This is page numbers 549 - 580 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 housing.

Topics

Supplementary To Question 261-12(6): Notification Of Awg 1998 Site Selection
Question 261-12(6): Notification Of Awg 1998 Site Selection
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 556

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Ms. Mike.

Further Return To Question 261-12(6): Notification Of Awg 1998 Site Selection
Question 261-12(6): Notification Of Awg 1998 Site Selection
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 556

Rebecca Mike Baffin Central

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I am not aware if they were given written notification. But I do know that last year during the Arctic Winter Games in the Slave Lake, they were there when the discussion and the decision took place. I will look into it and provide the Member with the information he is asking about. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 261-12(6): Notification Of Awg 1998 Site Selection
Question 261-12(6): Notification Of Awg 1998 Site Selection
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 557

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Supplementary, Mr. Koe.

Supplementary To Question 261-12(6): Notification Of Awg 1998 Site Selection
Question 261-12(6): Notification Of Awg 1998 Site Selection
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 557

Fred Koe Inuvik

Mahsi. This government has two appointees to the international Arctic Winter Games committee; one of these is Don Cooper. It is my understanding that Mr. Cooper is also the president of the Arctic Winter Games International Committee. I would like to know if Mr. Cooper, in his role as president of the international committee, notified this government of the decision to award the games to Yellowknife before the announcement was made on CBC Radio.

Supplementary To Question 261-12(6): Notification Of Awg 1998 Site Selection
Question 261-12(6): Notification Of Awg 1998 Site Selection
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 557

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Ms. Mike.

Further Return To Question 261-12(6): Notification Of Awg 1998 Site Selection
Question 261-12(6): Notification Of Awg 1998 Site Selection
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 557

Rebecca Mike Baffin Central

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Not to my knowledge.

Further Return To Question 261-12(6): Notification Of Awg 1998 Site Selection
Question 261-12(6): Notification Of Awg 1998 Site Selection
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 557

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Final supplementary, Mr. Koe.

Supplementary To Question 261-12(6): Notification Of Awg 1998 Site Selection
Question 261-12(6): Notification Of Awg 1998 Site Selection
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 557

Fred Koe Inuvik

There was a bid evaluation process, so I assume that there would be a written report on how the decision was made. So my supplementary to the Minister is, would the Minister make an effort to get a written report on the decision made by the Arctic Winter Games International Committee and provide that report to this House? Mahsi.

Supplementary To Question 261-12(6): Notification Of Awg 1998 Site Selection
Question 261-12(6): Notification Of Awg 1998 Site Selection
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 557

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Ms. Mike.

Further Return To Question 261-12(6): Notification Of Awg 1998 Site Selection
Question 261-12(6): Notification Of Awg 1998 Site Selection
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 557

Rebecca Mike Baffin Central

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I will.

Further Return To Question 261-12(6): Notification Of Awg 1998 Site Selection
Question 261-12(6): Notification Of Awg 1998 Site Selection
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 557

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

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

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, as I mentioned earlier in my Member's statement, I understand the Minister of Education is reluctant to sign a memorandum of agreement covering issues related to the transfer of responsibility for Sir John Franklin High School with Yellowknife Education District No. 1. Could the Minister explain why he does not want to sign such an agreement?

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Nerysoo.

Return To Question 262-12(6): Agreement Re Sir John Franklin Transfer
Question 262-12(6): Agreement Re Sir John Franklin Transfer
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 557

Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Just so that the honourable Member is knowledgeable, we have signed already a memorandum of agreement that deals with the issues of concern between the Yellowknife Education District No. 1 and this government. What came from the last proposal that was submitted to us was a guarantee of capital expenditures.

Madam Speaker, it has been quite clear, and suggested to me, that we cannot commit other governments to financial expenditures. In fact, the Standing Committee on Finance has made it quite clear on a number of occasions that we should not be doing those kinds of things.

Return To Question 262-12(6): Agreement Re Sir John Franklin Transfer
Question 262-12(6): Agreement Re Sir John Franklin Transfer
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 557

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Dent.

Supplementary To Question 262-12(6): Agreement Re Sir John Franklin Transfer
Question 262-12(6): Agreement Re Sir John Franklin Transfer
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 557

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Supplementary, Madam Speaker. The Minister just mentioned the memorandum of agreement had been signed. It was my understanding that a letter had been sent from the Minister's office, so I'm not sure it was an actual memorandum of understanding. I may have misunderstood that.

Madam Speaker, notwithstanding the Minister saying that future governments cannot be committed, there have been long-term agreements signed. For instance, a block funding agreement with Yellowknife has been signed which goes into years beyond the first year in which it is signed.

District No. 1 is looking for a commitment from the Minister that they will not be left with an expensive bill for operating or maintaining Sir John after the transfer. My question is, will the Minister commit to meet with the public school board to see if they can come to an agreement or an understanding on that issue so that we can have some signed agreement between the two parties on this issue.

Supplementary To Question 262-12(6): Agreement Re Sir John Franklin Transfer
Question 262-12(6): Agreement Re Sir John Franklin Transfer
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 557

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Nerysoo.

Further Return To Question 262-12(6): Agreement Re Sir John Franklin Transfer
Question 262-12(6): Agreement Re Sir John Franklin Transfer
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 557

Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Yes, I will make that commitment.

Further Return To Question 262-12(6): Agreement Re Sir John Franklin Transfer
Question 262-12(6): Agreement Re Sir John Franklin Transfer
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 557

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Dent.

Supplementary To Question 262-12(6): Agreement Re Sir John Franklin Transfer
Question 262-12(6): Agreement Re Sir John Franklin Transfer
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 557

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Supplementary, Madam Speaker. I thank the Minister for that commitment. Madam Speaker, Yellowknifers are concerned not only with the transfer of Sir John but, as I pointed out in my Member's statement, the equitable funding of education in Yellowknife. I would like to ask the Minister what steps he is taking in order to make funding of schools in Yellowknife and in the rest of the Northwest Territories more equitable for people who pay property taxes towards school funding.

Supplementary To Question 262-12(6): Agreement Re Sir John Franklin Transfer
Question 262-12(6): Agreement Re Sir John Franklin Transfer
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 558

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Nerysoo.

Further Return To Question 262-12(6): Agreement Re Sir John Franklin Transfer
Question 262-12(6): Agreement Re Sir John Franklin Transfer
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 558

Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Madam Speaker. What I can indicate to the honourable Member is that has been the normal case; we're treating all boards and divisional boards as fairly as we can in terms of the formula. There are a number of issues that are outstanding, of course, Madam Speaker, on the matter of the transfer of Sir John High School: the whole issue of staffing, O and M, and the whole issue of capital expenditures in future. I do hope, Madam Speaker, that prior to coming to a final conclusion on these issues, we can reach a fair, reasonable agreement that recognizes that we're not prepared to -- at least as a government and myself as a Minister -- lay the financial burden that the honourable Member is concerned about, including the remarks that he made in his statement.

Further Return To Question 262-12(6): Agreement Re Sir John Franklin Transfer
Question 262-12(6): Agreement Re Sir John Franklin Transfer
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 558

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Antoine.

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. I would like to direct this question to the Minister responsible for Public Works and Services. It's with regard to the statement I made earlier today about communications, specifically telephone service and fax service into the small communities that I represent and into other areas, there are some other communities besides mine that require these types of services. I would like to ask the Minister if there has been any communication at all with NorthwesTel with regard to the requests that I've made and the communities have made with regard to improving and increasing the communications services into these communities. Mahsi.

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

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