Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the honourable Premier. I notice the part of the narwhal tusk which completes the mace is missing. I know government wants to maintain a good example. Mr. Speaker, going as far as cutting off a part of the NWT Legislature mace, I think is going a little beyond the scope of the public's imagination. Does this signify the significant funding cuts that this government has made in the area of some very important community programs in the NWT? This is Friday. Thank you.
Debates of April 2nd, 1993
Topics
Question 702-12(3): Broken Narwhal Tusk On Mace
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 1423
John Ningark Natilikmiot
Question 702-12(3): Broken Narwhal Tusk On Mace
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 1423
The Speaker
Madam Premier.
Return To Question 702-12(3): Broken Narwhal Tusk On Mace
Question 702-12(3): Broken Narwhal Tusk On Mace
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 1423
Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to say that does not indicate the significance of cuts we are all facing. I would also like to advise the honourable Member that the Minister of Renewable of Resources, myself and each of our offices have a replacement which can be donated to make the mace stronger and extend it so there will not be a cut. Thank you.
Return To Question 702-12(3): Broken Narwhal Tusk On Mace
Question 702-12(3): Broken Narwhal Tusk On Mace
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 1423
The Speaker
Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Patterson.
Question 703-12(3): Nuclear Waste Disposal Into Arctic Ocean
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 1423
Dennis Patterson Iqaluit
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To the Minister of Renewable Resources. Mr. Speaker, another very serious concern about ocean dumping emerged last week in the release of a report from a Russian government commission. The report notes that double the amount of radioactivity released in the Chernobyl nuclear disaster has been dumped at sea by the former Soviet Union, including seven damaged nuclear reactors which are on the Arctic Ocean floor, and the ongoing dumping of liquid radioactive waste at sea by the Soviet navy with no shore-based alternative of disposing of that radioactive nuclear waste. Mr. Speaker, my question to the Minister is, firstly is he aware of this very serious issue and its consequences for our Arctic waters?
Question 703-12(3): Nuclear Waste Disposal Into Arctic Ocean
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 1423
The Speaker
Mr. Allooloo.
Return To Question 703-12(3): Nuclear Waste Disposal Into Arctic Ocean
Question 703-12(3): Nuclear Waste Disposal Into Arctic Ocean
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 1423
Titus Allooloo Amittuq
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I am aware of the situation, but I am not aware to the full extent of what the possible impact might be to the Arctic Ocean. This is an international issue at this moment. It is a matter that Environment Canada and External Affairs would have to deal with to consider their approach to it. Also the department and myself will continue to encourage the federal government to seriously look at the situation. Further, it reinforces the need for international review of an investigation of the ocean dumping and contamination.
Mr. Speaker, some time ago the polar regions of this world got together for the first time to look at contaminations which are coming into the polar regions. I believe it was an initiative that our Prime Minister took at the United Nations. As a result, we had the first meeting in Rovaniemi in Finland in 1991, I believe. The next meeting of the international Ministers of Environment will take place this year in Greenland. At this moment, I have not had a date communicated. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Return To Question 703-12(3): Nuclear Waste Disposal Into Arctic Ocean
Question 703-12(3): Nuclear Waste Disposal Into Arctic Ocean
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 1423
The Speaker
Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.
Supplementary To Question 703-12(3): Nuclear Waste Disposal Into Arctic Ocean
Question 703-12(3): Nuclear Waste Disposal Into Arctic Ocean
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 1423
Dennis Patterson Iqaluit
Mr. Speaker, thank you. I am pleased that the Minister is going to continue to work on the global issue. What I would like to ask him is, in light of the strong concern of Members of this Legislature about ocean dumping with the PanArctic issue and this Soviet Union nuclear waste issue, will the Minister commit himself to drawing the concerns of the Members of this Legislature on this Soviet Nuclear waste issue to the attention of the appropriate federal authorities on an urgent basis. Thank you.
Supplementary To Question 703-12(3): Nuclear Waste Disposal Into Arctic Ocean
Question 703-12(3): Nuclear Waste Disposal Into Arctic Ocean
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 1423
The Speaker
Mr. Allooloo.
Further Return To Question 703-12(3): Nuclear Waste Disposal Into Arctic Ocean
Question 703-12(3): Nuclear Waste Disposal Into Arctic Ocean
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 1423
Titus Allooloo Amittuq
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes.
Further Return To Question 703-12(3): Nuclear Waste Disposal Into Arctic Ocean
Question 703-12(3): Nuclear Waste Disposal Into Arctic Ocean
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 1423
The Speaker
Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Dent.
Question 704-12(3): Expo 1992 Audit
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 1423
Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism. Mr. Speaker, on Wednesday the Minister tabled a copy of the comptroller general's evaluation of the financial performance of Expo '92. He also provided me, yesterday, with some additional correspondence which I tabled before the end of sitting yesterday. Honourable Members will know that I have asked a number of oral questions over the past three sessions of this Assembly dealing with this government's involvement at Expo '92, Seville, Spain. Mr. Speaker, I have enjoyed including light hearted comments about Expo in the preambles to most of my questions, and I am not going to do that today.
On reviewing the tabled documents, I think that most honourable Members will agree that Expo '92 was definitely no laughing matter. Mr. Speaker, recognizing that the report on the comptroller general's evaluation of the financial operation of the Expo '92 revolving fund comments on several very serious shortcomings, how can the Minister possibly justify the fact that this report was not tabled in the House until the last possible opportunity.
Question 704-12(3): Expo 1992 Audit
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 1423
The Speaker
Mr. Pollard.
Return To Question 704-12(3): Expo 1992 Audit
Question 704-12(3): Expo 1992 Audit
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 1424
John Pollard Hay River
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It was tabled as soon as it was delivered to me. In fact, before it was tabled in this House I had not read it myself. It was delivered as soon as it could be. Mr. Speaker, there is still one more report, yet, another auditor's report that is being done by the Audit Bureau on Expo which is not ready yet. It was delivered as soon as it could be put in the House, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.
Return To Question 704-12(3): Expo 1992 Audit
Question 704-12(3): Expo 1992 Audit
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 1424
The Speaker
Supplementary, Mr. Dent.
Supplementary To Question 704-12(3): Expo 1992 Audit
Question 704-12(3): Expo 1992 Audit
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 1424
Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My supplementary involves the report which the Minister just mentioned, the one done by the Audit Bureau. Could the Minister provide me with a better understanding of what the difference is between the report expected from the Audit Bureau and the present report which we have from the comptroller general will be?
Supplementary To Question 704-12(3): Expo 1992 Audit
Question 704-12(3): Expo 1992 Audit
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 1424
The Speaker
Mr. Pollard.
Further Return To Question 704-12(3): Expo 1992 Audit
Question 704-12(3): Expo 1992 Audit
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 1424
John Pollard Hay River
Mr. Speaker, the Audit Bureau falls under the Executive. I do not know when it will be ready and what exactly the scope will be. I know that in these kinds of audits, similar to the Auditor General's report, are delivered to departments and departments are allowed to respond. The difference between the two is that this was an evaluation which the Department of Finance did on the financial operations of Expo '92. It dealt with procedures, policy and regulations, how cash was handled, and what the responsibilities of different people at Expo. It is a technical report on how business was conducted at Expo. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Further Return To Question 704-12(3): Expo 1992 Audit
Question 704-12(3): Expo 1992 Audit
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 1424
The Speaker
Supplementary, Mr. Dent.
Supplementary To Question 704-12(3): Expo 1992 Audit
Question 704-12(3): Expo 1992 Audit
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 1424
Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Supplementary to the same Minister, could the Minister advise us of what involvement, if any, the territorial Audit Bureau had in the preparation of the evaluation which was done by the office of the comptroller general.
Supplementary To Question 704-12(3): Expo 1992 Audit
Question 704-12(3): Expo 1992 Audit
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 1424
The Speaker
Mr. Pollard.
Further Return To Question 704-12(3): Expo 1992 Audit
Question 704-12(3): Expo 1992 Audit
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 1424
John Pollard Hay River
Mr. Speaker, I am not sure if there is any, there may be some cross referencing and discussions back and forth, but I think they are two totally independent investigations into the exposition in Seville. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 704-12(3): Expo 1992 Audit
Question 704-12(3): Expo 1992 Audit
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 1424
The Speaker
Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Koe.
Question 705-12(3): Development Of Memorandum Of Understanding
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 1424
Fred Koe Inuvik
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Health. She is not present, so, I will redirect it to the Premier. Awhile back the standing committee was informed that there was a memorandum of understanding being developed between the Department of Health and hospital and health boards. I subsequently received correspondence indicating the status of the report. In the letter from the Minister, she stated that there is a call for proposals to find someone to prepare the terms of reference and proceed. I would like to know the status of the proposals. Was someone hired to proceed with development of the memorandum of understanding?