Debates of November 30, 2007 (day 6)

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Supplementary, Mr. Beaulieu.

Supplementary To Question 79-16(1): Cost Of Living Issues

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Premier then develop a mandate for Cabinet to report, and report the mandate on the cost of living back to this Assembly?

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 79-16(1): Cost Of Living Issues

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, one of the problems we find is we have to look at some of the avenues that have been used by previous governments and if they’ve actually produced a result. Our goal would be how can we deal with this. Right now each department would have to come forward and make the reports to committee at business plan stages as well as in this forum. We can work as a Cabinet to look at a number of initiatives that may help in the long term, or try to find some short-term solutions. A lot of the problems we find, and as the Member has raised, is the cost of living, for example, in the food area. How do we impact that as a government when the private sector is providing that? There are some avenues that we can look at, but that’s more longer term as the cost of energy and doing business. So that’s something that we can work on. Developing a mandate and going forward may be more problematic as it would cover quite a broad spectrum in a number of departments. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Supplementary, Mr. Beaulieu.

Supplementary To Question 79-16(1): Cost Of Living Issues

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Premier consider putting the cost of living as a standing item on the Cabinet’s agenda?

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 79-16(1): Cost Of Living Issues

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’d be willing to look at doing that as we do from time to time. For example, if the Assembly highlights energy as a key piece -- we used to have that -- we can look at doing something of that nature, as well. As I said, I’m prepared to work as a committee, subcommittee structure to Cabinet on this issue, as well. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Final supplementary, Mr. Beaulieu.

Supplementary To Question 79-16(1): Cost Of Living Issues

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Premier also provide, should it become a standing item in Cabinet, can the Premier commit to providing regular updates to the Standing Committee on Social Programs on the cost of living? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 79-16(1): Cost Of Living Issues

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as we have done in the past, or the process that we can use going forward is, for example, around the business plan areas, having a number of Ministers present to the committees. The Social Programs committee can be one of those when we talk about this initiative that affects a number of departments and look at doing in that area, as well if there’s a request from any committee of any initiative that we would line up the appropriate Ministers or myself, as Premier, to make presentations with committees. So we’d be prepared to work out an arrangement. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the area of agriculture has a tremendous potential in the Northwest Territories. Sometimes people don’t think it does and I’m not sure why, because actually we’ve gone backwards in the area of agriculture. Many years ago a lot of the produce that was grown around Fort Simpson, Fort Providence, Hay River was actually shipped down the Mackenzie to a lot of other communities and it was quite a thriving activity and endeavour. Many years ago, and it seems like we’ve gone backwards since then. I’m not sure why, but I can’t really say there’s been a tremendous amount of support for this industry from this government. I don’t understand why, because the potential is there; the people who are interested in it are there. We have been trying to get an agriculture policy from this government for the past 12 years. The first request came in 1995. I’d like to ask the new Minister for ITI if he can see any reason why we should not be able to develop and adopt a comprehensive agriculture policy for the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The honourable Minister responsible for Industry, Tourism and Investment, Mr. Bob McLeod.

Return To Question 80-16(1): Development Of Territorial Agricultural Policy

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think, as one of your constituents has said previously, we don’t see agriculture as being a dirty four letter word. I’ve always been a supporter of agriculture. In the small communities there has always been agriculture and it’s one way to reduce import replacement. Everybody needs food and if you can grow your own food, it’s something that will help reduce the cost of living. Over the years, this government has undertaken a number of initiatives to support agriculture and as we go through our priority setting exercise, I would hope that we would be able to advance agriculture. Thank you.

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

Supplementary To Question 80-16(1): Development Of Territorial Agricultural Policy

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in order to advance agriculture, I think we need an agriculture policy. That’s something that has been wanted by the folks from the Territorial Farmers’ Association for, like I said, a number of years now. Is there any reason why we cannot, within the life of this government, or even sooner, develop such a policy to encourage this activity? Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 80-16(1): Development Of Territorial Agricultural Policy

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have been working in the past with the Territorial Farmers’ Association on a number of initiatives. We have been successful in working with them to negotiate a framework agreement with the federal government which has resulted in funding for agri-food policy. In order to have an agricultural policy that would be effective, there would be a requirement to identify some access to land, and I know the Member has heard that on many occasions. We have identified ways that it could be done whereby we could work with MACA to identify land and move towards lower taxation areas. These are some of the things, the challenges that we would have to deal with, but certainly we can begin to start working on a policy for the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

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

Supplementary To Question 80-16(1): Development Of Territorial Agricultural Policy

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I realize that access to new land for agriculture is an issue, but there are many people who already do have considerable sized parcels of land for agriculture. However, this government does not recognize a means under our Property Assessment and Taxation Act for there to be a dual use for an assessment on that property. For example, if somebody lives on 40 acres, which is quite possible around Hay River, and they have a house on one acre, they’re going to get taxed for residential rates on the whole parcel of land. We need some small revisions like that that could actually entice people to get involved in this industry. Will the Minister consider speaking to his colleague in MACA about a change to the Property Assessment and Taxation Act to allow more affordable tax assessment for agricultural land in the North? Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 80-16(1): Development Of Territorial Agricultural Policy

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’ll have discussions with my colleague and I’m sure I can get him to offer to come to Hay River and make a presentation to the Territorial Farmers’ Association as to exactly what process would have to be followed to do exactly what the Minister is requesting. Thank you.

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

Supplementary To Question 80-16(1): Development Of Territorial Agricultural Policy

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, that’s good and I’d like to invite both of the Ministers to come to Hay River; at his earliest convenience for Minister McLeod, ITI, to come and meet with the Territorial Farmers’ Association, as well. There are revisions to the PATA, or the Property Assessment and Taxation Act, on our legislative agenda right now. I would want to ask if this particular revision could be incorporated in that revision that’s underway now. Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 80-16(1): Development Of Territorial Agricultural Policy

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m not familiar yet with the legislation she is referring to, but I’m sure that we could address that when we make a presentation. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we talk about wilderness camps all the time for young offenders and for adult offenders and there’s always a request for funding. I would like to see this government maybe be proactive. The reason this came to light was a piece of correspondence that I received on an adventure camp initiative for young women. I think it’s an excellent idea and I think it’s something that we can expand on to go throughout the Northwest Territories. I would like to ask Minister McLeod, I believe is the Minister of Youth, I would like to ask Minister McLeod if there is anything within the youth mandate that would allow him to make contributions to the operation of youth camps. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Minister responsible for Youth, Mr. Michael McLeod.

Return To Question 81-16(1): Youth Leadership Adventure Camp

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have a budget under our youth portfolio for youth core programs. The criteria, this will be dollars that could be used for youth camps. We’ve funded, through our youth programs last year through the youth contribution and the Youth Corps Program, a total of, I believe it’s 55 different initiatives, and a good portion of those were youth camp-type workshops or on-the-land programs. So there are a number of ways we can provide for the youth to be on the land or be with the elders. The Department of Health, I believe, also has some Summer Camp Program dollars that they use. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Robert McLeod.

Supplementary To Question 81-16(1): Youth Leadership Adventure Camp

Thank you, Mr. Speaker and I thank the Minister for that informative answer. I’d like to ask the Minister, how many requests would his department receive in any given year, and are these from the wilderness camps for offenders or just youth camps in particular? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Robert McLeod. Mr. Michael McLeod.

Further Return To Question 81-16(1): Youth Leadership Adventure Camp

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would have to commit to coming back with that information. I know our programs are oversubscribed. We have, as I indicated, about 55 different initiatives and a great deal of them are geared towards youth at risk, and a lot of them are using it for different types of camps. We also have the Youth Abroad Program. We have the foster family coalition camp, and a sports and youth leadership conference, and youth forums and things of that nature, Mr. Speaker. However, I would have to commit to getting back with the number of applications that we receive overall. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Michael McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Robert McLeod.

Supplementary To Question 81-16(1): Youth Leadership Adventure Camp

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to ask the Minister if he gets communications from aboriginal groups, aboriginal governments about their desire to have youth camps in their region that are culturally based. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Robert McLeod. Mr. Michael McLeod.

Further Return To Question 81-16(1): Youth Leadership Adventure Camp

Mr. Speaker, the answer is yes. We’ve had requests and we’ve funded programs with the Inuvialuit and we’ve also worked with the Dehcho First Nations and others, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Michael McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Robert McLeod.

Supplementary To Question 81-16(1): Youth Leadership Adventure Camp

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It seems that a lot of money is going out to the youth camps and the youth. It is important because the youth are one of our best resources and anything we can invest in the youth, as long as Ottawa doesn’t take it away, will benefit the people in the Northwest Territories. I’d like to ask the Minister if he would also commit to contributing to the Children First Society of Inuvik in their desire to have their own standalone building for day care and other programs. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Robert McLeod. Mr. Michael McLeod.

Further Return To Question 81-16(1): Youth Leadership Adventure Camp

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We’d be glad to consider any applications that come forward from any of the communities across the Territories. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, last term I talked about the need for a territorial arts and cultural achievement award evening. It could be a focus or a way we could pinnacle our arts achievements throughout the Northwest Territories; whether it be culture, whether it be in the sense of visual arts, whether it be crafts. Mr. Speaker, the former Minister of Education, Culture and Employment was supportive of this initiative and, of course, the department, as I understood it, was working towards something. I’d like to ask the new and current Minister of the Department of Education, is he willing to continue to work on this project and do we foresee anything coming forward in the near future as a discussion? Thank you.

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

Return To Question 82-16(1): NWT Arts Achievement Acknowledgement

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I definitely will get back to my department and see where the status is at. If there was a formal commitment made, then I will certainly look into that and work with Mr. Hawkins, as well, in that specific area. Mahsi.

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

Supplementary To Question 82-16(1): NWT Arts Achievement Acknowledgement

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I hold in my hand the NWT Arts Strategy, a copy of this, and it talks about the promotion of the arts. I just want to make sure that we’re singing from the same song sheet, that the Minister will ensure that he can get back to me and this House before February so we can have a good and lengthy discussion in advance of any type of budget session if there needs to be support on this type of initiative. Thank you.