This is page numbers 1109 - 1133 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 495-12(7): Bip Status Of Nova Construction
Question 495-12(7): Bip Status Of Nova Construction
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1121

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Again, I must remind Ministers about revealing personal information about an individual unless it is public knowledge.

Return To Question 495-12(7): Bip Status Of Nova Construction
Question 495-12(7): Bip Status Of Nova Construction
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Michael Ballantyne Yellowknife North

It is now.

---Laughter

Return To Question 495-12(7): Bip Status Of Nova Construction
Question 495-12(7): Bip Status Of Nova Construction
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Well, it is now, but wasn't prior to the Minister's response. I would like to remind the Minister that if it is public knowledge, then information should be provided. If it isn't, then it shouldn't be. Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Supplementary To Question 495-12(7): Bip Status Of Nova Construction
Question 495-12(7): Bip Status Of Nova Construction
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to clarify to you that I was not seeking personal financial information. I asked the Minister if he knew the phone number, which is not listed in the directory as being unlisted at the customer's request, by the way.

My supplementary question, Mr. Speaker, since the Minister has indicated that the owner of Nova Construction, who I need not name...

---Laughter

...does own a house in Yellowknife, I would like to ask the Minister, in order to meet current BIP criteria which the Minister has said Nova Construction and its owner meet, does it matter whether the owner lives in the house or just that he maintains it and pays a mortgage and taxes? Does it matter whether he lives in the house? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 495-12(7): Bip Status Of Nova Construction
Question 495-12(7): Bip Status Of Nova Construction
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Morin.

Further Return To Question 495-12(7): Bip Status Of Nova Construction
Question 495-12(7): Bip Status Of Nova Construction
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As long as a construction company owner has a Northwest Territories health care card, a driver's licence and maintains an address in the Northwest Territories, he is eligible under the BIP for northern preference. That's how the rules are to date. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 495-12(7): Bip Status Of Nova Construction
Question 495-12(7): Bip Status Of Nova Construction
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Item 6, oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Supplementary To Question 495-12(7): Bip Status Of Nova Construction
Question 495-12(7): Bip Status Of Nova Construction
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So, to me, maintaining a house is keeping it standing and paying taxes and paying the mortgage. I take it from the Minister's answer then that it doesn't matter whether the house is empty or not, whether the owner and his family lives in, let's say Alberta, is irrelevant to the BIP as long as the house is maintained. Is that the current requirement of the BIP as far as the residency of owners are concerned in the Northwest Territories? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 495-12(7): Bip Status Of Nova Construction
Question 495-12(7): Bip Status Of Nova Construction
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1121

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Morin.

Further Return To Question 495-12(7): Bip Status Of Nova Construction
Question 495-12(7): Bip Status Of Nova Construction
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Member is correct that as long as he owns the house and maintains it then he is considered a resident, because there are also the other two things. He has to have a driver's licence in the NWT and a health care card. So in order to obtain those you have to be a resident, so that's what we use for documentation to certify residency. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 495-12(7): Bip Status Of Nova Construction
Question 495-12(7): Bip Status Of Nova Construction
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

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

Supplementary To Question 495-12(7): Bip Status Of Nova Construction
Question 495-12(7): Bip Status Of Nova Construction
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think that it's well-known that there are a lot of people who have health care cards in the Northwest Territories who are not principal residents of the Northwest Territories.

In light of the Minister's revelation that all you have to do is maintain an empty house to meet the residency requirements under the BIP, which I think would be a surprise to many of my constituents who not only maintain houses but live in them all year round and all winter, I would like to ask the Minister when we will see the revised, much-awaited, long-promised, much-reviewed, much-consulted on BIP, the revised Business Incentive Policy, in this House? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary To Question 495-12(7): Bip Status Of Nova Construction
Question 495-12(7): Bip Status Of Nova Construction
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1121

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Morin.

Further Return To Question 495-12(7): Bip Status Of Nova Construction
Question 495-12(7): Bip Status Of Nova Construction
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will make that available to the Members as soon as I get the Cabinet approval on it so that we can go through the last round of consultation to the general public and contractors. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 495-12(7): Bip Status Of Nova Construction
Question 495-12(7): Bip Status Of Nova Construction
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Item 6, oral questions. Mrs. Thompson.

Manitok Thompson Aivilik

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Justice. I know that the Minister is aware that there has been correspondence in the past regarding policing in Chesterfield Inlet. As of today, there still isn't a resident RCMP officer. Are there any plans for a resident RCMP officer in Chesterfield? Thank you.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Minister of Justice, Mr. Kakfwi.

Return To Question 496-12(7): Plans For A Resident Rcmp Officer In Chesterfield Inlet
Question 496-12(7): Plans For A Resident Rcmp Officer In Chesterfield Inlet
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Mr. Speaker, there is a policing review being conducted in all the communities of Nunavut and we'll be shortly starting on the western part of the Northwest Territories. I believe the RCMP will be reviewing its position allocations as a result of this review.

At this time, there is no change to the position in Chesterfield Inlet. It is being covered from Rankin Inlet at this time and as of today there are no indications from the RCMP that there is going to be a change, but I am prepared to speak specifically to Chief Superintendent Brian Watt to clarify that for the Member. Thank you.

Return To Question 496-12(7): Plans For A Resident Rcmp Officer In Chesterfield Inlet
Question 496-12(7): Plans For A Resident Rcmp Officer In Chesterfield Inlet
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1122

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Supplementary, Mrs. Thompson.

Supplementary To Question 496-12(7): Plans For A Resident Rcmp Officer In Chesterfield Inlet
Question 496-12(7): Plans For A Resident Rcmp Officer In Chesterfield Inlet
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Manitok Thompson Aivilik

My supplementary question is, the by-law officer, Johnny Sammurtok of Chesterfield Inlet, has been acting on behalf of the RCMP and has dealt with issues which don't relate to his job as a hamlet by-law officer. When is this review going to be complete?

Supplementary To Question 496-12(7): Plans For A Resident Rcmp Officer In Chesterfield Inlet
Question 496-12(7): Plans For A Resident Rcmp Officer In Chesterfield Inlet
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Kakfwi.

Further Return To Question 496-12(7): Plans For A Resident Rcmp Officer In Chesterfield Inlet
Question 496-12(7): Plans For A Resident Rcmp Officer In Chesterfield Inlet
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Mr. Speaker, I don't want to give the Member the impression that nothing will happen until this review is done, since the review itself won't be completed until March of this coming year. I point it out simply as a study that is going to give the RCMP some idea of how to best allocate existing resources in view of the financial cutbacks that are going to be contemplated in the future, the impact of division and how the RCMP will have to reorganize with that eventuality. It's my view that the RCMP continuously review their needs and how best to allocate the limited positions that they have. As needs change, they are prepared to make changes and reallocations. So, having said that, I believe that it's time for myself to speak again with the Chief Superintendent to see if there is anything to indicate a change at this time and, if not, then where the priorities are so that all Members of the House will be aware of how the allocations are being made. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 496-12(7): Plans For A Resident Rcmp Officer In Chesterfield Inlet
Question 496-12(7): Plans For A Resident Rcmp Officer In Chesterfield Inlet
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

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

Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Public Works and Services or Minister of Renewable Resources, responsible for fire suppression.

Mr. Speaker, I would like some clarification with regard to a position in Fort Smith. The position is the manager of air operations for fire suppression.

Mr. Speaker, apparently the individual, Rick Pederson, who was in this position, was advised his services were no longer needed on May 9th. Fire centre staff were advised that his position was deemed redundant. Can the Minister indicate whether or not this position was deemed redundant or the individual terminated? Thank you.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

The Minister responsible for the forest fire management program, Mr. Morin.