This is page numbers 1075 - 1108 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

Return To Question 482-12(7): Advice From Education Boards Re Drug Use In Schools
Question 482-12(7): Advice From Education Boards Re Drug Use In Schools
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1082

Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We'll certainly write the letters. Thank you.

Return To Question 482-12(7): Advice From Education Boards Re Drug Use In Schools
Question 482-12(7): Advice From Education Boards Re Drug Use In Schools
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1082

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Item 6, oral questions. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Education with respect to the comments he made in reply to my question on the deficit of the South Slave Divisional Board. The Minister made some reference with regard to comments such as people were carrying on expenditures with no authority or no accountability. The South Slave Divisional Board, I knew at the time, was going into serious debt and at the time had written the Minister many

letters, and I appreciate that he had attempted to address these taking into account the legislation that he's working under.

Mr. Speaker, we all now know that as a result of this debt, significant implications on programs are going to have to be adhered to. As I stated earlier, two of my schools, PWK and JBT, are going to be encountering a five PY reduction for the next year. This will be significant for the students. I would like to ask the Minister whether or not, because of this the poor leadership in the past that has created such a debt, his department is going to address the lack of accountability and authority that was used by expending these funds. Thank you.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

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

Return To Question 483-12(7): South Slave Education Board's Lack Of Financial Accountability
Question 483-12(7): South Slave Education Board's Lack Of Financial Accountability
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1083

Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have dealt with the responsibility we have dealing with the whole matter of administration and management. My belief is that the selection of Dr. Curtis is intended to alleviate some of the serious management concerns that arose some time ago and were, in fact, articulated by the department to the South Slave Divisional Board of Education.

I want to advise the honourable Member that some other boards have been in situations where they have had deficits and there was no attempt on the part of the government to bail them out. In other words, I recall the Dogrib Divisional Board of Education and their society being in over a $1 million deficit and they had to find a way to resolve that particular issue. There are others, as well, that are in deficits; I believe there might be two others, and both of those are being asked to do the same thing that the South Slave Divisional Board of Education is being asked to do.

As difficult as it might seem, I think we have to be prepared to recognize that, unfortunately, the results of bad management are such that the consequences aren't necessarily felt by those who created the deficit but are, in fact, having to live with it. That's a very difficult position to put people in but it's nonetheless something we have to address.

Return To Question 483-12(7): South Slave Education Board's Lack Of Financial Accountability
Question 483-12(7): South Slave Education Board's Lack Of Financial Accountability
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1083

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you, Mr. Nerysoo. Item 6, oral questions. Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Supplementary To Question 483-12(7): South Slave Education Board's Lack Of Financial Accountability
Question 483-12(7): South Slave Education Board's Lack Of Financial Accountability
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1083

Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I recognize that the government did not look at bail-outs of other divisional boards as they went into debt. I don't think the South Slave Divisional Board is asking for a particular bail-out. I know in parts of their funding I don't think there is an equitable allocation of funds. I could go into the specific programs, but I won't. However, as difficult as it seems -- as the Minister stated that bad management created a debt -- at the time the debt was created I also, as a Member, expressed to the Minister my concern and because of the way the legislation is created the Minister's hands were tied and he could not specifically address the point of bad management.

Since then, we have a new divisional board and I'm wondering whether or not the Minister can find a way within his department, through legislation, to be able to assist the South Slave Divisional Board with their deficit situation. Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 483-12(7): South Slave Education Board's Lack Of Financial Accountability
Question 483-12(7): South Slave Education Board's Lack Of Financial Accountability
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1083

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Nerysoo.

Further Return To Question 483-12(7): South Slave Education Board's Lack Of Financial Accountability
Question 483-12(7): South Slave Education Board's Lack Of Financial Accountability
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1083

Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can advise the honourable Member that we have been attempting to work with the South Slave Divisional Board, even advising them on the number of options that might be considered.

The other issue is that in some of the formulas, some of the statistical information that was coming in from the South Slave Divisional Board of Education was not accurate. The fact is that on one issue, bussing, for instance, because there was no attempt on the part of the administration to work with the department, we got inaccurate information. As a result of the willingness of the present board and Dr. Walter Curtis to work with the department, we found that the numbers are such that the formula for bussing goes up now as a result of the information that has come back to us. That's the kind of information that, as we work together, maybe will resolve those based only on the formula as it is right now.

The other thing is that wherever cuts are being made there have to be cuts made with consideration for the programs for which we are delivering, also recognizing the responsibility we have for our staff in the region. I know that it's much easier to cut quickly. We have to do those things but, at the same time, we should be cognizant of our responsibility to deliver programs. We'll work with the divisional board.

My view is that the more accurate information we get and the better working relationship we develop, I think we'll be able to bring the board and the region through this difficult financial situation and we'll be able to provide additional support. In some cases it might be financial and in others it might be just management. We will work with them to resolve some of these issues. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 483-12(7): South Slave Education Board's Lack Of Financial Accountability
Question 483-12(7): South Slave Education Board's Lack Of Financial Accountability
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1083

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

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

Titus Allooloo Amittuq

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Premier, since I know the Minister of Housing is not here today. The Premier has, in fact, on a number of occasions, gone up to Pond Inlet to discuss contracts; local contractors as opposed to outside contractors. Does the Premier know or is she aware that the retrofit job of the Pond Inlet Housing Association is being subcontracted to a Resolute Bay firm? Thank you.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Madam Premier.

Return To Question 484-12(7): Minister's Knowledge Of Pond Inlet Housing Association Contract
Question 484-12(7): Minister's Knowledge Of Pond Inlet Housing Association Contract
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1084

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Mr. Speaker, I am aware of the situation and I do have some information from the department. However, given the comments in the Member's statement, I would have to further investigate the issue that has been put forward to us and I will report to the Member later today if I can get further information to look into that matter a little more intensively. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Return To Question 484-12(7): Minister's Knowledge Of Pond Inlet Housing Association Contract
Question 484-12(7): Minister's Knowledge Of Pond Inlet Housing Association Contract
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1084

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Allooloo.

Supplementary To Question 484-12(7): Minister's Knowledge Of Pond Inlet Housing Association Contract
Question 484-12(7): Minister's Knowledge Of Pond Inlet Housing Association Contract
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1084

Titus Allooloo Amittuq

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Premier for her very appropriate answer. Maybe while she's looking into the answers, she could also look into why, if the job was to be subcontracted to another company, it wasn't tendered all over again if the main contractor who was given the job was not able to do it. Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 484-12(7): Minister's Knowledge Of Pond Inlet Housing Association Contract
Question 484-12(7): Minister's Knowledge Of Pond Inlet Housing Association Contract
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1084

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Madam Premier.

Further Return To Question 484-12(7): Minister's Knowledge Of Pond Inlet Housing Association Contract
Question 484-12(7): Minister's Knowledge Of Pond Inlet Housing Association Contract
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1084

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Mr. Speaker, yes, that will be amongst the issues looked into. I will talk to the Member further to get as much detail so we can effectively deal with the matter. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Further Return To Question 484-12(7): Minister's Knowledge Of Pond Inlet Housing Association Contract
Question 484-12(7): Minister's Knowledge Of Pond Inlet Housing Association Contract
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1084

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

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

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism. I was pleased to note the Minister listened attentively to my statement on turbot applications from the Baffin for area O in the coming year. Will the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism support Baffin applicants for turbot in area O for the coming year? Thank you.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Minister of Economic Development and Tourism, Mr. Todd.

Return To Question 485-12(7): Support For Baffin Turbot Applications
Question 485-12(7): Support For Baffin Turbot Applications
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1084

John Todd Keewatin Central

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I did listen attentively, didn't I? Of course. The quotas are the responsibility of my colleague, Mr. Arngna'naaq, and I understand Mr. Arngna'naaq has had some discussions with Mr. Tobin as it relates to the quotas. I'm in discussions right now with the Baffin Regional Hunters' and Trappers' Association, with Mr. Jerry Ell. I've committed and will commit to him that I will write to Mr. Tobin and make sure that the people of Baffin Island are treated equitably in the distribution of this quota. I hope to be able to accomplish that very shortly.

I'm trying to arrange a meeting with Mr. Tobin on another issue, relating to the Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation, et cetera, and I'm hoping to meet with him in the next two to three weeks. Should I be fortunate enough to arrange a meeting, I will address this issue at that time and, as well, I will correspond with him forthwith. Thank you.

---Applause

Return To Question 485-12(7): Support For Baffin Turbot Applications
Question 485-12(7): Support For Baffin Turbot Applications
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1084

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Allooloo.

Titus Allooloo Amittuq

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the Government Leader, in the small communities are government employees still able to purchase the houses they are living in?

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Madam Premier.

Return To Question 486-12(7): Purchase Of GNWT Staff Housing In Small Communities
Question 486-12(7): Purchase Of GNWT Staff Housing In Small Communities
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1084

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Mr. Speaker, the two lines of offers that had gone out to employees for purchase of the accommodation in which they live have expired. At the moment, we're doing a review on how we're going to deal with new offers. I hope that when we conclude the session, I'll be able to establish some time line for the matter, to chart a course of action. I know that all across the Northwest Territories there are a number of people who missed the window of opportunity and we're going to address that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.