Debates of March 30, 2004 (day 11)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again I’ll ask the question. How come northern manufacturers were not consulted in this process? I know the Minister spoke of contacting different boards and agencies from across the North and I’m just wondering, Mr. Speaker, can the Minister supply us with who was contacted and when they were contacted? As I see it, the northern manufacturing industry here in the Northwest Territories was not contacted. So please, Mr. Speaker, can the Minister provide us with the information on who was contacted and when they were contacted? Thank you.

Two questions. Mr. Minister.

Further Return To Question 112-15(3): Consultation With Northern Manufacturers

Mr. Speaker, yes, we can provide some information, in terms of who was contacted in writing. There is also a Web site that we have available for the Housing Corporation. I also want to point out that this is a portion of our larger capital projects and the information is distributed in the same way. We have $32 million in capital projects. This is going to be around $2.3 million. We do not go around contacting every company to personally knock on their door and say, yes, we have this coming up, would you like to bid? Thank you.

Final supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 112-15(3): Consultation With Northern Manufacturers

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I know most of the gentlemen across the other side of this House have at one time or another stood up and extolled the virtues of diversifying our economy and supporting our manufacturing industry. I’d like to ask the Minister one final question and that is if he and the Premier can put together a chronology of events that lead up to this decision being made. I’d like some detail. That’s the one thing that’s missing in this whole equation, Mr. Speaker, is the lack of detail to the regular Members on this side of the House and I think it’s shameful. I think the Minister should provide that chronology of events at his earliest convenience. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation, Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 112-15(3): Consultation With Northern Manufacturers

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have begun drafting a chronology of events. We’ll have it prepared and provided to the Members as soon as possible. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs this afternoon, with regard to the concept and development of an NWT-wide summer Olympic games. I’m going to ask the Minister if he can provide an update in this House as to what stage he’s at. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. Zoe.

Return To Question 113-15(3): Definition Of An Elite Athlete

Mr. Speaker, I’m not quite clear as to the question that the honourable Member is raising. An NWT-wide Olympic games? I haven’t heard of anything of that sort before. Thank you.

Mr. Allen, could you clarify your question?

Supplementary To Question 113-15(3): Definition Of An Elite Athlete

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’ll acknowledge that the Minister is not aware of the concept, so I’ll go on to my next question if I may be permitted. Would the Minister guide his department to work more closely with the TSOs to sanction certain qualifying meets to overcome some of the high costs of regional and territorial qualifying events? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. Zoe.

Further Return To Question 113-15(3): Definition Of An Elite Athlete

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes.

Supplementary, Mr. Allen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I know that’s a good way to respond back to questions. I’m going to ask the Minister if he would kindly define his interpretation of what an elite athlete is at this point. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The question is out of order because you’re trying to get an opinion from the Minister and I think the question should be based on trying to get information that’s privy to the Minister, not an opinion. Mr. Allen.

Supplementary To Question 113-15(3): Definition Of An Elite Athlete

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I had asked the question about the definition and that complies with certain statements he made in the opening remarks about how we treat elite athletes. So I’m going to ask again in terms of a definition, would he explain what the department considers an elite athlete? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. Zoe.

Further Return To Question 113-15(3): Definition Of An Elite Athlete

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, if the honourable Member wants me to give him a definition, it’s someone like the honourable Member when he was an athlete in Inuvik in skiing. Someone in that calibre. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m going to get off the topic of the BIP here and change gears a little bit.

---Applause

I’m sure that will come as some relief to the guys across the way. I want to ask the Minister responsible for the Audit Bureau a few questions and that pertains to a letter I received from them with regard to vacancies in the division. I’ve done a little bit more research on that, and I see that there are six vacancies in the Audit Bureau, out of 14 possible positions in that division. I'm just wondering, Mr. Speaker, if I could ask the Minister why these positions in some cases have been vacant for over 36 months. Mr. Speaker, that's three years. If they haven't been filled for three years, my concern is what's happening with the funding that's going into that division for these positions. Forty-four percent of the positions in the Audit Bureau are vacant today. Mr. Speaker, I'm asking the Minister what is happening with the funding that's going into the Audit Bureau if these positions are vacant in some cases for up to three years? Thank you.

Minister of Finance, Mr. Roland.

Return To Question 114-15(3): Vacancies In The GNWT Audit Bureau

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I can't speak for what the previous governments did with the money, but what we do in cases if we needed the work done and we didn't have the resources within, that means our own staff, we would look at contracting individuals to take on some of that workload. So that could be done in some cases. As well, it could be used as an area of saving some money from within and turning that back to the consolidated revenue. But I can't speak for the three years. I'm aware of the four positions, unless there are a couple more out there for hire right now and waiting for actual closure on those positions. But I'm aware of four and I've sent a letter to Members. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 114-15(3): Vacancies In The GNWT Audit Bureau

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The next question I would have is if a couple of these positions, and they're senior positions, Mr. Speaker, have been vacant -- one for over three years, the other coming up on two years -- will the Minister consider rolling these positions up? If the Audit Bureau has gotten by without these positions for this amount of time, does that cause the Minister some concern? I know he spoke of the last government, but this is this government. Today is today. Will the Minister undertake to have a review of this division and see if we can roll up some of these positions that have been vacant for up to three years? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister of Finance, Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 114-15(3): Vacancies In The GNWT Audit Bureau

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I stated earlier, I will get more details. But again, if in fact we are using those dollars to contract individuals to do that work on behalf of government, then we will look at doing that as sort of a way of getting the job done. But I am aware that, as well, for those jobs that are vacant there have been a number of attempts to fill them. Unfortunately on a couple of occasions, there were no candidates that were accepted for those positions, so they have looked at going through the process once again. But I will take that concern forward and get more details as to what's done, if in fact the money in previous years has been used to contract some of the work out. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 114-15(3): Vacancies In The GNWT Audit Bureau

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, Mr. Minister, for your reply. I wanted to ask, Mr. Speaker, if the Minister could provide that information in terms of what is being contracted out. There is some confusion in terms of what the funding for these vacant positions is used for and, Mr. Speaker, if that money is used for contracting out, then I would like to see the Minister give this House some indication on when he may be able to get back to us in terms of folding up these few positions in the Audit Bureau. Thank you.

Minister of Finance, Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 114-15(3): Vacancies In The GNWT Audit Bureau

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, again I will have to get more detail before I even go down that road of folding up positions. I will look at how the work has been done and how that workload has been carried, and from that come back to the Members and provide them information. Through our next business process we can look at some options that would be available to us. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask further questions on the BIP and the waiving of BIP by Cabinet. This time, I would like to ask the questions to the Minister of RWED, the lead Minister, the Minister responsible for this policy. Mr. Speaker, I believe the Minister is well aware of the fact that government has spent a lot of money and concentrated efforts on developing, maintaining and operating this BIP. There is a lot of history to that, there's a lot of justification for this policy, and also RWED is the lead department in promoting, working with and sometimes using a lot of force to encourage the multinationals -- diamond companies, pipeline companies and companies associated with pipeline work if they come on board -- to make sure that we have an agreement and we maximize the benefits from that. So I would like to know from the Minister, having heard the information that he heard this afternoon from my Member's statements if he was listening and I don't want to repeat it, is he not concerned about the fact the waiving of this policy would cost us all the opportunity costs and economic costs coming out of that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development. I heard two questions. Mr. Minister.

Return To Question 115-15(3): Costs Of Waiving The Business Incentive Policy

Thank you. I think there are a number of issues. The past government, in making this decision, obviously had to consider a number of factors. We have taken a look at that as well. Clearly when you move from stick built to mobile homes, and then potentially talk about waiving the BIP on the purchase of those mobile homes, you are attempting to find a balance here between supporting economic development in the North and getting the most housing on the ground in small communities that desperately need it. That is certainly a trade-off that we had to discuss, and that was the challenge put to us, it was not an easy decision to make. I want to assure the Member that we have every intention of continuing to support this policy and of continuing to support the value-added manufacturing industry in the Northwest Territories.

The last government did strike a business advisory panel to advise them on matters. A report was submitted to the last government. I intend to respond to that report. I have asked the Construction Association and the NWT Chamber of Commerce for their input. I've gone to a number of manufacturers. I'm aware of a couple specifically in Hay River that we've consulted with to get their input on that strategy, and I will come back, will meet with Members, will table a response so that we can have a discussion about the value of manufacturing in the North and how we best support it. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Supplementary To Question 115-15(3): Costs Of Waiving The Business Incentive Policy

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate all the things that he's trying to do, but I would like to concentrate on the issue at hand, Mr. Speaker. The issue is that there is plenty of evidence that suggests that giving this contract and keeping this contract in the North would create jobs and it would have major spin-offs in terms of using our electricians, our plumbers, our local labour to do the painting, taping and siding, instead of watching these 20 mobile homes fly in and get plunked in our communities. We have a real opportunity for our local people to work in them and make money at them and pay tax on them.

---Applause

I know he's a Member of Cabinet, he's going to have a say tomorrow. I want to know if he's going to support extending this contract and giving our northerners an opportunity to bid on it. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Excuse me, could I get some quiet in the House. It's getting kind of hard to hear the Member ask the question, so could I have some order. Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development.

Further Return To Question 115-15(3): Costs Of Waiving The Business Incentive Policy

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I certainly continue to support northern manufacturing, will continue to do that, our department continues to do that, this entire government continues to do that. I think that in the specific case of this contract, I illustrated the factors that we had to weigh and balance. In making this determination, we were cognizant of the fact that this was a $2.3 million contract for this year out of a $32 million capital budget for the Housing Corporation, and we were hopeful that northern companies would still compete, would still submit bids. It sounds like 17 northern companies have picked this up. My department is not involved in the contract administration, but in weighing all of these factors, Cabinet made the decision that the more important priority here was putting housing on the ground in small communities. Thank you.

Final supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Supplementary To Question 115-15(3): Costs Of Waiving The Business Incentive Policy

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to bring the Minister back to the issue at hand. It's good for the Minister to say I support this, I support that, I support this, but I tell you the people out there expect the Ministers to walk the talk and not just say I support the policy except in this case, without any justification. So I have a very specific question to the Minister. As a Minister responsible for this policy and Minister responsible for job creation, economy and economic development and spin-off benefits, would the Minister support giving maximum opportunity to local businesses and argue for extension of two weeks in Cabinet on Thursday? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Further Return To Question 115-15(3): Costs Of Waiving The Business Incentive Policy

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If the determination is made by the Housing Corporation that a two-week extension would not cause us any problems in our ability to still get housing on the ground, and would not mean that we would miss deadlines, would not mean that we would miss the ferry season, and would not mean that we would jeopardize putting new housing which will be very valuable to the communities who are awaiting this and desperately need this, and I would say are anticipating this eagerly, if there was no concern about deadlines then the Housing Corporation will come forward and make that case. Cabinet will have a discussion around that, and I am hopeful then that we can have and make the best decision possible when weighing economic development in the North with the need to put housing on the ground. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Health and Social Services. In light of the new initiative this government is doing in terms of having the mental health and the alcohol workers in the communities and regions come under the wing of the health programs, can the Minister inform this House on the status of these initiatives in terms of how many agencies or people have been adopted into this program? Thank you.

Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Return To Question 116-15(3): Reclassification Of Mental Health, Drug And Alcohol Workers

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my information is that the majority of authorities have concluded the discussions, and the majority of the staff in alcohol and drugs, community wellness workers and mental health workers, have agreed to become board authorities and get the benefits and pay of the positions as you would classify them within the government. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 116-15(3): Reclassification Of Mental Health, Drug And Alcohol Workers