Debates of October 25, 2006 (day 15)

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 190-15(5): Literacy Program Budget Reductions

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As Members of this House are aware, as I said earlier, I have written to Minister Finley to protest the cuts. The Premier has written to the Prime Minister to talk about the cuts, particularly the literacy and Status of Women cuts. I have another trip planned to Ottawa later this fall. I have my office working to see if I can add to that trip a meeting with Minister Finley to discuss this issue. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 190-15(5): Literacy Program Budget Reductions

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, is the Education Minister working with the coalition, with the other Education Ministers in this regard to basically knock down the door of Ms. Finley’s and saying what are we going to do to get attention of this issue? Mr. Speaker, what is this Minister doing, for the record to, again, bring highlights to this issue? Is he going to arrange not in a letter, but a full force down there in Ottawa to finally get attention to these literacy cuts? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 190-15(5): Literacy Program Budget Reductions

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, the Ministers of Education for Canada are continuing to work together to see if we can find some way to raise the profile of this issue. Yes, it is my intention to continue to seek a face-to-face meeting with Minister Finley to press the case. Thank you.

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

Supplementary To Question 190-15(5): Literacy Program Budget Reductions

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, can I expect that the Education, Culture and Employment Minister would maybe take steps so far as to work with other Ministers across the country? These cuts affect everywhere in Canada. Maybe he could speak to the other Ministers in the other provinces and territories about passing motions in every Legislature across Canada to get the attention of this government. Would this Minister agree to do something like that, again to get the attention of the federal government that every Legislature, every group of people, are concerned about these cuts? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 190-15(5): Literacy Program Budget Reductions

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I have told this House, I am already doing that. I am already working with other Ministers, and not just with Education Ministers. At the last FPT that I attended, all of the Ministers there took occasion with the Minister who was present to express our concern about the cuts to the literacy file in hopes that it would be passed on to Minister Finley. We are working, not just as Ministers of Education, but generally, federal, provincial and territorial Ministers across Canada are working with our Premiers to make sure that the federal government is aware that we are very concerned with these cuts. We are expecting that we will see some reinvestment in the area of literacy in particular. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I want to continue on with my questions to the Premier in terms of the human resource revenue sharing and devolution agreements. I want to talk about some of the outstanding issues that are still on the table. I want to specifically make reference to the Norman Wells oilfield revenue and the position of this government that is given to our negotiators in terms of what is the status and what is our position in regards to the Norman Wells oilfield. Thank you.

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

Return To Question 191-15(5): Norman Wells Oilfield Revenues

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The GNWT position is that the federal ownership and a share of that oilfield is in lieu of resource royalties. Therefore, the profits they make from that ownership should be subject to the same rules as any other resource revenue sharing arrangement. The federal government is of the view that they should be able to take the profits out of their equity share and not have to pay royalties on it. We don’t agree with that. Mr. Speaker, we are firm on that position. The revenues need to be shared with us as a government as part of the resource revenue sharing deal. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 191-15(5): Norman Wells Oilfield Revenues

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Given that the federal government has some ownership in the Norman Wells oilfield along with some pure oil, in 1920 they struck a deal, so I don’t think they really want to give up their golden pot here to say we are going to share with our own people in the Northwest Territories. So that position, I am not too sure how strong our argument is, Mr. Premier, in terms of how we negotiate something like that. I think it is over 86 years that they have been retracting royalties from the Norman Wells oilfield. I think they own a considerable amount of dollars. I want to ask the Premier, without giving any type of indication as to our strategy in terms of negotiating this specific area, what type of discussions are happening with the leadership in the Sahtu and also with the North in terms of coming to a resolution to sign off on these other five outstanding issues to come home with a package that will be satisfactory to people of the Northwest Territories? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 191-15(5): Norman Wells Oilfield Revenues

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, the Norman Wells oilfield issue of where the royalties are going to be paid, whether they should be paid at all and so on, how we treat the federal ownership, is one of the six issues that are outstanding. Mr. Speaker, I won't get into all of them, but in the last meeting of the leaders I outlined that we, as a territorial government, wanted to come to an agreement with the federal government. The aboriginal leaders' negotiator in the summer of 2005 had said this is not an issue for the aboriginal leaders, it's only between the GNWT and the federal government, but they were ready to initial off on a draft devolution agreement. We said we weren't until this was settled, and I believe the aboriginal leaders understand our position and, in fact, agree with us because this some day could be part of their resource revenues as they take over self-government. But, Mr. Speaker, it's one of the issues I want to talk to aboriginal leaders about, following the November 9th meeting.

I've also written a letter to Minister Prentice saying let's start devolution by resolving these six issues. The Secretary to Cabinet has also written to Harvie Andre with the same message. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 191-15(5): Norman Wells Oilfield Revenues

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the issue of the Norman Wells oilfield is an issue where the federal government has their cake and they're eating it too, and they're just throwing us the crumbs.

The crumbs.

Mr. Speaker, I want to ask the Premier what is his position from the government in terms of Imperial Oil or if the federal government ever decides to sell their share of the oilfield. What are the chances of the Government of the Northwest Territories to have some ownership in an oilfield, because if the Norman Wells oilfield is being sold by Imperial Oil, the first agreement says in here under the Norman Wells Imperial Oil Agreement, Imperial Oil shall give the U.S. government the option to buy half of the recoverable reserves in the proven area. So I want to ask the position of this government here. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 191-15(5): Norman Wells Oilfield Revenues

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. First of all, let me say that it's our view that if the ownership of the federal government's share of that oilfield were to change hands we should not have to buy it. That should be part of the devolution deal. If they don't want to agree to that, then let us get a share of the royalties off their equity piece as well. It doesn't matter to us whether it's Imperial who owns it or the federal government or Petro-Canada or who it is, we should be collecting royalties from it. But if it is to be transferred, then it should be transferred but we shouldn't have to pay market dollars for that. That wouldn't make any sense, from our position. Thank you.

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

Supplementary To Question 191-15(5): Norman Wells Oilfield Revenues

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I agree with Mr. Premier that it should be ours, rightfully ours. When does this government give anything away for free? The U.S. government said they were addicted to oil, so I don't think they're going to give anything away either. Again, Mr. Speaker, I want to ask the Premier in terms of the Norman Wells oilfield in terms of the issue of staying on the table. Would the transfers and the resource royalties coming from that field, would the Premier again sit down with the negotiators, sit down with the leaders and get us the oilfields back and not have it back into the U.S. government as it says in the Norman Wells agreement here? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 191-15(5): Norman Wells Oilfield Revenues

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We will do. In fact, we're going to meet following their November 9th meeting, then I want to sit down on all of the six outstanding items and refresh everybody's memory of where we're at with it, why we're holding the positions we do, and then get on with negotiating with the federal government hopefully with the aboriginal leaders' support. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have a couple more questions for the Premier with regard to our theme day topic today -- resource revenue sharing -- and our efforts on behalf of that file. I would like to ask the Premier what other resources that he has at his disposal to affect some progress on this file. Last week when we talked about the distribution of workload in Cabinet, the Premier shared that he carries a very heavy workload and that his desk is seldom clear of items that need to be done. That being the case, combined with what he said today about this is his highest priority, I'd like to know what other things that the Premier is engaging or using to advance this. We say if the federal government appoints somebody on a certain file like the pipeline or devolution or resource revenue sharing, we go oh, that's a really positive signal. That means that they're interested. That means this is a high priority. What do we have in our government that would signal that? Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Honourable Premier, Mr. Handley.

Return To Question 192-15(5): Resources Necessary To Achieve Progress On Resource Revenue Sharing

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Certainly on these files I don't do it all myself. We've got a very competent negotiator who is experienced and is continuing to work for us. We've stayed with the same negotiator. He's there.

Mr. Speaker, as we need, we do hire consultant help. Again, we're careful but we would sooner pay to have a consultant give us expert advice on a particular area than take our chances on trying to just estimate it ourselves.

Mr. Speaker, in addition to that, of course, we have the backup of departments like our Department of Finance, we have our Ottawa office, we have our own staff of people who are working with us on it. But, Mr. Speaker, we are not going to go out and waste money hiring more experts, but we will do it where we need it. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Supplementary To Question 192-15(5): Resources Necessary To Achieve Progress On Resource Revenue Sharing

Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, if this is the highest priority of our government, I've been in the government 11 years and I've never heard who the negotiator is in our government on the resource revenue sharing file. I don't know if the Premier wants to share the name of who that person is; maybe I'd recognize it. But I've never heard the name of whoever that person is. We also have a presence in Ottawa? How much of the workload that is ascribed to the presence that we have in Ottawa relates to this topic? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 192-15(5): Resources Necessary To Achieve Progress On Resource Revenue Sharing

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I heard two questions. I'll answer the first one, and I apologize if the Member wasn't aware of who our negotiator was. Our negotiator is Hal Gerein. He has been our negotiator going back in the previous government, I believe. He's been there a long time. He's an experienced person who spent many years as a deputy minister in our government and has done an excellent job, in my view, for us.

The second question is how much time in the Ottawa office. They are dealing with all kinds of files there from all the Ministers and so on. But I would estimate that probably in the neighbourhood of 50 percent of their time is on issues related to devolution, resource revenue sharing, our relationship with the federal government, in those areas. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Supplementary To Question 192-15(5): Resources Necessary To Achieve Progress On Resource Revenue Sharing

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to suggest to the Premier that if this…I do know Mr. Gerein, with all due respect, and we don't want to take away from the good work that he's done here at all. I had honestly forgotten about him though; I haven't seen him for a long time. Mr. Speaker, we have appointed…On the energy file for example, we appointed a very high profile Conservative. I think Peter Lougheed did some work for our government on some previous file. It seems that when the federal government appoints somebody like Harvie Andre or David Petersen or somebody like this, it's a name and a face and experience that is undeniable and recognizable. I'd like to ask the Premier if there's any appetite, or would there be any value, in engaging somebody who has an absolute proven track record, maybe a little in with the Conservative government? I don't think we're doing enough. If this is the highest priority of our government, we need to do more. Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 192-15(5): Resources Necessary To Achieve Progress On Resource Revenue Sharing

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, for the Member's information, Peter Lougheed, former Premier of Alberta, has and continues to work with us on a number of files, primarily on the hydro file but he's also worked with us in other areas in terms of relationship with the federal government, and I'll continue with him.

In terms of other people, if there's suggestions, I'd like to consider this further. But definitely, if there is somebody out there who can help us move this ahead in a big way, then, yes, I'm in favour of making an investment in that person's time and reputation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Final, short supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 192-15(5): Resources Necessary To Achieve Progress On Resource Revenue Sharing

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I guess I'm not trying to be too prescriptive in terms of telling the Premier what he should do. I'd like to go to Ottawa myself on this file, but I'm a little busy right now. But it is so important and I'm glad to hear that the Premier is willing to dedicate resources to this. We have 4,500 people in our public service. We have money for a lot of things and I just want to see, if this is our highest priority, I want to see the resources and the effort that bears that out. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 192-15(5): Resources Necessary To Achieve Progress On Resource Revenue Sharing

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again I'm not sure I heard a question, but, Mr. Speaker, I want to do that too and, yes, we're not going to be shy to invest money if we feel there is going to be a good return, and this is the highest priority file we have. We've got a short time frame and whatever resources we can muster out there, we need to pick up on. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions this afternoon are for Mr. Roland, the Minister of Health and Social Services, and it concerns the stoppage of addictions treatment at Nats'ejee K'eh which ended Monday afternoon, I understand, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to confirm or find out, Mr. Speaker, who exactly is the employer of the 22 people involved in the Nats'ejee K'eh Treatment Centre, Mr. Speaker?

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Honourable Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Roland.

Return To Question 193-15(5): Disruption Of Service At Nats’ejee K’eh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Nats'ejee K'eh Society board of directors are the employer. Thank you.

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

Supplementary To Question 193-15(5): Disruption Of Service At Nats’ejee K’eh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In general, Mr. Speaker, what is the nature of the contract or the relationship that our government has in terms of funding and supporting this society?