Debates of October 27, 2006 (day 17)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’m just following up with my Member’s statement with questions to the honourable Premier. Mr. Speaker, my constituents are challenging me to find new ways to deal with the northern employment problem and I believe that we have the solutions and the tools right before us. They’ve always existed and, as I’ve highlighted earlier, is 8.5 in the BHP socio-economic agreement where we have the ability to call upon the diamond mines before us to have discussions regarding training, employment and business opportunities. So the tools have always existed. Now we have the ability to issue warrants to demand that they appear to answer questions, but I don’t think we need to do that, Mr. Speaker. Again, the tools already exist. So I’ve highlighted this clearly. What I’m going to ask the Premier is, recognizing that this problem is a serious issue that northerners take with great concern, recognizing that we have the opportunity before us right now, will the Premier hear the call for action and take the opportunity to call the diamond mine presidents of operating mines before the Assembly process to deal with this problem in some type of partnership? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Return To Question 211-15(5): Dialogue With Diamond Mines Regarding Employment Targets

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With each of the mines there is a socio-economic agreement with the GNWT. That socio-economic agreement requires that the mines submit annual, if not semi-annual, reports. Mr. Speaker, I think if the committees within our government have not already done so, and they may have, then I think it’s incumbent upon us to take a look at those socio-economic agreements as a first step and then see where we want to follow up with the mine managers. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 211-15(5): Dialogue With Diamond Mines Regarding Employment Targets

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m pretty sure I heard a yes in there, but I’ll ask it again to make sure that we get it absolutely clear on the record. Mr. Speaker, what I’m asking the Premier is, will he work with his resource Minister to call upon the diamond mines presidents to report before the Assembly process to have a question and answer period on this issue whatever process we need to access or vent through, of course? Would he agree to call them before this House and answer questions so we can finally deal with this problem face to face? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 211-15(5): Dialogue With Diamond Mines Regarding Employment Targets

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Let me say that my understanding is that the process would be, normally, usually, that we would call witnesses to committee, whether it was GED or AOC or whatever, and then they would respond to issues you’ve raised. Mr. Speaker, I’m not 100 percent sure about calling witnesses before Committee of the Whole, how that works within our rules but, Mr. Speaker, my suggestion that we try to do it through the committee structure first. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. But the answer is yes, we’ll do it one way or the other.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 211-15(5): Dialogue With Diamond Mines Regarding Employment Targets

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’ll take that yes whatever way it came. Mr. Speaker, can the Premier agree to write this letter, and copy all Members of this Legislative Assembly, in a timely way so we deal with this problem? So would the Premier write a letter within the next 30 days requesting that the presidents of these diamond mines make themselves available for this Assembly to have this type of question period and discussion period to deal in partnership with this problem? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 211-15(5): Dialogue With Diamond Mines Regarding Employment Targets

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In order to follow the process as I understand it, I would ask that if there’s interest by the Members that the chair of whichever is the appropriate committee make the request of us and then we would respond, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Final supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 211-15(5): Dialogue With Diamond Mines Regarding Employment Targets

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, I see this as a communication opportunity, Mr. Speaker. I see this as an opportunity to be seen to be dealing with this problem, because it is a recognized, serious problem in the Northwest Territories. That’s why I’m asking the Premier. Now, it’s stated in the agreement the resource Minister has the ability to call upon them, but I think a letter from our Premier recognizing the gravity of this problem and his willingness to take leadership, because it affects multiple problems throughout our, sorry, multiple departments throughout our government. So, Mr. Speaker, would the Premier agree to write the letter on behalf of the Assembly to make an acknowledgement of how big of a problem it is and how we want to deal with it in a partnership? Would he do that? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 211-15(5): Dialogue With Diamond Mines Regarding Employment Targets

Mr. Speaker, I’m not sure that it’s my place to write a letter on behalf of the Legislative Assembly asking someone to come and appear here. I’m the Premier for the government, but I can’t assume over here. So, Mr. Speaker, again I’ll say that I think the proper way of doing it is through the committees and I would urge whichever committee the Members feel is appropriate to do a letter to the Minister responsible, the Minister of ITI or myself, asking that we appear or that we invite the mine managers to appear there. Mr. Speaker, as far as having someone come into Committee of the Whole here, that’s an issue that I think would have to be discussed among all of the Members. I would not want to take that upon myself without consulting with all Members. Thank you.