Mr. Speaker. It is true that we had put any changes on hold for the time being. One of the recommendations that we did agree with government operation was to continue to look for areas where we could improve efficiencies, lower costs, et cetera. That is the area that we need to continually be working on, and it is an area that I am spending some time looking at. We are in the process of doing that, reviewing the way we run these offices. I do plan to make a plan available for Cabinet to review within the next few months.
Debates of Jan. 28th, 1997
Topics
Return To Question 141-13(4): Relocation Of Office To Arviat
Question 141-13(4): Relocation Of Office To Arviat
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 232
Goo Arlooktoo Baffin South
Return To Question 141-13(4): Relocation Of Office To Arviat
Question 141-13(4): Relocation Of Office To Arviat
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 232
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. O'Brien.
Supplementary To Question 141-13(4): Relocation Of Office To Arviat
Question 141-13(4): Relocation Of Office To Arviat
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 232
Kevin O'Brien Kivallivik
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am not sure if I heard the Minister say that he would be reviewing this again, and it would take another few months. Was that his comment?
Supplementary To Question 141-13(4): Relocation Of Office To Arviat
Question 141-13(4): Relocation Of Office To Arviat
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 232
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Arlooktoo.
Further Return To Question 141-13(4): Relocation Of Office To Arviat
Question 141-13(4): Relocation Of Office To Arviat
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 232
Goo Arlooktoo Baffin South
Mr. Speaker. The amalgamation, as I repeated, has been put on hold, but I did say that we agreed with the government operations committee recommendation that we continue to look for efficiencies. We
are doing that. We are also reviewing how the community empowerment initiative will effect the operations of district offices in these communities. So, we will be coming up with answers shortly.
Further Return To Question 141-13(4): Relocation Of Office To Arviat
Question 141-13(4): Relocation Of Office To Arviat
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 233
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. O'Brien.
Supplementary To Question 141-13(4): Relocation Of Office To Arviat
Question 141-13(4): Relocation Of Office To Arviat
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 233
Kevin O'Brien Kivallivik
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I find the Minister's answer somewhat frustrating. I assume that when I had written confirmation that the positions would be transferred that his department would be true to their word. We were then further told that because of the amalgamation that we would have to wait until the outcome. We now know the outcome. The Minister is now saying that he has maybe changed his mind, and there is a further delay. There was no delay when they transferred five positions out of Baker Lake to Rankin. No delay, without any consultation with myself, nor the community. I would suggest to the Minister that he should look at the documentation that was sent out to myself where he confirmed that the positions would be transferred to Arviat. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Supplementary To Question 141-13(4): Relocation Of Office To Arviat
Question 141-13(4): Relocation Of Office To Arviat
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 233
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Arlooktoo.
Further Return To Question 141-13(4): Relocation Of Office To Arviat
Question 141-13(4): Relocation Of Office To Arviat
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 233
Goo Arlooktoo Baffin South
Mr. Speaker, we are working in an environment of rapid change of preparing for division, less money for departments and less flexibility in what we can do. I do understand the Member's concern about trying to maintain jobs in his community. However, at this time, I cannot give any comfort in saying that I will not do one thing or another.
Further Return To Question 141-13(4): Relocation Of Office To Arviat
Question 141-13(4): Relocation Of Office To Arviat
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 233
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Oral questions. Mr. Krutko.
Question 142-13(4): Chief Julius School
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 233
David Krutko Mackenzie Delta
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Education in regards to the Chief Julius School in Fort McPherson. Some time in the early hours of Tuesday, January 8, 1996, the Chief Julius School, Fort McPherson, was destroyed by fire. Before this sad event occurred, Tetlit Zheh Construction Limited, a Gwich'in-owned company, was in the process of negotiating a contract with the Government of the Northwest Territories to renovate the old school.
I would like to ask the Minister, what amount was allocated for the renovation of the school and how much was spent, prior to the demise of the school? Further, I would like to ask the Minister, what became of the unspent capital that was allocated for that renovation? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Question 142-13(4): Chief Julius School
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 233
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. The Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Dent. I believe there are two questions there.
Return To Question 142-13(4): Chief Julius School
Question 142-13(4): Chief Julius School
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 233
Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I do not have with me, at this point in time, the figures that were previously budgeted for renovation of that school. In terms of what would have happened to the capital allocation, it would have been redistributed among other projects within the department. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Return To Question 142-13(4): Chief Julius School
Question 142-13(4): Chief Julius School
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 233
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.
Supplementary To Question 142-13(4): Chief Julius School
Question 142-13(4): Chief Julius School
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 233
David Krutko Mackenzie Delta
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The reason that I ask these questions is to assist my constituents in accessing funds that were not committed by this government, to cover the additional costs associated with the gymnasium in the new Chief Julius School. The House is well aware, Tetlit Zheh Construction Limited, in consultation with the government and the communities, to try to find funds in regards to the construction of the Chief Julius School, was made prior to March, 1996, when a decision was made to complete the full-size gymnasium and to access funds from other areas, other departments, such as MACA and also through the lost heat idea.
Mr. Speaker, a few years ago, the community of Fort McPherson agreed to the building of a community complex which was designed... would Mr. Todd hold back on his remarks until I have finished my statement?
-- Applause
With the construction of a community complex which was built smaller than normally designed, so that the community could allocate funds into the old Chief Julius School for a full-size gym. Mr. Speaker, Fort McPherson School and president of the Gwich'in Development Corporation...
Supplementary To Question 142-13(4): Chief Julius School
Question 142-13(4): Chief Julius School
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 233
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Krutko. I have reminded the Members, in my ruling today, that I will allow the preamble to a question and then three additional questions. What I will not allow is Members to continue to make the same preamble every time they ask the same question. I will allow Members to give a preamble to their question and then questions relating to that preamble. Now, can I get some Members' cooperation to that regard, please? Mr. Krutko.
Supplementary To Question 142-13(4): Chief Julius School
Question 142-13(4): Chief Julius School
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 233
David Krutko Mackenzie Delta
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can you allow me to get to my question? As I stated for the Minister, there have been attempts made to find those resources so the question I would like to ask, Mr. Speaker, will the Minister of Education attempt to access funds to cover the additional cost of a full-size gymnasium?
Supplementary To Question 142-13(4): Chief Julius School
Question 142-13(4): Chief Julius School
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 233
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Dent.
Further Return To Question 142-13(4): Chief Julius School
Question 142-13(4): Chief Julius School
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 233
Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this government has bent over backwards to help the community to try and find some way to build a larger gym in the school. This project is being managed by the Divisional Education Council. We have a block funding agreement with the Council and handed over responsibility totally for the project to that Council. I do know that the community, the Member, myself, all met with the Minister of MACA, to talk about whether or not funds could be found for an expanded gym. I know that, unfortunately, there was not agreement within the community, for instance, to switch the cost of a new grader into providing an expanded gym, even though the local development corporation has graders in the community, which could have been used.
I think that there have been efforts made by MACA, and by my department. I know that the Power Corporation certainly suggested that, through the joint venture company AADRII Limited, the cost to heat the school could be reduced and some of those capital costs maybe turned into a gym. There was not political agreement as to whether or not any of these processes could work. At the end of the day, Mr. Speaker, we are left with the situation where we could not find any extra funds. I must tell the House that, at this point in time, I have been unable to identify any extra funds within my department to provide a further contribution to this project. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Further Return To Question 142-13(4): Chief Julius School
Question 142-13(4): Chief Julius School
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 234
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.
Supplementary To Question 142-13(4): Chief Julius School
Question 142-13(4): Chief Julius School
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 234
David Krutko Mackenzie Delta
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister if he would give me the information with regards to the exact amount of dollars that was covered by insurance in regards to the Chief Julius School that was destroyed by fire.
Supplementary To Question 142-13(4): Chief Julius School
Question 142-13(4): Chief Julius School
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 234
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Dent.
Further Return To Question 142-13(4): Chief Julius School
Question 142-13(4): Chief Julius School
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 234
Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake
Mr. Speaker, I would be happy to provide that information to the Member. Off the top of my head, I can say that it was approximately $8 million, but I will provide the Member with the exact number within the next day or so.
Further Return To Question 142-13(4): Chief Julius School
Question 142-13(4): Chief Julius School
Item 6: Oral Questions
January 27th, 1997
Page 234
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. Rabesca.
Question 143-13(4): Monitoring Colomac Tailings
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 234
James Rabesca North Slave
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier today in my Member's statement, I mentioned the possibility of the Colomac Mine closing its operation. With this in mind, I would like to ask the Minister for Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, if his department is monitoring the tailings ponds at the Colomac mine?