Debates of October 23, 2006 (day 13)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a few questions for the Minister of FMBS, Floyd Roland, in terms of the Sahtu people looking at becoming a full partnership in this government by having the Financial Management Board have an office in the Sahtu region. Is the Minister planning to move an FMBS office in our region to become a full partnership with the rest of the territorial government departments? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The time for question period has expired; however, I will allow the question to continue. The honourable Minister responsible for FMBS, Mr. Roland.

Return To Question 167-15(5): FMBS Office In The Sahtu Region

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as Members realize, I believe we only have three centres where FMBS is directly involved and that’s changed with the work of Human Resources. At this point, there is no plan for FMBS to establish any more offices or add any further personnel. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 167-15(5): FMBS Office In The Sahtu Region

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Shame on this government for not having any plans to create full partners. You talk about partnerships in the regions. You have one in the Beaufort-Delta, they have one in the Deh Cho, North Slave and the South Slave. You have offices there, FMBS have staff there and nothing in the Sahtu there. No roads or access. However, Mr. Speaker, I wanted to ask when will this government think about creating partnerships with the people in the Sahtu, otherwise there might be some other issues that come up that will question the sincerity of this government in terms of developing partnerships in the Northwest Territories, including leaving the people in the Sahtu out to dry? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 167-15(5): FMBS Office In The Sahtu Region

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I don’t think it’s accurate to say that as a government we’ve left the Sahtu out to dry. In fact, over the last few years this government has substantially invested in the Sahtu and its people. For example, with the health board, with the education board, human resources centre established there and hopefully, in fact, within a year a new office space to help that situation out. So we’ve invested in there and are doing the best we can with the available resources. Within FMBS itself, as I stated, we don’t have the available dollars to expand beyond the level of services that we have at this point. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Short supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 167-15(5): FMBS Office In The Sahtu Region

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, other regions have the ability to make their own decisions. Mr. Speaker, the Sahtu is left again by this government out to dry. We just don’t have the abilities. It’s all done up in Inuvik, Mr. Speaker. When will this Minister bring some proposals to have an FMB office in the Sahtu region so we can make our own decisions and have our own decisions made by our own people for the benefit of the people in the Sahtu? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 167-15(5): FMBS Office In The Sahtu Region

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the majority of decisions made now within the Sahtu are made by the people of the Sahtu when you talk about a critical program in Health and Social Services, in Education, in Human Resources even having that centre there. So, Mr. Speaker, we are working to ensure that the level of services we provide throughout the Territories is expanded to communities. If, of course, the Members of this Assembly feel that we should put more dollars into the administrative side of governance and want to give me those funds so that we can establish those office positions in the community, we would look at that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Time for question period has expired. Before we go on, colleagues, I would like to draw your attention to the gallery and the presence of a former Member of the House, Mr. Leon Lafferty.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have a written question to the Premier.

Please provide a government analysis of the study entitled The Mackenzie Gas Project - A Financial and Economic Assessment, prepared for Alternatives North by Pacific Analytics Inc., dated September 26th, including its implication on the government’s negotiation with the federal government on resource revenue sharing and devolution. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table three documents, the Mackenzie Gas Project - A Financial and Economic Assessment; Alternatives North media release on the independent report finds the Mackenzie gas project will be highly profitable and our governments are foregoing billions in potential tax revenue.

Hey!

Billions…

Billions.

And billions with a B; and Pacific Analytic Inc. Consulting Economists. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to table a document entitled Take a Kid Trapping in Colville Lake. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Wednesday, October 25th, 2006, I will move the following motion: Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Nunakput, that this Assembly recommends to the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories that Mr. Kevin Menicoche, Member for Nahendeh, be appointed to the Executive Council.

Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time I will be seeking unanimous consent to deal with this motion today.

Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Wednesday, October 25th, 2006, I will move the following motion: Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Nahendeh, that the Legislative Assembly approves the appointment of the Member of Thebacha, Mr. Miltenberger, to the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight.

Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time I will be seeking unanimous consent to deal with this motion today.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Wednesday, October 25th, 2006, I’ll move that Bill 16, An Act to Amend the Jury Act, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Wednesday, October 25th, 2006, I will move that Bill 18, An Act to Amend the Education Act, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Wednesday, October 25th, 2006, I will move that Bill 19, An Act to Amend the Archives Act, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Wednesday, October 25th, 2006, I will move that Bill 20, An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Wednesday, October 25th, 2006, I will move that Bill 15, Elections and Plebiscites Act, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Wednesday, October 25th, 2006, I’ll move that Bill 17, An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, No. 3, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Notices of motion for first reading of bills. Motions. The honourable Member for the Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Recommendation for appointment of Executive Council member.

WHEREAS section 61(1) of the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act requires that there shall be an Executive Council of the Northwest Territories;

AND WHEREAS Members of the Executive Council are appointed by the Commissioner on the recommendation of this Legislative Assembly;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the Honourable Member for Nunakput, that this Assembly recommends to the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories that Mr. Kevin Menicoche, the Member for Nahendeh, be appointed to the Executive Council.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. A 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. Motion is carried.

---Carried

Motions. The honourable Member from Great Slave, Mr. Braden.

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

Mr. Speaker, WHEREAS there is a vacancy on the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight, due to the election of the honourable Member for Nahendeh to the Executive Council;

AND WHEREAS it is desirable to fill this vacancy;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the Honourable Member for Nahendeh, that the Legislative Assembly approves the appointment of the Member for Thebacha, Mr. Miltenberger, to the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.