This is page numbers 585 - 620 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 chairman.

Topics

Return To Question 286-12(5): Comprehensive Package For Negotiation With Federal Government
Question 286-12(5): Comprehensive Package For Negotiation With Federal Government
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 592

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Supplementary To Question 286-12(5): Comprehensive Package For Negotiation With Federal Government
Question 286-12(5): Comprehensive Package For Negotiation With Federal Government
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 592

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister of Finance -- again respecting that it's not in the public interest to have negotiations of financial arrangements in public -- would he be willing to brief the Standing Committee on Finance on the elements of this package? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 286-12(5): Comprehensive Package For Negotiation With Federal Government
Question 286-12(5): Comprehensive Package For Negotiation With Federal Government
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 592

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Minister of Finance, Mr. Pollard.

Further Return To Question 286-12(5): Comprehensive Package For Negotiation With Federal Government
Question 286-12(5): Comprehensive Package For Negotiation With Federal Government
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 592

John Pollard Hay River

Madam Speaker, there is no secret about the topics. They are formula financing, the GDP cap within that particular financing arrangement, and the perversity factor that we're concerned about. The package also contains the health billings dispute that we are in court with the federal government on right now. And, as everyone knows, Mr. Ron Irwin agreed that we could try to work that out. The package contains the minerals accord and the northern accord that Mr. Todd is pursuing with great vigour. The package contains the grants in lieu of taxes to municipalities that has been a running battle with the federal government for the past three years and the package contains the housing issue that Mr. Morin has been pursuing. We have suggested that if all those things could be on the table at the same time, we may look forward to an arrangement whereby the federal government would clear a lot of our decks of problems we have and we could look to the future with some certainty. Even to the point of discussing a formula funding agreement with them that would split, as the territories do, with incremental funding so that each territory could go its own way in 1999. Those are the elements.

As far as dollar figures back and forth about what we require, we never ever got to that stage. It was the principle that was rejected by the federal Finance Minister. From my experience with other Ministers, and in talking to Mr. Todd from his experience last week, everybody points to Mr. Martin as the man you have to beat in order to get any other federal Minister to do something for you. I will be talking to him on the phone this week and we will be pursuing him at a meeting within the next two weeks, Madam Speaker. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 286-12(5): Comprehensive Package For Negotiation With Federal Government
Question 286-12(5): Comprehensive Package For Negotiation With Federal Government
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 592

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Supplementary To Question 286-12(5): Comprehensive Package For Negotiation With Federal Government
Question 286-12(5): Comprehensive Package For Negotiation With Federal Government
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 592

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, since the federal Minister of Finance seems to be taking a divide and conquer approach to the Government of the Northwest Territories' wish to have a comprehensive discussion of our fiscal needs, I would like to ask the Minister of Finance, notwithstanding his efforts with the MP for the western Arctic and others, has he asked the Premier to intervene with the Prime Minister to place the proper priority on this comprehensive approach? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 286-12(5): Comprehensive Package For Negotiation With Federal Government
Question 286-12(5): Comprehensive Package For Negotiation With Federal Government
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 592

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Minister of Finance, Mr. Pollard.

Further Return To Question 286-12(5): Comprehensive Package For Negotiation With Federal Government
Question 286-12(5): Comprehensive Package For Negotiation With Federal Government
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 592

John Pollard Hay River

Madam Speaker, I briefed the Premier from Calgary on Thursday and it was agreed between ourselves, Jack Anawak, and Ethel Blondin-Andrew that we wouldn't bring the Premier into the issue until such time as we had exhausted the next meeting with Mr. Martin. But, certainly, if we're not successful...and I'm not knocking the federal Finance Minister, he's doing his job, but he doesn't have enough time to understand the complexities, the problems we have here and the issue we want to place before him in a comprehensive fashion. We are hoping to plead our case again and have our two MPs present to support us. If we're not successful at that time, we'll come back and ask the Premier if she will intervene with the Prime Minister. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Further Return To Question 286-12(5): Comprehensive Package For Negotiation With Federal Government
Question 286-12(5): Comprehensive Package For Negotiation With Federal Government
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 592

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Final supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Supplementary To Question 286-12(5): Comprehensive Package For Negotiation With Federal Government
Question 286-12(5): Comprehensive Package For Negotiation With Federal Government
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 592

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I wasn't completely satisfied with the response to my second question, Madam Speaker, so I'm going to pursue it with the Minister. I will refer to the recommendation of the Standing Committee on Finance, on page 44 of our report, that there should be an integrated plan and political strategy and that it should be available to the Standing Committee on Finance for review in

February 1994. I would like to ask the Minister, Madam Speaker, about more than just the elements of the plan. We all know what the major fiscal issues are. Since these important discussions are going on now with the federal government, will the Minister of Finance brief the Standing Committee on Finance, on a confidential basis, on not only the plan but also the political strategy that this package approach represents? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 286-12(5): Comprehensive Package For Negotiation With Federal Government
Question 286-12(5): Comprehensive Package For Negotiation With Federal Government
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 593

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Minister of Finance, Mr. Pollard.

Further Return To Question 286-12(5): Comprehensive Package For Negotiation With Federal Government
Question 286-12(5): Comprehensive Package For Negotiation With Federal Government
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 593

John Pollard Hay River

Madam Speaker, I will certainly do it, I will. But, I don't have much more to tell the Standing Committee on Finance than I've told this House. Those are the issues. We know that Mr. Morin is short $43 million from the federal coffers. We know that the dispute on health billings is $79 million. We know that the municipalities are not getting their taxes paid by the federal government and we know those particular amounts. We know that it is the formula funding agreement that is mostly holding up the northern accord and the minerals accord. I'll certainly sit down with the Standing Committee on Finance and discuss the issue. But, have I got a piece of paper that says, Well, here Paul, you give us $20 million for this and we'll forget this over here and then cut us a little bit there and give us a grant over there. I don't have that written down on paper, Madam Speaker. But, I'll certainly agree to meet with the Standing Committee on Finance. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 286-12(5): Comprehensive Package For Negotiation With Federal Government
Question 286-12(5): Comprehensive Package For Negotiation With Federal Government
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 593

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. The honourable Member for Yellowknife North, Mr. Ballantyne.

Michael Ballantyne Yellowknife North

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Over the past couple of days there has been a lot of discussion about potential in mining and potential opportunities for northern employment in mining. My question to the Minister is, have his officials had an opportunity to sit down with the mining industry and explore ways we can assist in providing those opportunities to northerners?

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

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

Return To Question 287-12(5): Meetings With Mining Industry Re Provision Of Northern Employment
Question 287-12(5): Meetings With Mining Industry Re Provision Of Northern Employment
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 593

Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr., or Madam Speaker. Excuse me. I want to indicate to the honourable Member that our initial discussions centred around the matter of the Izok Lake development. It included Metall and the communities of the Kitikmeot. What we are now doing is expanding that discussion to include other developments with my honourable colleague, the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism and the Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources. That department has been the coordinating body for the development of an overall position on development. It will include the matter of responding to educational and training needs.

Return To Question 287-12(5): Meetings With Mining Industry Re Provision Of Northern Employment
Question 287-12(5): Meetings With Mining Industry Re Provision Of Northern Employment
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 593

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Ballantyne.

Supplementary To Question 287-12(5): Meetings With Mining Industry Re Provision Of Northern Employment
Question 287-12(5): Meetings With Mining Industry Re Provision Of Northern Employment
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 593

Michael Ballantyne Yellowknife North

Thank you, Madam Speaker. It is still premature for anyone to be certain but if we are to be optimistic and the signs are optimistic right now, there is a good chance that construction could start on a mine within the next year. So, there's not a lot of time. The Minister knows full well the problem we've had in the past of getting our people geared up to take advantage of these opportunities. Can I ask the Minister if he will commit to sitting down with mining companies -- especially in the diamond area -- in the next couple of weeks, having discussions with them, and reporting back to this House the sort of arrangements he's able to make with them to get at this immediately? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Supplementary To Question 287-12(5): Meetings With Mining Industry Re Provision Of Northern Employment
Question 287-12(5): Meetings With Mining Industry Re Provision Of Northern Employment
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 593

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

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

Further Return To Question 287-12(5): Meetings With Mining Industry Re Provision Of Northern Employment
Question 287-12(5): Meetings With Mining Industry Re Provision Of Northern Employment
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 593

Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Yes, we will certainly try to see if we can arrange for those meetings. I can indicate to the honourable Member that, really, my colleague, the Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, is the key Minister in this issue. I can indicate also what was identified for the Izok Lake development. We are talking about total number of requirements, not only those who were part of the production of that project, but overall positions. We were able to identify the overall requirements. Those requirements may be applicable, also, in the diamond mining industry. It is just a matter of the training that is required and it could be that we have already been able to identify that. I believe we have already met with the Dogrib communities, as well, identifying positions. So, we have already done some of the work, and what we probably need to do is be more specific about the actual job requirements and training requirements specific to the diamond industry.

Further Return To Question 287-12(5): Meetings With Mining Industry Re Provision Of Northern Employment
Question 287-12(5): Meetings With Mining Industry Re Provision Of Northern Employment
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 593

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. The honourable Member for Kitikmeot, Mr. Ng.

Question 288-12(5): Report On Ottawa Meetings
Item 5: Oral Questions

March 14th, 1994

Page 593

Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Finance, again, and it is with regard to his trip late last week to Ottawa to discuss financial matters with some of the federal Ministers, besides Mr. Martin, who said no to looking at dealing with the financial issues of the territorial government in a package deal. I would like to ask the Minister if he could advise this House of other meetings that took place in Ottawa and the results of those meetings. Thank you.

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Minister of Finance, Mr. Pollard.

Return To Question 288-12(5): Report On Ottawa Meetings
Question 288-12(5): Report On Ottawa Meetings
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 594

John Pollard Hay River

Madam Speaker, I attended the meeting with Mr. Irwin, and then I met with Mr. Todd and the staff the following day to go over what the plan of action should be. I think Mr. Ballantyne was involved in that. Beyond that, I didn't have any more meetings with federal Ministers, Madam Speaker. Thank you.

Return To Question 288-12(5): Report On Ottawa Meetings
Question 288-12(5): Report On Ottawa Meetings
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 594

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. The honourable Member for Yellowknife North, Mr. Ballantyne.