Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the Standing Committee on Finance has recommended the privatization of air terminal buildings, prior to spending $100,000. The department should consider providing the opportunity to local residents, to build and lease back the shelter to the government. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Debates of Nov. 25th, 1992
Topics
Committee Motion 12-12(3): To Adopt Recommendation No. 14
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 127
Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha
Committee Motion 12-12(3): To Adopt Recommendation No. 14
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 127
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you, are we sure that concludes the comments from the committee? Thank you.
Committee Motion 12-12(3): To Adopt Recommendation No. 14
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 127
Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha
I have further comments, Mr. Chairman.
Committee Motion 12-12(3): To Adopt Recommendation No. 14
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 127
The Chair John Ningark
Proceed, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.
Committee Motion 12-12(3): To Adopt Recommendation No. 14
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 127
Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha
I will do the motions later, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the committee has comments with regard to air terminal buildings. The committee is aware that the plan to construct the air terminal building at Igloolik through a lease/build arrangement has generated some interest from other developers seeking similar arrangements. The committee feels that this is an excellent initiative on the part of the Department of Transportation and hopes that the department will solicit more private enterprise to build and own airport facilities as was done in Igloolik and leased back to the government.
In respect, Mr. Chairman, to the Enterprise weigh scale, the committee was informed that the Enterprise weigh scale station yard is too small to accommodate all of the truck traffic required to report for inspection. The building is less than suitable to handle the increased inspection requirements under the National Safety Code. Consideration is being given to relocating it to a larger site away from Hay River where there is less likelihood of environmental damage resulting from a possible hazardous material spill. There is $500,000 budgeted in 1995-96 and a further $1 million in 1996-97 for this task. Mr. Chairman, the committee would like to know if the government can afford this project? Probably not when we cannot afford to provide a group home for handicapped adults who currently have to go to Alberta, for example, once again to reiterate the priorities of the government.
Mr. Chairman, in respect to benefits of transportation projects. During the review of the 1992-93 Capital Estimates the standing committee recommended that Cabinet re-examine transportation priorities from a cost and benefit basis and in light of other fundamental needs. The government's response was that they already do. Quite frankly, that is wrong. Again, the committee was offended by the thoughtless response.
As recommended by the 1992-93 Capital Estimate's review, the committee again recommends that Cabinet re-examine transportation priorities from a cost benefit basis and in light of other fundamental needs.
Mr. Chairman, in respect to the motions on prior commitments for the Department of Transportation during the review of the 1992-93 Capital Estimates the committee was told by the Minister of Finance that prior capital commitments would be honoured and in the capital budget. The committee was informed at that time that construction of the new airport development in Snare Lake would be a two year project beginning in 1993-94 and completed in 1994-95. During our review of the 1993-94 Capital Estimates, we noted that the construction schedule for this project has been pushed back in the budget by one year and will now begin in 1994-95. The committee is very concerned that the commitments have been made to this community and the expectation of the community residents is that this project will go ahead as scheduled. The government has not provided this committee with justification for this project to be moved back in the capital plan by one year. Therefore, the committee feels that this commitment should be honoured.
Committee Motion 13-12(3): To Adopt Recommendation No. 15
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 127
Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha
Mr. Chairman, I would like to move that this committee recommend that the Department of Transportation live up to its prior commitments and advance funding for the first phase of construction on the new airport development in Snare Lake to 1993-94.
I do not believe we have a quorum.
Committee Motion 13-12(3): To Adopt Recommendation No. 15
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 128
The Chair Charles Dent
Mrs. Marie-Jewell, we do have a quorum. The motion is in order. To the motion.
Committee Motion 13-12(3): To Adopt Recommendation No. 15
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 128
An Hon. Member
Question.
Committee Motion 13-12(3): To Adopt Recommendation No. 15
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 128
Committee Motion 13-12(3): To Adopt Recommendation No. 15
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 128
Henry Zoe North Slave
Mr. Chairman, I would like to make a few comments to the motion that is on the floor. I will be supporting this motion that has been put forward by the Standing Committee on Finance. As the Member has indicated in her preamble to the motion, no justification to date, has been received either to the community or to myself. For the Member representing that particular community, Mr. Chairman, it is appalling how this government operates and how information is not being forwarded to the Member that is representing those communities.
Mr. Chairman, the community, as my colleague has indicated, had its expectations raised last year when we approved $150,000 for planning money and, after that amount of money was approved, future years' expenditures were also noted in the briefing books that were provided to us. It was anticipated it was going to be over a two year period starting 1993-94 and completed in 1994-95. All of a sudden, with a stroke of the pen under the new Minister, this project has been moved back with no justification at all. To date, we have not received any word. I have written letters to the Minister inquiring why this project has been delayed. To date, I have not received a response.
Mr. Chairman, I am glad the Standing Committee on Finance is putting this motion forward to tell the government to live up to its prior commitments. As the Minister of Finance has indicated to this House when we he put forward his statement in regard to the budget last year, this government cannot say it was the previous government's project. We committed certain funds last year and the government has to live up to its commitments, as the Minister indicated.
Mr. Chairman, I will be supporting this motion that has been put forward by my colleague. Thank you.
Committee Motion 13-12(3): To Adopt Recommendation No. 15
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 128
The Chair John Ningark
To the motion. Mr. Whitford.
Committee Motion 13-12(3): To Adopt Recommendation No. 15
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 128
Tony Whitford Yellowknife South
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I would like to point out a couple of things concerning the Snare Lake Airport. While it may be true that comments had been made to include it in the budget for 1993-94, we are merely moving it back one year. This was in response, Mr. Chairman, to a questionnaire that was sent to communities by our Premier in April, asking capital projects be made a priority and, Mr. Chairman, the response from the Chief of Snare Lake listed it as No. 5 on a list of 13 priorities. That was as of May 14.
It is true that the Member did write a letter but the letter was written on November 16. That was a considerable amount of time that went by. Mr. Chairman, the start of that airport in 1994 is probably in line with that community's priorities. That is what they requested and set aside, Mr. Chairman. We are aiming to provide as much work as we can to meet community needs under the existing dollars.
Mr. Chairman, we do have prior commitments that we must meet before a certain time, and they come under the original agreement the Government of the Northwest Territories had made with Transportation Canada on the contribution agreement. That expires, Mr. Chairman, in 1995 and we are trying to meet those commitments to reconstruct airports that were a priority. They were listed to this House some time ago, and that includes airports in the Member's riding.
Mr. Chairman, in the past year here, we have completed a couple of projects in that area, Rae Lakes and Lac La Martre are just two of them. I think we have certainly met the commitments to that Member's riding. I think the North Slave region has received a fair share and we want to complete airports in those communities that are in dire need of them.
Committee Motion 13-12(3): To Adopt Recommendation No. 15
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 128
Committee Motion 13-12(3): To Adopt Recommendation No. 15
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 128
Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha
Mr. Chairman, I want to make a couple of points to the Minister. First of all, the Standing Committee on Finance is asking that the Department of Transportation live up to its prior commitments and advance the funding for the first phase of construction. The previous capital books presented in this House indicated that this was a commitment. The Department of Transportation decided to delete it. We are asking them to live up to the prior commitments that we had addressed in previous years.
With respect to the Minister advising this House on the Member sending in his list of commitments, if a Member knows that a government has made a prior commitment, a Member is not going to take more energy to write to the government to make sure that it is a priority because we expect the government to live up to its prior commitments.
With respect to the Minister indicating that the Member has had enough in his riding as a result of the transfer, that was a negotiated deal with the federal government when we took over Transportation. So for the Minister to indicate that, is totally unwarranted.
Committee Motion 13-12(3): To Adopt Recommendation No. 15
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 128
Committee Motion 13-12(3): To Adopt Recommendation No. 15
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 128
An Hon. Member
Question.
Committee Motion 13-12(3): To Adopt Recommendation No. 15
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 128
The Chair Charles Dent
Question has been called. Unfortunately, we do not have a quorum. To the motion. Mr. Whitford.
Committee Motion 13-12(3): To Adopt Recommendation No. 15
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 128
Tony Whitford Yellowknife South
Mr. Chairman, it is not being deleted from our plans, it is merely being set back by one year. We are not deleting this project. We are merely setting it back a year, and this goes along with the priorities that were set by that community.
We are going to do as much as we can in that area and want to meet as many of the commitments as we can but, Mr. Chairman, I ask that we be allowed to try to direct our department in a way that will benefit all of the north. Sometimes it may be that we have to move things back, and this is one of those instances.
We are following what the community suggested to us and the project is not being deleted, it is merely being set aside for one year.
Committee Motion 13-12(3): To Adopt Recommendation No. 15
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 129
Committee Motion 13-12(3): To Adopt Recommendation No. 15
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 129
Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha
Mr. Chairman, I think that is the point the committee is trying to make. We do not want it to be set aside for one year, we want you to live up to your prior commitments. Thank you.
Committee Motion 13-12(3): To Adopt Recommendation No. 15
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 129
An Hon. Member
Question.
Committee Motion 13-12(3): To Adopt Recommendation No. 15
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 129
The Chair Charles Dent
To the motion. Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed. Motion is carried.
---Carried
Mrs. Marie-Jewell.
Committee Motion 13-12(3): To Adopt Recommendation No. 15
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 129
Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. With respect to the Jean Marie access road, the Minister indicated that while funds have not been specifically dedicated to this project in the capital plan, funds are available for the Jean Marie access road under project number 8241130, for local community roads, pending resolution of some band management problems.
The committee believes that if these funds are intended for the Jean Marie access road they should be specifically dedicated to this project, otherwise they may be lost from sight and possibly even re-allocated to another project.
Committee Motion 14-12(3): To Adopt Recommendation No. 18
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
November 24th, 1992
Page 129
Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha
Therefore, Mr. Chairman, I move that this committee recommends that the Department of Transportation live up to prior commitments and reinstate the budget for Jean Marie access road. Thank you.
Committee Motion 14-12(3): To Adopt Recommendation No. 18
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 129
The Chair Charles Dent
Thank you, Mrs. Marie-Jewell. The motion is in order. To the motion. Mr. Whitford.