Debates of November 27, 2007 (day 3)

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Thank you for your question. Mr. Yakeleya.

Further Return To Question 17-16(1): Deh Cho Bridge Concession Agreement

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the concession agreement is still not finalized, so we are unable to have any type of discussion in terms of public relations. Mr. Speaker, there are many factors involved in this complex agreement with the many parties involved. Until we have the discussions, the Deh Cho Bridge Corporation and our government here, in terms of how we’re going to release that document, I am going to say that it’s confidential right now and there are other factors that need to be considered before I have any further discussion with any type of advancement of the concession agreement.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 17-16(1): Deh Cho Bridge Concession Agreement

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’m not a lawyer, but it would seem to me the first question that I would ask is why would a government sign a document with 12 outstanding issues? That’s foolhardy, Mr. Speaker. That’s why I think we need a public inquiry as to why that concession agreement was signed on the 28th of September. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the Minister commit to a public inquiry? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Yakeleya.

Further Return To Question 17-16(1): Deh Cho Bridge Concession Agreement

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the concession agreement still needs to be finalized. Mr. Speaker, this department is still confident that this bridge is a good project and that this deal will be good for the Northwest Territories. I will still hold to our process with the Deh Cho Bridge Corporation in terms of finalizing the concession agreement before it can get released to the public. Again, I say, there are many factors involved in putting a complex project like this together and I will do so when I have the confidence of the Deh Cho Bridge Corporation to release the concession agreement.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I just want to follow up on my Member’s statement to the Minister of ENR. Like I mentioned in my Member’s statement, the buffalo issue in the community of Fort Liard, they’ve been trying to address it for some time now. I’d just like to ask the Minister, is he aware of any current or existing meetings or initiatives to address the buffalo issue in Fort Liard?

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The honourable Minister responsible for Environment and Natural Resources, Mr. Miltenberger.

Return To Question 18-16(1): Bison Management Plan For Fort Liard

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I understand that the department has indicated to me that they are working on the paperwork to increase the number of tags for Liard from one to six so that we can, if necessary, have animals taken down. DOT has indicated that they are looking at putting a heavy-duty fence around the airport to keep the animals out. As well, we’re working with ENR on a pilot basis with some electrified fencing to see if that will work. We are still committed, although it is late, in coming up with a broader plan that’s going to allow us to address this issue where it exists not only in Liard, in the Member’s constituency, but other areas as well. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.

Supplementary To Question 18-16(1): Bison Management Plan For Fort Liard

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I know that the word bison management plan has been used before and the Minister didn’t really refer to that in his answer. Is there going to be a specific bison management plan for and around the community of Fort Liard?

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 18-16(1): Bison Management Plan For Fort Liard

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, that is the intention. The intention was to have it completed, as the Member indicated in his Member’s statement, by this fall. That timeline has now been advanced to winter. I will keep the Member fully apprised as we get a draft of that done that can be shared with him. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.

Supplementary To Question 18-16(1): Bison Management Plan For Fort Liard

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Does this plan also include meeting with the community and/or having public meetings in the community? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 18-16(1): Bison Management Plan For Fort Liard

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the community will be consulted both in the evolution and development and completion of this plan, but, as well, as we move to go from one tag to six, there’s also a consultation component required there to be worked through with the community and that will take place, as well. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Final supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.

Supplementary To Question 18-16(1): Bison Management Plan For Fort Liard

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I would just like to…If the Minister can commit to advertising the meeting well in advance. There was a previous meeting last year but it wasn’t well attended because of last-minute notices. If they can plan the meeting much more in advance, Mr. Speaker. Thanks.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 18-16(1): Bison Management Plan For Fort Liard

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I acknowledge the Member’s good advice and will commit to make sure that the meetings are advertised with enough advance notice so that people have every opportunity to attend. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the question that I have is for the Minister of Justice for the community of Sachs Harbour. Can I have an update on the timeline of the arrival of the RCMP in the community? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Jacobson. The honourable Minister responsible for Justice, Mr. Lafferty.

Return To Question 19-16(1): RCMP Detachment For Sachs Harbour

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, our detachment with the Justice department have been working closely with Sachs Harbour and along with the other two communities that we’ve been focusing on, Gameti and also Wrigley. With respect to Sachs Harbour, the proposed plan is to have the detachment in place. The money has been allocated and the detachment itself, we’re still waiting on the federal government on their part of the share of 30 percent, because we, as GNWT, pay 70 percent towards the cost of the facility. Our government has committed our contribution towards the RCMP in the community. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Supplementary, Mr. Jacobson.

Supplementary To Question 19-16(1): RCMP Detachment For Sachs Harbour

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister fill me in: Is the federal government behind this process of the RCMP, sir?

Thank you, Mr. Jacobson. Mr. Lafferty.

Further Return To Question 19-16(1): RCMP Detachment For Sachs Harbour

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, our department has been working with the federal counterparts on this particular issue with the Sachs community, and also with the other two proposals. Yes, they have committed; they have set timelines for the three communities. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Supplementary, Mr. Jacobson.

Supplementary To Question 19-16(1): RCMP Detachment For Sachs Harbour

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If the Minister would get me a copy of that so I could forward it to my people in Sachs Harbour. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Jacobson. Mr. Lafferty.

Further Return To Question 19-16(1): RCMP Detachment For Sachs Harbour

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yes, we’ll certainly provide as much information as we can to the Member. Just so the Member is aware, I have been working with my department as well and we will be visiting his community, his riding, so there will be more ongoing discussion on this matter. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have questions for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment this afternoon. In my statement today I spoke about the challenges working families have and are faced with day to day with trying to find competent, affordable, quality childcare. Mr. Speaker, we only have about 1,200 childcare spaces in the NWT and families are not able to afford them. I’d like to know what the Minister is doing, if he’s aware of this problem, and what initiatives is he taking on to follow up and deal with this problem of childcare spaces and affordability of those spaces. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Lafferty.

Return To Question 20-16(1): Day Care Services

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yes, the childcare issue is very important for our department and also the Government of the Northwest Territories. We are recognizing that there is a need in the communities. There are plans in place. There is consultation that will be taking place with the day care facilities identifying concerns, issues and the gaps, and also what the main issues are with respect to what the Member is requesting. We have our childcare consultant in place who is dealing with the department and also the consultation process. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 20-16(1): Day Care Services

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think it’s time for an independent review of the situation. We have the affordability in the sense that parents can’t afford to pay for day care, we have the affordability sense…

---Interjection

Yes, I do. Mr. Speaker, we have the affordability sense from the day cares of being able to have stable funding. So would the Minister be able to initiate a review to look into this problem to make sure funding is stable for these organizations and that parents can afford this? Will he look into this and create a review of this current state that we’re having? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Lafferty.

Further Return To Question 20-16(1): Day Care Services

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yes, there is consultation that will take place with the day care facilities. With that, the outcome will be what’s needed and what’s demanding at the facilities. So we will be looking into that as a department with all the day care facilities in the Northwest Territories. So Yellowknife will be included in that, as well. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 20-16(1): Day Care Services

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister says there will be a consultation. I’d like to know what “will” means and who it’s run by and what’s the mandate being provided to whoever that “will” is in this particular case that’s doing this review. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Lafferty.

Further Return To Question 20-16(1): Day Care Services

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, again, ECE is spearheading this with a childcare consultant that we have in place. They will be working with the parents and also the facility, and that information will be shared with our colleagues, Social Programs especially, because any changes that comes to this House, there’s always consultation that takes place with the Members, as well. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 20-16(1): Day Care Services

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Would the Minister be willing to share the proposal that this person has for marching orders to find out what the issues are, as well as when does he expect this report to be finalized and presented to the House or to committee? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Lafferty.

Further Return To Question 20-16(1): Day Care Services