Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, my questions today are for the Premier. Given the proposal to move the Territorial Treatment Centre out of Yellowknife to Hay River, it’s important to a great number of citizens here in the city of Yellowknife. Clients, employees, specialized service folks, are interested to know how a decision like this is arrived at. I would like to ask the Premier what exactly is the government policy on decentralization? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

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

Return To Question 45-15(4): Policies For Facility And Program Relocation

Joe Handley

Weledeh

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The government has a policy on government organization. That policy does outline how major organizational changes are made. In the case of moving a facility like TTC from Yellowknife, that would fit into the category of major organizational change. That’s a decision that’s made by Cabinet. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Premier Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 45-15(4): Policies For Facility And Program Relocation

David Ramsay

Kam Lake

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The Premier and some of his Cabinet colleagues are also Yellowknife MLAs. Does it bother the Premier or bother the other Cabinet Ministers that the information that myself and colleagues of mine have asked for from the Minister about where the research is, what type of studies were conducted into moving the TTC from Yellowknife to Hay River, we just haven’t got it? I know the Minister has responded that he’s going to get it to us by the end of session, but, Madam Speaker, that causes me a great deal of concern that that information isn’t readily available to Members of this side of the House, and I’d like to hear from the Premier if indeed it causes him concern that we can’t get the information to make an informed decision. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Ramsay, we may be treading close to a line here. I don't think you can ask the Premier a question in his role as Premier and have him answer it within the context of his role as a Yellowknife MLA. We will go to the latter part of the question and try to ignore the first part. Thank you. Mr. Premier.

Further Return To Question 45-15(4): Policies For Facility And Program Relocation

Joe Handley

Weledeh

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Cabinet has looked at a number of factors in considering this change. The Minister responsible has assured me that he will have that information by the end of the day tomorrow. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 45-15(4): Policies For Facility And Program Relocation

David Ramsay

Kam Lake

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My apologies for crossing the line. It is a pretty invisible line, but I may have crossed it. Thank you. I am wondering if the Premier can let us know, in the government's organizational policy, does that policy speak to strictly moving jobs and programs around or does it speak to clients' needs and program needs?

It is one thing to move civil service jobs out of Yellowknife; that is something, given the chance, I would support, if it made sense. When you look at a program, the clients it is going to impact, the services those clients are going to need, does the organizational policy of this government have that in mind? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Hear! Hear!

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

Further Return To Question 45-15(4): Policies For Facility And Program Relocation

Joe Handley

Weledeh

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Yes, the policy looks at a number of factors, including the government's organizational design, its flexibility to deliver programs, best use of personnel, best use of fiscal infrastructure, delivery of the program closest to the people who are being served, equitable distribution of social and economic and employment benefits around the Northwest Territories.

Madam Speaker, there are a number of issues that we have to take a look at. No one of those would trump all of the others, it would be a matter of looking at everything and saying where can we best deliver the program of the services given all the factors. We must look at them being fair to everybody around the Territories. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Premier. Final supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 45-15(4): Policies For Facility And Program Relocation

David Ramsay

Kam Lake

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Given the fact that we haven't had any information, I would like to ask the Premier what information was available to Cabinet Ministers when they made the decision. We haven't seen any information. I would like to ask the Premier what did they see? Where was the research if they had any research prior to making that decision? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Premier.

Further Return To Question 45-15(4): Policies For Facility And Program Relocation

Joe Handley

Weledeh

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I just listed a number of criteria that is normally considered in making this kind of decision. There is certainly good discussion in Cabinet about all the factors that we would have to consider in relocating TTC and, as I have assured you, Madam Speaker, the Minister responsible will share the information with the Member before the end of the day tomorrow. Thank you.