This is page numbers 401 - 429 of the Hansard for the 12th Assembly, 7th 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 election.

Return To Question 212-12(7): Status Of Economic Development Agreement
Question 212-12(7): Status Of Economic Development Agreement
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 407

John Todd Keewatin Central

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, we have taken a close look at the Budget Address that was given the other day. It appears that on April 1st, the EDA will be cut to the tune of $2.8 million. It will be sunsetted April 1, 1996. That is correct.

Return To Question 212-12(7): Status Of Economic Development Agreement
Question 212-12(7): Status Of Economic Development Agreement
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 407

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Supplementary, Mr. Ballantyne.

Supplementary To Question 212-12(7): Status Of Economic Development Agreement
Question 212-12(7): Status Of Economic Development Agreement
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 407

Michael Ballantyne Yellowknife North

Thank you. Perhaps the Minister could explain to this House what steps he is going to take to deal with the fact that there will be $2.8 million less in the next fiscal year.

Supplementary To Question 212-12(7): Status Of Economic Development Agreement
Question 212-12(7): Status Of Economic Development Agreement
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 407

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Todd.

Further Return To Question 212-12(7): Status Of Economic Development Agreement
Question 212-12(7): Status Of Economic Development Agreement
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 407

John Todd Keewatin Central

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is unfortunate because EDA dollars are 30-cent dollars to this government and 70-cent dollars to the feds. We are currently reviewing the dollars we have left over and trying to analyze how we are going to manage without this $3 million. I am not in a position at this time to be able to give a definitive response to the Member as to what the overall impact is going to be. I could say I think it is going to be significant. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 212-12(7): Status Of Economic Development Agreement
Question 212-12(7): Status Of Economic Development Agreement
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 407

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Mr. Ballantyne.

Supplementary To Question 212-12(7): Status Of Economic Development Agreement
Question 212-12(7): Status Of Economic Development Agreement
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 407

Michael Ballantyne Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, with a $2.8 million reduction and the program ending the year after, we have a big hole in our economic development approaches here in the Northwest Territories. We have a number of economic development programs and the federal government has a number of economic development programs, outside of the EDA. Has the Minister gotten into any discussions as to how we can possibly make what remaining programs are left more efficient and perhaps be able to deliver a lot of the programs that we will lose through the cessation of the EDA?

Supplementary To Question 212-12(7): Status Of Economic Development Agreement
Question 212-12(7): Status Of Economic Development Agreement
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 407

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Todd.

Further Return To Question 212-12(7): Status Of Economic Development Agreement
Question 212-12(7): Status Of Economic Development Agreement
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 407

John Todd Keewatin Central

I have been in discussions for some months now with Mr. Axworthy and Mr. Irwin with respect to programs like community futures, the old CAEDs program and some of the duplication that has been going on across the Northwest Territories. I have been trying to work with them to see if there is a possibility that we could access programs under the Department of Economic Development. We have gone as far as to say if they gave us community futures, we believe we could run it without any additional administrative costs. So there are intense discussions under way with respect to that.

It is my understanding from Mr. Irwin's office that they are looking at a whole new aboriginal/non-aboriginal program that would try to amalgamate some of the existing programs. We are trying to influence how that document finally comes out. We are optimistic that there is going to be some provision within the new program that comes out of Mr. Irwin's office for the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 212-12(7): Status Of Economic Development Agreement
Question 212-12(7): Status Of Economic Development Agreement
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 407

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Final supplementary, Mr. Ballantyne.

Supplementary To Question 212-12(7): Status Of Economic Development Agreement
Question 212-12(7): Status Of Economic Development Agreement
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 407

Michael Ballantyne Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think it is very important that these programs are amalgamated and that the territorial government, in partnership with aboriginal organizations, start running them all. Is the Minister prepared to, in cooperation with his Cabinet colleagues, put together an approach to the federal government that any economic development program, in any department, is repatriated to the north and have our government, in partnership with aboriginal organizations, run them in the most beneficial way for northerners?

Supplementary To Question 212-12(7): Status Of Economic Development Agreement
Question 212-12(7): Status Of Economic Development Agreement
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 407

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Todd.

Further Return To Question 212-12(7): Status Of Economic Development Agreement
Question 212-12(7): Status Of Economic Development Agreement
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 407

John Todd Keewatin Central

Mr. Speaker, that is what we are attempting to do, not only myself, but my honourable colleague, Mr. Nerysoo, the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. We are taking the coordinated approach. We are suggesting, in our discussions with the federal government, that we try to amalgamate some of these programs so there is no duplication, particularly in administration. We are out there with $5,000 grants and we are administering that. Community futures is out there. We are suggesting that this government is prepared to be the distribution arm to these programs. We haven't reached an arrangement right now, we are working very hard at it and hopefully we will be able to conclude some arrangement in the coming months. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 212-12(7): Status Of Economic Development Agreement
Question 212-12(7): Status Of Economic Development Agreement
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 408

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Pudlat.

Kenoayoak Pudlat Baffin South

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Under Members' statements, I made a brief statement this afternoon. The question I have is to the Government Leader. I am not in conflict with the people from the south who are employed in the Northwest Territories at the present time, but there have been a lot of contractors who have come to the communities in the north to work. I know that the aboriginal people have the first priority for employment in their communities. Has there been any training given to the aboriginal people to have more jobs in their own communities and in the north? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Ms. Cournoyea.

Return To Question 213-12(7): Training For Aboriginal People
Question 213-12(7): Training For Aboriginal People
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 408

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Mr. Speaker, yes, there are a number of training programs that are available to aboriginal residents of the Northwest Territories. I believe the problem the honourable Member is referring to is that, from time to time, the major contractor is a southern operator or an operator outside of the community, and perhaps the local people don't have the opportunity to get the jobs that they really should be getting; the opportunity to make a few dollars, which is limited in many communities.

The area in construction that I think the Minister of Education would be best able to elaborate on is the building and learning strategy which is coupled with construction jobs and construction contracts that are given out, Mr. Speaker.

Return To Question 213-12(7): Training For Aboriginal People
Question 213-12(7): Training For Aboriginal People
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 408

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Pudlat, supplementary.

Kenoayoak Pudlat Baffin South

(Translation) This is a question to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. We know that the Government Leader said that employment and training is being planned at the present time. I would like to know how long it is going to take to get the program to train the people for employment. Thank you.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Pudlat, this is a new question and I am going to allow other Members to ask questions, but I will let you ask this one to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Nerysoo.

Return To Question 214-12(7): Training For Aboriginal People
Question 214-12(7): Training For Aboriginal People
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 408

Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the opportunity to respond to our colleague. We have been working on a building and learning strategy since 1992. The whole intention is that through Cabinet approval, we intended to maximize training opportunities for local residents. I have been working in conjunction with the Minister of the Housing Corporation and the Minister of Public Works and Services.

The strategy has included providing training opportunities at all levels of building occupations, such as trades helpers, trades workers, supervisors, project managers and contractors. We have over 100 local residents who are receiving construction training in Baker Lake, Rankin Inlet, Pangnirtung, Igloolik, Snare Lake, Wha Ti, Fort Simpson, Fort Providence, Gjoa Haven and Coppermine. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Return To Question 214-12(7): Training For Aboriginal People
Question 214-12(7): Training For Aboriginal People
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 408

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Antoine.

Question 215-12(7): Time Frame For Winter Road Closure
Item 6: Oral Questions

March 1st, 1995

Page 408

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Transportation. It is with regard to the winter road closing; the decision that this department has made to close the winter roads in my area and other areas by March 15th. Prior to this session, Mr. Speaker, I toured my constituency by vehicle. I visited Nahanni Butte, Trout Lake and Jean Marie River by road, and the road is in very good shape. It is a good investment and the people are enjoying a good return on their dollar by using this road at the present time. The road is going to be closing in about two weeks; 24 days at the most. If you take the average, it will be closing about two weeks sooner than it normally does.

The argument that I have heard from the Minister was...Yesterday, he mentioned Fisheries and Oceans about five times. So my office called Hay River and they said they had nothing to do with that decision. The only reference I could see is that in 1991, the department faced charges for two creeks that were not dug out before that by Fisheries. So the argument for that I could see, but the decision is for the whole winter road system. There are different areas and different regions that have different climates. I would like to ask the Minister if he could reconsider that in light of the fact that there are different regions, that some regions needed additional money in the past and if his department looked at these factors when they made this decision to do a universal closure all at the same time. Thank you.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Minister of Transportation, Mr. Todd.

Return To Question 215-12(7): Time Frame For Winter Road Closure
Question 215-12(7): Time Frame For Winter Road Closure
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 408

John Todd Keewatin Central

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think I did say yesterday that while we did have some problems with Fisheries and Oceans, the primary reason for the closure was because of OPPLAN cuts. However, I do recognize the importance of this issue and I did meet with the deputy minister earlier today. I don't have any more money; it is just that simple at this stage of the game. However, I am prepared to try to work with the communities and perhaps the communities could assist us. They do have some infrastructure money that has been given to them from other departments. If they could perhaps work with us we might be able to do something. But at the present time, it would be wrong of me to say to the Member that I could extend these openings, unless I had new fiscal resources.

It does give me an opportunity to say one thing in slight defence of what we're doing. I did also ask the department what the average opening date was, over the last five years, for these roads. The average opening for Nahanni Butte was December 25th; we opened Nahanni Butte on December 1st. That is 24 days earlier. The average opening in Trout Lake was December 29th; this year, we opened it on December 22nd, seven days earlier. In Fort Wrigley, we opened it one day earlier than what we have done on average. We are attempting to do the best we can with the resources we have.

We understand that these roads are not just highways, they are a way of life, they are a way getting building materials in, cost-effective food in. Jean Marie River is an example where we know they need some help. I want to assure the honourable Member we will do what we can. I am trying quickly to see if there is some way we can look at this, but right now I don't have the fiscal resources available. Maybe through some joint cooperation with the communities we can see if there's any way, if at all possible, to extend the closing of the ice roads.