This is page numbers 464 - 491 of the Hansard for the 12th Assembly, 2nd Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was chairman.

Topics

Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 480

The Chair Richard Nerysoo

Personnel, O and M, employee benefits, not previously authorized, $3,768,000. Agreed?

Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 480

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

--- Agreed

Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 480

The Chair Richard Nerysoo

Total department, $3,768,000. Mr. Gargan.

Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Samuel Gargan Deh Cho

I just wanted to know what the benefits were. This is for employees' vacation and also for termination; are we talking about the payouts?

Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 480

The Chair Richard Nerysoo

Madam Minister.

Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 480

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Mr. Speaker, the Member is correct. I will read them according to the financial language. The accumulated annual leave and lieu-time credits amounted to $844,000; resignation and retirement benefits amounted to $1,524,000; the ultimate removal benefits amounted to $1,490,000; for a total of $3,858,000.

Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 480

The Chair Richard Nerysoo

Total department, $3,768,000. Agreed?

Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 480

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

--Agreed

Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 480

The Chair Richard Nerysoo

Will we now go into clause by clause of Bill 21?

Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 480

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

--- Agreed

Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 480

The Chair Richard Nerysoo

Clause 1, application. Agreed?

Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 480

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

--- Agreed

Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 480

The Chair Richard Nerysoo

Clause 2, supplementary appropriation. Agreed?

Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 480

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

--- Agreed

Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 480

The Chair Richard Nerysoo

expenditures. Agreed?

Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 480

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

--- Agreed

Clause 3, purpose of

Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 480

The Chair Richard Nerysoo

Schedule, Vote 1, operations and maintenance, total operations and maintenance, $4,204,900. Agreed?

Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 480

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

--- Agreed

Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 481

The Chair Richard Nerysoo

Total supplementary appropriation, $4,204,900. Mr. Gargan.

Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 481

Samuel Gargan Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Before we recommend this for third reading, I would like to express a concern that we have a situation that we are going to be in a deficit this year and we cannot go on into further deficit, especially with regard to benefits, holiday benefits, retirement benefits, payout benefits. I would like to ask if the government is somehow looking at this whole business of benefits for civil servants, because it is an exorbitant amount and we cannot afford it at this time of restraint. We cannot be supporting the public service at the expense of the communities. I think this government is going to have to take a bold step in this area and say we cannot afford these benefits any longer. At one time it used to be an incentive to attract people up here, but that is no longer the case. If people are dedicated enough and wish to work up here, they should do it for whatever the offer is and not because of the benefits. Perhaps the Government Leader may want to respond.

Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 481

The Chair Richard Nerysoo

Madam Government Leader.

Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I thank the Member for his comments. Those particular issues right now are on the table with the collective bargaining units that are presently in negotiations and yes, we fully agree that we have to catch up to the 1990s and move into the future with some confidence, and we hope that in these negotiations there is a recognition by the employees of the GNWT that we need their co-operation as well. So certainly, if we are not able to conclude, we will be keeping the Members informed of what is going on with those collective agreements which are being negotiated at the present time. Thank you.

Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 481

The Chair Richard Nerysoo

Total supplementary appropriation, $4,204,900. Agreed?

Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 481

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

--- Agreed

Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair Richard Nerysoo

The bill as a whole?