Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I always support local initiatives. When a local municipality or business takes over a business, it is good for the community. They will buy local, hire local and have local training. I am sure the town of Norman Wells is aware of what they are getting into. I think details and agreements can be worked out later. All that is required at this point in time is a mechanism whereby the government can sell and the community of Norman Wells can buy. Having said this, I support the bill. It is straightforward.
Debates of Feb. 22nd, 1993
Topics
Bill 16: Norman Wells Natural Gas Distribution System Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 544
Ningark
Bill 16: Norman Wells Natural Gas Distribution System Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 544
The Chair Ludy Pudluk
Thank you. Are there any further general comments? Is the committee agreed we go clause by clause?
Bill 16: Norman Wells Natural Gas Distribution System Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 544
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
--Agreed
Clause By Clause
Thank you. Clause one. Agreed?
Bill 16: Norman Wells Natural Gas Distribution System Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 545
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
--Agreed
Bill 16: Norman Wells Natural Gas Distribution System Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 545
The Chair Ludy Pudluk
Thank you. Clause two. Agreed?
Bill 16: Norman Wells Natural Gas Distribution System Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 545
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
--Agreed
Bill 16: Norman Wells Natural Gas Distribution System Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 545
The Chair Ludy Pudluk
Thank you. Clause three. Agreed?
Bill 16: Norman Wells Natural Gas Distribution System Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 545
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
--Agreed
Bill 16: Norman Wells Natural Gas Distribution System Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 545
The Chair Ludy Pudluk
Clause lour. Agreed?
Bill 16: Norman Wells Natural Gas Distribution System Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 545
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
--Agreed
Bill 16: Norman Wells Natural Gas Distribution System Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 545
The Chair Ludy Pudluk
Thank you. Clause five. Agreed?
Bill 16: Norman Wells Natural Gas Distribution System Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 545
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
--- Agreed
Bill 16: Norman Wells Natural Gas Distribution System Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 545
The Chair Ludy Pudluk
Thank you. Clause six. Agreed?
Bill 16: Norman Wells Natural Gas Distribution System Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 545
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
--- Agreed
Bill 16: Norman Wells Natural Gas Distribution System Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 545
The Chair Ludy Pudluk
Thank you. The bill as a whole. Agreed?
Bill 16: Norman Wells Natural Gas Distribution System Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 545
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
-Agreed
Bill 16: Norman Wells Natural Gas Distribution System Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 545
The Chair Ludy Pudluk
Is this committee agreed Bill 16 is ready for third reading?
Bill 16: Norman Wells Natural Gas Distribution System Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 545
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
--- Agreed
Bill 16: Norman Wells Natural Gas Distribution System Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 545
The Chair Ludy Pudluk
Thank you. Mr. Minister.
Bill 16: Norman Wells Natural Gas Distribution System Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 545
Don Morin Tu Nedhe
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to thank the Members of SCOL and Members of the Assembly, on behalf of the staff, for passing this bill. Thank you.
Bill 16: Norman Wells Natural Gas Distribution System Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 545
The Chair Ludy Pudluk
Thank you. I would also like to thank the witnesses.
We are going to deal with the 1993-94 Main Estimates. Do any Members have general comments? Mr. Antoine.
Comments By Standing Committee On Finance
Bill 16: Norman Wells Natural Gas Distribution System Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 545
Jim Antoine Nahendeh
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have a general comment on the main estimates. The Standing Committee on Finance has a short list of specific government-wide recommendations.
Government-Wide Issues And Recommendations
- Merit increases should only incur for superior performance.
- The Financial Management Board should set and monitor annual affirmative action goals.
- The government should publicize a five year capital plan and contracts separately listing southern contracts.
There are also some observations the committee wishes to make, without specific recommendations.
From a financial perspective, the Government of the Northwest Territories is better off than any other jurisdiction in Canada. At the same time, the committee has noted that there are a number of unresolved issues such as the payroll tax, negotiations on pay equity, RCMP costs and health billings which could seriously impact the overall surplus/deficit position of the government. Hence, we encourage the government, in developing its master plan, to be aware of the imminent dangers of incurring a deficit.
Controlling the cost of government and public services is a continuing concern. Departments need to determine what the necessities are and, based on this determination, to set priorities. They need to consider what can be cut, what is necessary and what is not. The committee would like government to rethink its programs and expenditures in these terms. Think productivity and think about how to continuously improve the way we conduct our business. We expect more than simply protecting the status quo.
Attitudes are poor in some departments. Resistance to change by bureaucrats will make things more difficult for Ministers. As one Member remarked, the bureaucrats sometimes remind me of an old dog. Cabinet is trying to go forward, and the old dog is dragging back and does not want to go. We have a newly elected government, anxious and wanting to go forward with this new era, coming up with new initiatives and ideas, serving the public rather than the bureaucracy, but there is still dragging and reluctance to move on. We must let the civil service know that the Cabinet and the Legislative Assembly want to move forward. The committee would like to see an immediate improvement in attitude throughout the civil service.
Another concern that Members noted is a lack of coordination across government, particularly in two areas. The first area that the lack of coordination was noted was in the provision of inservice training. In-service training is provided by the Department of Personnel and by many other departments on their own behalf. These efforts are not well coordinated.
The other area in which the committee noted a lack of coordination is the community transfer initiative. We honesty do not believe that many departments or communities
understand the government's grand scheme for implementing the initiative.
Finally, a process must be established by the Assembly to consider the effects of division on this government. We must also consider what might be done to facilitate division. The Standing Committee on Finance should have the opportunity to review any proposed commitments in this regard.
The committee has noted that certain government-wide motions of the Assembly regarding the 1992-93 Main Estimates require more satisfactory responses. For example, the response to recommendation number three -that representation of aboriginal peoples in the government must increase dramatically by 1997 was not satisfactory.
Similarly, the committee was not satisfied with the government's response to the 1992-93 recommendation number five. It directed the Financial Management Board to institutionalize broad scope, value for money auditing in all government departments and to work with the Standing Committees on Finance and Public Accounts to articulate concerns and develop a matrix.
The Premier should approach the Minister of Indian Affairs and ask him to request an order-in-council formally asking the Auditor General to do a comprehensive audit of the Northwest Territories Power Corporation under section 11 of the Auditor General Act. This would allow the office to request additional resources from parliament to fund the audit.
The committee finds that the response to our 1992-93 recommendation number nine was not complete. This recommendation suggested that Cabinet coordinate a review of all legislation to determine whether the underlying spirit and intent are still valid. We suspect that some of our legislation may have outlived its original purpose. This exercise is required in order that realistic priorities can be set.
Recommendation one is that the committee recommends that merit pay increases should only occur for superior performance.
Bill 16: Norman Wells Natural Gas Distribution System Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
February 21st, 1993
Page 546
The Chair John Ningark
Mr. Antoine, is that a motion or just a recommendation?
Bill 16: Norman Wells Natural Gas Distribution System Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 546
Jim Antoine Nahendeh
I will make a motion.
Bill 16: Norman Wells Natural Gas Distribution System Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 546
The Chair John Ningark
Proceed.