Debates of March 17, 2004 (day 2)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We’ll have that information put together, consolidated from all of the departments, and the Ministers will be prepared to respond to specific detailed questions when their departments come up. But we will pull that together. It will probably be a one-page consolidated number that we work from. Thank you.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Also to the matter of the budget, I would address a question to the Minister of Finance. On page 8 of the budget, Mr. Roland had a discussion there about expenditures and accountabilities and transparency. The sentence, if I may quote, says, “I am considering creating legislation that will establish accountability measures and debt and deficit limits to make our financial management transparent and open to public scrutiny.” I would like to ask the Minister to expand a little bit on this, Mr. Speaker, perhaps beginning with the idea of accountability measures. What would that add to the system that we have going now? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister of Finance, Mr. Roland.

Return To Question 19-15(3): Comments On The Budget Address

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this is an area that we’re beginning to do some work on to look at what options of a fiscal responsibility legislation that we could bring forward for Members. That’s why it’s worded as it is. We need to work with the Members to see what would be acceptable. Things, for example, like what the actual interest bite is -- as the terminology that's used -- or repayment of a debt would be highlighted in the budget, what type of debt that we could actually incur. One of the concerns we have is with our structural deficit that we find ourselves in is not to get into a debt that is paying for operations and maintenance costs, but more for infrastructure investment in that sense. We’ve highlighted that. We will be looking to do that. For example, on highway infrastructure dollars that the federal government has put on we’re going to match. Those are the types of things that are starting. One is the total debt limit, what type of debt we can get into, how we account for it, and the five-year plan where at the end of a process of five years you have to come back to a balanced budget situation. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 19-15(3): Comments On The Budget Address

Mr. Speaker, those are all measures that I would certainly welcome. I think the public would also. I guess I’m wondering though, in the system that we already have, to some extent that information is available. It might not be readily available, but I think we could supply it. I guess I’m curious, Mr. Speaker, when the Minister says he’s considering legislation, do we need legislation to govern those things in this Assembly? Thank you.

Minister of Finance.

Further Return To Question 19-15(3): Comments On The Budget Address

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I guess the government can put measures in place through policy and through understanding. You can put something in place. We’ve done it, as you can say, through our fiscal strategy to balance the books by 2006-2007. So we’ve informally, in a sense, headed in that direction. To actually put things in place that are measurable, that people can say you are going to be measured to and held accountable to, it would be much more forward to put it in legislation that governments coming down the road would have to, if they’re going to change it, make changes in this arena on the floor that would change how it’s being impacted. It’s not an absolute, but it’s something that I feel, and in talking to my colleagues on Cabinet, we should look forward to bringing in and setting up something that would be clearly measurable by Members of this Assembly and by the public at large. That they can see that and they can see if, in fact, we are meeting the targets that we’ve set for ourselves. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 19-15(3): Comments On The Budget Address

Mr. Speaker, I would wholeheartedly endorse the idea that we would be able to demonstrate results against objectives for the money that we spend. The final question that I’d like to ask, Mr. Speaker, is where the Minister says he’s considering creating legislation, what kind of a mechanism does he envision for determining if that’s needed and then what kind of time frame for bringing it forward? Thank you.

Minister of Finance, Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 19-15(3): Comments On The Budget Address

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as the process is set up now we would do further internal work and then I would present my Cabinet colleagues with information to see if, in fact, that is the right course we’re heading on, and from their input either go back to the drawing board or make some changes. If once accepted by Cabinet it’s good enough to go to the next stage, then we would go to the Members of the Assembly through the committee process to have their input if we’ve got it right in the legislative proposal process. Then it kicks off, as the Member is aware, through that process. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question today is to the Minister of Transportation. Mr. Speaker, the federal government has a strategy whereas their policy is forcing all major airports across Canada to upgrade their security to address the drastic circumstances that have happened a few years ago. One of those airports identified would be the airport in Yellowknife. Mr. Speaker, my direct question to the Minister is, who will be paying for this forced and new initiative to upgrade our airport in Yellowknife? Thank you.

Minister of Transportation, Mr. McLeod.

Return To Question 20-15(3): Upgrading Airport Security

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Member is correct. We have been working with the federal government on some security initiatives with the Yellowknife Airport and some other airports across the North. We have submitted a budget for consideration to the federal government to improve the securities. We have received some confirmation and have been approved for a portion of those dollars, however, there’s still some negotiation ongoing for areas that were not within the facility. So those discussions will continue to take place. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 20-15(3): Upgrading Airport Security

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Mr. Minister, for your answer. As you know, any renovation would have an effect on the clients and customers that use that facility. What consultation has the Minister taken into account in regard to this renovation of that building and the effect it will have on the clients and customers that use that building? Thank you.

Minister of Transportation.

Further Return To Question 20-15(3): Upgrading Airport Security

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, our consultations have been taking place with all the stakeholders. There is some concern regarding the expansion of the additional space required for security and the baggage handling, which will take a portion of the parking space. We have some of the stakeholders voicing their concerns that it will have an effect on parking, so we’re looking at alternatives to how we can accommodate that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 20-15(3): Upgrading Airport Security

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it was only a few years ago the Department of Transportation was advocating that this airport was too small, the building was too small. Now we’re looking at expanding it in such a way that we’re running into a corner. What consideration, taking that into account with this new security upgrade, was the Department of Transportation doing in that regard? Thank you.

Minister of Transportation, Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 20-15(3): Upgrading Airport Security

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we have a number of options on the table that we’re looking at and cost, of course, is a factor. The expansion to the facility at the current location is something that we, at this point, feel is the cheapest option we have in front of us. We are, however, looking at a long-term plan which would include moving the whole facility to a space across the airport. The dollars are not identified at this point and we’re obligated to put in the security measures by a certain deadline, so we are looking at expanding the facility where it is, as is. Thank you.

Final supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 20-15(3): Upgrading Airport Security

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my last question is does the Minister see this as a waste of money that we would have to invest in the expansion of this facility to have the facility up and running by late next year, whereas we’re going to have to tear it down in a couple years and build a new one? Thank you.

Minister of Transportation.

Further Return To Question 20-15(3): Upgrading Airport Security

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, no, I don’t see this as a waste of money or we wouldn’t be doing it. Mr. Speaker, we have to do something immediately to improve the security measures at the airport. A good portion of the funding is coming from the federal government. At this point, we have no other resources to relocate the facility, which would cost probably three times as much as what we’re investing now. The lifespan of this facility will be increased by potentially 15 years, so we feel it’s a worthwhile investment. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have an issue I would like to bring forward to the Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development. The issue has probably been roaming in the minds of many northern drivers and will soon be roaming in the minds of many NWT golfers and probably residents of Yellowknife if not addressed soon. This is concerning the Mackenzie Bison Sanctuary herd. As everybody is aware, the new road system has had some major developments and improvements in the last few years which has allowed drivers to reach their destinations a little quicker, which means they’re going a little faster. That, along with the significant increase in the number of bison and traffic over the last five years, I just want to ask the Minister what steps the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development is going to be taking, if any, in the near future to address the rising number of occurrences of vehicle-related accidents on our highway system. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Bell.

Return To Question 21-15(3): Dealing With Bison On NWT Highways

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, it is a very serious and potentially dangerous issue and I would like to tell the Member and assure the House that we have been in discussions for some time now with the Department of Transportation as to how to best address this issue and do what we can to keep buffalo off the highways. It would be nice if they did it on their own, but unfortunately it’s nice travelling on the highways and probably relatively, if you consider going into the deep bush, bug-free compared to that. So the buffalo seem to naturally gravitate toward the highways. But we are working with Transportation to look at a number of options because it is very potentially dangerous to have them on the road. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Villeneuve.

Supplementary To Question 21-15(3): Dealing With Bison On NWT Highways

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you to the Minister for his answer. I just want to know if the Minister is willing to commit his department to developing a strategy which will address the growing number of bison in all the sanctuaries of the NWT, which include five, I believe. Also, outside the community of Deninu Kue where the Hook Lake herd has basically developed into a herd in itself, I guess, by government standards. I’m just curious as to what initiatives the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development is going to undertake to help these communities to develop some kind of sustainable management action plan to work with these herds because as in this budget address the funding for the management of that herd is reduced significantly, by about 30 percent, when actually the herd has probably grown by the same percentage. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister of RWED, Mr. Bell.

Further Return To Question 21-15(3): Dealing With Bison On NWT Highways

Thank you. Specific to the Hook Lake Wood Bison Recovery Project, that herd was developed and isolated to have a disease-free herd. I think we, as the Member indicates, have achieved that. The herd has grown nicely and we are now looking at a number of options going forward as to what the best approach might be here. I think it’s critical to point out that we have approached the community of Fort Resolution to work in conjunction with them. There are a number of options on the table. It's important, though, that we pursue an option that the community feels best suits their needs, and we're prepared to do that. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I believe that the Premier provided the right answer today when asked by the Member for the Sahtu whether or not this government is prepared to, in correspondence with the federal government's initiative, form some kind of a committee with a mandate to oversee some of the issues related to the pipeline. I think that time is of the essence on this. There are lots of communities that are waiting with a great deal of anticipation to learn how they can plug in and benefit from a lot of different benefits which may accrue to northerners as a result of the Mackenzie Valley pipeline.

So I want to talk about the appointment of such a committee, the formation of such a committee, and what might be in their mandate. I want to ask the Premier why this government would limit their interest in assisting people to issues of socioeconomic agreements, training and ownership. Those are the three that he mentioned. Why would other things be outside of that? I know from his visit to Hay River and other communities, he knows that there are other types of interest that communities have in terms of participation, and even in the environmental review process, things like that. It takes investment and finances to participate in some of these things, and I don't want to see northerners precluded from doing that. This is a very big event and it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity really to realize significant participation in this. So could the Premier speak to the issue of why just the three things that he mentioned would be exclusively the interest of this government? Thank you.

Premier, Mr. Handley.

Return To Question 22-15(3): Maximizing Benefits Of Pipeline Development

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just for further clarification, the three things that I mentioned weren't meant as a comprehensive list of everything we were going to do. I think there are a lot of areas where we assist communities, whether it's in economic development or training, contracting, value-added benefits. There are a whole bunch. I didn't list them all. I was answering the question which was asked specifically with regard to impact benefit agreements and access agreements. Those are things that would flow out of the claims and so on. So those are issues that we have not historically gotten involved in; certainly not gotten involved in with the mining operations. The access and benefit agreements are things that will be negotiated, I am sure, by the aboriginal governments and communities along the pipeline right-of-way, but that's something that is not part of what we have been involved in in the mining sector. As I said, I expect that will be the same case with the pipeline. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 22-15(3): Maximizing Benefits Of Pipeline Development

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I guess that's my point. I find that interesting, because these are our communities, these are our constituents, and I don't know why we would limit our interests in seeing benefits flow just to these things that have been mentioned. I don't know why we wouldn't want to assist. So if a community or a corporation or an aboriginal government were interested in some of these things that the Premier has referred to, where's the office, where's the central agency, where's the access, where's the entry point, where's the window for them to get support from this government? Thank you.

Mr. Premier.

Further Return To Question 22-15(3): Maximizing Benefits Of Pipeline Development

Mr. Speaker, the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development does have a section or a secretariat, division -- I'm not sure what it's called -- that deals with Mackenzie Valley development and it deals very much with the pipeline readiness. So that would be the window right now for people who are interested in information on what assistance may be made available. Mr. Speaker, I like the suggestion that was made by the Member for Sahtu today, that we set up a ministerial-lead joint committee that would look at the issues around the pipeline, and that's something that we're ready to pursue immediately. In fact, it will be, I am sure, on the agenda for our Cabinet strategy meeting tomorrow. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 22-15(3): Maximizing Benefits Of Pipeline Development

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'm glad to hear that because that was one question I was going to ask. I was going to ask what kind of a timetable, because, as I said at the beginning of my preamble on my first question, time is of the essence. So we need to move on this fairly quickly, and we need to be very proactive. I don't think the Premier's reference to a department of which he didn't know the name in RWED is really that visible a source of support or information for communities and other governments. So I want to know what the plan is to raise the visibility of the initiatives this government is willing to take with respect to assisting people to realize the benefits from the Mackenzie Valley pipeline. Thank you.

Mr. Premier.

Further Return To Question 22-15(3): Maximizing Benefits Of Pipeline Development

Mr. Speaker, I would be pleased to provide the Members with a list or a description of the mandate of the Mackenzie Valley planning group in RWED, in terms of the mandate that they have. There may be other areas that we would want to consider as a government for providing further assistance. There are certainly other parts of our government that provide assistance, through Education, MACA and other areas. So there are a lot of services that we provide to those who are interested in economic opportunities, including the pipeline but not limited to the pipeline.

Mr. Speaker, I think the best way of dealing with this…I like the suggestion of setting up a joint committee, and that may be the way of identifying what the issues are and moving forward proactively. Thank you.

Final supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 22-15(3): Maximizing Benefits Of Pipeline Development