Mr. Erasmus.
Debates of May 13th, 1996
This is page numbers 297 - 329 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 development.
Topics
Bill 11: Appropriation Act, 1996-97
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 327
Bill 11: Appropriation Act, 1996-97
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 327
Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'm just looking at page 13-24. 1 notice a lot of communities have economic development officers. What's the criteria for a community to receive an economic development officer?
Bill 11: Appropriation Act, 1996-97
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 327
Bill 11: Appropriation Act, 1996-97
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 327
Doan
Mr. Chairman, the transfers being referred to are the community transfer initiatives which have been undertaken by the department. The fundamental criteria is that the transfers undertaken have only taken place in communities where there was an EDO. Other than that, the criteria are pretty much consistent with the community transfer initiative.
Bill 11: Appropriation Act, 1996-97
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 327
Bill 11: Appropriation Act, 1996-97
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 327
David Krutko Mackenzie Delta
My question earlier was with regard to the NWT Development Corporation and also marketing. The Minister made a statement that you are looking at it with the new president of the corporation. What are you looking at with regard to marketing products that are produced by these operations you have in Fort McPherson, Aklavik and elsewhere?
Bill 11: Appropriation Act, 1996-97
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 327
Bill 11: Appropriation Act, 1996-97
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 327
Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu
Mr. Chairman, what we're looking at with the NWT Development Corporation is this problem. For instance, we've created products at the Fort McPherson canvas shop and we now have the potential to create a large number of products, but we haven't spent any time focusing on sales and marketing, how to let people know we have these products. So the new president of the NWT Development Corporation has focused on that particular issue as the single-most-pressing issue facing the Development Corporation at this time. He is undertaking to come up with some plan, first using existing staff and resources to address that problem. He will be reporting to myself and to the NWT Development Corporation board to get approval on how to maximize our marketing and sales of existing inventory, how to move things out of warehouses and also how to establish a good basis for a market. Thank you.
Bill 11: Appropriation Act, 1996-97
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 327
Bill 11: Appropriation Act, 1996-97
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 327
Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to move that we extend sitting hours to conclude consideration of this department.
Bill 11: Appropriation Act, 1996-97
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 327
The Chair Vince Steen
We have a motion on the floor. The motion is not debatable. All those in favour of the motion? All those opposed? The motion is carried.
--- Carried
We are on contributions. Any further questions? Mr. Krutko.
Bill 11: Appropriation Act, 1996-97
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 328
David Krutko Mackenzie Delta
Yes, what's happening with this new initiative? Could the Minister keep the Resources committee informed on what the outcome of that is, so we can be kept abreast on what you're doing for marketing and also myself for McPherson, because it is a concern with regard to the canvas shop and products not moving and people having to be laid off. I think the initiative of this department is to generate employment and I think that should be the final goal. I think if it's a question about marketing, I think something is wrong if that's the case. So I would like to be kept informed on that.
Bill 11: Appropriation Act, 1996-97
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 328
Bill 11: Appropriation Act, 1996-97
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 328
Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu
Mr. Chairman, my intention is to become familiar with this department and the two corporations that I'm responsible for, to make sure I have a good working relationship with both the Business Development Corporation and the NWT Development Corporation, and also to make sure that Members of the Legislature are equally familiar with the goals and objectives of both these bodies and to have regular updates as to the activities and ongoing operations of them. I can assure the Member that that is something that I intend to do, to get regular reports myself but also to share them with the Members. Thank you.
Bill 11: Appropriation Act, 1996-97
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 328
Bill 11: Appropriation Act, 1996-97
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 328
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
--- Agreed
Bill 11: Appropriation Act, 1996-97
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 328
Bill 11: Appropriation Act, 1996-97
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 328
Seamus Henry Yellowknife South
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Under the business development fund, in 1994-95, there was $3 million spent, and in 1995-96 there was a forecast of almost $3 million. This program is to encourage growth and expansion. Does the department have any figures on the number of jobs that were created?
Bill 11: Appropriation Act, 1996-97
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 328
Bill 11: Appropriation Act, 1996-97
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 328
Doan
Mr. Chairman, there is a report that's produced each year on the business development fund which evaluates its performance and attempts to speak to the issue of job creation. The only caution is that the numbers are based on the anticipated employment, at the time the business plans are evaluated. It isn't a historical accounting, it is more a projection of what employment would result from those business plans. That report is available.
Bill 11: Appropriation Act, 1996-97
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Vince Steen Nunakput
Thank you, Mr. Doan. For the record, that was a response from Mr. Doan. We have to identify who is speaking here so we can keep track for the record. Mr. Henry, do you have further questions?
Bill 11: Appropriation Act, 1996-97
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 328
Seamus Henry Yellowknife South
I was hoping that the department would have some idea and be able to boast about the number of jobs that were created each year, especially when they are looking at more than doubling the amount of money for 1996-97. 1 can appreciate the majority of that money is coming from the economic development agreement. I had hoped that would be a figure you would be able to boast of because of the large increase.
Bill 11: Appropriation Act, 1996-97
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 328
Bill 11: Appropriation Act, 1996-97
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 328
Doan
The only other comment I could add is that the community initiatives program is being piloted within the business development fund to use the existing policy. Unlike the business development fund, the contributions under the incremental community initiatives program are not towards businesses, they are towards groups of businesses trying to build foundations, provide training and undertake the kinds of projects that were undertaken by the economic development agreement. This doesn't explain the point that you are raising, but simply clarifies that the budget for actual business development next year will remain under $3 million and that incremental funds are directed to foundation-type development at the community level.
Bill 11: Appropriation Act, 1996-97
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 328