Debates of October 18, 2006 (day 10)

Yes, thank you. It’s under section 23(i). I believe the Minister was imputing false or hidden motives for my comments here in the House and I take great exception to that. My wife is a nurse at Stanton Territorial Hospital. I am very proud of the job she does there and, in fact, proud of the job that all the health care professionals that we have here in the Northwest Territories do. For the Minister to make comments like that, I take great exception to them. Mr. Speaker, this isn’t the last you will hear from me on that issue. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. To the point of order. The Chair is going to take the point of order under advisement and we will return with a ruling at a later date. We have used up approximately five minutes of time on the clock with this point of order, so we're going to turn the clock back five minutes.

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Oral questions. The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Braden.

Okay, we're in question period, right?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question this afternoon is for Mr. Roland, Minister of Finance, and it relates to the fiscal update statement that was presented to the Assembly at the start of our day. Mr. Speaker, increasing our surplus for the previous fiscal year from $18 to $36 million is a positive sign. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to ask the Minister if he could explain, in brief, how did this happen? I'd like to think that it was upon the wise counsel and prudent management that committee has provided to the Minister, but I will ask for his answer to what happened. Why are we coming up $18 million higher than expected on the good side of the books, Mr. Speaker?

Thank you, Mr. Braden. The honourable Minister of Finance, Mr. Roland.

Return To Question 114-15(5): Fiscal Update Statement

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yes, I'll have to say part of it is due to the fact in management of our budget as a government, Regular Members' advice, our own work as we looked at the fiscal environment we operate under and the numbers that have come in. We also end up dealing with some of the adjustments that come after the fact from the federal government on some of our corporate tax revenues, and that also has an impact on those numbers too. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 114-15(5): Fiscal Update Statement

Okay. So to some extent it was a revision of federal transfers or payments or contributions, then, Mr. Speaker. Is any of this subject to clawback in future years, Mr. Speaker? This is an aspect of our formula financing deal with Ottawa that has caused us considerable disruption, so are we going to have to look at having any of this amount clawed back in future years, Mr. Speaker?

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 114-15(5): Fiscal Update Statement

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Under the existing system that we are now under until the next agreement is signed -- and we expect we should have an agreement in place by the time the new federal budget comes around -- the interim formula financing arrangement we are operating under, we get to keep 100 percent of the revenues; or, if it slides the other way, we lose 100 percent. So in this case, there's no further adjustments to those numbers. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 114-15(5): Fiscal Update Statement

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. How, then, does this $18 million surplus translate? What does it really mean for us here in the Assembly and for our communities and for the programs and the people that we serve, Mr. Speaker? Does this mean we will be able to look at some other options or some new options in initiatives or spending, Mr. Speaker?

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 114-15(5): Fiscal Update Statement

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this reference that we highlight the estimated surplus that we were targeting in the last budget reflects the previous fiscal year operations. So it doesn't have an impact on today's fiscal environment. It shows that through our final accounting and the measures taken and adjustments with the federal government, and those adjustments are not directly related to the formula, they're related more to the CRA, or Canada Revenue Agency, and how corporations file their tax and when those final adjustments happen there. So that's the impact. But the surplus we've identified for this year is something we're still working on. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Supplementary To Question 114-15(5): Fiscal Update Statement

Mr. Speaker, does this mean we have $18 million in new funding that we can find some programs or some additional things to spend it on, Mr. Speaker?

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 114-15(5): Fiscal Update Statement

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, because it refers to our operating surplus of our last budget, there is some impact in the sense that we book previous year's earnings or revenue into the fiscal year. As well, throughout the year we do adjust our numbers based on revenue indications we get from the federal government. In this case, this money is again for previous year's surplus situation. Our fiscal responsibility policy, for example in this fiscal year, requires us to hold a $30 million surplus to fund our capital infrastructure program. So that's what that money would get to use offset on our capital programs. So it's good in the sense we get to keep the program that was on the books. Thank you.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the recent drastic federal cuts to literacy funding have hit the Northwest Territories Literacy Council particularly hard. They have depended on these program dollars for many years and have built important programs and services that communities across the NWT have come to rely on. These cuts will have a major impact on delivery of family community literacy programs and supports, and will affect aboriginal communities in particular. I understand the Minister will be meeting with his federal counterparts next Tuesday. Mr. Speaker, could the Minister please outline for the House his strategy to ensure our literacy programs are reinstated? Mahsi.

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

Return To Question 115-15(5): Federal Reductions To Literacy Program Funding

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I told the House yesterday, the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada will be arranging a meeting with the Hon. Diane Finley, the federal Minister responsible for the literacy funding that was cut, next Tuesday. Our intention is to seek from the Minister some understanding of where the Minister is going. We've heard from the federal government that their intention is to fund federal programs, programs across the territorial and provincial boundaries across Canada. But I am hoping to make sure that she hears this, that is that if she is looking at expanding the programming available for aboriginal people that, if it is an on-reserve program, it won’t have any impact in the Northwest Territories. I will be ensuring that she is aware that we need to see programs in the North that are not aimed just at reserves. We are hoping that we will hear about the way in which the federal government will be coming back into the field and that we will see some reinvestment in the North. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mr. Lafferty.

Supplementary To Question 115-15(5): Federal Reductions To Literacy Program Funding

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am glad to hear the Minister is outlining the NWT’s perspective, that we are unique in the federal umbrella. The NWT Literacy Council has lost $344,000 as a result of the cuts. This funding represents three areas, Mr. Speaker, coalition funding, family and community literacy development and aboriginal literacy research project. Mr. Speaker, I think it is obvious that we cannot depend solely on the federal government anymore for support for literacy. What plans has the Minister made to support the NWT Literacy Council at this time to ensure that the essential services continue? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 115-15(5): Federal Reductions To Literacy Program Funding

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In fact, the Government of the Northwest Territories funds the Literacy Council to the tune of about $440,000 this year. I have met with the executive director of the Literacy Council and have assured the council, through her, that we will look at what we can do to strengthen our funding. The total amount of money that this government is putting into literacy programming each year right now is in excess of $6 million. So we are going to obviously take a look at whether or not we should reprofile some of that money to better support the Literacy Council. We are going to take a look at all of the programming in the literacy field and make sure that we are concentrating our funding in the area that we see as having the highest priority. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mr. Lafferty.

Supplementary To Question 115-15(5): Federal Reductions To Literacy Program Funding

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yesterday one of our colleagues raised an issue about literacy cuts, and the Minister came back saying we are not in the position where I can reach into my back pocket today and replace the money that has been lost. Mr. Speaker, I feel that we, as a government, need to be on a standby where if there are drastic cuts then we need to be prepared for that. Also, the Minister quoted that we will not look at what we can do, or to see what he can do. I need to see some results action oriented. So, Mr. Speaker, can the Minister commit to providing core funding to the NWT Literacy Council so that they can continue providing uninterrupted programming to our communities? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 115-15(5): Federal Reductions To Literacy Program Funding

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We do, in fact, provide some core funding to the Literacy Council right now. I have committed to them that we will look and see if there is an area that we can find and reallocate funds. But, as the Member knows, when we vote the money in this House, that money is parceled out. That is how it is designed to be spent. The millions of dollars that we have put into literacy funding, we have made commitments. There are commitments to the Literacy Council, to the college, to community groups, to all sorts of different areas where this money is being spent already. We don’t, in the department, keep a slush fund. I know that the Members opposite would not want to hear that we did keep a slush fund that we could reallocate monies from. I will look, though, to see what we can do, but I have warned the Literacy Council that for this year it is going to be very difficult for us to find new funds. We are looking more for next year. Thank you.

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

Supplementary To Question 115-15(5): Federal Reductions To Literacy Program Funding

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Literacy Council is an important element in the Northwest Territories and also the smaller communities. I just certainly hope that the Minister will seriously look into this, or his counterparts in the federal government, and lobby the government and hopefully re-establish the funding that has been lost. I just want to make that statement. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in my opening Member’s statement in terms of the original birthplace of ice hockey in Canada in Deline, I wanted to ask the Minister of sport in terms of what is his department or agencies he works with that can promote the birthplace of ice hockey in Deline and continue on with this campaign to try and get CBC to pull its head out of the sand and recognize Deline as the birthplace of ice hockey. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I think it was during the last session in this House we passed the motion supporting Deline as the birthplace of hockey. We have had some discussions with the community. The community is looking at it as somewhat of a marketing or tourism, or could be viewed as a tourism attraction for the community. We are also looking at ways that we can do some promotion as a department. We have looked at working with the community to possibly purchase some jerseys that would reflect that this is the birthplace of hockey, and in some team arm patches that would also do the same. I understand the community is working with ITI to look at some promotional initiatives through that department also. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 116-15(5): Promotion Of Deline As The Birthplace Of Ice Hockey

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I guess I am looking also for the truth in terms of recognizing Deline as the birthplace of ice hockey with this government. Get your team ready, Mr. Minister. Get your team ready so CBC can get the truth that Deline is the birthplace of ice hockey and to mention shame that they didn’t do it in their People’s History. We have to park the other issues, Mr. Minister. Give some promotion awareness again. What will he do in terms of working with his colleague Cabinet members to let CBC know and let the Territories know, let everybody know in Canada, the birthplace of ice hockey is in the Northwest Territories, in Deline in the Sahtu region. That is the truth, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Hear! Hear!

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 116-15(5): Promotion Of Deline As The Birthplace Of Ice Hockey

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We are certainly not contesting that fact. We have passed a motion in this House acknowledging that. We have not heard from the community requesting any support in the area of international recognition. We would be glad to sit down and talk to them along with maybe some of our partners and the Sports Council. Until that happens, we are not aware of what specifically is being requested. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 116-15(5): Promotion Of Deline As The Birthplace Of Ice Hockey

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The community of Deline, the people of Deline, have spoken to me and this is what they are saying. Maybe a little bit slow in terms of getting information over to the Minister’s office in terms of letter writing, but I want to ask for the commitment by this Minister and his team of players over there in Cabinet to make a commitment that there is an action plan being discussed maybe with the people in Deline in terms of recognizing Deline and to show all of Canada the birthplace of ice hockey belongs here in the Northwest Territories. It belongs to the northern people. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 116-15(5): Promotion Of Deline As The Birthplace Of Ice Hockey

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we will certainly share that information for the important recognition for the community to be the birthplace of hockey. I will commit with talking to my colleagues, the Minister of culture and ITI. This has to be community driven. If there is a request from the community, we will certainly follow up on it. We will be glad to entertain any proposals from the community. Thank you.

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

Supplementary To Question 116-15(5): Promotion Of Deline As The Birthplace Of Ice Hockey

Thank you. I am going to ask the Minister if he would consider, through his Department of MACA, or as the Department of MOT, to put up some nice, shiny signs at the airport in Deline stating that it’s the birthplace of ice hockey in Canada from 1825 until the present. I will ask the Minister if he could consider that suggestion from outside over here. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 116-15(5): Promotion Of Deline As The Birthplace Of Ice Hockey

Mr. Speaker, we will be glad to entertain any requests from the communities. We will certainly make the commitment to work with the community and involve other departments to move this important initiative forward. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.