Mr. Speaker, the Premier has been in this House as long as I have. It has been a commonly accepted practice, if not a rule, that members of Cabinet do not use this House as a forum to discuss their constituency issues. Is that the Premier’s understanding?
We know for a fact that Members that become Ministers are somewhat tied down to a process — what they can do — in trying to work on behalf of their constituency. But there’s still an avenue for Members to address issues in the House, whether it’s through Members’ statements or speaking to motions that may come up from time to time. We generally vet that to see where that may go and would reflect on that as we come out in the discussion.
Mr. Speaker, I’d like to ask the Premier if there is any reasoning why, in his mind or that he knows of, it would have been a practice of this government for many years not to have Ministers use this House as a forum to promote the interests of their own personal constituencies.
Mr. Speaker, I’m not aware of — maybe I don’t understand the question — a rule or practice that stops Ministers in Committee of the Whole from having a discussion on issues that may affect their constituencies. In the formal House, as we are now, we’re unable to, for example, question government direction or where it’s going. But in Committee of the Whole we have from time to time had Ministers and Members as well question what is occurring at that time, whether it’s a motion in the House or an item under debate.
Mr. Speaker, I fully understand why Members would be questioning things in Committee of the Whole. I would suggest that Ministers using Committee of the Whole as an opportunity not to be wearing their Minister’s hat, so to speak — to be promoting or expressing views on issues of their constituencies — has been extremely rare. It’s probably only happened a couple of times in my 13 years in this Assembly. So if we are going to have a change in that practice or that convention, I would like to ask the Premier if his voice will be the one that will represent the Members on the other side of the House with respect to how that practice will be going forward.
We haven’t changed the convention or rule of the Legislative Assembly. From time to time Members have, when it’s a motion in the House that affects their constituencies, spoken to it. It’s not been a very common occurrence, but there is no convention or rule that says that won’t be done. If there’s a need for further clarification, we’re prepared to sit down and have that discussion.
Thank you, Mr. Roland. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.
Mr. Speaker, my question to the Premier is in regard to his statement in regard to the Western Premiers’ Conference he just attended. There were a few issues in there in regard to the conference itself, but more importantly, there was lot of discussion around energy — looking at ways of bringing down energy and looking at alternative energies that are out there. I’d like to ask the Premier: exactly what type of responses did we get? Are those responses going to be put by way of ideas and sent to the federal government, to ask them for certain funding? You talk about hydro; you talk about wind energy; you talk about other initiatives. I’d like to ask the Premier: what’s the next step in regard to these issues that were discussed at the western Premiers’ meeting? Where do they go next? Also, when can we see some results on those discussions?
Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The Hon. Premier, Mr. Roland.
Mr. Speaker, the Western Premiers’ Conference, as I was saying earlier, is one that I felt went very well for the Northwest Territories. To have our issues part of the communications package that went out from that meeting across Canada does a number of things. It raises our level of interest. It sends a message to the federal government. The next steps for us from the Western Premiers’ Conference would be on issues that we feel would be encouraged by further bringing them to the Council of the Federation — that is, all the Premiers across the country — and then coming up with a specific plan or actions that we would go to the federal government.
A number of these initiatives are ongoing. The western Premiers themselves are setting up areas that they’re inviting other jurisdictions to become a part of their practice and join on to the work that’s being done. In our case, because we’re a small partner in this, we can join on some programs or we can work out an initiative that’s going to be supported by other provinces and Premiers as we go forward. For example, the wind energy piece: we know there’s technology there, but it’s been problematic in the North because of the cold winters and our climate. So here’s an avenue where they’ve come behind us to support us and look at initiatives that we may be able to become a part of.
Mr. Speaker, one thing I didn’t see in the Premier’s comment is the whole area around the trading of carbon tax. We know Ontario and Quebec are looking at something. With the global warming effects we have in the Northwest Territories, you’d think that issue would be top and centre for the Northwest Territories. I’d just like to ask the Premier: exactly where are we in regard to the carbon tax issue? Also, what is the position of the Northwest Territories?
There was much discussion amongst Premiers about the initiatives of other jurisdictions. Of course, the media was very interested in what was happening in B.C. as well as in Quebec and Alberta. I was asked as well about our stance on it, and I did inform them that we were preparing to go out to the public on a tax initiative process for review and then see what initiatives would come back to this House.
Mr. Speaker, also in regard to the Premier’s comments or statement he made in reference to the new west, I know that there’s an initiative going on where all the western Premiers are talking about going down to the States to lobby in different areas. I’m wondering: are we part of that delegation which would be going down to the United States to lobby in regard to the western Premiers?
Mr. Speaker, we are invited to be a part of that group that goes down there. Right now I believe it is only the western Premiers from southern Canada that are going down there. I’m not aware of the northern Premiers attending. For myself, I’ve had to look at the dates that would conflict with that. At this point the calendar hasn’t changed, so I would not be attending that, though the option was there for me to be there.
Time for question period has expired. However, I will allow the Member a final supplementary. Mr. Krutko.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to ask the Premier if he also had discussions in regard to the western climate change initiative, which includes western parts of the United States and Canada. I’d just like to ask the Premier: are we also part of the western climate change initiative?
We are a part of that. The Premier of British Columbia, Mr. Campbell, has initiated that work. It started off in January with the conference on climate change. Again, other jurisdictions are working with their leaders and coming up with initiatives and sharing some of the work that’s been done. For ourselves, from a territorial point of view working with other northern Premiers, coming up with our piece of that work, we are plugged into that process.
Thank you, Mr. Roland. Before we go on, colleagues, I’d like to draw your attention to the visitors’ gallery. A group of senior civil servants is visiting here to witness consensus government working. Welcome to the Legislative Assembly. I hope you’re enjoying your tour.
The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.
Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to return to Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery.
Unanimous consent granted.
Return to item 5 on the order paper, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Members for not naying that, of course. I just want to make special mention of Daryl Dolynny. He’s up there in the gallery. He’s the owner of Shoppers. He’s presently the Chair of the Yellowknife Community Foundation. I think he’s the past president of Stanton Foundation. He’s here today to watch the Pharmacy Act get through first reading. He says if it’s not done by 4 p.m., he has to sneak off to be a swim coach today. So he’s many things to Yellowknife. He’s an important guy.
Mr. Speaker, I’d like to recognize two long-time senior managers with the federal government: Mr. Daniel Watson and Ms. Liseanne Forand.
Mr. Speaker, my written question today is to the Minister of Human Resources. The question is:
Over the previous four fiscal years how many deputy ministers and senior managers were employed and eligible for annual performance bonuses?
How many of them actually did or did not receive bonuses in each of these fiscal years?
Mr. Speaker, I would like to present a petition dealing with the matter of cutbacks to the public service in Fort Simpson. The petition contains 12 signatures of Trout Lake residents, and the petitioners request that the Legislative Assembly represent Nahendeh residents by opposing proposed layoffs in the public service that would have an economic…
Interruption.
Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to present a petition dealing with the matter of the Fort Simpson Airport maintenance services. The petition contains 12 signatures of Trout Lake residents, and the petitioners request that the Legislative Assembly represent Nahendeh residents by opposing plans to privatize Fort Simpson Airport maintenance services. Mahsi cho.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Thebacha, that the Speaker be authorized to set such sitting days and hours as the Speaker, after consultation, deems fit to assist with the business before the House.
Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. The motion is on the floor. The motion is in order. To the motion.
Question.
The question is being called.
Motion carried.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
WHEREAS quality and affordable housing promotes health, social and economic well-being of people and communities;
AND WHEREAS the Government of Canada has been a vital funding partner in the development of affordable housing in all 13 provinces and territories;
AND WHEREAS CMHC Operating and Maintenance funding for social housing is currently declining and will lapse completely by 2038;
AND WHEREAS the Government of Canada has not committed to making additional capital investments in affordable housing in the future;
AND WHEREAS 1.5 million Canadian households continue to be in core housing need;
AND WHEREAS core housing need in Canada’s North continues to be above the national rate of need;
AND WHEREAS funding for the three Federal Housing Trusts, including the Northern Housing Trust, is set to sunset on March 31, 2009;
AND WHEREAS funding for the Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program and Homelessness Partnering Initiative are also scheduled to sunset on March 31, 2009;
AND WHEREAS the federal government has yet to commit to funding a third phase of the Affordable Housing Initiative after March 31, 2009;
AND WHEREAS provinces and territories unanimously agreed to a set of principles that outline roles and responsibilities for the delivery of housing to Canadians;
and further, that the Legislative Assembly, strongly urges the Government of Canada to commit to discussing a long-term funding strategy with the provinces and territories;
AND FURTHER, that a copy of this motion be sent to the House of Commons.
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The motion is on the floor. The motion is in order. To the motion. The Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation, Mr. Miltenberger.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d just like to speak briefly in favour of this motion. Across the land, in all the provinces and territories, the Legislatures in these jurisdictions are going to be passing motions of support to encourage the federal government to come to the table and look at extending the programs that are going to lapse, as well as help to negotiate a long-term housing strategy that will provide long-term sustainable funding.
Mr. Speaker, I’ve been the Minister of Health for five years, and I’ve been the Minister of Housing for the last eight. I’ve been to communities, and housing is probably the most critical issue that comes to people’s minds when they see government people. It outranks even health in terms of its urgency. It’s an important issue. We know that there’s not enough money; there are far more needs than there are resources.
This motion will be a signal that the Northwest Territories Legislature supports the initiative of all the other provinces and territories to try to get the federal government to engage with us so that we can stop the loss of funding, get some certainty and get enough resources so that we can plan for the long-term future of all the citizens we represent.
To the motion. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think that was well said, and I don’t think the motion could have been written any better. There’s only one aspect that I’d like to highlight, which is housing for the disabled. It’s a concern and a passion of mine to make sure that we have appropriate housing for those in need. Although this motion doesn’t speak to it specifically, we know that this funding goes to help people in that area.
It’s a principle I really believe in, Mr. Speaker. In the past I’ve had the chance to work with Mr. Krutko, when he was Housing Minister, to help bring better living, a better quality of life to people with disabilities. At that time I was very thankful and grateful that we were able to move forward on that initiative.
Mr. Speaker, I’m just going to close by saying that housing for everyone is fundamental. It’s a basic principle we all know we need — safe and secure housing, especially appropriate housing — and we can’t forget about that group known as the group of disabled folks, because their well-being is important to me, and I know it’s important to this Legislature as well.
Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. To the motion. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I, too, shall be voting in favour of this motion. It is very timely. I’ve got the riding with the most communities, and we’re having many housing issues. One of them is access to funding and different types of funding arrangements. Right now we’re really, really limited, and the pool of funds is getting smaller. It limits the types of actions that we can have in the community, especially when it comes to federal assistance, as they do it to all our reserves down south and the other jurisdictions.
When it comes to the North, there’s always a barrier in terms of providing adequate aboriginal housing and First Nations housing. I believe this is one of the ways that our government can work toward that. I’d like to applaud the Minister for moving this motion forward. It’s actions like this that we’ve got to get knocking on the doors in Ottawa and let them know that our needs are real. They must heed up and listen to us. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. To the motion.
Question.
The question is being called. The honourable Minister Responsible for Housing, Mr. Miltenberger.
