Debates of October 14, 2005 (day 10)

Rephrase it? Okay. Let me try that again.

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What is the GNWT’s position on this? Does the GNWT believe that this could possibly hurt or kill the project? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think I did it again.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. I will ask the Minister to respond on what the GNWT’s position is on this. The honourable Premier, Mr. Handley.

Return To Question 122-15(4): Government Position On Future Of Pipeline

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I certainly don’t feel like the Maytag repairman anymore. Mr. Speaker, our government’s position is that the pipeline will happen. It will take place. But the negotiations are proceeding. Every day, I am in contact with some of the parties, all of the parties, depending on what is happening, and monitoring what is going on. This is very tough negotiating. There are $7 billion plus just in the expenses, plus huge amounts of revenue if it goes ahead. It is a huge amount of revenue for us as a government, for the federal government, for the producers, for the aboriginal organizations and governments. So it is very tough negotiating. But our view is that this pipeline will go ahead. Any time people make demands that are put forward as ultimatums, that tends to threaten things. I don’t think it serves a really good purpose. We believe that this is good for the North and will happen. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. The time for oral questions has expired; however, I will allow the Member to have supplementary questions. Mr. McLeod.

Supplementary To Question 122-15(4): Government Position On Future Of Pipeline

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Thanks to the Premier for that. Let me try another one. I know the Premier has been working hard trying to get all parties together here to get this thing going. Is there anything more that this government can be doing? Are we a serious player in some of these negotiations? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 122-15(4): Government Position On Future Of Pipeline

Mr. Speaker, we are a very serious player in this project. It will make a tremendous difference to communities along the valley. I have travelled to many of the communities. I have seen the situation that people are living in where there is unemployment and poor housing and so on. This is an opportunity that we…

No roads.

No roads. We don’t want to let this one go by. Mr. Speaker, this project is too important for us to sit by. We are major players in it. Some things we are not directly involved in. For example, on the financial considerations that the industry is dealing with, the federal government is directly involved. But we are being kept informed all the time and we will watch that closely because, in the long run, we are the ones as northerners that will end up paying a large part of that bill. Yes, we are watching all the way along. We are a significant player here. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. McLeod.

Supplementary To Question 122-15(4): Government Position On Future Of Pipeline

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I agree with the Premier that this project is important to the valley. With all of these demands being made from all of the parties involved, is this holding up the talks with Ottawa on this resource revenue sharing? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 122-15(4): Government Position On Future Of Pipeline

Mr. Speaker, no, there isn’t a direct relationship between our negotiations on devolution and resource revenue sharing and the pipeline. But we do realize that if there is a pipeline, it means huge financial benefits that will generate to the North and to ourselves as a government. If there is no pipeline, then we have lost a great opportunity, in our view. But in terms of direct relationship, no. I am sure, though, as our negotiators, the federal negotiators and the aboriginal negotiators get to the table, then the information on the value of the pipeline is certainly on everybody’s mind. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. The honourable Member for Kam Lake, Mr. Ramsay.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to seek unanimous consent to return to item 5 on today’s Order Paper. Thank you.