Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the minister responsible for RWED, Mr. Kakfwi. I refer to the socio-economic agreement between BHP and the BHP diamonds project. I refer to a definition of northern residents. One particular clause within that agreement, within that northern resident definition is that the person to be classified as a northern resident, has to have been continuously a northern resident for a period of at least six months prior to hiring. My question to the minister is, was their any consideration given to the fact that the Northwest Territories needs the taxes that are generated by the employees and also the purchasing power of goods and services that would be obtained through business in the north with those employees purchasing goods and services? This clause requires someone having to live in the Northwest Territories six months prior to being able to get a job here as a northerner. When people would be hired in the south, and I think there is a recognition by all parties, that a certain number of employees will come from southern Canada. If they are flying in and out to the job site, there is not much of an opportunity for them to become northern residents, to live in the Northwest Territories and therefore gain the tax revenue, or have their tax revenue attributed to the Northwest Territories. Again, my question to the minister is, was any consideration of this fact given to that prior to putting it into this agreement? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Seamus Henry on Question 44-13(4): Definition Of Northern Residency Under The Bhp Socio-economic Agreement
In the Legislative Assembly on November 29th, 1996. See this statement in context.
Question 44-13(4): Definition Of Northern Residency Under The Bhp Socio-economic Agreement
Item 6: Oral Questions
November 28th, 1996
Page 70
Seamus Henry Yellowknife South
See context to find out what was said next.