Debates of May 17, 2007 (day 9)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have further questions for the Minister responsible for Human Resources on this breach of confidential information that was held on employees' files. Mr. Speaker, I think that the Minister acknowledges this is a very serious situation. When I questioned him in the House about it before when he repeatedly denied that it had occurred, he responded to the issue of a protocol to notify the people affected, and I quote from unedited Hansard: "I don't know what the exact protocol would be, but you can be assured that we would consider it to be a very serious event and one that we would follow up on." I'd like to ask the Minister responsible today, does he know what the protocol is for notifying employees whose private information has been accessed on the PeopleSoft program? What is the protocol? Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The honourable Minister responsible for HR, Mr. Dent.

Return To Question 113-15(6): Security Breach Of GNWT PeopleSoft Human Resources System

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don't believe that there is a protocol in place for advising people of the fact that if someone who maybe didn't have authority to see all of their information saw it. It is an issue that needs to be followed up on, I agree with the Member. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 113-15(6): Security Breach Of GNWT PeopleSoft Human Resources System

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I cannot believe that given the amount of electronic information that this government deals with, our very expensive money that we've invested in PeopleSoft software and programming, that, my goodness, there would be no protocol established for a breach of that system. The Minister says he's going to get to the bottom of that and he also says he's going to get to the bottom of what actually happened. You know, I'm not that assured by that, given the fact that for over a month those same people in that department couldn't even inform him that there had been a breach and now he's going to talk to those same people to establish a protocol, and he's going to talk to those same people to find out what happened. I think we need some independent help, maybe from the Protection of Privacy and Information Commissioner. I'm not sure from whom, but I would suggest we need some objective outside resources on this one. Does the Minister agree? Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 113-15(6): Security Breach Of GNWT PeopleSoft Human Resources System

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will review the situation with the Premier and discuss what might be an appropriate response. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 113-15(6): Security Breach Of GNWT PeopleSoft Human Resources System

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaking of the Premier, I understand it is the Premier who is responsible for the appointment of deputy ministers, and I would be very glad to hear the Premier is going to be involved in this, and I'm sure the people in the public service will be glad to hear that the Premier will be involved in this as well. Like I said, at this moment, I'm not feeling real assured about trying to get the information of these same people who weren't forthcoming with the information, with something as serious as a breach, for over a month. So I would like the Minister's response to the idea of an outside, objective, independent look at this situation. Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 113-15(6): Security Breach Of GNWT PeopleSoft Human Resources System

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I said, I'll discuss the issue with the Premier and my Cabinet colleagues, and review the situation and we will make an appropriate response. I don't want to commit to anything without having all of the details, all of the background that I can get. Mr. Speaker, I'll ensure, though, that Members are kept informed of what process we embark on. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Final supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 113-15(6): Security Breach Of GNWT PeopleSoft Human Resources System

Thank you for that, Mr. Speaker, and thank you that Members will be kept informed, but what about the members of the public service whose information has been put out there? Their privacy has been violated; their privacy has been breached. So thank you for keeping Members of this House informed. What are we going to do to inform the members of the public service, whose information, their private information, their social insurance number, their bank account numbers, has been out there for a period of time, whether it was for two hours or three weeks or whatever it turns out to be? What about them? Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 113-15(6): Security Breach Of GNWT PeopleSoft Human Resources System

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think it's a good point and we will make sure that we report to our employees on what happened, why it happened, how it happened, and what our response is and what will happen in the future. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, thank you. My questions this afternoon are for Mr. Menicoche, the Minister for Transportation. Mr. Speaker, there are two visionary projects in play right now to open up the diamond fields and other mineral areas north and east of Yellowknife to more secure transportation. The Bathurst Inlet port and road proposal, which would bring things in via the Arctic Ocean marine route, and, of course, the Tibbet to Contwoyto seasonal winter road project. Both have significant ramifications for our economy; both will require significant public and/or private investment. It is likely, though, that perhaps only one will make it, at least in the near future. Mr. Speaker, which one does the GNWT prefer?

Thank you, Mr. Braden. The honourable Minister responsible for Transportation, Mr. Menicoche.

Return To Question 114-15(6): Transportation Routes To The Slave Geological Province

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. The Member is right; there are two important initiatives largely driven by the private sector. As a government, we're interested, of course, in their development. The Bathurst Inlet port is largely driven by the government and supported by the Government of Nunavut. Kitikmeot Corporation and Nuna Logistics are proposing that and they expect to file a draft environmental impact statement later on this fall. As well in the news, the joint venture is looking at upgrading their roads to the mines. I think there's another 100 kilometres they want to get a seasonal operating road. Both are very viable projects, Mr. Speaker, and the government is supportive of both. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 114-15(6): Transportation Routes To The Slave Geological Province

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Given the significance of these, does it not make sense, is there no kind of process underway or at least under contemplation, Mr. Speaker, that would involve Nunavut, Canada, us and industry to assess these and make some long-term decisions that will work for us? Is there a process underway that we can participate in, Mr. Speaker?

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Menicoche.

Further Return To Question 114-15(6): Transportation Routes To The Slave Geological Province

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Certainly, the Department of Transportation, working with our Department of ENR, will be monitoring the developments of the environmental impact statement that will be filed, and certainly take part to ensure the GNWT interests are considered at that point. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Mr. Braden, supplementary.

Supplementary To Question 114-15(6): Transportation Routes To The Slave Geological Province

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So what I'm hearing is we're going to take a neutral stand on these projects; we're not going to evaluate them for their relative merits and then seek out one that we can support. So I guess my question is, are we going to be standing on the sidelines as the two projects develop, Mr. Speaker?

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Menicoche.

Further Return To Question 114-15(6): Transportation Routes To The Slave Geological Province

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Certainly, we are working with the joint venture group, who are the proponents, actually the ones that are considering both routes, and working along with them. Certainly the road mining transportation alternative study that they had released in April 2007 does recommend the best short-term solution is the one that runs the southern portion of the ice road, which is the southern part. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Thank you, Mr. Braden. Colleagues, before I go to the next Member, I'd like to draw your attention to two young ladies in the Chamber that have been paging for us from my riding: Hilary Aldridge and Frankie Ranger.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, may I remind Members, back in 1999, the GNWT split into two and Nunavut became their own territory. But, Mr. Speaker, since that time, we continue to share the same licence plate. Mr. Speaker, our licence plate, as well as theirs, says "Explore Canada's Arctic." I wrote a letter to the Minister of Transportation to say is this relevant, does this need to be looked at? I've also talked to the NWT Tourism Association and they think it's an important issue to at least examine and discuss. Can I ask the Minister of Transportation what has he done on this matter as of yet? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Honourable Minister of Transportation, Mr. Menicoche.

Return To Question 115-15(6): Slogan For Territorial Licence Plates

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Indeed, my honourable friend, MLA from Yellowknife Centre, did enquire about changing the slogan on the licence plates. Working with the NWT Tourism, they do have a new branding strategy and they are recommending the term "spectacular." Our existing slogan, "Explore Canada's Arctic," we have been using that for some time. It was at that time as well, Mr. Speaker, it was recommended at that time, too, by the NWT Tourism Association and again they're recommending a change and that's something that we're prepared to look at. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 115-15(6): Slogan For Territorial Licence Plates

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If the Minister could expand what we're prepared to look at means, because I hope he would go to some type of public discussion, potentially even a competition, but I would certainly like to make sure that he engages our tourism industry partners on this issue. Is he willing to go out to some kind of discussion? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Menicoche.

Further Return To Question 115-15(6): Slogan For Territorial Licence Plates

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. It is my understanding that a great deal of market research has gone into the selection of a new slogan "spectacular" by the NWT Tourism Association, and we continue to express our support in changing the slogan to reflect the NWT Tourism new branding strategy. Right now, we're currently working with the Tourism Association in investigating the cost and timing of the launch of this new plate, Mr. Speaker. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Time for question period has expired; however, I will allow the Member a supplementary question. Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 115-15(6): Slogan For Territorial Licence Plates

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That's actually good news, because when I brought the Minister the phrase "spectacular" to line up with the NWT Tourism initiative, I was quite in favour of it, but I was a little hesitant to suggest it had to be that one, only because I thought a lot of discussion would have to go into this. Could the Minister explain, or possibly highlight, when he expects a new campaign to launch this will take place? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Menicoche.

Further Return To Question 115-15(6): Slogan For Territorial Licence Plates

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. As I mentioned earlier, we are working with NWT Tourism to look at launching the plates. I can't really give an exact date. There are other issues involved here, too. We do have a large stock of the old plates that we wish to…That is a consideration. But we continue to work with the affected groups, and we're very supportive of it and would like to launch a new plate as well. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My written question is for the Premier of the Northwest Territories.

The Protected Areas Strategy and the Mackenzie Valley five-year action plan provides a blueprint for establishing a network of ecologically and culturally significant areas in advance of the Mackenzie Valley pipeline. There have been some successes, but we are not moving fast enough.

Please provide a detailed account of activities that the Government of the Northwest Territories has done to encourage the federal government to expediently approve the interim land withdrawal application for the Ramparts, extend the withdrawal for Edehzhie, and approve the other outstanding NWT interim land withdrawal requests.

Please provide any correspondence on the timeline for when these approvals/extensions are to be completed.

Please provide a detailed account of the activities this government has undertaken to ensure that a portion of the $10 million federal budget allocation for protected areas in the NWT will come to the GNWT to create or expand protected areas in the NWT, including, but not limited to, the mechanism through which the GNWT can receive a portion of the budget allocation.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document Workers’ Compensation Board of the NWT and Nunavut 2007 Corporate Plan. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have a signed letter from Chief Gon from Gameti on a concern on the school extension for Gameti School. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Frame Lake, that notwithstanding Rule 4, when this House adjourns on May 17, 2007, it shall be adjourned until Wednesday, August 15, 2007;

AND FURTHER that any time prior to August 15, 2007, if the Speaker is satisfied, after consultation with the Executive Council and Members of the Legislative Assembly, that the public interest requires that the House should meet at an earlier time during the adjournment, the Speaker may give notice and thereupon the House shall meet at the time stated in such notice and shall transact its business as it has been duly adjourned to that time.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Motion is on the floor. Motion is in order. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried