Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Public Works. Mr. Speaker, it’s regarding the Commissioner’s house of the Northwest Territories. Our present Commissioner won’t be taking up residency in the Commissioner’s house that we’ve allocated them for their privilege, of course, if that’s one that they want to exercise. It will be sitting empty for four years. Mr. Speaker, in the past, Bob Engle, a well-known aviation Northerner, has offered to give his house to the Northwest Territories for an appropriate tax credit. It’s more of a regal style of house to accept important foreign dignitaries, guests and whatnot. As anyone knows, a tax credit really doesn’t fall on the backs of the taxpayer. It really comes to it would work in both interests.
Mr. Speaker, has the Minister of Public Works ever entertained that type of discussion about accepting the Engle house as a potential formal Commissioner’s house, and maybe even looked at considering selling the present Commissioner’s house, which will sit empty for four to five years doing nothing? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Minister of Public Works and Services, Mr. Michael McLeod.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think there were about three questions there. The answer to all three is no, we haven’t looked at it. It’s not a responsibility that falls under the Department of Public Works so we haven’t had any requests come to us about some of the suggestions he’s made and we have not reviewed any correspondence to that effect. Thank you.
Well, Mr. Speaker, I did inquire with that office regarding the cost of how much it would be to heat and power that empty Commissioner’s house that will be sitting empty between four and five years. Mr. Speaker, does the Minister of Public Works have the figures that it would cost the government to have that house sit empty for those four to five years? Thank you.
Once again, the Member’s asking me questions that I know full well he has the answer in front of him. Mr. Speaker, it’s not something I have any information on at this point. I’m sure we have compiled that information. I did have staff talk to me about some of the costs, I just don’t have it at this point. I’d have to, if the Member wanted to, provide it to him again. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, it is not so much about the cost; it is about the waste of money. The fact is the house will be sitting between four and five years completely empty and there is no guarantee the next Commissioner of the Northwest Territories will be taking up residency in there, regardless if they are from Yellowknife or any other jurisdiction in NWT. Mr. Speaker, my question is simple. Would the Minister be able to work with the cross-Cabinet officials, depending on whether it is the Minister of Finance or even the Premier’s office, about looking and evaluating the offer made by Bob Engle a couple of years ago to this very government about accepting his house for a tax credit and perhaps maybe using the money and the proceeds of the present Commissioner’s house in sales to fix up that house for a proper regal house deserving of the people of the Northwest Territories that are represented? Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, once again, the request hasn’t come to my office. I believe the request did come to our government, but in the life of the 15th Assembly, so it is not something I am currently reviewing. The request I believe at the time went to the Finance Minister’s office.
Mr. Speaker, if there is a suggestion that the Member is making, we can certainly consider them and bring it to the appropriate department. There are a number of rules that have to be followed that we have agreed to as a government with the Commissioner’s position and tax laws and federal requirements that we have to abide by. I would certainly welcome any suggestions that the Member has, if he wants us to consider putting the building up for sale. We would have to see what the circumstances around that would be and what the requirements that we would have to follow are. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Final supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the Minister for that offer. I just want to put it officially on the record. Would the Minister be willing to entertain a meeting, if I can put one together, to discuss this very matter about looking at addressing possibly the Engle house as the new Commissioner’s house and, of course, further discussions about selling the present Commissioner’s house even though it is sitting vacant for four to five years? If he would be willing to agree to a meeting, that would be great. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, if the Member would care to put it in writing, I would certainly consider it. Thank you.
