This is page numbers 89 - 106 of the Hansard for the 13th Assembly, 3rd 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 safety.

Topics

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Again, to remind Members, the Member started off by making reference to a petition that isn't in the possession of the Members. He did make it separate from the question though. Minister of Finance, Mr. Todd.

Return To Question 84-13(3): Status Of Cost Analysis Re Arctic College Programs Transfer
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John Todd Keewatin Central

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is my understanding that my honourable colleague, Mr. Dent, had indicated to the Member earlier that he was prepared to provide him with that information at the end of April. Thank you.

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

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

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Question 84-13(3): Status Of Cost Analysis Re Arctic College Programs Transfer
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David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Premier with regard to being the former Minister of Public Works of the previous government. This is regarding an outstanding bill for $200,000 with the Gwich'in Tribal Council for work they have done on pilings of the old Chief Julius School. A memorandum was signed by his department in 1994 and the bill for the project is still outstanding. What is going to be done about that?

Return To Question 84-13(3): Status Of Cost Analysis Re Arctic College Programs Transfer
Question 84-13(3): Status Of Cost Analysis Re Arctic College Programs Transfer
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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

I would like to ask the Member to redirect his question to the appropriate Minister and, in this case, it would be Mr. Arlooktoo. I would also ask Members not to make reference to what the previous portfolios were. Mr. Krutko.

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'll redirect my question to the Minister of Public Works, with regard to the outstanding bill that is presently ... I was going to say hopefully dealt with, but nothing has been done to date with regard to the amounts in which there has been a memorandum in place since 1994 for this project; yet, to date, it's costing the Gwich'in Tribal Council somewhere in the area of $230,000 which they've paid to date to do this work, yet they have not received any funds. How soon can they expect payment on these outstanding invoices?

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Minister of Public Works and Services, Mr. Arlooktoo.

Return To Question 85-13(3): Payment For Outstanding Invoices On School Project
Question 85-13(3): Payment For Outstanding Invoices On School Project
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Goo Arlooktoo Baffin South

Mr. Speaker, I am well aware of the situation, mostly because the Member has been in my office every day for the last 10 days speaking to me on this issue.

--- Applause

I was on a teleconference earlier this morning with senior officials of the Gwich'in Tribal Council and with senior officials of the Department of Public Works. I understand that, as we speak, there are talks going on between the Department of Public Works and the Gwich'in Tribal Council to try to resolve the issue. I've instructed the department to resolve it as soon as possible, within the next few days, if possible; and also to ensure that the government lives up to any contractual or any obligations under any agreements that it has previously signed.

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Question 85-13(3): Payment For Outstanding Invoices On School Project
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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

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Question 85-13(3): Payment For Outstanding Invoices On School Project
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David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Would that also include interest on those outstanding amounts, dating back to 1994?

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Question 85-13(3): Payment For Outstanding Invoices On School Project
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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Arlooktoo.

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Goo Arlooktoo Baffin South

Mr. Speaker, the source of the dispute is on the amount, as the Member mentioned. The group in his constituency is claiming an invoice in the area of $230,000; whereas, the government is saying that our obligation is less than that. That's where the negotiations are going on right now, in coming up with a settlement in the next few days which would hopefully be satisfactory to the two parties.

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

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Question 85-13(3): Payment For Outstanding Invoices On School Project
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March 26th, 1996

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David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

My last question is regarding interest. I was looking at the memorandum, in subsection 12, where it

clearly states that payments later than 20 days after the scheduled date of submission, interest charges will be added to those bills.

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Question 85-13(3): Payment For Outstanding Invoices On School Project
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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

What's your question, Mr. Krutko?

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Question 85-13(3): Payment For Outstanding Invoices On School Project
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David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question was, being the Minister seemed to have overlooked the last question about interest, and I just wanted to make him aware that there is a commitment within the memorandum they have signed with the party, that there will be interest charges, 20 days after submission of this invoice.

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Question 85-13(3): Payment For Outstanding Invoices On School Project
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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Arlooktoo.

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Goo Arlooktoo Baffin South

Mr. Speaker, I am not personally involved in the particulars of the talks going on at this moment, but there are disputes on several interpretations of the memorandum of understanding he is speaking about. I could sit down with the Member once again and talk over what some of the issues are, but I would rather wait and see what happens in the talks going on right now between the Department of Public Works and the Gwich'in Tribal Council.

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Final supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

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David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In the future, hopefully we won't run into this sort of instance again where an issue takes two years to proceed, with regard to a financial obligation in which there's hardship generated to the opposite party, especially with large amounts of funds in the $200,000 range which could probably be used better elsewhere by the other party. Hopefully the department can somehow streamline its procedures on how it conducts itself through these negotiations and make sure that those avenues are clarified, and not be allowed to run its course of almost a two-year process.

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

I didn't hear a question there. Mr. Krutko.

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David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

My question is that I hope this does not happen again to any party, so you don't have to allow the process to be carried out for a long period of time, such as two years.

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

I still didn't hear your question. Just to remind the Members, we are in question period. There have been several statements made with no question being asked. I would like to remind the Members to ask questions and not make statements.

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Question 85-13(3): Payment For Outstanding Invoices On School Project
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David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

To shorten my statement so it will become a question, my question is that hopefully this process will not

be drawn out to that period of time. Will the Minister assure me that this will not happen again?

Supplementary To Question 85-13(3): Payment For Outstanding Invoices On School Project
Question 85-13(3): Payment For Outstanding Invoices On School Project
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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Arlooktoo.