Mr. Chairman, I am not a member of a claimant group area, but it has always been my interest. One other thing I wanted to mention is that in all claimant areas, most third-party interests are not part of the planning. I am just wondering if this government will be using its influence -- if they are going to be developing infrastructure -- so that the mining companies will also be compelled to look at involving claimant groups in the development of these mining industries, either as shareholders or in some other capacity.
Debates of Nov. 23rd, 1993
Topics
Committee Motion 4-12(3): To Adopt Recommendation 4, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 121
Samuel Gargan Deh Cho
Committee Motion 4-12(3): To Adopt Recommendation 4, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 121
Committee Motion 4-12(3): To Adopt Recommendation 4, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 121
John Todd Keewatin Central
I think it is important to point out that these claimant groups are also doing their own negotiating. I know, for example, that the Kitikmeot Inuit Association is involved with the Inuit IIBA in an Inuit economic agreement. I know that Mr. Blondin who sits on our committee is also having his own independent discussions with respect to where the developments should take place.
The responsibility I have as Minister of Transportation is to determine where we fit if we're asked what it's going to cost, and what conditions we would set if we were going to commit public funds to public infrastructure. I want to say again for the public record, my position is clear. Unless there are significant benefits accrued to northern people, in the broadest context, I've said publicly and I'll say it again, that public infrastructure money shouldn't be used.
Committee Motion 4-12(3): To Adopt Recommendation 4, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 121
The Chair Tony Whitford
Thank you, Mr. Minister. We are on marine services, buildings and works. Mr. Antoine.
Committee Motion 4-12(3): To Adopt Recommendation 4, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 121
Jim Antoine Nahendeh
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We're talking about our revised transportation strategy, and Gordon Wray did this study for the department. In the departmental overview, the Government of the Northwest Territories transportation strategy identifies the need to complete the Mackenzie Highway from Wrigley along the Mackenzie River to the Dempster Highway. Later on it talks about the mining properties and mentions Coronation Gulf potential for a new road. Was Mr. Wray's contract, or whatever type of work he had, was it his responsibility to priorize one or the other? These new roads come from federal funds and you're developing a strategy to approach the federal government on this. If you are successful the federal government has only a certain amount of money. Which road would you choose first?
Committee Motion 4-12(3): To Adopt Recommendation 4, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 121
The Chair Tony Whitford
Thank you, Mr. Antoine. Mr. Minister. I would just again remind the committee that we are dealing with marine services. On highways this might be more appropriate, but it's up to the committee, I suppose. Mr. Todd.
Committee Motion 4-12(3): To Adopt Recommendation 4, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 121
John Todd Keewatin Central
It's a difficult question. I don't think my job is to choose. What I asked Mr. Wray to do -- and I think you'll see this when we table the document -- was to get a clear reflection from the political leadership. It wasn't a big, grandiose study, it was to bring up to date what you, as MLAs, saw as priorities. That's specifically what I asked him to do. I think, hopefully, when you see it, it will reflect what you've told him, and certainly reflect what I feel are the priorities.
To me, the Mackenzie Highway is a public initiative that was created by the former federal government a way back with the territorial government. I want to assure you it's still a priority. We intend to pursue that fairly aggressively.
The Izok Lake project is somewhat different because it's tied into a major mineral development and it's more industry driven, rather than public government driven. It's not a question of choosing, it's a question of approaching both differently. The way I see the Izok Lake project is, should the industry request our assistance and should there be some safe guards for economic involvement of northerners, then we would be working more as a leverage for this project, rather than committing all our funds. The corporate entity is driving the Izok Lake project.
Originally, the public entity -- in a sense -- drove the Mackenzie Highway and will continue to drive it. It's certainly my intent to move as quickly as I can in the new year to see if there is some empathy out there at the federal level -- in conjunction with our two MPs, Ethel Blondin and Jack Anawak -- to see if we can negotiate a cost-sharing agreement to bring some of this infrastructure into place over a period of time. We did have some discussions -- just to assure Mr. Antoine -- with some people earlier in the year about possibly looking at revisiting the old hire north approach which took place many years ago. We're looking at that right now.
I said on the very front end, there's a limitation to the dollars that I'm given. I'm trying, to the best of my ability, to allocate them in a fair and equitable way. You can never satisfy everybody, but we've endeavoured to do that. I believe that to do the Mackenzie Highway requires extraordinary funding through a joint initiative with the feds and I intend to pursue it as aggressively as I can. Thank you.
Committee Motion 4-12(3): To Adopt Recommendation 4, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 121
The Chair Tony Whitford
Thank you, Mr. Todd. Marine services. Inuvik, total buildings and works, $330,000.
Committee Motion 4-12(3): To Adopt Recommendation 4, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 121
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
---Agreed
Committee Motion 4-12(3): To Adopt Recommendation 4, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 121
Committee Motion 4-12(3): To Adopt Recommendation 4, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 121
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
---Agreed
Committee Motion 4-12(3): To Adopt Recommendation 4, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 121
Committee Motion 4-12(3): To Adopt Recommendation 4, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 121
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
---Agreed
Committee Motion 4-12(3): To Adopt Recommendation 4, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
November 22nd, 1993
Page 122
Committee Motion 4-12(3): To Adopt Recommendation 4, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 122
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
---Agreed
Committee Motion 4-12(3): To Adopt Recommendation 4, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 122
Committee Motion 4-12(3): To Adopt Recommendation 4, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 122
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
---Agreed
Highway Operations
Committee Motion 4-12(3): To Adopt Recommendation 4, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 122
The Chair Tony Whitford
Page 09-11, highway operations. Buildings and works, headquarters, total region, $409,000.
Committee Motion 4-12(3): To Adopt Recommendation 4, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 122
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
---Agreed
Committee Motion 4-12(3): To Adopt Recommendation 4, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 122
Committee Motion 4-12(3): To Adopt Recommendation 4, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 122
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
---Agreed
Committee Motion 4-12(3): To Adopt Recommendation 4, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 122
Committee Motion 4-12(3): To Adopt Recommendation 4, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 122
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
---Agreed
Committee Motion 4-12(3): To Adopt Recommendation 4, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 122
Committee Motion 4-12(3): To Adopt Recommendation 4, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 122
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
---Agreed