Debates of March 24, 2004 (day 7)

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I wanted to ask the department a question, Mr. Chairman. I was in Norman Wells and they asked about their museum. They said that it was in the government's books and all of a sudden it disappeared, and they want to know what is happening with the Norman Wells museum. I don't know if it's infrastructure dollars or program dollars, I didn't do enough checking. I said I would raise it with the Minister and I think this is the appropriate time to raise it with this department. The museum in Norman Wells is really nice, and hopefully one day I will be in that museum there for people to come and visit and pay tribute.

---Laughter

I want to talk about this because the people in Norman Wells and the town council want to know what was happening with the museum in terms of the infrastructure.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Can we refer this to capital acquisition?

Agreed.

Agreed. Thank you. Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have no doubt that Mr. Yakeleya would like to see it under capital acquisitions, but unfortunately the only place we are liable to find funding for it is on page 9-19 under community museums, which will indicate the level of support that we might be able to find…

---Laughter

…which, unfortunately, is not going to be great. I would agree with the Member that is it quite a nice little museum, and there is some money under community museums on page 9-19, and there is $27,000, as well, for community museums for improvements to buildings. This is application-based and hasn't all necessarily been allocated this year, but there are not big pots of money. That is where the community could apply for some funding.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. That was what I was alluding to, to give some hope to the people of Norman Wells and all the people in the Northwest Territories. I just wanted to say that to the Minister, and I did my job with asking these questions. So I'll follow Sandy's suit; that's it, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. I still have under here Mr. Delorey.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Basically, the Minister just answered my question. I was wondering why community museums appear on page 9-19 and also on page 9-21. What separates that funding?

Thank you, Mr. Delorey. Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The one is for improvements to the buildings, so for minor capital. The other would be available for ongoing funding; displays, et cetera.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Mr. Delorey.

Thank you. That's it, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you. Next I have Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I will reserve my comments for later. Thank you.

---Laughter

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I will stress up front I won't pursue the aggressive line of questioning my honourable colleague, Mr. Menicoche, just did. I would like to follow suit on some of the comments Ms. Lee brought forward with regard to the Northern Arts and Cultural Centre here in Yellowknife. NACC had pointed out that they had an original lease that was established between the GNWT and I guess them, the way I understand it. They brought forward, in a very articulate manner, that they felt the lease was still strong and when it changed to the school board the lease had never truly been amended in such a way to account for some of the guarantees that were written into the lease. NACC had brought forward the concerns of such as what may seem as trivial issues to some people, but they seem to have the highest of gravity to them; issues such as washroom access. I can't imagine that not being paramount. Other items such as access to air conditioning, and there were a few minor items. Would the Minister commit to have his officials leave here today with honouring a commitment of evaluating this lease to ensure that the GNWT is living up to their contractual commitment to that original agreement, just for clarity's sake, therefore the government is either off the hook or on the hook. We'll get those issues cleared up. Will the Minister commit to sending his officials off to have a good look at that? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have been assured by my officials here tonight that there was no change in the lease. What has changed is who is responsible for delivering on some of the responsibilities. I am also advised that they have had a look at the issue of the lease and what should be delivered, and are satisfied, according to the lease, it is being done as is required.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Without presuming I'm a lease expert or a contract expert, it's my understanding that there is still dispute of who is the ownership of the lease in the sense of who the agreement is still standing with. Either it is with the Yellowknife education board or the GNWT, and that seems, from my understanding, an issue never cleared up since the transfer of the education program directly to the board.

Maybe I'm not being clear. Would the Minister be willing to look at it and substantiate it and just reaffirm that the GNWT either has a commitment or no commitment on this issue?

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The GNWT still holds the lease, so the lease is with the GNWT for the facility with NACC. But officials at the department believe that they are fulfilling all the requirements of the lease.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It must be late because I think I heard two answers. There were two different answers, and I stress it could be late and it could be me. It is the NACC officials' understanding that the lease is not being lived up to properly so, therefore, I'm asking for commitment from the Minister just to have a look at it. I can't imagine the bureaucracy not having an extra moment to have a good look at it, therefore we've satisfied our concerns. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I can certainly ask Public Works to have a look at the lease.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Mr. Hawkins.

I appreciate the passionate response. Thank you, Mr. Minister. I appreciate the commitment. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Any further comments?

Detail.

Detail. Page 9-19, education and culture, grants and contributions, grants, total grants, $52,000.

Agreed.

Contributions, pages 9-20 and 9-21. Total contributions, $121,761 million.

Agreed.

Total grants and contributions, $121,813 million.

Agreed.

Active positions, information item. Questions?

Agreed.

Page 9-23, lease commitments - infrastructure.

Agreed.

Page 9-24, student loan revolving fund.

Agreed.

Page 9-25, detail of funding allocated to education authorities. Questions?

Agreed.

Page 9-27, college funding allocation. Questions? Mr. Allen.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Again, just trying to put the college housing into perspective, and I'm looking at the glossary on page 9-27, under buildings and works, and college facilities, equipment and utilities. As you know, we have an inherent problem with student housing Inuvik, and the Blueberry Patch is kind of beyond economic repair. So I'm going to ask the department if they would consider a build to lease with some private developers who can provide the college with adequate student housing. This is the only place I can really find the appropriate areas to question the Minister on, so if they would consider that question at this point. To the Minister, thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Allen. Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. If memory serves me right, in this current year there is $200,000 in minor capital going to repairs in that area.