Mr. Chairman, I have expressed this concern in the committee level, but I did want to state it for the record. This amount is for a power subsidy program to equate or to subsidize power in the communities to somewhat similar of the Yellowknife power rates. There are communities that have lower power rates and are not given any consideration with regard to any type of subsidy for the lower power rate that they pay. Actually, you are taking $4 million out of the budget to subsidize commercial and domestic power subsidies through the subsidy program and you give no break to the communities that have lower power rates and have a surplus of power. What are they doing to somehow address the inequity? Thank you.
Debates of March 30th, 1993
Topics
Bill 23: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 4, 1992-93
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1283
Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha
Bill 23: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 4, 1992-93
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1283
The Chair Ludy Pudluk
Thank you. Mr. Minister.
Bill 23: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 4, 1992-93
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1283
John Pollard Hay River
Mr. Chairman, the subsidy amount that is paid out each year is demanded back from the Power Corporation by way of dividend. They usually pay up on the first day of April in the fiscal year, Mr. Chairman. I am aware of the situation in Fort Smith. It has lower power rates than Yellowknife. The Member is correct that, on the first 700 kilowatts of domestic power, those people outside of Yellowknife are subsidized to the Yellowknife rate. I have passed on her concern about the fact that Fort Smith has lower power rates than Yellowknife. I have passed it on to the public utilities board and also to Madam Premier. I am assured by the chairman of the public utilities board, Mr. Hill, that issue will be dealt with this summer as the public utilities board deals with the rate structure review and the request for a six per cent increase from the Power Corporation. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Bill 23: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 4, 1992-93
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1283
The Chair Ludy Pudluk
Thank you. Finance, government accounting, not previously authorized, $500,000. Agreed?
Bill 23: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 4, 1992-93
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1283
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
---Agreed
Bill 23: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 4, 1992-93
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1283
The Chair Ludy Pudluk
Thank you. Total department, $500,000. Agreed?
Bill 23: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 4, 1992-93
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1283
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
---Agreed
Department Of Culture And Communications
Bill 23: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 4, 1992-93
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1283
The Chair Ludy Pudluk
Thank you. Culture and Communications, operations and maintenance, language bureau, not previously authorized, $233,000. Agreed?
Bill 23: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 4, 1992-93
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1283
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
---Agreed
Bill 23: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 4, 1992-93
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1283
The Chair Ludy Pudluk
Thank you. Total department, $233,000. Agreed?
Bill 23: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 4, 1992-93
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1283
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
---Agreed
Department Of Personnel
Bill 23: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 4, 1992-93
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1283
The Chair Ludy Pudluk
Personnel, operations and maintenance, directorate, not previously authorized, ($57,000). Agreed?
Bill 23: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 4, 1992-93
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1283
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
---Agreed
Bill 23: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 4, 1992-93
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1283
The Chair Ludy Pudluk
Thank you. Staffing, not previously authorized, ($46,000). Agreed?
Bill 23: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 4, 1992-93
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1283
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
---Agreed
Bill 23: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 4, 1992-93
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1283
The Chair Ludy Pudluk
Thank you. Labour relations, not previously authorized, $50,000. Mr. Koe.
Bill 23: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 4, 1992-93
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1283
Fred Koe Inuvik
Have we hired someone to do these negotiations that may cost us about $1 million? Is that what this is? Is someone actually working in this position?
Bill 23: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 4, 1992-93
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1283
The Chair Ludy Pudluk
Thank you. Mr. Minister.
Bill 23: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 4, 1992-93
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1284
John Pollard Hay River
Mr. Chairman, the government has retained the services of a lawyer, Mr. Russell
Juriansz, to assist with its position with regard to pay equity negotiations with the Union of Northern Workers. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Bill 23: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 4, 1992-93
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1284
The Chair Ludy Pudluk
Thank you. Mr. Koe.
Bill 23: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 4, 1992-93
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1284
Fred Koe Inuvik
What is the status of those negotiations?
Bill 23: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 4, 1992-93
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1284
The Chair Ludy Pudluk
Thank you. Mr. Minister.
Bill 23: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 4, 1992-93
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1284
John Pollard Hay River
Mr. Chairman, negotiations have broken off and it would appear that this issue will, in fact, go before the human rights commission. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Bill 23: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 4, 1992-93
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1284
The Chair Ludy Pudluk
Thank you. Mr. Koe.
Bill 23: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 4, 1992-93
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1284
Fred Koe Inuvik
Is the lawyer still on staff?