This is page numbers 155 - 182 of the Hansard for the 12th Assembly, 5th 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 languages.

Topics

The Speaker

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. The honourable Member for Inuvik, Mr. Koe.

Fred Koe Inuvik

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Social Services. In the last three years, there has been much reorganization and restructuring of departments. I understand that the department of Social Services has also done some restructuring of its own, and through this restructuring and reorganization, roles and responsibilities of regional superintendents have changed. Can the Minister confirm whether or not the roles and responsibilities of regional superintendents have been enhanced?

The Speaker

Thank you. Minister responsible for Social Services, Ms. Mike.

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Rebecca Mike Baffin Central

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The reorganization of Social Services at headquarters is complete. Regional reorganizations are expected to be completed by the end of March. I am not aware at this point in time whether the superintendents' roles will be changed. If they are, it is going to be enhanced responsibility to the regions. Thank you.

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The Speaker

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. The honourable Member for Iqaluit, Mr. Patterson.

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Yes, thank you, Madam Speaker. I would like to ask the Premier, since the federal infrastructure program was referred to in the Minister of Finance's budget address, which Minister is responsible, within our government, for the relations to do with the federal infrastructure program? Thank you.

The Speaker

Thank you. Madam Premier.

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Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Madam Speaker, the Minister responsible is the Honourable John Pollard.

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The Speaker

Item 5, oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

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Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

You can tell me if this is in order, but I then would like to pose a question to Mr. Pollard about that program.

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The Speaker

Since it is to a different Minister and I do not see other Members wanting oral questions, you may proceed with Mr. Pollard.

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would like ask Mr. Pollard, since this is now an enhanced program and is going to have NWT-wide application, just how would a community in the Northwest Territories go about accessing federal cost-share for a municipal capital work? Thank you.

The Speaker

Thank you. Minister responsible for Finance, Health and infrastructure funding, Mr. Pollard.

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John Pollard Hay River

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, we have not reached total agreement with the federal government yet on the application process, nor the criteria. That's because their proposal to us was not acceptable. I think

I said in the budget speech that Premier Cournoyea wrote to the Prime Minister and we've recently heard in the last ten days that they are willing to make some arrangements with us that would fit the local landscape better and enhance the program with some more dollars. What we are suggesting, Madam Speaker, to the federal government is that it would be done through the offices of Mr. Nerysoo under the same kinds of arrangements as the workers' training program that we had, the $6 million program that we had there through his department, and that the criteria would change. Whereas the other one was geared towards training people, this would be geared towards a capital project that would improve infrastructure in a community.

If we are successful in convincing the federal government that that is the way to go, and the mechanism in place, there won't be a lot of overhead. The majority of the dollars will get to the communities and to the people out there, and we'll see some infrastructure work done in communities. Not on a grand scale, I realize how expensive it is to do work in these communities, but we will get some things done and some people employed. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

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The Speaker

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

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Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I appreciate that information. Madam Speaker, I also understand that the

program is still in the developing stages. But I would like to ask the Minister, to the extent he can answer this, as I understand it, the program in southern Canada requires a matching contribution from a municipality or a provincial government. Since many of our municipalities don't have much revenue-raising capacity because of their small size or because of the undeveloped economy, will the Minister be looking at a more flexible approach in the Northwest Territories to allowing communities to participate in this opportunity? Thank you.

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The Speaker

Thank you. Minister of Finance, Mr. Pollard.

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John Pollard Hay River

Madam Speaker, we're certainly aware of the fiscal capacities, or incapacity at times, of the smaller communities. They don't have a tax-base and they don't have the ability to raise revenues. So, yes, we will try and put in a program that is flexible and recognizes their problems. Hopefully, we will be able to announce that program, certainly by the end of this session, Madam Speaker. Thank you.

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The Speaker

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

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Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I take it, Madam Speaker, that our government's intention, is that these capital works projects with a big labour component could actually get off the ground as early as this coming fiscal year, this coming summer season. Thank you.

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The Speaker

Thank you. Minister of Finance, Mr. Pollard.

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John Pollard Hay River

Madam Speaker, the Prime Minister has made it very clear that he wants this program to go ahead. He's made it very clear what the guidelines are, that it has to be infrastructure that we're dealing with. So we're not getting any resistance from the federal government with regard to time, other than that we have to come to some arrangement with them on our unique situation in the Northwest Territories.

I do anticipate that that will be completed. I know that Mr. Nerysoo's department can process these applications quickly, as long as the criteria is in place. So I believe that there will be some communities in the Northwest Territories this year that will be able to access that program. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

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The Speaker

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. Item 6, written questions. Item 7, returns to written questions. Item 8, replies to opening address. Item 9, replies to budget address. Item 10, petitions. Mr. Clerk.

Item 10: Petitions
Item 10: Petitions

February 15th, 1994

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Clerk Of The House Mr. David Hamilton

Madam Speaker, I wish to report that according to rule 42(1), Petition 3-12(5) addressed to the Premier containing 369 signatures calling for the resignation of the Honourable John Todd from the Workers' Compensation portfolio has been filed by a Member in accordance with the rules.

Item 10: Petitions
Item 10: Petitions

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The Speaker

Item 10, petitions. Item 11, reports of standing and special committees. Item 12, reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 13, tabling of documents. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Nerysoo.