This is page numbers 825 - 862 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

Committee Motion 79-12(6): To Adopt Recommendation 4, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 856

The Chair

The Chair Tony Whitford

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Motion is carried.

---Carried

Member for North Slave, Mr. Zoe.

The Role Of Tourism

Committee Motion 79-12(6): To Adopt Recommendation 4, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 856

Henry Zoe

Henry Zoe North Slave

Worldwide competition for tourist dollars is fierce. With shrinking resources, governments have to assess where they are to invest their money and human resources to obtain the best results. The central issue is the appropriate role for tourism. There has been a great deal of discussion about whether, in times of fiscal restraint, we should be spending money in the area of tourism and parks.

Is tourism an economic development activity? If it is, then we should have cost-benefit analyses that demonstrate that tourism is effective in developing the economy of the territories. This would encourage Members of the Legislative Assembly to support tourism and approve being spent in that area. If the aim of tourism and parks is to provide recreational opportunities for citizens of the Northwest Territories, then the issue is somewhat different, and the way decisions about expenditures are made will also be different.

Therefore, our committee makes the following recommendation.

Committee Motion 80-12(6): To Adopt Recommendation 5, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 856

Henry Zoe

Henry Zoe North Slave

I move that the committee recommends that the Department of Economic Development and Tourism develop a comprehensive strategy to guide the development of parks and the tourist industry in the Northwest Territories. The strategy should be based on clear goals and objectives and accompanied by cost-benefit analyses of various strategies considered.

Committee Motion 80-12(6): To Adopt Recommendation 5, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 856

The Chair

The Chair Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Zoe. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Committee Motion 80-12(6): To Adopt Recommendation 5, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 856

An Hon. Member

Question.

Committee Motion 80-12(6): To Adopt Recommendation 5, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 856

The Chair

The Chair Tony Whitford

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Motion is carried.

---Carried

The chair continues to recognize the Member for North Slave, Mr. Zoe.

Economic Development Policies

Financial Assistance Policies And Guidelines

Committee Motion 80-12(6): To Adopt Recommendation 5, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 856

Henry Zoe

Henry Zoe North Slave

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. A key objective of the financial assistance program is that all together, they should meet the needs of Northwest Territories business people. Economic Development and Tourism managers informed the auditor that the department and corporations have a "seamless wall of programs," from contribution to equity investments. Having a "seamless wall of programs" implies that, from the client's point of view, there is one place to go for financial assistance and the entire range of services is available at that single location.

The auditors examined the idea of a "seamless wall of programs" and identified a number of problems. Committee Members are very concerned by the overlapping jurisdictions and inconsistent policies and guidelines governing the granting of financial assistance across programs in the department and the corporations. Therefore, our committee makes the following recommendation:

Committee Motion 81-12(6): To Adopt Recommendation 6, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 856

Henry Zoe

Henry Zoe North Slave

I move that the committee recommends that the government develop a rational plan for the delivery of economic development financial assistance programs across the Northwest Territories.

Committee Motion 81-12(6): To Adopt Recommendation 6, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 856

The Chair

The Chair Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Zoe. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Committee Motion 81-12(6): To Adopt Recommendation 6, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 856

An Hon. Member

Question.

Committee Motion 81-12(6): To Adopt Recommendation 6, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 856

The Chair

The Chair Tony Whitford

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Motion is carried.

---Carried

The chair continues to recognize the Member for North Slave, Mr. Zoe.

Repayable Contributions

Committee Motion 81-12(6): To Adopt Recommendation 6, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 856

Henry Zoe

Henry Zoe North Slave

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Committee Members noted a number of situations where clients who are potentially able to repay money granted are receiving assistance in the form of non-repayable grants and contributions. They also noted that other jurisdictions in Canada are reducing economic development funding and are investigating the idea of repayable contributions.

Committee Members feel that the Government of the Northwest Territories could benefit from exploring the idea of repayable contributions. Repayment could be required in all cases where it is determined to be possible. The funding could then be recycled -- used to help others who require funding assistance. Therefore, our committee makes the following recommendation.

Committee Motion 82-12(6): To Adopt Recommendation 7, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 856

Henry Zoe

Henry Zoe North Slave

I move that the committee recommends that the Department of Economic Development and Tourism and the NWT Development Corporation examine ways to replace traditional non-repayable grants and contributions with repayable contributions. Thank you.

Committee Motion 82-12(6): To Adopt Recommendation 7, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 856

The Chair

The Chair Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Zoe. We have a motion on the floor. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Committee Motion 82-12(6): To Adopt Recommendation 7, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 856

An Hon. Member

Question.

Committee Motion 82-12(6): To Adopt Recommendation 7, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 857

The Chair

The Chair Tony Whitford

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Motion is carried.

---Carried

They can't say we didn't give them an opportunity to oppose it. Thank you. Member for North Slave, Mr. Zoe.

Committee Motion 82-12(6): To Adopt Recommendation 7, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 857

Henry Zoe

Henry Zoe North Slave

At this time I would like to turn over the balance of our report to my colleague, Mr. Koe.

Conflict Of Interest Guidelines

Committee Motion 82-12(6): To Adopt Recommendation 7, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 857

Fred Koe Inuvik

Mahsi. Committee Members feel that there is greater potential in the area of economic development than in other areas of government for real or perceived conflict of interest to occur.

The auditors reviewed the various acts, policies and guidelines applicable to the boards, senior management, and staff of ED&T, and the Development Corporation. They were satisfied that Development Corporation has a good conflict of interest framework in place for all levels. The Conflict of Interest Act applies to BCC's board and manager. BCC is developing further guidelines for the board.

All ED&T and BCC employees are subject to a set of rules in the Public Service Act and regulations and the collective agreement. Provisions also include an oath of secrecy and prohibition of outside business or employment that conflicts with current duties. However, because employees have access to information that might benefit them personally, the auditors and committee Members all feel that it is necessary for the department to develop internal ED&T conflict of interest policies.

Committee Motion 83-12(6): To Adopt Recommendation 8, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

November 8th, 1994

Page 857

Fred Koe Inuvik

I move that this committee recommends that the department conduct a comprehensive review of all conflict of interest guidelines currently in place and develop appropriate internal conflict of interest policies that are separate and distinct from those in place for all public servants.

Committee Motion 83-12(6): To Adopt Recommendation 8, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 857

The Chair

The Chair Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Koe. We have a motion on the floor. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Committee Motion 83-12(6): To Adopt Recommendation 8, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 857

An Hon. Member

Question.

Committee Motion 83-12(6): To Adopt Recommendation 8, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 857

The Chair

The Chair Tony Whitford

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Motion is carried.

---Carried

The chair recognizes the Member for Inuvik, Mr. Koe.

Planned Transfer Of Parks

Committee Motion 83-12(6): To Adopt Recommendation 8, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 857

Fred Koe Inuvik

Some time ago, Cabinet directed the Department of Economic Development and Tourism to transfer responsibility for parks operations, planning and program development and related visitors' services to the Department of Renewable Resources. At the completion of the committee's review, this had not yet occurred. Although committee Members questioned the department on plans for this transfer, witnesses did not have answers.

Committee Motion 84-12(6): To Adopt Recommendation 9, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 857

Fred Koe Inuvik

I move that this committee recommends that Cabinet review its direction to transfer the parks program to the Department of Renewable Resources, and provide a report on this review and an implementation plan, if required, to the Legislative Assembly.

Committee Motion 84-12(6): To Adopt Recommendation 9, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 857

The Chair

The Chair Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Koe. We have a motion on the floor. The motion is in order. To the motion.