Debates of March 7, 2005 (day 50)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions today are for the Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development. Last year, when Regular Members were here, we approved a supplementary appropriation in the amount of $850,000 for the start-up of the new Mackenzie Valley pipeline office, which was to be located in Hay River. Here we are, mid-March, and the Mackenzie Valley pipeline office is still not open. I wonder if the Minister can give us a breakdown on exactly what that $850,000, which at the time was supposed to go to salaries, was spent on. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Bell.

Return To Question 555-15(3): Mackenzie Valley Pipeline Office

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. First, let me say that Mr. Ramsay asked a very similar question about a week ago in budget deliberations. Certainly I owe Members on that side of the House a full accounting of the supplementary appropriation and where it was proposed to be spent. I will get that detailed accounting to Members as quickly as I can.

Generally, I would say we have about a $2 million a year budget proposed. I know that in 2004-05, the year in question when the supplementary appropriations were approved, we were looking at $925,000 in contributions. That’s roughly half the budget. I think that holds as a general rule of thumb. I will get the exact detail on the $850,000. I believe about half of it was for contributions and was laid out that way and the other half was for staffing. We have used some of that staffing money, as the Member knows. We temporarily had some resources in Yellowknife, a few positions filled, that remain here until we can open the office in Hay River, at which point those positions are transferred there. We are currently embarking on a full hiring process. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 555-15(3): Mackenzie Valley Pipeline Office

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Minister for the response. I wonder when Regular Members will know how many positions government-wide are dedicated to working with the pipeline project. That’s something, as Regular Members, we still haven’t any idea of. I have got a best guess it’s over 20, but from a political level when we came here last year, we put together a joint committee of Regular Members and Cabinet Ministers on the pipeline. The coordination was easily attained from a political level. From a bureaucratic level, where is the coordination and how is the Mackenzie Valley pipeline office going to work with the various departments who are working independently? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Bell.

Further Return To Question 555-15(3): Mackenzie Valley Pipeline Office

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Member mentioned the Joint Cabinet/AOC Pipeline Planning Committee. Underneath that, obviously, is the Deputy Ministers’ Planning Committee and that committee will oversee the work of the MVPO, which will coordinate the work of the various departments. I agree with the Member, we are probably talking over 20 positions. I don’t have that information handy. I think one of the difficulties is that there may not be dedicated positions in all the departments, but there are portions of positions that are used for this aspect of Mackenzie Valley development, probably development more broadly. So it’s not something as easy as it might seem to get that information and provide that reconciliation, but we will do it for the Member and for Members on that side of the House. I think it’s important to understand what our entire governmental response to this project is. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 555-15(3): Mackenzie Valley Pipeline Office

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am wondering if the Minister could answer whether or not any thought had gone into developing a pipeline secretariat or something of that nature to give this a bit more ground to stand on instead of a Mackenzie Valley pipeline office. The secretariat could be located in Hay River as well, but with more positions and more dedication to this government to address the impending pipeline. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Bell.

Further Return To Question 555-15(3): Mackenzie Valley Pipeline Office

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I didn’t have any detailed discussions of a model of that nature. That’s not to say that they weren’t going on in our department or other departments as this planning was underway. Recommendations came to me for the creation of this Mackenzie Valley pipeline office. Admittedly, I think we have said before, this really comprises our first phase response in terms of resource oil and gas development. This isn’t it. We do need to work to ensure that we are adequately resourced up and down the valley. I guess the real flashpoint of where we need to quickly get some resources is the Mackenzie Delta. All I can say to Members is we are working on a more comprehensive response and I don’t remember discussions of a secretariat that would take departmental positions from other departments and pull them under one roof. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Final supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 555-15(3): Mackenzie Valley Pipeline Office

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I feel strongly that the government is lagging behind. I think this is probably two years overdue. When will the Mackenzie Valley pipeline office in Hay River be up and fully staffed? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Bell.

Further Return To Question 555-15(3): Mackenzie Valley Pipeline Office

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s hard for me to disagree that we shouldn’t have been able to move on this more quickly. We have seen this development coming for some time. All I can say is that we are responding now. We are moving very quickly to ensure the office in Hay River is up and running by the end of March. We’ve had a number of stages here in terms of trying to staff. We went northern first. We didn’t get the kind of response we thought we might get, but we are looking for some very specific technical positions. We have broadened the search to include southern Canada. I understand we have had a very good response now and I look forward to being able to staff up the office by April. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.