Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Premier indicate whether he believes he will be successful in negotiating a package whereby we can ensure jobs for northerners and business opportunities from this venture?
Debates of Oct. 2nd, 1996
Topics
Supplementary To Question 369-13(3): GNWT And Bhp Negotiations
Question 369-13(3): GNWT And Bhp Negotiations
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 806
Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North
Supplementary To Question 369-13(3): GNWT And Bhp Negotiations
Question 369-13(3): GNWT And Bhp Negotiations
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 806
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Morin.
Supplementary To Question 369-13(3): GNWT And Bhp Negotiations
Question 369-13(3): GNWT And Bhp Negotiations
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 806
Don Morin Tu Nedhe
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am announcing the conditional go ahead of this project. The Minister responsible, Ron Irwin, said he wanted to see some substantial progress on these negotiations. We believe that the way things are going today, the last report I got is that the negotiations are going fairly well and we are looking at hopefully concluding these negotiations so that northerners do benefit not only from jobs but the spin-off of industry. Thank you.
Supplementary To Question 369-13(3): GNWT And Bhp Negotiations
Question 369-13(3): GNWT And Bhp Negotiations
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 806
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Erasmus.
Supplementary To Question 369-13(3): GNWT And Bhp Negotiations
Question 369-13(3): GNWT And Bhp Negotiations
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 806
Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Premier confirm what actions this government has taken to ensure that the north and Yellowknife is attractive to new mining development initiatives such as the BHP project?
Supplementary To Question 369-13(3): GNWT And Bhp Negotiations
Question 369-13(3): GNWT And Bhp Negotiations
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 806
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Morin.
Supplementary To Question 369-13(3): GNWT And Bhp Negotiations
Question 369-13(3): GNWT And Bhp Negotiations
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 806
Don Morin Tu Nedhe
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have always, since we got elected a year ago, been a very strong supporter of mining, a very strong supporter of encouraging people to come and develop the Northwest Territories. But, we have always said we wanted to make sure that when people came in to develop the Northwest Territories and the development of renewable resources. We wanted to make sure that northerners benefited. We got the jobs and we got the service industry work for our companies in the Northwest Territories and we will continue to say that to any new company coming. That is what we have done. We have taken every opportunity to make sure that northerners benefited from the projects -- Yellowknife and other communities as well. Thank you.
Supplementary To Question 369-13(3): GNWT And Bhp Negotiations
Question 369-13(3): GNWT And Bhp Negotiations
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 806
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. Henry.
Question 370-13(3): Outstanding Negotiations
Item 6: Oral Questions
October 1st, 1996
Page 806
Seamus Henry Yellowknife South
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Following-up on questions from my honourable colleague to
the Premier, could I get the Premier to tell me what issues -- and not on the Aboriginal Impact Benefit Agreement, I see that as separate -- are still outstanding that this government is negotiating specifically? Thank you.
Question 370-13(3): Outstanding Negotiations
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 807
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Just to remind the Members that the government is in the process of negotiating the best possible deal for the people of the North and, of course, this all depends on what the positions are of the other parties. If we give away too much, it might be to the disadvantage of this government. I would like to caution the Members. I would also like to caution the government on the level of information you provide to the Members. Mr. Premier, if you would like to respond.
Return To Question 370-13(3): Outstanding Negotiations
Question 370-13(3): Outstanding Negotiations
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 807
Don Morin Tu Nedhe
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is now 3:30 p.m., and I do not know what outstanding issues are outstanding at this time. Our negotiators are in negotiations right now and they are doing the best possible job to ensure the North's interests are protected. That is our job. Also, some of the BHP team is in Lutsel K'e today negotiating with Treaty 8 as well. I would be able to update Members probably better on Friday. To me, the information I got so far, negotiations are going very well. All parties are coming to the table with an open mind with the want to start a diamond project in the Northwest Territories and the want to make sure that northerners do benefit from that type of project. Thank you.
Return To Question 370-13(3): Outstanding Negotiations
Question 370-13(3): Outstanding Negotiations
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 807
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Oral questions. Mr. Ootes.
Question 371-13(3): Legal Agreement With Bhp
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 807

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will follow-up on the BHP question with respect to the government's negotiations. Could the Premier tell us is they are negotiating a memorandum of understanding or is it a legal agreement that can be binding on the company?
Question 371-13(3): Legal Agreement With Bhp
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 807
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Premier.
Return To Question 371-13(3): Legal Agreement With Bhp
Question 371-13(3): Legal Agreement With Bhp
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 807
Don Morin Tu Nedhe
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is all part of our negotiations so, like I said earlier, we will make an update to Members possibly on Friday. Thank you.
Return To Question 371-13(3): Legal Agreement With Bhp
Question 371-13(3): Legal Agreement With Bhp
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 807
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Ootes.
Supplementary To Question 371-13(3): Legal Agreement With Bhp
Question 371-13(3): Legal Agreement With Bhp
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 807

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to know if the Premier could commit to releasing that memorandum of understanding or the legal document if the negotiations are successful or nor successful. Could he commit to release that to the Members after the 8th of October?
Supplementary To Question 371-13(3): Legal Agreement With Bhp
Question 371-13(3): Legal Agreement With Bhp
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 807
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Morin.
Supplementary To Question 371-13(3): Legal Agreement With Bhp
Question 371-13(3): Legal Agreement With Bhp
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 807
Don Morin Tu Nedhe
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will take that under consideration. I will think about it and take this question as notice. Thank you.
Supplementary To Question 371-13(3): Legal Agreement With Bhp
Question 371-13(3): Legal Agreement With Bhp
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 807
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
The question is being taken as notice. Oral questions, Mrs. Groenewegen.
Question 372-13(3): Removal Of Payroll Tax
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 807

Jane Groenewegen Hay River
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Finance. I was wondering if he could give us the rationale behind his department's contemplating removing the payroll tax at this time. I know there is a lot of opposition to the payroll tax at the time it was implemented but we have put up with it for some time now to no great net benefit to our government coffers.
However, on the verge of such extensive mineral sector development when we will probably be seeing a lot of non-northerners, at least to some extent there will be non-northerners working in the Northwest Territories, the timing just seems a bit odd to me and I was wondering if he might give us his rationale for proposing such a change at this time. Thank you.
Question 372-13(3): Removal Of Payroll Tax
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 808
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
The Minister of Finance, Mr. Todd.
Return To Question 372-13(3): Removal Of Payroll Tax
Question 372-13(3): Removal Of Payroll Tax
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 808
John Todd Keewatin Central
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker I want to assure my colleague that the payroll tax is not under consideration at this time. It was an issue I was asked a question in a meeting, am I getting good at the payroll tax, and my response was that like everything else we were considering. That is the best way I can answer my honourable colleague today.
Return To Question 372-13(3): Removal Of Payroll Tax
Question 372-13(3): Removal Of Payroll Tax
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 808
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you, oral questions. Mr. Henry.
Question 373-13(3): Negotiations - Release Of Information
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 808
Seamus Henry Yellowknife South
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Premier, once again, on these negotiations. Was there an agreement between the company and the government that there would be no releases of information during these talks? Thank you.