(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The policy is still the same. There have not been changes to it. I will look into this and get back to the Member. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Debates of Feb. 25th, 1993
Topics
Further Return To Question 350-12(3): Social Services Workers' Abstention From Intoxicants
Question 350-12(3): Social Services Workers' Abstention From Intoxicants
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 611
Rebecca Mike Baffin Central
Further Return To Question 350-12(3): Social Services Workers' Abstention From Intoxicants
Question 350-12(3): Social Services Workers' Abstention From Intoxicants
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 611
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Koe.
Question 351-12(3): Involvement Of Gwich'in Tribal Council In Establishment Of Park
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 611
Fred Koe Inuvik
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Today in my Member's statement I referred to the memorandum of agreement between the Department of Economic Development and Tourism and the Gwich'in Tribal Council to develop a territorial park at Campbell Lake. In the agreement it states that the Gwich'in Tribal Council shall be responsible for developing and operating the park under a contract to the Government of the Northwest Territories according to the park management plan. Why is the department not willing to utilize the expertise and technology being offered by the Gwich'in Tribal Council to establish this new park?
Question 351-12(3): Involvement Of Gwich'in Tribal Council In Establishment Of Park
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 611
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Mr. Pollard.
Question 351-12(3): Involvement Of Gwich'in Tribal Council In Establishment Of Park
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 611
John Pollard Hay River
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will take the question as notice.
Question 351-12(3): Involvement Of Gwich'in Tribal Council In Establishment Of Park
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 611
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
The question has been taken as notice. Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Whitford.
Question 352-12(3): Timetable For Input Into The Domestic Workers' Regulations
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 611
Tony Whitford Yellowknife South
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have a question for the Minister of Safety and Public Services. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the Minister for providing me a copy of the draft "domestic workers' regulations" and the offer to have staff assist my constituents who are concerned about this, I will take him up on his offer at a later date. How long do we have to deal with this matter? Is there a timetable for public input, Mr. Speaker?
Question 352-12(3): Timetable For Input Into The Domestic Workers' Regulations
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 611
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Mr. Todd.
Return To Question 352-12(3): Timetable For Input Into The Domestic Workers' Regulations
Question 352-12(3): Timetable For Input Into The Domestic Workers' Regulations
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 612
John Todd Keewatin Central
Mr. Speaker, I do not think there is any timetable as such. Right now we are at the consultation stage. The draft of the legislation has been provided to interested groups in the territories. It has also been provided to the members from Yellowknife because that seems to be where the majority of domestic workers and nannies are active. At this time, I see the process as relatively open until such time as we can get the appropriate input from those people who are concerned about this particular issue.
Return To Question 352-12(3): Timetable For Input Into The Domestic Workers' Regulations
Question 352-12(3): Timetable For Input Into The Domestic Workers' Regulations
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 612
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Zoe.
Question 353-12(3): Status Of Comptroller General And Deputy Minister Positions
Item 5: Oral Questions
February 24th, 1993
Page 612
Henry Zoe North Slave
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, earlier today I asked a question to the Minister of Finance. He said he would be meeting the deadline, which he indicated to me on November 20, with regard to strengthening the role of the deputy minister and comptroller general and to make them more independent of each other. Mr. Speaker, when the Minister was commenting on the proposed estimates for the 1993-94 budget this past Monday, he stated "There is a plan which has been put together. It rests with Madam Premier and myself at the present time. As I promised Mr. Zoe last year, it will be reported to the Assembly this session." Mr. Speaker, I checked back to November 20 and that is exactly the same thing he told us then. He indicated the plan is in place and was being reviewed by Madam Premier. Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister to explain what has held up this decision at the political level.
Question 353-12(3): Status Of Comptroller General And Deputy Minister Positions
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 612
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Mr. Pollard.
Return To Question 353-12(3): Status Of Comptroller General And Deputy Minister Positions
Question 353-12(3): Status Of Comptroller General And Deputy Minister Positions
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 612
John Pollard Hay River
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it is a bit more complex than just a plan. It is true that I presented it to the Premier last year. She had some comments for me that I had to take back and examine. That has been done. Her concerns have been addressed, I believe. As I said, the revised plan is at work and still rests with the Premier and myself. We will meet the deadline of making those adjustments by the end of the fiscal year, Mr. Speaker.
Return To Question 353-12(3): Status Of Comptroller General And Deputy Minister Positions
Question 353-12(3): Status Of Comptroller General And Deputy Minister Positions
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 612
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Item 5, oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Zoe.
Supplementary To Question 353-12(3): Status Of Comptroller General And Deputy Minister Positions
Question 353-12(3): Status Of Comptroller General And Deputy Minister Positions
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 612
Henry Zoe North Slave
Supplementary, Mr. Speaker. Our standing committee recommendation did not require major reorganization of the department. It wanted to strengthen and separate the roles played by the deputy minister and the comptroller general. This should not be an overwhelming task. The fact that the Department of Finance and Cabinet have been unable to achieve a relatively simple restructuring exercise suggests to me, Mr. Speaker, that something must be very wrong. That is why it is taking them so long to resolve this issue. Can the Minister indicate why he has decided to make this change in authority part of a much longer and drawn out process, rather than just dealing with it right away?
Supplementary To Question 353-12(3): Status Of Comptroller General And Deputy Minister Positions
Question 353-12(3): Status Of Comptroller General And Deputy Minister Positions
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 612
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Mr. Pollard.
Further Return To Question 353-12(3): Status Of Comptroller General And Deputy Minister Positions
Question 353-12(3): Status Of Comptroller General And Deputy Minister Positions
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 612
John Pollard Hay River
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I do not think it is very drawn out. I did say we would address it by the end of this fiscal year and we certainly intend to do that. Mr. Speaker, when you are trying to address the concerns of the standing committee, which we are doing, we also have some issues which we want to address in the departments of government and one area is in the Department of Finance. We decided rather than just make some adjustments and later down the road make more adjustments, we would look at the overall situation to see how we could satisfy all the needs of the Executive and of this Legislative Assembly. We are not dragging it out, we are just making sure what we do will work and making sure what we do addresses the concerns that Mr. Zoe has brought to this Legislative Assembly. As I said, it will all be done by the end of this fiscal year. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Further Return To Question 353-12(3): Status Of Comptroller General And Deputy Minister Positions
Question 353-12(3): Status Of Comptroller General And Deputy Minister Positions
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 612
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Supplementary, Mr. Zoe.
Supplementary To Question 353-12(3): Status Of Comptroller General And Deputy Minister Positions
Question 353-12(3): Status Of Comptroller General And Deputy Minister Positions
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 612
Henry Zoe North Slave
Mr. Speaker, during the budget speech on Monday, I listened very carefully to the Minister when he brought his budget before the House. I noted he told my colleague from Inuvik that the problem with the real definition of the deputy minister and comptroller general has been resolved in the short-term. What short-term action, Mr. Speaker, has he taken in this regard which he made reference to in his budget speech?
Supplementary To Question 353-12(3): Status Of Comptroller General And Deputy Minister Positions
Question 353-12(3): Status Of Comptroller General And Deputy Minister Positions
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 612
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Mr. Pollard.
Further Return To Question 353-12(3): Status Of Comptroller General And Deputy Minister Positions
Question 353-12(3): Status Of Comptroller General And Deputy Minister Positions
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 612
John Pollard Hay River
Mr. Speaker, just being aware of the concerns of the committee and the concerns raised by the Auditor General, I have directed people in the department to be cognizant of those concerns during their jobs and carrying out their duties as they are at the present time. I did not make any structural changes, but just merely being aware of the concerns was enough to impress upon the individuals in the department what their responsibilities and roles should be. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Further Return To Question 353-12(3): Status Of Comptroller General And Deputy Minister Positions
Question 353-12(3): Status Of Comptroller General And Deputy Minister Positions
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 612
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Dent.
Question 354-12(3): Cost Of WCB Security System
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 612
Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question will be for the Minister responsible for the Workers' Compensation Board. Mr. Speaker, I understand over the past year that the Workers' Compensation Board has purchased and installed a high-tech security system. As a matter of fact, I understand it is a very
secure system and may make the Workers' Compensation Board office not the sort of place you want to be when you need a bathroom in a hurry, unless you have a special card. While I understand, Mr. Speaker, that the honourable Member for Keewatin Central was not the Minister at the time when this equipment was probably ordered and purchased, he is now and now is the time that the full effects of this administrative spending are being felt. Could the Minister indicate if he has been informed as to the cost of this new high-tech security system?
Question 354-12(3): Cost Of WCB Security System
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 613
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Minister responsible for the Workers' Compensation Board, Mr. Todd.
Question 354-12(3): Cost Of WCB Security System
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 613
John Todd Keewatin Central
First of all, I agree with the honourable Member, it does seem somewhat an intimidating environment. I have asked the new management of the WCB to take a hard look at it because it does seem somewhat intimidating when you need a card to get into the loo as they would say. With respect to the cost of this security system, I do not have that information at hand but I am prepared to provide that information to the honourable Member and will take the question as notice. Is that correct?