This is page numbers 753 - 787 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 development.

Topics

Committee Motion 31-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 10, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just a general question regarding economic planning and analysis. I understand that the department has economic analysts in each region except for the Kitikmeot. Is that correct? I just want to get some clarification on the status of those positions.

Committee Motion 31-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 10, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair Brian Lewis

Mr. Todd.

Committee Motion 31-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 10, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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John Todd Keewatin Central

If it is okay, I will ask Mr. Bailey to answer that question. He's involved in the reorganization of the department on an intimate level.

Committee Motion 31-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 10, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair Brian Lewis

Mr. Bailey.

Committee Motion 31-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 10, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Bailey

As a result of the reorganization, some of the bigger regions will be positioning economic planners. Inuvik, for example, is going to take one of their positions and turn it into a planning position. Baffin is going to do that. The other position that we are transferring out to the regions will be application assessors. As part of the reorganization, we're increasing the staffing component in the planning unit at headquarters and we'll have three planners here, two that will travel to the regions and work with the regions.

Committee Motion 31-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 10, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 767

The Chair Brian Lewis

Thank you. Mr. Ng.

Committee Motion 31-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 10, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot

With the decentralization of some of the decision-making out to the regions -- and theoretically, that makes it more accessible for clients to access programs which will in turn generate increased work- load, program demands, funding applications and that type of thing -- wouldn't you see the need to have these positions out in the regions? Is that the long-term goal?

Committee Motion 31-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 10, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 768

The Chair Brian Lewis

Mr. Todd.

Committee Motion 31-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 10, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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John Todd Keewatin Central

We are already transferring seven PYs out to the regions from headquarters to provide the support that Mr. Antoine spoke about, as it relates to new spending authorities. Like everybody else, there is a limitation of our resources and I understand we only have three positions. At this time, there is no plan to transfer these positions out to the regions.

However, we are developing regional planning strategies with the communities and with the regions. We are funding them and we are using, in some cases, consultants and some people in-house. Thank you.

Committee Motion 31-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 10, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair Brian Lewis

Anybody else? We are on page 17-13. Mr. Patterson.

Committee Motion 31-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 10, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Just one other matter, Mr. Chairman. I would like to ask the Minister if he or his staff have had a chance to consider the whole question of developing programs or policies to support film-making ventures in the Northwest Territories, as do most other provinces and the Yukon? Has some work been done on that or will the Minister undertake to examine this important opportunity for the Northwest Territories? Thank you.

Committee Motion 31-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 10, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair Brian Lewis

Thank you, Mr. Patterson. Mr. Todd.

Committee Motion 31-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 10, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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John Todd Keewatin Central

The simple answer is no, we have no policy in place. I agree with the honourable Member, there have been a number of instances lately and a few in the past, particularly in the Member's riding, where there has been a great deal of film making. We're told that in the latest exercise that is going on in Yellowknife for Frostfire, that they're going to leave close to $675,000 spent in the Northwest Territories. We provided them with some financial assistance, somewhere between $50,000 to $75,000, I believe. That is a good return for investment, in my opinion.

We're encouraged with this development and we're going to take a hard look at it, but there is nothing in place at the present time. Thank you.

Committee Motion 31-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 10, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair Brian Lewis

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Are you finished, Mr. Patterson?

Committee Motion 31-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 10, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Yes, thank you.

Committee Motion 31-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 10, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair Brian Lewis

Anybody else? Mr. Allooloo.

Committee Motion 31-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 10, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Titus Allooloo Amittuq

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I believe under policy and planning, the department was trying to promote Inuit carving in Japan, which I took part in on behalf of the Minister about a year ago. How is that project going in Japan? Thank you.

Committee Motion 31-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 10, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair Brian Lewis

Mr. Todd.

Committee Motion 31-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 10, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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John Todd Keewatin Central

It doesn't really come under that category, but I can answer the question. Right now, we're working a lot more closely with the cooperative movement, in relationship to the arts and crafts. I guess I could categorize the development as being stable. In other words, there has been no growth in it at this time. Thank you.

Committee Motion 31-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 10, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair Brian Lewis

Thank you, Mr. Todd. Mr. Arvaluk.

Committee Motion 31-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 10, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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James Arvaluk Aivilik

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I don't know if this question belongs under policy and planning. If not, you can redirect me, Mr. Chairman. The Rankin Inlet meat plant was extremely impressed with the quality of the caribou meat that was being bought from Coral Harbour. They request another 400 carcasses. However, my concern is that the top dollar they are paying for this -- if a specific kind of caribou meat, I think, is $30 for a full caribou, dressed. The hunters feel that this is rather cheap considering that you have to use about 10 gallons of gas to get some caribou, and the average load is usually about four or five caribou. That doesn't really pay for the trip itself, considering that ammunition and everything else has to be bought. Is there a plan to increase the payment that is made to the hunter? I know that the HTA is helpless in determining as to what they could buy the caribou for because the actual buyers, like the meat plant or the government have to set the price. Is there a plan to make it a more reasonable return for the hunter?

Secondly, is there a plan to increase the quota of commercial harvest in Coral Harbour in order to stabilize the population growth of the Southampton Island caribou?

Committee Motion 31-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 10, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 768

The Chair Brian Lewis

Thank you, Mr. Arvaluk. Mr. Todd.

Committee Motion 31-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 10, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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John Todd Keewatin Central

The gathering of caribou on Southampton Island and the quota, of course, is established by Renewable Resources in discussion with us. This is an organized hunt because the population of the caribou have become, I believe, too large. I stand to be corrected, but I believe that's it.

I'm not aware of any movement to increase the quota at this time. However, Renewable Resources does work very closely with us on the issue.

With respect to the cost and the price that is being paid, there is no plan, at this time, to increase any additional per pound or per carcass cost. I should stress that this hunt is heavily subsidized through the EDA, and that the NWT Development Corporation purchases the meat for the fish plant or the meat plant. They determine the costs. To some extent, it's market driven because of the cost of the end product they have to sell in the stores. As far as I'm aware, in discussions with Mr. Leonard, the chairman, there is no intent to increase the price, at this time, of the caribou that is currently purchased. Thank you.

Committee Motion 31-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 10, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 768

The Chair Brian Lewis

Thank you, Mr. Todd. Mr. Arvaluk.

Committee Motion 31-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 10, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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James Arvaluk Aivilik

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Is there a market being devolved right now for Coral Harbour/ Southampton Island caribou to be marketed beyond Rankin Inlet? At every

session where I mingle with people in Yellowknife, for example, and I've been in some other places too like Hay River, Fort Smith and Inuvik which are larger centres than we have. I notice that when you participate in the hunting trip in Yellowknife, for example, you consider yourself to be fairly discriminatory about what kind of caribou you hunt. Very seldom, I see fairly healthy, fat caribou around here. In most cases it's not the fault of the hunter, but in the normal circumstances most of the caribou here are not fat. I notice that when I bring some from Coral Harbour, the whole carcass is gone in 15 minutes because they like it so much here. Is there any plan to market -- at least to promote -- the fact that caribou from Southampton Island is normally like this? They are one of the disease-free herds that have been studied by Renewable Resources. Is there anything going on beyond the Rankin Inlet meat market?