Debates of May 22nd, 1996

This is page numbers 537 - 581 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 chairman.

Topics

Members Present
Item 1: Prayer
Transportation Agenda Update (1996): Creating Opportunities Through Partnerships
Appointment Of Supreme Court Judge For Nunavut
Construction Of Hospitals For Inuvik And Baffin
Need For Baffin Regional Director
Tough Decisions In Times Of Fiscal Restraint
Congratulating Baker Lake And Arviat Graduates
Reinstatement Of Public Speaking In The Classroom
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Rationale For Sale And Lease Of Staff Housing
Criteria For Sale/purchase Of Staff Housing
Interaction Between Premier's Panel And Resource Management Committee
Cbc Report On Possibility Of Civil Service Strike
Financial Assistance For Medical Students
Replacement Generator For Iqaluit
Responsibility For Maintenance Of NWT Highways
Item 12: Reports Of Committees On The Review Of Bills
Item 13: Tabling Of Documents
Bill 14: Legislative Assembly And Executive Council Act, No. 3
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Bill 11: Appropriation Act, 1996-97 Department Of Justice
Committee Report 2-13(3): Standing Committee On Infrastructure Report On The Review Of The 1996-97 Main Estimates
Item 20: Report Of Committee Of The Whole
Item 22: Orders Of The Day

Committee Report 2-13(3): Standing Committee On Infrastructure Report On The Review Of The 1996-97 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 579

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mrs. Thompson. Mr. Steen,

Committee Report 2-13(3): Standing Committee On Infrastructure Report On The Review Of The 1996-97 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 579

Vince Steen

Vince Steen Nunakput

Thank you, Madam Chair. I would be interested to know how we intend to keep track of this funding for the communities if it's unconditional; if there's a plan in place that, for instance, that at a certain period through the year, certain things happen for X number of dollars being spent. For instance, if we are block funding communities for capital works that never get built, we might be building those works for a long time. Is there going to be a process to ensure that those capital works do happen?

Committee Report 2-13(3): Standing Committee On Infrastructure Report On The Review Of The 1996-97 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 579

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Steen. Mrs. Thompson.

Committee Report 2-13(3): Standing Committee On Infrastructure Report On The Review Of The 1996-97 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 579

Manitok Thompson Aivilik

Thank you, Madam Chair. Earlier on, I spoke about making an assessment of the communities and developing a community plan. Each community would have a plan in place before we block funded them. There would be a plan in place first for the community and what their capital dollars should be, before anything happened. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Committee Report 2-13(3): Standing Committee On Infrastructure Report On The Review Of The 1996-97 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 579

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mrs. Thompson. Mr. Steen.

Committee Report 2-13(3): Standing Committee On Infrastructure Report On The Review Of The 1996-97 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 579

Vince Steen

Vince Steen Nunakput

Thank you, Madam Chair. I am glad to hear there will be some kind of plan. Do you suggest that the block funding agreement with Fort Smith did have a plan in place and does it include capital works?

Committee Report 2-13(3): Standing Committee On Infrastructure Report On The Review Of The 1996-97 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 579

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Mrs. Thompson.

Committee Report 2-13(3): Standing Committee On Infrastructure Report On The Review Of The 1996-97 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 579

Manitok Thompson Aivilik

Thank you, Madam Chair. The town of Fort Smith does have a plan. Yes, to both of those questions. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Committee Report 2-13(3): Standing Committee On Infrastructure Report On The Review Of The 1996-97 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 579

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mrs. Thompson. Mr. Steen.

Committee Report 2-13(3): Standing Committee On Infrastructure Report On The Review Of The 1996-97 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 579

Vince Steen

Vince Steen Nunakput

Madam Chair, do I understand that we are approving capital works for Fort Smith for next year already, by approving their block funding for this year?

Committee Report 2-13(3): Standing Committee On Infrastructure Report On The Review Of The 1996-97 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 579

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mrs. Steen. Mrs. Thompson.

Committee Report 2-13(3): Standing Committee On Infrastructure Report On The Review Of The 1996-97 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 579

Manitok Thompson Aivilik

They are funded for the capital. The block funding agreement that I just signed down there was for a three-year block funding agreement. That includes capital. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Committee Report 2-13(3): Standing Committee On Infrastructure Report On The Review Of The 1996-97 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 579

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you. Mr. Steen.

Committee Report 2-13(3): Standing Committee On Infrastructure Report On The Review Of The 1996-97 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 579

Vince Steen

Vince Steen Nunakput

Thank you, Madam Chair. I understand that we are approving capital works for Fort Smith for two years when we are dealing with a one-year budget.

Committee Report 2-13(3): Standing Committee On Infrastructure Report On The Review Of The 1996-97 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 579

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Steen. Mrs. Thompson.

Committee Report 2-13(3): Standing Committee On Infrastructure Report On The Review Of The 1996-97 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 579

Manitok Thompson Aivilik

Thank you, Madam Chair. I will be asking Mrs. Ballantyne to answer that.

Committee Report 2-13(3): Standing Committee On Infrastructure Report On The Review Of The 1996-97 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 579

Ballantyne

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, the block funding agreement with Fort Smith has a clause that permits the department to fund them to the extent that the department has the money. So their funding for the second year of the agreement is conditional on the amount of money we receive here in the Legislative Assembly for that year. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Committee Report 2-13(3): Standing Committee On Infrastructure Report On The Review Of The 1996-97 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 579

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mrs. Ballantyne. Mr. Steen.

Committee Report 2-13(3): Standing Committee On Infrastructure Report On The Review Of The 1996-97 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 579

Vince Steen

Vince Steen Nunakput

Thank you, Madam Chair. That brings up another question, Madam Chair. In the capital portion of the budget, in particular to my communities or to any communities that won't be block funded for capital works projects, I seem to get the impression now that we are going to be approving capital works for communities without really knowing what they are. They are all going to be hidden into a block funding lump. It is going to be kind of hard to tell whether each community is being dealt with on an equal basis. Is that a correct assumption?

Committee Report 2-13(3): Standing Committee On Infrastructure Report On The Review Of The 1996-97 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 579

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Steen. Mrs. Thompson.

Committee Report 2-13(3): Standing Committee On Infrastructure Report On The Review Of The 1996-97 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 579

Manitok Thompson Aivilik

Thank you, Madam Chair. The community was ready to be block funded and I would encourage the communities to look into being block funded. They will have capital plans and all MLAs will know what is in their capital plans. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Committee Report 2-13(3): Standing Committee On Infrastructure Report On The Review Of The 1996-97 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 579

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mrs. Thompson. Mr. Roland.

Committee Report 2-13(3): Standing Committee On Infrastructure Report On The Review Of The 1996-97 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 579

Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik

Madam Chair, I would like to move that we report progress.

Committee Report 2-13(3): Standing Committee On Infrastructure Report On The Review Of The 1996-97 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 579

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

We have a motion to report progress. The motion is in order and is not debatable. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried. I will rise and report progress.

Committee Report 2-13(3): Standing Committee On Infrastructure Report On The Review Of The 1996-97 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 579

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

The House will come back to order. Item 20, report of Committee of the Whole. Mrs. Groenewegen.