previously indicated to Nahanni Butte that they were not interested in co-signing such an agreement. The Minister said that he’s willing to do that. So I would just like to get some type of commitment that it can be a reality to assist Nahanni Butte in getting this road completed soon. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 343-15(4): Nahanni Butte Access Road

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we have committed to providing I think it’s $250,000 a year for a period of four years to the Nahanni Butte access road. It’s something that we are very interested in doing and in a lot of cases it’s to create partnerships with the communities or the development corporations in the communities. We have had discussion in several other communities about the possibility of doing so. We, of course, would have to involve the Department of Finance in this whole discussion to ensure that the FAA is followed, but we’d be glad to do so. We’d be glad to sit down and look at what the community’s proposing and responding accordingly. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Final supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.

Supplementary To Question 343-15(4): Nahanni Butte Access Road

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. That is exactly what the community is looking for, at least some type of commitment other than…I think the key here is to bring the answer over to Nahanni Butte, instead of going there and saying we’ll take that for further consideration. That’s what I’m asking the House here today. Have a serious look at it, Mr. Minister. Come up with a plan to see if you are willing to co-sign a loan on behalf of Nahanni Butte. Like the last co-venture, they did contribute towards the cost of the road and they have indicated to me that they are willing to do that again, but that’s an expression of interest and they’ll go a long ways in having your ministry co-sign this loan. So once again, can the Minister provide at least some type of indication or answer to the community? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 343-15(4): Nahanni Butte Access Road

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, before we can say yes or no, or I respond to the community’s request, we’d have to see a lot more detail. We are quite interested to sit down and talk to communities. Other communities have come forward and demonstrated that there is a cost savings of having some of the money fast-tracked into a one-year period where we would save on the mobilizations cost and also the demobilization. So we’d be very interested to sit down with them. Whatever we can arrange through a meeting with the community along with the Member, I’d be glad to sit down and have that discussion. Thank you.