This is page numbers 365 - 396 of the Hansard for the 12th Assembly, 6th Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was chairman.

Topics

Return To Question 176-12(6): Monitoring Of Benefits Under Bip
Question 176-12(6): Monitoring Of Benefits Under Bip
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 370

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Ng.

Supplementary To Question 176-12(6): Monitoring Of Benefits Under Bip
Question 176-12(6): Monitoring Of Benefits Under Bip
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 370

Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would like to then ask the Minister if there is going to be a new person designated in the department to monitor these things to ensure that it's ongoing and that the conditions are being met, or is it going to be done by existing personnel within the department? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 176-12(6): Monitoring Of Benefits Under Bip
Question 176-12(6): Monitoring Of Benefits Under Bip
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 370

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Minister of Public Works and Services, Mr. Morin.

Further Return To Question 176-12(6): Monitoring Of Benefits Under Bip
Question 176-12(6): Monitoring Of Benefits Under Bip
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 370

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Madam Speaker. In the past years, we have beefed up the business incentive policy part of the Department of Public Works and Services. We do have two people monitoring it now. We also use project management from the Housing Corporation as well as DPWS. We are also going to work closely with the housing authorities and the local elected people to ensure that northerners are employed, especially local people, on the contracts that we administer. If not, I have instructed the department, like I said previously, to give me the hammers that we can use on these contractors that continue to defraud the government of money because they claim to be hiring northerners when, ultimately, they are hiring southerners. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 176-12(6): Monitoring Of Benefits Under Bip
Question 176-12(6): Monitoring Of Benefits Under Bip
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 370

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Ng.

Supplementary To Question 176-12(6): Monitoring Of Benefits Under Bip
Question 176-12(6): Monitoring Of Benefits Under Bip
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 370

Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot

Thank you, Madam Speaker. With regard to the commercial accommodation portion of the business incentive policy, I would like to ask the Minister what is defined as commercial accommodation within these contracts? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 176-12(6): Monitoring Of Benefits Under Bip
Question 176-12(6): Monitoring Of Benefits Under Bip
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 370

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Minister of Public Works and Services, Mr. Morin.

Further Return To Question 176-12(6): Monitoring Of Benefits Under Bip
Question 176-12(6): Monitoring Of Benefits Under Bip
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 370

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Madam Speaker. New question, accommodation. Right now, it is defined in the business incentive policy that you are to use local accommodation. There are some loopholes in that portion of it, as well, where some are getting away with building accommodation in communities and, once it's built for six months, there is a grandfather clause in the existing BIP. We are going to remove that as well so that people are going to be using existing accommodations.

We, as a government, also have a responsibility to the public to ensure that we get value for money so we will be requesting the hotels and motels throughout the Northwest Territories to submit prices for accommodation to a certain standard so that contractors are not held at ransom; for example, they are not expected to pay $250 a night for room and board. We want value for money, and the best way to do that is to get prices directly from the hotels that we can give our contractors to use in the tender documents.

It has also come to our attention that, in some cases, some hotel owners themselves are bidding on contracts, but when their competition goes to them for prices they jack the prices up so it doesn't make for a fair market, so we are moving to close those gaps, as well. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 176-12(6): Monitoring Of Benefits Under Bip
Question 176-12(6): Monitoring Of Benefits Under Bip
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 370

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. The previous question was not a new question. It's a supplementary question. May I remind the honourable Member it is the chair's responsibility to determine what is a new question.

---Applause

Supplementary, Mr. Ng.

Supplementary To Question 176-12(6): Monitoring Of Benefits Under Bip
Question 176-12(6): Monitoring Of Benefits Under Bip
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 370

Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot

Thank you for that clarification, Madam Speaker. I would then like to ask the Minister, with regard to commercial accommodation, if a contractor were to go into a community and rent a house which is a commercial residence but is not a hotel, would that qualify as commercial accommodation under the BIP? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 176-12(6): Monitoring Of Benefits Under Bip
Question 176-12(6): Monitoring Of Benefits Under Bip
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 370

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Minister of Public Works and Services, Mr. Morin.

Further Return To Question 176-12(6): Monitoring Of Benefits Under Bip
Question 176-12(6): Monitoring Of Benefits Under Bip
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 371

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Madam Speaker. No, a private home would not qualify. It's going to be to a standard, whatever facilities have to be licensed by tourism -- or wherever they get their licence from -- and it has to be recognized as commercial accommodation. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 176-12(6): Monitoring Of Benefits Under Bip
Question 176-12(6): Monitoring Of Benefits Under Bip
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 371

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Deh Cho, Mr. Gargan.

Samuel Gargan Deh Cho

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, my question is to the Premier. The Members of this Assembly made a commitment to zero tolerance for violence across the Northwest Territories, however, words are not enough. Can the Premier explain what action the government has taken to ensure zero tolerance for violence becomes a reality rather than a nice slogan?

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Minister of Health and Social Services, Madam Premier.

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Madam Speaker, I think even the term "zero tolerance" does not just depict words. It tells a story that shows, in the Northwest Territories and every other part of Canada, the severe problems we are having in that area. Madam Speaker, there are a number of areas where we are taking action, so I will take the question as notice because it will be an extended answer. Thank you.

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Frame Lake, Mr. Dent.

Question 178-12(6): Wages And Benefits Of Family Violence Workers
Item 6: Oral Questions

October 18th, 1994

Page 371

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, my question is to the Minister of Health and Social Services. In my Member's statement today, Madam Speaker, I pointed out that there is a crisis situation developing with family violence workers across the Northwest Territories. These individuals that are front line are tackling the issue of family violence and carry out work that is very stressful and, at times, dangerous. They are paid up to 40 or 50 per cent less than government workers in similar types of positions and don't have any benefits. Given this government's commitment to zero tolerance for violence, what action is the Minister prepared to take to address this issue?

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Minister of Health and Social Services, Madam Premier.

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Madam Speaker, since 1986, I realize that there have been increases in funding to some of these agencies which were approved and brought forward by the past Minister of Social Services who is now the Speaker of this Assembly. As well, there are many more programs that have been funded at the community level. As of 1986, there were only about three to five programs that were available. Madam Speaker, I will take this question as further notice to provide an extended, detailed answer on what action has been taken. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Yellowknife North, Mr. Ballantyne.

Michael Ballantyne Yellowknife North

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I have a question, Madam Speaker, to the Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Power Corporation. My question is, were there any accidental spills in the Snare hydro system in the last year which contributed to the low water in that system?

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Minister responsible for the Power Corporation, Madam Premier.

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Madam Speaker, I wouldn't mind if the Member would clarify his question.

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. The honourable Member for Yellowknife North, Mr. Ballantyne.