Debates of May 11, 2007 (day 5)

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Final supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 62-15(6): Future Of Norman Wells Gas Field

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think the residents of Norman Wells would sure appreciate hearing from this government that some support may be considered. Mr. Speaker, the question I would ask to Mr. Premier regarding Imperial dropping the bomb on the town of Norman Wells in terms of this decision, we had a deal with Imperial Oil and I say we, the Norman Wells preliminary agreement that was settled. What type of assurance do we have when we sign on with Imperial for future development such as the pipeline? What type of assurance will we have that this won’t be done and our children won’t be dealing with this type of issue the next 20, 30 or 40 years? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Handley.

Further To Question 62-15(6): Future Of Norman Wells Gas Field

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think if people think back, they shouldn’t be 100 percent surprised by this decision because when they hooked up, they knew it was going to happen someday. Mr. Speaker, we are looking, as we negotiate on the pipeline, the feasibility of connecting communities to gas from that pipeline. Mr. Speaker, even that will run out some day. I will go back to my favourite fuel and that is hydro fuel. I think we have to, in the long term, look at hydro generated power that is there as long as the rivers flow, and that is going to be our long-term source, Mr. Speaker. But that is long term. Immediately, we will work with the town and come up with what makes most sense. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question today is for the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. McLeod, since he sat there quietly. Mr. Speaker, the capacity building fund initiative undertaken by the GNWT, the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, was a great investment for 33 communities. Over 90 percent of the fund has been dispersed to date. However, Mr. Speaker, the community of Behchoko is still awaiting their share of the pie. What is the current stage with respect to the capacity building fund with the community of Behchoko? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. McLeod.

Return To Question 63-15(6): Community Capacity Building Fund

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the community capacity building fund is an initiative to provide some resources to the communities to work on projects that the community feels is in their best interest. There is very little criteria that was established around this fund. It was one that would be a fund that would benefit the community. It had to be demonstrated. The other one was to have all the community government organizations sign on to the application. So far, we have not received an application that has both signatures from Behchoko yet. We have had some discussions with the leadership of that community. There is, I think, five communities left that haven’t received their fund. Some communities have requested that we extend the time to give them a little more time. So we extended the deadline to the end of June, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Lafferty.

Supplementary To Question 63-15(6): Community Capacity Building Fund

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there is a hold-up on the funds that was supposed to flow to the community of Behchoko. Some disputes between Behchoko community government and the MACA department less of governing bodies entitled to the said fund, the capacity building fund. Mr. Speaker, can the department outline who is eligible in the community of Behchoko to access this fund?

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 63-15(6): Community Capacity Building Fund

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Access to this fund is not spelled out in the directive. It is intended to benefit any community projects or organizations for that matter, Mr. Speaker. I think the problem that we are having here is who is required to sign off on the project. The signatures are required. In the case of Behchoko, it is the Behchoko government and also the Metis Local for that community and also the MLA for that riding. Those are the signatures that we require. So far, we have not had a proposal from the community with both those signatures on there. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Lafferty.

Supplementary To Question 63-15(6): Community Capacity Building Fund

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there was a list that went around the organization, municipality, the list of organizations, association and agencies. The Department of MACA is going by the dates dating back to 1998. That is prior to the Tlicho Agreement that was signed in 2005, the new agreement as an agreement that was signed by this GNWT will full respect. As you can see, it outlines in this agreement one governing body in Behchoko. Why doesn’t this GNWT, the Department of MACA, respect and honour the agreement and acknowledge that there is only one governing body in Behchoko and that serves the whole community of Behchoko, a Behchoko community government? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 63-15(6): Community Capacity Building Fund

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. By no means are we trying to insinuate that the community government of Behchoko doesn’t serve its residents. Mr. Speaker, this agreement or document was signed prior to the Tlicho Government coming into power. It requires us to have the community governments that are in the community and I have laid it out which ones were there and had to sign on, and it also involves the Metis local which still has members and serves their members. It would be really unfair for us to remove them at this point, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Final supplementary, Mr. Lafferty.

Supplementary To Question 63-15(6): Community Capacity Building Fund

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, when we did sign the Tlicho Agreement, it was a clean slate in 2005. The new government that came into play, the GNWT was supposed to be working with. The proposed investment for this particular capacity building fund, the majority of the fund was supposed to go to the sportsplex in the community of Behchoko. It has been a long time coming, Mr. Speaker. The youth in the community are anxiously waiting for this to happen. Let them see the light and move forward. Will the Minister go ahead and disperse the fund to the community of Behchoko government where all community members, organizations, associations, agencies, will truly benefit as a community? Let’s do the right thing and move on. Let’s not wait. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 63-15(6): Community Capacity Building Fund

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That is our intention, Mr. Speaker, it is to do the right thing and serve all the communities in a fair manner. Excluding one group at this point that still has a recognition and good standing would be unfair, Mr. Speaker. We are waiting for a submission that would come from the community with both signatures on it. We will wait. We have extended the deadline until the end of June. Failing to have an agreement at that point, we will take the next steps and call on the communities to come forward with individual proposals, then we will make the decision. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Inuvialuit, the Gwich’in, the people in the Sahtu and the NWT Metis Nation have signed on to the AIP on devolution and resource revenue sharing. I would like to ask the Premier, there are some remaining groups that still we would like to see signed on. Is there still an opportunity for them to sign on and be part of this AIP? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Premier, Mr. Handley.

Return To Question 64-15(6): Devolution And Resource Revenue Sharing Agreement-In-Principle

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, there is an opportunity for the others to sign on. In fact, we have offered to do briefings with them on it if they like. Again, it is their choice. We are not forcing them, but we feel that it is important that we all work together as northerners here to look after our rights. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. McLeod.

Supplementary To Question 64-15(6): Devolution And Resource Revenue Sharing Agreement-In-Principle

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Premier mentioned that he would offer briefings to some of the other groups. I would like to ask the Premier. Have any of the groups taken him up on his offer yet? Is there any indication that they may be willing to sign on to the AIP quite soon? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 64-15(6): Devolution And Resource Revenue Sharing Agreement-In-Principle

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, the Akaitcho have said they would like to have a briefing. They contacted us and a date has been set. I don’t know exactly when it is, but our people will be going out to meet with them. I don’t believe we have an acceptance yet from the Tlicho and the Dehcho, but we are certainly hoping to brief them and not bring them under any pressure but simply let them know what is in it. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. McLeod.

Supplementary To Question 64-15(6): Devolution And Resource Revenue Sharing Agreement-In-Principle

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To my understanding, this AIP is going to be forwarded on to Ottawa. Has it been forwarded on to Ottawa yet? When can we expect a response back from Ottawa? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 64-15(6): Devolution And Resource Revenue Sharing Agreement-In-Principle

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I spoke with Minister Prentice the day before yesterday on it. It has been forwarded to him. His response was that he would want to have a look at it before making any commitment and further action. Mr. Speaker, it is my intention that we will meet with Minister Prentice as a group, those who have signed on and those who have signed on between now and whenever the meeting is, and determine a course of action from here towards working of a final agreement. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Final supplementary, Mr. McLeod.

Supplementary To Question 64-15(6): Devolution And Resource Revenue Sharing Agreement-In-Principle

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Premier for that. I also would like to ask the Premier if we have a federal election and there happens to be a new government, does this fall off the table or would it still be dealt with by Ottawa? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 64-15(6): Devolution And Resource Revenue Sharing Agreement-In-Principle

Mr. Speaker, to be clear, the agreement-in-principle that we have now is only signed by the GNWT and the four aboriginal organizations we mentioned. The federal government has not signed anything yet with us in terms of the AIP, so we need them to come to the table.

Mr. Speaker, I can’t speak for future governments, but I expect, as has been the case for the last 20 or 30 years, every federal government has said that it supports devolution and resource revenue sharing. So we would certainly want to pressure the next government, whoever it may be, to continue and in fact work more aggressively on resolving this thing once and for all now that we have reached the AIP stage. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in my Member’s statement today, I talked about the water quality in Tuktoyaktuk about an elder’s concern about the chemicals, especially chlorine and fluoride, added into the water treatment plant. I have a question for the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, the Honourable Michael McLeod. What sort of training does the hamlet maintenance staff have in regard to the water treatment plants? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Pokiak. The honourable Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. McLeod.

Return To Question 65-15(6): Tuktoyaktuk Water Quality

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the responsibility for drinking water falls across a number of different government departments. ENR, or Environment and Natural Resources, is responsible for the location and the source of drinking water and ensuring the water is clean. Public Works has the responsibility of ensuring the water plants are run properly and infrastructure is in place. The Department of Health is responsible for testing the water and MACA plays a role also working with the communities to ensure all this works in a good, safe fashion. One of the things we do is the training and certification for the water plant operators.

We have a partnership with a company called Circuit Rider that goes into the communities and provides training to the water plant operators. Also, we have some programs within the School of Community Government that provides certification of water plant operators, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Pokiak.

Supplementary To Question 65-15(6): Tuktoyaktuk Water Quality

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Is this intensive training in regard to the certification they are receiving? How long does it take? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Pokiak. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 65-15(6): Tuktoyaktuk Water Quality

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the certification I think really depends on the education level or the skill level of some of our water plant operators. In some cases, it takes some time. We have to do a number of different types of programming including some hands-on training where we have either a Public Works officer or a Municipal and Community Affairs officer work right in the facility with them to provide hands-on training. But in some cases, it is a very short number of courses through the School of Community Government that would certify them. Mr. Speaker, it really depends on the level that the individual is at in the community and the level of education is certainly a factor.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Pokiak.

Supplementary To Question 65-15(6): Tuktoyaktuk Water Quality

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. After the water is treated, how often do they check the levels of chemicals that they put into the water treatment plant? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Pokiak. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 65-15(6): Tuktoyaktuk Water Quality

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have a multi-barrier approach to treatment of water. It is tested in a number of different ways. Our water plant operators are expected to be in the facility on a daily basis. The Health people test water I think on a monthly basis. The source of the water is also tested by ENR on an annual basis. So there are a number of different tests that happen throughout. There are also tests that happen within some of the households to ensure that the water that is in the tanks in some cases is safe. So there are a number of different schedules that are out there. At the actual facilities, it is something that happens on a daily basis. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions this morning are for Mr. Menicoche, the Minister of Transportation, about the urgent fuel situation at the Yellowknife Airport. Mr. Speaker, I have been advised by some of our airline carriers, one which supplies fixed wing scheduled charter service, that his company is now on rationing. He has been reduced from normal fuel consumption of about 24,000 litres a day to 7,600. He has been cut back by two-thirds. One helicopter company is rationed to only 400 litres of fuel a day. Mr. Speaker, I am advised that one of the two fuel suppliers at the Yellowknife Airport will by dry by Sunday morning. In fact, some companies are using fuel caches owned by their own customers to try to stay flying.

Mr. Speaker, the Minister yesterday advised the Assembly that the only contingency plan that he had in place was for companies to fly to Hay River, a 250 mile detour to fuel up. I talked to one of the mines, a representative of one of the mines this morning. This is costing them thousands of dollars a day, let alone the inconvenience. Mr. Speaker, I wonder if the Minister really realizes the significance and the urgency of the situation. What steps is the department taking, Mr. Speaker, to ensure adequate fuel supplies are available in Yellowknife in this urgent and crisis situation?