This is page numbers 821 - 852 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

Supplementary To Question 377-12(5): GNWT Regulatory Authority To Control Prices Of Consumer Products
Question 377-12(5): GNWT Regulatory Authority To Control Prices Of Consumer Products
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 830

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Minister of Safety and Public Services, Mr. Nerysoo.

Further Return To Question 377-12(5): GNWT Regulatory Authority To Control Prices Of Consumer Products
Question 377-12(5): GNWT Regulatory Authority To Control Prices Of Consumer Products
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 830

Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

I'll certainly consider the comments that have been made by the honourable Member and review whether there is any need for us to introduce legislation. If there is, we will consider it, but I would suggest that we review the matter prior to making any final decisions.

Further Return To Question 377-12(5): GNWT Regulatory Authority To Control Prices Of Consumer Products
Question 377-12(5): GNWT Regulatory Authority To Control Prices Of Consumer Products
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 830

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. The honourable Member for Natilikmiot, Mr. Ningark.

John Ningark Natilikmiot

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, my question is for the honourable Minister of Transportation. According to my information, Madam Speaker, Ptarmigan Air is planning to start scheduled service to Gjoa Haven, Taloyoak, Holman Island and Pelly Bay during the coming summer. Also according to my information, the company anticipates a load restriction for Gjoa Haven as a result of the runway being too short. I know the community would want to have the full service of the airline. The company will be using the runway, the terminal building, air traffic control and so on, therefore, the community would want to have the full service of the company.

I want to ask the honourable Minister to assure me and this House that the extension of the runway will be constructed during this upcoming summer, in order to accommodate the needed service to that community. Thank you.

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Minister of Transportation, Mr. Todd.

Return To Question 378-12(5): Extension Of Runway For Gjoa Haven
Question 378-12(5): Extension Of Runway For Gjoa Haven
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 830

John Todd Keewatin Central

Under the current capital planning process, Madam Speaker, I don't believe that dollars are being allocated to the expansion or improvement of the Gjoa Haven runway. However, there is money in the budget to improve the air terminal facility there. Given this new event and the fact that Ptarmigan Airways with its new Gulf Stream converted to passenger and freight, I will take the honourable Member's request under consideration and we will see if we can fit it somewhere into the capital process in the coming months. Thank you.

Return To Question 378-12(5): Extension Of Runway For Gjoa Haven
Question 378-12(5): Extension Of Runway For Gjoa Haven
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 830

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

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

Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My question is directed to the Minister of Personnel. I thank her for providing the staff housing guidelines that she tabled a couple of days ago. The guidelines state that employees at or above a regional superintendent level are to be assigned one bedroom larger than the size normally allocated, based on the employee's needs. I can say that in the Kitikmeot, history has proven the matter of over accommodation of regional management staff to be the norm rather than the exception. I would like to ask the Minister why there are two standards for allocation of staff housing, which clearly favours senior government staff employees by allowing them to be over- accommodated? Thank you.

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Minister of Personnel, Ms. Mike.

Return To Question 379-12(5): Double Standard For Allocation Of Staff Housing
Question 379-12(5): Double Standard For Allocation Of Staff Housing
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 830

Rebecca Mike Baffin Central

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My department informs me that this guideline has been in place for quite some time now. When I asked the same question to my DM, one of the reasons that was given to me was in the past it has been used to lure credible employees to come to smaller communities from the southern market. Thank you.

Return To Question 379-12(5): Double Standard For Allocation Of Staff Housing
Question 379-12(5): Double Standard For Allocation Of Staff Housing
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 830

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Ng.

Supplementary To Question 379-12(5): Double Standard For Allocation Of Staff Housing
Question 379-12(5): Double Standard For Allocation Of Staff Housing
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 830

Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister then why, if she recognizes the obvious favouritism towards senior government employees, she allows them to be over-accommodated? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 379-12(5): Double Standard For Allocation Of Staff Housing
Question 379-12(5): Double Standard For Allocation Of Staff Housing
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 830

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Minister of Personnel, Ms. Mike.

Further Return To Question 379-12(5): Double Standard For Allocation Of Staff Housing
Question 379-12(5): Double Standard For Allocation Of Staff Housing
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 831

Rebecca Mike Baffin Central

Thank you, Madam Speaker. If this guideline was put in ten years ago, I don't consider it being a favouritism. It was put in to attract credible employees who we could not find in the north. However, I will work to try to change the guideline if that's how this House wants to see it. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 379-12(5): Double Standard For Allocation Of Staff Housing
Question 379-12(5): Double Standard For Allocation Of Staff Housing
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 831

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Ng.

Supplementary To Question 379-12(5): Double Standard For Allocation Of Staff Housing
Question 379-12(5): Double Standard For Allocation Of Staff Housing
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 831

Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot

Thank you. So the Minister has recognized, I take it from her answer, and committed to changing the guidelines to ensure fairness and equity. I would like to ask her, if that is the case, when she plans on making this change to the policy to ensure fairness to all employees, regardless of their ranking? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 379-12(5): Double Standard For Allocation Of Staff Housing
Question 379-12(5): Double Standard For Allocation Of Staff Housing
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 831

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Minister of Personnel, Ms. Mike.

Further Return To Question 379-12(5): Double Standard For Allocation Of Staff Housing
Question 379-12(5): Double Standard For Allocation Of Staff Housing
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 831

Rebecca Mike Baffin Central

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I do have weekly meetings with my DM. I will discuss it further with him. However, if it will mean that we will no longer be able to attract qualified senior staff for the regions, then we will have to give other considerations how best we can make the jobs, especially in remote areas, attractive to people who have qualifications to fill those positions we need in the regions. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 379-12(5): Double Standard For Allocation Of Staff Housing
Question 379-12(5): Double Standard For Allocation Of Staff Housing
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 831

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. The honourable Member for Aivilik, Mr. Arvaluk.

Question 380-12(5): Access Road In Chesterfield Inlet
Item 5: Oral Questions

March 23rd, 1994

Page 831

James Arvaluk Aivilik

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Transportation. I have talked to the Minister on several occasions, asking him questions regarding the need for an access road in Chesterfield Inlet to the fishing camp. I also asked him on several occasions in the House, if that can be considered or if it has been considered by the department. My question is, since it's been several years ago that I brought it up for the first time and I've been bringing it up subsequently, if he has analyzed that that kind of access road can be utilized for Chesterfield Inlet. Thank you.

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Minister of Transportation, Mr. Todd.

Return To Question 380-12(5): Access Road In Chesterfield Inlet
Question 380-12(5): Access Road In Chesterfield Inlet
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 831

John Todd Keewatin Central

Thank you, Madam Speaker. We do have a program in place, as I said when my budget came before the House, and that's the access road program. It does have a limitation. The dollars for the current year are $600,000; $750,000 for the next year and $1 million for the next year. These access roads are an initiative of the communities, and the honourable Member has spoken to me on a number of occasions about this issue, and so have other municipalities. I have corresponded with these municipalities and asked them to give us a multi-year proposal showing where they would contribute and where we could contribute to the development of these small access roads. To date, we do not have the proposal for Chesterfield Inlet, but it is under discussion right now. Thank you.

Return To Question 380-12(5): Access Road In Chesterfield Inlet
Question 380-12(5): Access Road In Chesterfield Inlet
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 831

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Arvaluk.

Supplementary To Question 380-12(5): Access Road In Chesterfield Inlet
Question 380-12(5): Access Road In Chesterfield Inlet
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 831

James Arvaluk Aivilik

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The proposal will probably come forth, however, as he knows, the hamlet itself in the last couple of years has been in the recovery program. For those kinds of hamlets that are under the recovery program, or haven't recovered from the recovery program, what is the method of submitting a proposal if the municipality cannot afford what the Minister has just stated?

Supplementary To Question 380-12(5): Access Road In Chesterfield Inlet
Question 380-12(5): Access Road In Chesterfield Inlet
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 831

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Minister of Transportation, Mr. Todd.