Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In terms of the particular issue of the interpreter/translator relocating from Hay River to the Hay River reserve, I personally don't have a serious problem with it, as long as the services for which they are responsible -- and that is to all departments and agencies of government in that location -- are ensured. In the context of the community transfer initiative -- which the honourable Member for Sahtu, Minister Kakfwi, is responsible for -- if that request is made from the community, obviously it will fall within the possibilities of that transfer occurring, recognizing that the responsibility of that position is for all programs and services under that responsibility. That is the only major issue that has to be dealt with. If the honourable Member and the community can address that issue so that delivery of service accommodates the government, then without any question there will be little, if any, opposition to the idea of transfer.
Debates of Nov. 22nd, 1993
Topics
Further Return To Question 40-12(4): Interpreter/translator Position, Hay River Reserve
Question 40-12(4): Interpreter/translator Position, Hay River Reserve
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 64
Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta
Further Return To Question 40-12(4): Interpreter/translator Position, Hay River Reserve
Question 40-12(4): Interpreter/translator Position, Hay River Reserve
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 64
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Ng.
Question 41-12(4): Fair Pol Pricing Policy For All NWT Communities
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 64
Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot
The question is to the Minister of Public Works and Services. Mr. Speaker, since my election I have corresponded and discussed with the Minister on several occasions the matter of excessive pricing in my constituency. The Minister has recognized the problem and has committed to rectifying it. In fact, I learned over the course of this weekend that his department has put into effect a temporary 11 cents per litre reduction in gasoline, heating oil and diesel prices, effective today for Cambridge, Bathurst and Umingmaktok.
---Applause
I acknowledge and thank the Minister for his initiative to address the excessive POL costs in my constituency. My question to the Minister is when will he be putting in a permanent fair pricing of POL products to all NWT communities, in order to eliminate or minimize the regional disparities in the Northwest Territories?
Question 41-12(4): Fair Pol Pricing Policy For All NWT Communities
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 64
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Mr. Morin.
Return To Question 41-12(4): Fair Pol Pricing Policy For All Nwt Communities
Question 41-12(4): Fair Pol Pricing Policy For All NWT Communities
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 64
Don Morin Tu Nedhe
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We dealt with Mr. Ng's request as soon as possible. I agreed with Mr. Ng, as did FMB and Cabinet, that Cambridge Bay and the other two communities were not treated equally in the region. So, effective today, there is an 11 cent per litre reduction in retail prices for heating fuel and gasoline. By the end of the year, we will have a review of the whole Northwest Territories POL pricing done. Thank you.
Return To Question 41-12(4): Fair Pol Pricing Policy For All Nwt Communities
Question 41-12(4): Fair Pol Pricing Policy For All NWT Communities
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 64
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Supplementary, Mr. Ng.
Supplementary To Question 41-12(4): Fair Pol Pricing Policy For All Nwt Communities
Question 41-12(4): Fair Pol Pricing Policy For All NWT Communities
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 64
Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot
My question is what does the Minister consider a fair method to compensate the consumers in my constituency who have been unfairly carrying the costs of fuel tank storage charges of the government, through the purchases of POL products, over the past several years?
Supplementary To Question 41-12(4): Fair Pol Pricing Policy For All Nwt Communities
Question 41-12(4): Fair Pol Pricing Policy For All NWT Communities
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 64
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Mr. Morin.
Further Return To Question 41-12(4): Fair Pol Pricing Policy For All Nwt Communities
Question 41-12(4): Fair Pol Pricing Policy For All NWT Communities
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 64
Don Morin Tu Nedhe
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The fair method of dealing with this is to deal with it as soon as possible. That
is what I have done. It has been put into effect today. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 41-12(4): Fair Pol Pricing Policy For All Nwt Communities
Question 41-12(4): Fair Pol Pricing Policy For All NWT Communities
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 65
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Supplementary, Mr. Ng.
Supplementary To Question 41-12(4): Fair Pol Pricing Policy For All Nwt Communities
Question 41-12(4): Fair Pol Pricing Policy For All NWT Communities
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 65
Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot
My question is about retroactive compensation for consumers who have carried the costs of tank storage charges. I recognize that your initiative will look after the future, but what about the past?
Supplementary To Question 41-12(4): Fair Pol Pricing Policy For All Nwt Communities
Question 41-12(4): Fair Pol Pricing Policy For All NWT Communities
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 65
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Mr. Morin.
Further Return To Question 41-12(4): Fair Pol Pricing Policy For All Nwt Communities
Question 41-12(4): Fair Pol Pricing Policy For All NWT Communities
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 65
Don Morin Tu Nedhe
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I didn't look at the past. There will be nothing retroactive. It is effective today and I thank the Member for thanking us for doing it so quickly.
---Laughter
Further Return To Question 41-12(4): Fair Pol Pricing Policy For All Nwt Communities
Question 41-12(4): Fair Pol Pricing Policy For All NWT Communities
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 65
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Item 5, oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Ng.
Supplementary To Question 41-12(4): Fair Pol Pricing Policy For All Nwt Communities
Question 41-12(4): Fair Pol Pricing Policy For All NWT Communities
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 65
Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot
Why won't the Minister consider compensating the consumers who have paid the carrying costs of the government tank farms over the past several years?
---Applause
Supplementary To Question 41-12(4): Fair Pol Pricing Policy For All Nwt Communities
Question 41-12(4): Fair Pol Pricing Policy For All NWT Communities
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 65
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Mr. Morin.
Further Return To Question 41-12(4): Fair Pol Pricing Policy For All Nwt Communities
Question 41-12(4): Fair Pol Pricing Policy For All NWT Communities
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 65
Don Morin Tu Nedhe
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I never even considered looking at retroactive compensation. There is no reason to do so. We recognized the problem, we moved on it as fast as possible, and put it in place as fast as possible. I think it was a fair way to handle this situation. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 41-12(4): Fair Pol Pricing Policy For All Nwt Communities
Question 41-12(4): Fair Pol Pricing Policy For All NWT Communities
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 65
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Arvaluk.
Question 42-12(4): Advisory Committee On Social Housing
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 65
James Arvaluk Aivilik
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of the Housing Corporation. Why hasn't the Minister invited the advisory committee to meet with him on strategic planning and other processes, before the important meeting takes place in Ottawa, for which he will be leaving today?
Question 42-12(4): Advisory Committee On Social Housing
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 65
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation, Mr. Morin.
Return To Question 42-12(4): Advisory Committee On Social Housing
Question 42-12(4): Advisory Committee On Social Housing
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 65
Don Morin Tu Nedhe
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I've kept the Advisory Committee on Social Housing informed on all new initiatives and all actions I've taken to date. I've had the help of the advisory committee this past summer on some of the things we took part in to try and get funding reinstated for housing. I've had the honourable Member from Thebacha go to Ottawa with myself to attend a gathering of aboriginal people in Ottawa.
I've had Silas and James both attend the ITC General Assembly on behalf of the advisory committee. On October 18, I wrote a letter to the advisory committee requesting a meeting while the finance committee was in Yellowknife. I did not get a response. On November 16, I wrote a letter to all the Members of the advisory committee, laying out the plan we had to deal with the federal government. If they had any questions or any advice, I asked them to please inform me. I didn't get a response.
I'm leaving for Ottawa tonight to meet with the Minister responsible for housing. I think it is important that Members understand that in order to develop the strategy further on how to deal with the federal government, we have to know where they are coming from. Hopefully, when I come back from the meeting on Wednesday night,-- in the first available time slot to have a meeting-- I will meet with the advisory committee. Thank you.
Return To Question 42-12(4): Advisory Committee On Social Housing
Question 42-12(4): Advisory Committee On Social Housing
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 65
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Supplementary, Mr. Arvaluk.
Supplementary To Question 42-12(4): Advisory Committee On Social Housing
Question 42-12(4): Advisory Committee On Social Housing
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 65
James Arvaluk Aivilik
Mr. Speaker, I have one supplementary. If that is the case, then why hasn't the Minister invited a Member of the advisory committee on this very important trip where he will be meeting with the Minister responsible for CMHC?
Supplementary To Question 42-12(4): Advisory Committee On Social Housing
Question 42-12(4): Advisory Committee On Social Housing
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 65
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Mr. Morin.
Further Return To Question 42-12(4): Advisory Committee On Social Housing
Question 42-12(4): Advisory Committee On Social Housing
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 65
Don Morin Tu Nedhe
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I did invite the advisory committee co-chairman, Mr. Sam Gargan. I explained the reason why I was going to Ottawa and what I thought I could get out of the meeting. Sam, in his own wisdom, thought there was no need for anyone, other than myself, to travel. Basically, we are going to have a meeting in Ottawa with the Minister responsible for CMHC to find out if the new government has any intention at all of reinstating CMHC funding, to find out where they are coming from and also to educate them on the special housing needs of territorial residents. Thank you.