Debates of June 5, 2006 (day 5)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On the heels of my Member’s statement today, I wish to seek clarification from the Minister as to what is the holdup of the money that is rightly deserved to the City of Yellowknife for the transit system. So I ask the Minister, Mr. Speaker, why has the Minister delayed in inking a deal for the federal money to come to the Northwest Territories, the infrastructure money that is much needed by the City of Yellowknife? What has held the Minister up from doing that? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Minister responsible for Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. McLeod.

Return To Question 51-15(5): Pursuing Federal Public Transit Funding

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The discussion for the public transit funding came about in November of 2005. As Members will recall, the election was called shortly after that. There was no further discussion on this initiative. There was no negotiations, and negotiations only picked up as recently as March and we’ve had some initial discussions. What is holding us up from signing a deal is lack of an agreement at this point and the discussion over the allocation of the money. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 51-15(5): Pursuing Federal Public Transit Funding

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister has been well aware, since the initial announcement in June of last year, that this transit money was coming. The Minister is also aware, because he just pointed out, that in November, seven months ago, that the deal was being processed. So now we are talking about March of this year and who knows what else is going to be the next stumbling block. So obviously the Minister is probably glad to see him here to help straighten him up. We have three problems. The first one is Yellowknife has the only transit system; the second is the federal money was earmarked for existing transit systems; and, thirdly, we know this money has been in existence for over a year. Again, I have made that point. So what is the obvious stumbling block, from MACA’s point of view, of defining what a transit system is, when I can show him if we go outside here? I will show him a bus that goes by. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 51-15(5): Pursuing Federal Public Transit Funding

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the offer of the Member to straighten me out, but first he has to get his facts straight. Mr. Speaker, the definition of the public transit funding and what projects and programs can qualify under there has not been defined. There is a general terminology that has been used that allows a number of initiatives to qualify, but rapid transit, buses, intelligent transportation systems, bike lanes, these things are all general terms being used. However, in jurisdictions such as the Northwest Territories there is, in the agreement, the provision for greater flexibility. We have yet to have the opportunity to sit down and negotiate what those terms will be and we plan to do that as soon as the federal government gives us a slot where we can start negotiating. That is where the holdup is. We need to sit down and negotiate an agreement. There is not an agreement we can just sit down and sign. That agreement does not exist up to this point. So we have to sit down and negotiate the terms, come up with an agreement that we are both satisfied with and then be able to sign the agreement. I would expect that to take place later on in the calendar year. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 51-15(5): Pursuing Federal Public Transit Funding

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the definitions the MACA Minister was rambling off don’t apply to the Northwest Territories. I have lived here almost 30 years and I have never seen a bicycle lane. I haven’t seen some of the infrastructure he’s talked about. None of them apply directly to the Northwest Territories. Yellowknife has the only transit bus system here. So can we get some type of commitment from the MACA Minister today that we will at least start by committing 80 percent of that funding, which rightly belongs to the City of Yellowknife, which has said it belongs to the City of Yellowknife through the paperwork, before we lose this million-plus dollars? Will the Minister commit to that fact? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 51-15(5): Pursuing Federal Public Transit Funding

Mr. Speaker, we will commit the money that would go to Yellowknife once we have that defined. We have yet to go and have the discussion with the NWT Association of Communities. We will look at the criteria that is required across the Territories. This is not Yellowknife money, as the Member has referenced these dollars for. There are a number of criteria possible. There is community vans, handy vans, bike lanes, intelligent transportation systems. There are a number of things that could qualify. That is something that is available to us to negotiate. There have been special provisions provided to the Northwest Territories for us to do this and we will take the due diligence and the time required to negotiate a proper deal for all the residents of the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Supplementary To Question 51-15(5): Pursuing Federal Public Transit Funding

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, the Minister is dithering over these explanations because there is no intelligent transit system in the Northwest Territories. Again, there is no bike lane system in the Northwest Territories. Is he suggesting now that we are going to start funding bike paths on this transit money? Maybe we should get some clarification from the Minister on his context of what transit system means. I think that is the issue. Mr. Speaker, would the Minister be clear on what transit system means, because we seem to mean everything under the sun? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 51-15(5): Pursuing Federal Public Transit Funding

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I guess first thing we have to get clear is the NWT is made up of 33 communities and this initiative is geared towards the Northwest Territories. We will define what the criteria is through negotiations, through discussions with the NWT Association of Communities. If that does mean bike lanes and we would like to create bike lanes, then that’s what we will do. We have to have that discussion. We have not had the discussion with the NWT Association of Communities and set up a working group and have this talk to further define what will be allowed. We need to have the federal government take the time to sit down and negotiate an agreement. That’s all going to take time and is part of the process we have to work on. Once that happens, we will inform the Member what will be going to the City of Yellowknife. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.