Debates of November 27, 2007 (day 3)

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The honourable Premier, Mr. Roland.

Return To Question 28-16(1): Deh Cho Bridge Concession Agreement

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories has in the past looked at P3 programs, in fact entered into one project, looking at a number, then moved away from that process. I’ve discussed with a number of Ministers and we’ve set up a Cabinet committee to look at the whole question of infrastructure and how we get that infrastructure. So this will be one of the matters that we will direct them to work on, as well. Thank you.

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

Supplementary To Question 28-16(1): Deh Cho Bridge Concession Agreement

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the issue of a public/private partnership raises the question of how those kinds of arrangements for projecting an expenditure or committing to an expenditure that goes out 35 years is an interesting anomaly for our government. I’d like to know, I’d like to be able to find out how it coincides with our Financial Administration Act and to do that I need a copy of that concession agreement. So I’d like to ask the Minister, will he table a copy of the concession agreement, even with its unfinished 12 chapters, in this House? Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 28-16(1): Deh Cho Bridge Concession Agreement

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we’re unable to table that concession agreement, as we’re working with the parties involved. As I’ve committed on the 19th, the Minister responsible will sit with Members around this project. He has done that and provided some information. But the concession agreement itself we’ll not be tabling in this House. The issue of the P3 subject, we’re working with Ottawa to come up with the final parameters of their program and that’s the funding source that was being looked at in that area. For dealing with the Financial Administration Act and the documents that we work with in that area is something that we review every time when projects come forward for approval. Thank you.

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

Supplementary To Question 28-16(1): Deh Cho Bridge Concession Agreement

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we refer to this as a public/private partnership, but may I suggest that this is a mostly public project. There is very little private in this. We are a public government and we are expending public funds. I think the public has a right to know what it is exactly that we are committing to. The Deh Cho Bridge project is anticipated to come in at $165 million. This is the largest capital project ever undertaken by the Government of the Northwest Territories. We need public accountability and public transparency on this and maybe we’ll consult with the Access to Information and Privacy Commissioner and find out. This is a public…This is 99 percent a public project. We need the document. Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 28-16(1): Deh Cho Bridge Concession Agreement

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the project is one that is there in its form. We have worked with a number of issues around that. The information about the cost of the project, the fact that there will be a toll fee on this project qualifies it as we’ve had discussions, or the Government of the Northwest Territories had a discussion with the federal government qualifies for what the P3 program is going to be established around. But they haven’t moved far enough on the area of the whole P3 process that they’ve undergone. The fact that individuals and companies will feel that impact because they will be paying the toll fee and, yes, the GNWT is involved through our O and M maintenance, as well as, as is pointed out, the costs that have increased around this project have impacted the commitment by the government in going forward. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. The time for question period has expired; however, I will allow the Member a final supplementary. Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 28-16(1): Deh Cho Bridge Concession Agreement

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I guess, Mr. Speaker, the reason why I’m asking if the Premier will table the concession agreement is because we, as Members of this House, are not privy to this agreement, the public is not privy to this agreement, and certainly it has very big implications for our government regardless of the toll that’s being charged. The suggestion of my colleague Mr. Ramsay that a public inquiry be held also speaks to the issue of the transparency of this. Decisions were obviously made at a level behind closed doors that are not publicly discussable. We can’t bring the Cabinet decisions and the deliberations into the public, and I think that’s wrong. So if it takes a public inquiry to get to that, then I would support that concept. I’d ask the Premier, would he commit to a full accounting of this project? Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 28-16(1): Deh Cho Bridge Concession Agreement

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I’ve committed to the Member prior in question period, that I would undertake a review of this process of where it’s at today and be prepared to sit down with Members again once I’ve done that work. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to present a petition dealing with the matter of public housing costs in Fort McPherson. Mr. Speaker, the petition contains 81 signatures from Fort McPherson residents. Mr. Speaker, the petition requests that the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation change the public housing assessment process and ensure that rent is based on net income as opposed to gross income.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document entitled Northwest Territories Public Accounts 2006-2007. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to table a transcript of the proceedings of a public meeting to discuss the loss of Constable Christopher Worden held by the Town of Hay River on October 22nd containing many questions to the departments of this government regarding resources for Hay River. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Thursday, November 29, 2007, I will move the following motion: Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, that the following Members be appointed to the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Infrastructure: Mrs. Jane Groenewegen, the Member for Hay River South; Mr. David Ramsay, the Member for Kam Lake; Mr. David Krutko, the Member for Mackenzie Delta; Mr. Jackie Jacobson, the Member for Nunakput; Mr. Bob Bromley, the Member for Weledeh; and further, that the following Members be appointed to the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Infrastructure as alternate Members: Mr. Glen Abernethy, the Member for Great Slave; Mr. Kevin Menicoche, the Member for Nahendeh; and Mr. Robert Hawkins, the Member for Yellowknife Centre. Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time, I will be seeking unanimous consent to deal with this motion today.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Thursday, November 29, 2007, I will move the following motion: Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Weledeh, that the following Members be appointed to the Standing Committee on Government Operations: Mr. Glen Abernethy, the Member for Great Slave; Mr. David Krutko, the Member for Mackenzie Delta; Mr. Kevin Menicoche, the Member for Nahendeh; Mr. Jackie Jacobson, the Member for Nunakput; Mr. Robert Hawkins, the Member for Yellowknife Centre; and further that the following Members be appointed to the Standing Committee on Government Operations as alternate Members: Ms. Wendy Bisaro, the Member for Frame Lake; Mr. Robert C. McLeod, the Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes; and, Mr. Tom Beaulieu, the Member for Tu Nedhe. Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time, I will be seeking unanimous consent to deal with this motion today. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Thursday, November 29, 2007, I will move the following motion: Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, that the following Members be appointed to the Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures: Ms. Wendy Bisaro, the Member for Frame Lake; Mrs. Jane Groenewegen, the Member for Hay River South; Mr. Kevin Menicoche, the Member for Nahendeh; Mr. Robert Hawkins, the Member for Yellowknife Centre; Hon. Bob McLeod, the Member for Yellowknife South; and further that the following Members be appointed to the Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures as alternate Members: Mr. David Krutko, the Member for Mackenzie Delta; Mr. Tom Beaulieu, the Member for Tu Nedhe; and, Mr. Bob Bromley, the Member for Weledeh. Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time, I will be seeking unanimous consent to deal with this motion today.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Thursday, November 29, 2007, I will move the following motion: Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Nahendeh, that the following Members be appointed to the Standing Committee on Social Programs: Ms. Wendy Bisaro, the Member for Frame Lake; Mr. Glen Abernethy, the Member for Great Slave; Mr. Robert C. McLeod, the Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes; Mr. Tom Beaulieu, the Member for Tu Nedhe; Mr. Bob Bromley, the Member for Weledeh; and further, that the following Members be appointed to the Standing Committee on Social Programs as alternate Members: Mrs. Jane Groenewegen, the Member for Hay River South; Mr. David Ramsay, the Member for Kam Lake; and, Mr. Jackie Jacobson, the Member for Nunakput. Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time, I will be seeking unanimous consent to deal with this motion today.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Notices of motion. Notices of motion for first reading of bills. Motions. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to deal with the motion I gave notice of earlier today.

WHEREAS Rule 85 requires that Members be appointed to the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Infrastructure;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, that the following Members be appointed to the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Infrastructure:

Mrs. Jane Groenewegen, the Member for Hay River South;

Mr. David Ramsay, the Member for Kam Lake;

Mr. David Krutko, the Member for Mackenzie Delta;

Mr. Jackie Jacobson, the Member for Nunakput;

Mr. Bob Bromley, the Member for Weledeh;

AND FURTHER, that the following Members be appointed to the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Infrastructure as alternate Members:

Mr. Glen Abernethy, the Member for Great Slave;

Mr. Kevin Menicoche, the Member for Nahendeh; and

Mr. Robert Hawkins, the Member for Yellowknife Centre.

Thank you. The motion is on the floor. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Question.

Question is being called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Motions. The honourable Member for Kam Lake, Mr. Ramsay.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to deal with the motion I gave notice of earlier today.

WHEREAS Rule 85 requires that Members be appointed to the Standing Committee on Government Operations;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Weledeh, that the following Members be appointed to the Standing Committee on Government Operations:

Mr. Glen Abernethy, the Member for Great Slave;

Mr. David Krutko, the Member for Mackenzie Delta;

Mr. Kevin Menicoche, the Member for Nahendeh;

Mr. Jackie Jacobson, the Member for Nunakput;

Mr. Robert Hawkins, the Member for Yellowknife Centre;

AND FURTHER, that the following Members be appointed to the Standing Committee on Government Operations as alternate Members:

Ms. Wendy Bisaro, the Member for Frame Lake;

Mr. Robert C. McLeod, the Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes; and

Mr. Tom Beaulieu, the Member for Tu Nedhe.

Thank you. The motion is on the floor. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Question.

Question is being called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Motions. The honourable Member for Great Slave Mr. Abernethy.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to deal with the motion I gave notice of earlier today.

WHEREAS Rule 85 requires that Members be appointed to the Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, that the following Members be appointed to the Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures:

Ms. Wendy Bisaro, the Member for Frame Lake;

Mrs. Jane Groenewegen, the Member for Hay River South;

Mr. Kevin Menicoche, the Member for Nahendeh;

Mr. Robert Hawkins, the Member for Yellowknife Centre;

Hon. Bob McLeod, the Member for Yellowknife South;

AND FURTHER, that the following Members be appointed to the Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures as alternate Members:

Mr. David Krutko, the Member for Mackenzie Delta;

Mr. Tom Beaulieu, the Member for Tu Nedhe; and

Mr. Bob Bromley, the Member for Weledeh.

Thank you. The motion is on the floor. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Question.

Question is being called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Motions. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.