Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Premier, Mr. McLeod.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We are just in the process of developing our draft communications strategy, and I think we are sharing it with committee. If it hasn’t reached committee yet, it will be there very soon, in the next day or so.
That’s certainly good news that it sounds like something’s coming. We have to be fair. I mean, it doesn’t just show up. Some work has to be done.
In the Premier’s very well-crafted comments when he was speaking here before the Prime Minister, he had made mention of a vote. I’d like to know, or ask the Premier, what type of vote is anticipated on this final Devolution Agreement and when can we expect to see this.
If the Members wish, we would put it to a vote in the Legislative Assembly, and it would be a yes or no vote.
I think I’m a little surprised, more so by the words “if we would like to.” How do we get it clear on the record here? Because the way he said it today made it sound like it was coming to the Assembly and it was a foregone conclusion that we would have a public discussion on this and a final vote, of course.
That said, what type of direction does the Premier need to ensure that we actually have a final vote on this particular issue before this Assembly?
We expect that it will take about 40 to 50 days to have our public engagement and communications done on devolution, and I expect that we can vote on it in the May-June session.
Thank you, Mr. Minister. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just quickly, I know some Members may prefer something larger. Myself, I prefer a vote in this Assembly. I think the people elect us for a particular reason: to lead on these particular issues. As proof, as you noticed today, we had five out of the seven Aboriginal groups signing on, so it shows broader support for this initiative, by all means. I prefer a public vote in this Assembly, and maybe the Premier could speak to how he feels that that will get the message on and carry forward these initiatives. Because I think citizens want to know are their leaders leading, and how we’re leading on this very important file and make sure the execution of it is properly done.
I agree with the Member.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my Member’s statement I talked about the NWT Liquor Commission. The NWT Liquor Commission mission underlines the statement here to promote and develop a healthy and responsible drinking culture. That’s one of the missions.
I’m going to ask the Minister of Finance, responsible for the NWT Liquor Commission, in regard to the profits and the revenue that they make every year. Can the Minister consider offering a percentage, of 10 percent or so, to the Liquor Commission that would support their mission, something like they have with the Department of Health and Social Services smoking cessation program where the money goes directly to that program to help the young people to have that type of awareness in their use of alcohol?
Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The Minister of Finance, Mr. Miltenberger.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In his Member’s statement the Member did mention the modest amount of money that he said he pulled from the report that the Liquor Commission spend on education. I think the number he mentioned was $38,000. I don’t have that report in front of me; however, I take very clearly the Member’s point. If there is an interest from the Social Programs committee and the Legislature as we look at developing the business case and the business plans for the upcoming cycle, then we’ll start as soon as we conclude this particular budget cycle. We would be definitely very willing and committed to having those discussions. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, I want to also say that that is the wish of the Members on this side, if the Minister will work with us. If I’m hearing correctly, is the Minister then willing to put that into the business plans for the upcoming session?
The critical issue is the need to do a better job in terms of educating people about responsible drinking or not drinking at all and pregnant mothers not drinking. We need to have that discussion about the best way forward. He has pulled a number out of the air, a safe 10 percent is what his comment was. I am saying let’s agree that that’s a discussion that needs to be had and let’s see what we collectively can come up with for the next business planning process about the best way forward, and not forgetting the fact that we want to continue to stay coordinated and work very closely with Education and Health and Social Services and all the work they do, as well, about education with responsible drinking and alcohol abuse. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, the Northwest Territories Liquor Commission had sales of $46.3 million in 2011-12. When you go through the numbers, the revenue earned on that $46.3 million was about $24 million, so the number I pulled out of here is 10 percent of that. So that’s about $2.4 million I’m asking for. Would the Minister look at those types of numbers when it comes down to the business plans?
Mr. Speaker, I would point out, as I have numerous times in the past, that, in fact, what we spend on dealing with problems related to alcohol abuse dwarfs what little money we make selling it, in terms of health, social services, education, justice and housing.
Yes, we will have the discussion in a forum where we can, in fact, have a discussion in the House. I do acknowledge that we are prepared to do that and we’ll talk specifically about the Member’s suggestion, and what other suggestions may be there if it’s done with a broader committee and as well as the folks from the Liquor Commission and Finance. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment. He talked in his ministerial statement today about the Growing Forward 2 Agreement providing $1.2 million per year for the NWT agricultural sector over the next five years. This is an increase in funding of almost $500,000 per year.
There has been a proposal before ITI with respect to the Northern Farm Training Institute, which is scheduled to start up in Hay River in the month of April. I would like to ask the Minister if any plans have been finalized for the magnitude or the scope of funding that this organization requires to get going out of this funding. Thank you.
Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The honourable Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment, Mr. Ramsay.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It would be anticipated that that would come out of this funding. Discussions are underway with the proponents in Hay River and the department. I could provide the Member, and I know other Members have had questions about where this is at. We can provide an update to Members at the earliest opportunity. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, we seem to have tens of millions of dollars as a government to put into big projects. This is a small project. Pardon the pun, but this is a grassroots project, which is very hinged on the proponents who have a passion for sustainable work, and jobs, and endeavours that are completely doable and renewable within our territory. I appreciate the ADM taking the time to meet with the proponents from Hay River recently. I appreciate the Minister’s support, but I don’t want this to get weighed down in the bureaucracy, and I’d like the Minister’s support that he will steer this proposal through the bureaucratic red tape and ensure this project gets off the ground. Thank you.
Thank you. I have met with the proponents in the past and I am very supportive of the project moving forward, and I’ve given the proponents every indication that I will continue to support their efforts. We have to continue putting together a package, a plan on how this money is going to be spent. I certainly would anticipate that the project in Hay River is going to bring people in from the communities and train them in Hay River so they can go back to their home communities and train others is going to be an integral part of this new Growing Forward 2 funding. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, I have a return to written question asked by Mr. Moses to the Honourable David Ramsay, Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment, on February 18, 2013, regarding GNWT contracts awarded to southern contractors.
For the 2011-2012 fiscal year, 2,223 GNWT contracts were awarded. Of this, 433 contracts were awarded to southern contractors.
For the 2012-2013 fiscal year to December 31, 2012, 292 contracts out of a total of 1,514 contracts were awarded to southern contractors.
Of the 136 change orders that were done to adjust the contracts, there were 103 that were specific to the 2011-2012 year. The remaining 33 contract change orders were for multi-year contracts from prior years that were still in effect in 2011-2012.
Up to December 31, 2012, of the current fiscal year, 76 change orders were issued, of which 39 change orders are specific to the current year’s contracts. The remaining 37 contract change orders were for multi-year contracts from prior years but still in effect in 2012-2013.
The total cost for 103 change orders amounted to a credit to the GNWT of $101,205. The remaining 33 contract change orders, for multi-year contracts from prior years but still in effect in 2011-2012, the value of change orders totaled $23.9 million.
The 39 change orders specific to 2012-2013 amounted to $318,613. For the remaining 37 contract change orders, for multi-year contracts from prior years but still in effect in 2012-2013, the value of change orders totaled $15.5 million.
The majority of the change orders to multi-year contracts from previous years relate to the Deh Cho Bridge Project and various software contracts the GNWT has in place.
The departments of Public Works and Services, Transportation, Environment and Natural Resources, Municipal and Community Affairs, and Industry, Tourism and Investment are responsible for the vast majority of the GNWT’s contracting activity.
There were no supplementary appropriations made in 2011-2012 that relate to contract change orders, nor have any been brought forward to date for this fiscal year and, as such, there are no extra costs to report.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to present a petition dealing with the matter of the creation of a territorial organ and tissue donor register.
The petition contains 504 signatures of Northwest Territories residents. The petitioners request the creation of a territorial organ and tissue donation bank, working in conjunction with existing donor card programs, and deleting the opportunity for family right of refusal. Thank you.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document, entitled Aurora College Annual Report 2011-2012. Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Mr. Ramsay.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Further to my Return to Written Question 9-17(4), I wish to table the following document, entitled Deh Cho Bridge Deficiencies. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Miltenberger.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following two documents, entitled Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2012-2013, and Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 1, 2013-2014. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, I move seconded by the honourable Member for Yellowknife South, that Bill 4, Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures), 2013-2014, be read for the first time.
Bill 4, Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures), 2013-2014, has had first reading.
I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Yellowknife South, that Bill 4, Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures), 2013-2014, be read for the second time.
This bill authorizes the Government of the Northwest Territories to make appropriations for operations expenditures for the 2013-2014 fiscal year.
