This is page numbers 643 - 675 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 chairman.

Topics

Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Finance. Recognizing our financial situation in the territories, I wonder if the Minister of Finance has ever considered looking at pooling the amount of Aeroplan points or Canadian Plus points that this government or government employees acquire when travelling. I wonder if he's ever considered putting these into a fund for travel for the Government of the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Minister of Finance, Mr. Pollard.

Return To Question 340-12(7): GNWT Use Of Employees' Air Travel Points
Question 340-12(7): GNWT Use Of Employees' Air Travel Points
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 657

John Pollard Hay River

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it's no secret that my preference would be that benefits accrue to the government from points earned by government employees, MLAs and people working for the government and spending government money for those tickets. The points should be used for either negotiating a discount with airlines and saying we won't accept points, or using those points for travel for the GNWT as it moves people around. I haven't met with a great deal of success, Mr. Speaker, in convincing even Members of this House that that is the way it should be. But it has been considered and looked at. I know for a fact that the offices of the Auditor General of Canada use the points for department travel, and I'm certainly interested in having those points accrue to the people of the Northwest Territories through the government. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Return To Question 340-12(7): GNWT Use Of Employees' Air Travel Points
Question 340-12(7): GNWT Use Of Employees' Air Travel Points
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 657

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Supplementary To Question 340-12(7): GNWT Use Of Employees' Air Travel Points
Question 340-12(7): GNWT Use Of Employees' Air Travel Points
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 657

Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would just like to ask the Minister whether he would consider borrowing from the federal government a policy they have in place for their point system and consider developing one similar for the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 340-12(7): GNWT Use Of Employees' Air Travel Points
Question 340-12(7): GNWT Use Of Employees' Air Travel Points
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 657

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Pollard.

Further Return To Question 340-12(7): GNWT Use Of Employees' Air Travel Points
Question 340-12(7): GNWT Use Of Employees' Air Travel Points
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 657

John Pollard Hay River

Mr. Speaker, I'm aware of the federal government policy and, yes, I am interested in making that a similar policy apply to this particular jurisdiction. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 340-12(7): GNWT Use Of Employees' Air Travel Points
Question 340-12(7): GNWT Use Of Employees' Air Travel Points
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 657

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Supplementary To Question 340-12(7): GNWT Use Of Employees' Air Travel Points
Question 340-12(7): GNWT Use Of Employees' Air Travel Points
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 657

Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Could I ask the Minister when he will consider something like this? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 340-12(7): GNWT Use Of Employees' Air Travel Points
Question 340-12(7): GNWT Use Of Employees' Air Travel Points
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 657

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Pollard.

Further Return To Question 340-12(7): GNWT Use Of Employees' Air Travel Points
Question 340-12(7): GNWT Use Of Employees' Air Travel Points
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 657

John Pollard Hay River

Mr. Speaker, I'd consider it tomorrow. I should say, though, that it really needs to be handled in the context of Mr. Patterson's question which is about general travel in the Northwest Territories and how the government books that travel. We know there are some efficiencies there and when we do eventually come to grips with that problem, that's when the points would have to be decided as well. As I said to Mr. Patterson, I'm still interested -- before the life of this government is over -- in doing something and I'll continue to push the issue. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Further Return To Question 340-12(7): GNWT Use Of Employees' Air Travel Points
Question 340-12(7): GNWT Use Of Employees' Air Travel Points
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 657

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

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

Question 341-12(7): Current Status Of Eda
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 657

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for Mr. Todd. I am sure the Minister knows what a critical tool the EDA has been for job creation and economic development in less economically developed areas of the Northwest Territories and I know he's been working hard to reinstate the cut funding. I would like to ask the Minister, what is the current status now on the future of the EDA? Thank you.

Question 341-12(7): Current Status Of Eda
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 657

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Minister of Economic Development and Tourism, Mr. Todd.

Return To Question 341-12(7): Current Status Of Eda
Question 341-12(7): Current Status Of Eda
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 657

John Todd Keewatin Central

I'm not trying to reinstate it. The fact of the matter is, the federal government has arbitrarily cut it by 50 per cent. What we're working with the federal government on is an alternative program and we're working close with Mr. Irwin's office in trying to influence the agenda for an alternative program. This year -- just to bring Mr. Patterson up to date -- it has been 50 per cent cut, which is roughly about $2.8 million and the current EDA, as we understand it, will sunset in April 1996. Thank you.

Return To Question 341-12(7): Current Status Of Eda
Question 341-12(7): Current Status Of Eda
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 657

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Supplementary To Question 341-12(7): Current Status Of Eda
Question 341-12(7): Current Status Of Eda
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 657

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

This is very alarming news, Mr. Speaker, and I am familiar with the federal government's intentions. I would like to ask the Minister what he has done or will do to try to head off this turn of events. Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 341-12(7): Current Status Of Eda
Question 341-12(7): Current Status Of Eda
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 657

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Todd.

Further Return To Question 341-12(7): Current Status Of Eda
Question 341-12(7): Current Status Of Eda
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 657

John Todd Keewatin Central

We have, Mr. Speaker, as I said, been working with the Minister's office in an effort to influence whatever new policy would come in place for the Northwest Territories. The position we've taken is that we would like to see a program of similar design as the EDA specific to the NWT. Currently, there's a movement to see if we would be prepared to be part of the western diversification fund and I felt

we could get a bit swallowed there with the larger provinces. I think we have an understanding -- and I stress "think" -- with Mr. Irwin's office that we should have a funding policy or program that is specific to the NWT and that's what we're currently working on, in conjunction with his office, Mr. Doherty, who is the lead man in this, and also Mr. Anawak, the MP for Nunatsiaq and the Parliamentary Secretary.

Further Return To Question 341-12(7): Current Status Of Eda
Question 341-12(7): Current Status Of Eda
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 658

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Supplementary To Question 341-12(7): Current Status Of Eda
Question 341-12(7): Current Status Of Eda
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 658

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister mentions discussions with the Minister's office and the Minister's officials. I would like to ask the Minister -- bearing in mind the House is in session but I think this is an extremely important issue to the people of the Northwest Territories -- is he planning to meet face to face with Mr. Irwin to discuss this issue and impress upon him the importance of as much as possible reviving this important program? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 341-12(7): Current Status Of Eda
Question 341-12(7): Current Status Of Eda
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 658

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Todd.

Further Return To Question 341-12(7): Current Status Of Eda
Question 341-12(7): Current Status Of Eda
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 658

John Todd Keewatin Central

The EDA and support programs for the Northwest Territories are currently under review. Community futures is another one under review which is fairly effective, in my opinion. It is a priority with myself, as the Minister. We've indicated both to Mr. Irwin, Mr. Axworthy and the community futures program that we would like to take these programs over. We think we can run them in a more cost-effective way and still maintain the capital that we can give or loan out to small businesses. So, it is a priority.

I'm currently having discussions with Mr. Irwin's office in an effort to seek a meeting with him. I will know today or tomorrow whether I can discuss the matter of the community futures program, in consultation with my colleague, Mr. Nerysoo, with Mr. Axworthy possibly this Friday. I want to assure my colleague that we recognize the importance of what EDA has contributed and I don't think I have to remind everybody that it was 70-cent dollars from the feds and 30-cent dollars to us. However, the reality is with budget restraints and cutbacks at the federal level is that we have to look somewhere else and we have to look a little more creatively. That is why we are working on a weekly basis with Mr. Irwin's office in an effort to influence whatever new program will eventually evolve out of the DIAND office to replace the problem. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 341-12(7): Current Status Of Eda
Question 341-12(7): Current Status Of Eda
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 658

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

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

Question 342-12(7): Monitoring Fish War Between Canada And Spain
Item 6: Oral Questions

March 27th, 1995

Page 658

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To the Minister of Renewable Resources, Mr. Speaker, we are all following, with bated breath, the outcome of the fish wars with Spain. I would like to ask the Minister of Renewable Resource if he and his officials are monitoring the negotiations between Canada and Spain, particularly over the issue of turbot, to make sure that the interests of the people of the Northwest Territories are not being overlooked. Thank you.