Debates of October 21, 2004 (day 25)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I know I’ve talked to the college too about the facilities in Tuk and told them about the Member’s interest in seeing those facilities used for training purposes. So I am sure the college is taking a look at whether or not that provides an opportunity. The funding that is part of the Aboriginal Skills Employment Partnership Program will be administered by the committee that has been set up to oversee that sort of funding, but I will make sure that the Education, Culture and Employment representative on the committee keeps the opportunities in mind for regional training that could be offered. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mr. Pokiak.

Supplementary To Question 274-15(3): Use Of Satellite Office Training Facilities

Thank you very much. It’s good to see that he will go ahead and follow along with your education individual there. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister guarantee for sure that Tuk has been utilized as…(inaudible)…years ago? An example is Dome Petroleum’s base. They had what they called Tuk Tech and they operated out of the two camps during the Dome days, which worked out very well. So will the Minister again guarantee that he will be able to work hard with his department to have some satellite training outside of Inuvik? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Pokiak. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 274-15(3): Use Of Satellite Office Training Facilities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Department of Education, Culture and Employment invests about $1.1 million on its own annually to train people in regional settings to assist them to find jobs in the oil and gas field. That will continue and that does take place throughout the region, including communities like Tuk. The ASEP funding is intended to serve all of the regions in which oil and gas is found and in which people may find employment. So there is certainly an intention to make sure training takes place on a regional basis. I can assure the Member that there will be regional training offered both by the Government of the Northwest Territories through ECE programs and through the money that is available through the federal government and partners and ECE, that being through ASEP. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’ll direct my question to the Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, the Honourable Brendan Bell. I know that the action plan for the Protected Areas Strategy has been developed by the NWT Protected Areas Strategy Secretariat since 2002 when it was first initiated. I know that there have been negotiations on some cost-sharing agreements with the federal government and other aboriginal organizations to the tune of $17 million for the Protected Areas Strategy. I wanted to ask the Minister if any cost-sharing agreement has been reached and, if not, when can we see an agreement put in place? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. The Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Bell.

Return To Question 275-15(3): Protected Areas Strategy

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is an initiative that we’ve been working on for some time now and we do currently fund some of the work that the secretariat is doing, but the bigger piece of work that we’re looking to fund is in the neighbourhood of $1.5 million over five years. We’ve been expecting that the federal government would come forward with their money. The NGOs have already indicated that they’ve got the money ready to go and we impacted the three partners in the PAS. We still don’t have a firm signal and firm commitment from the federal government as to their contribution. I think at this point we’ve decided that we may not, in fact, be able to wait for that and we’re going to have to go forward. So I am putting some work to go in front of our Financial Management Board to seek this funding to continue to support the PAS. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Supplementary, Mr. Villeneuve.

Supplementary To Question 275-15(3): Protected Areas Strategy

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Minister for that response. Something of this nature I guess in a Protected Areas Strategy, you’re debt ratio to the end cross-referenced with the Mackenzie gas project. You know, something like this has to be in place before a project of this magnitude breaks ground and I want to commend the department for contributing $1.5 million over the next five years. But the estimated cost over the five years in the summary of the PSAC action plan is $17.745 million and I just want to ask the Minister if he’s approached NGOs or producing groups, for instance, to come up with any funding or being involved in this cost-sharing agreement? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Mr. Bell.

Further Return To Question 275-15(3): Protected Areas Strategy

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The agreement, as laid out some time ago, sees three partners to the funding: three NGOs, the federal government and the GNWT. The three NGOs are WWF, Canada Parks and Wilderness Society, and Ducks Unlimited. Their commitment is for $5.9 million. RWED has committed that we would try to seek $1.5 million over five years, but that was contingent on the federal government stepping to the plate with their contribution, which is the lion’s share of the funding. As I’ve said, we don’t have that commitment yet, but we are working to see what kinds of pieces of this agreement we can fund until that commitment is realized. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Supplementary, Mr. Villeneuve.

Supplementary To Question 275-15(3): Protected Areas Strategy

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I guess maybe I just want to exchange my form of questions. I want to ask the Minister if the Protected Areas Strategy action plan includes monitoring and feedback to this government and the federal government on a semi-annual basis or even on a monthly basis on how the planning process carried out and what’s developing to date. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Mr. Bell.

Further Return To Question 275-15(3): Protected Areas Strategy

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, as one of the funding partners, we are intimately involved I would say on a daily basis with the work the secretariat is carrying out. Obviously we do receive feedback as to how that work is continuing. Work is underway, work is going forward. We rely, I think as the Member knows, on communities and regional groups to identify the candidate areas for protection. We are looking to protect culturally and ecologically-sensitive areas and so this really is grassroots community driven, but, yes, we are involved on a daily basis and do receive feedback as to the results that are being achieved through the secretariat. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Final supplementary, Mr. Villeneuve.

Supplementary To Question 275-15(3): Protected Areas Strategy

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just wanted to point out that I know that a lot of the candidate areas and these community groups have other avenues in which to establish protected areas; for example, through Parks Canada, Environment Canada and through the territorial government through their own protected areas legislation that they already have in place. I want to know what priority does this Protected Areas Strategy action plan have over any of these other avenues, which could be easier to work with for these candidate-selected areas that these organizations want. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Mr. Bell.

Further Return To Question 275-15(3): Protected Areas Strategy

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think we can see this as a comprehensive plan for the entire territory. We know that this pipeline isn’t confined to one region, one community, one area. We have to understand that the impacts are throughout the whole region, the cumulative impacts of the project. The impacts on all these regions are important to take into consideration. So, yes, there are other processes underway that are driven by land claims organizations and those are important as well, but this is one that’s very comprehensive and involves all of the groups up and down the valley. Because of that, the nature of this plan, we think that it’s very important and continue to support this and make it one of our highest priorities as a government. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question today is for the honourable Minister of Resources Wildlife and Economic Development. The machine has begun in terms of the proponents filing their documents to build the Mackenzie Valley gas pipeline project. I would like to ask the Minister where is the department at in terms of our role in developing our socioeconomic development agreement. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Bell.

Return To Question 276-15(3): Status Of GNWT’s Socioeconomic Agreement

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Our department has now sat down with the Producers Group to start this discussion around the SEA. We received the filing, the EIS is underway. Our joint AOC and Cabinet committee will continue to provide that direction. At the upcoming meeting, which will happen this session, we’ll have further discussion on SEA planning and what our strategies are. There are a number of highlighted areas, themes, that we have to discuss and I look forward to that work, but we are now underway in meeting with the Producers Group. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.

Supplementary To Question 276-15(3): Status Of GNWT’s Socioeconomic Agreement

Mr. Speaker. That’s very important that we do sit with them. As well, I believe it’s very important that we sit with our public and our constituents as they want a say and they want to be heard as our socioeconomic development agreement progresses. Does the Minister have plans to provide community consultations with regard to a GNWT socioeconomic development agreement?

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Mr. Bell.

Further Return To Question 276-15(3): Status Of GNWT’s Socioeconomic Agreement

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Member is right and certainly we can’t do this work in a vacuum. We need to both consider the interdepartmental issues, many departments, not just RWED involved in this work to make sure that people benefit and to make sure we’re ready. As we develop the socioeconomic agreement, obviously we’ve got to involve all the regional aboriginal groups and the public right across the Territories. So as the Member knows, our committee will do some work in the regions and have some discussions. I think it’s important that we get out there and hear what people think. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.

Supplementary To Question 276-15(3): Status Of GNWT’s Socioeconomic Agreement

Mr. Speaker, can the Minister tell me if the GNWT did gain our intervener status when it comes to deliberation in the public hearings or the federal government in the deliberations of the joint review panel? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Mr. Bell.

Further Return To Question 276-15(3): Status Of GNWT’s Socioeconomic Agreement

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We will, as a government, make interventions on behalf of the public of the Northwest Territories at the environmental review process for areas under our mandate, obviously wildlife and other areas. So, yes, we will be interveners in the process. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Your final supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.

Supplementary To Question 276-15(3): Status Of GNWT’s Socioeconomic Agreement

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m just looking for assurance from the Minister that our role as interveners is not going to be merely a rubber-stamper, but we’ll have some meaningful input into the hearings and demand some of the things that our people are saying that they definitely want benefits and just not roll over. Will the Minister direct his department to play more of a participatory role in the joint review panel hearings? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Mr. Bell.

Further Return To Question 276-15(3): Status Of GNWT’s Socioeconomic Agreement

Thank you. I think I understand the Member; play a role, but don’t roll over. I think the Member makes a very good point. When it comes to the interests of the people of the Northwest Territories if not us, then who would represent those? I think the Member is quite right. It is up to this government to make sure that the interests of the Northwest Territories are met through this project. I think we can do that. We take our role as interveners very seriously. I can give the Member that assurance. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in reference to my Member’s statement today, I’d like to direct my question to the Premier in terms of what I said earlier on today. Can the Premier tell us when was the last time he was able to have a discussion with our northern leaders on resource revenue sharing and where do things stand today? Thank you.

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

Return To Question 277-15(3): Northern Leaders Discussion On Resource Revenue Sharing

Mr. Speaker, I don’t have the exact day with me, but about three weeks ago I had a teleconference call with the northern leaders. They were generally in agreement with some of our discussions on interim resource revenue sharing. They were to have a meeting last week, but because of illness of one of the members they felt they were going to postpone that for a while. I expect to have another discussion with them soon. When I go to Ottawa this week I have been asked to meet with some of the key Ministers late on Tuesday afternoon to further some of the discussion. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Zoe.

Supplementary To Question 277-15(3): Northern Leaders Discussion On Resource Revenue Sharing

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, can the Premier tell us what he sees as being the next step in these discussions? I think I heard him say that they are going to try to have another future meeting. When is he anticipating that this meeting is going to take place? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Zoe. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 277-15(3): Northern Leaders Discussion On Resource Revenue Sharing

Mr. Speaker, after our telephone conversation, the aboriginal leaders, through the Aboriginal Summit, wanted to get together to discuss this further on their own and had, in fact, invited myself and Minister Roland to a dinner meeting. We thought the one that was postponed might be held as early as this week, but I haven’t heard yet. So the next step is for the aboriginal leaders to sit down by themselves and identify any issues with what we are proposing. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’ve been sort of tasked, I guess by Members on this side, to question the social impacts of the departments, which I am happy to do because I know that it is one that is a concern of all of us on this side and I think I will direct my questions to the Minister responsible for women, the honourable Minister Dent. Mr. Speaker, I realize that social impacts of mega resource development projects are not women’s issues alone, but there are a lot of issues that we need to deal with and there is no question that these important issues are not being discussed at various tables that are going on to the extent that they should.

Even oil and gas conferences you have to try really hard to look at the agenda to see how social impacts are being discussed in any substantive way. Even the joint pipeline committee that we have set up, the agenda is crowded and the social impacts get dropped to the sidelines. I think, Mr. Speaker, this report that I mentioned in my Member’s statement by the Status of Women Council is a really, really good place to start because it really covers all of the issues that we need to deal with whether it’s training, women’s participation, potential increase in alcohol and drugs and gambling abuse, the impact of transients and all sorts of things. So let me just ask the Minister as to whether or not there has been any action taken to see if his section on women’s directorate could look into this and come up with an action plan on that basis. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. The Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Dent.

Return To Question 278-15(3): Action Plan To Address Social Impacts Of Resource Development

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Member has a good point and it’s an issue that this government is quite aware of and is working to make sure that we keep in mind whenever we talk about issues like development in the North. In fact, the special joint committee on the pipeline, it’s part of its mandate to provide direction to the government on the negotiation of a SEA, and issues such as this are certainly the sort of thing that we want to see talked about during the negotiation with companies in the socioeconomic agreements. So we will make sure that we keep this sort of thing in mind. The government also has made sure that the bringing together of the social envelope Ministers, that when we meet we bring in the special advisor to the Minister responsible for the Status of Women, to make sure that we are always reminded that we keep issues of gender equity on the table. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Supplementary To Question 278-15(3): Action Plan To Address Social Impacts Of Resource Development