This is page numbers 281 - 314 of the Hansard for the 13th Assembly, 4th 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

Further Return To Question 186-13(4): Funding For The Western Constitutional Process
Question 186-13(4): Funding For The Western Constitutional Process
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 299

John Todd Keewatin Central

No need to scurry anywhere, Mr. Speaker. We follow the rules and regulations in accordance with the House. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 186-13(4): Funding For The Western Constitutional Process
Question 186-13(4): Funding For The Western Constitutional Process
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 299

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Oral questions, supplementary, Mr. Picco.

Supplementary To Question 186-13(4): Funding For The Western Constitutional Process
Question 186-13(4): Funding For The Western Constitutional Process
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 299

Edward Picco Iqaluit

Thank you. That is disappointing, Mr. Speaker, because the Committee had recommended, and I will read you the committee report, "that the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs during this process explained that they intended to provide one-third of the funding necessary for the process and that they expected the federal government to provide the other two-thirds." Can Mr. Todd now explain to me if that $1 million is covering one-third of this $3 million expenditure for the western constitutional development process? What is going on here? I was not briefed on it, it did not come through the committee as we would have expected.

Supplementary To Question 186-13(4): Funding For The Western Constitutional Process
Question 186-13(4): Funding For The Western Constitutional Process
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 299

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Todd.

Further Return To Question 186-13(4): Funding For The Western Constitutional Process
Question 186-13(4): Funding For The Western Constitutional Process
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 299

John Todd Keewatin Central

I am afraid my honourable colleague, as usual, has got the issue mixed up. The constitutional process is a completely separate entity to self-government arrangements. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Further Return To Question 186-13(4): Funding For The Western Constitutional Process
Question 186-13(4): Funding For The Western Constitutional Process
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 299

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Oral questions, supplementary, Mr. Picco.

Supplementary To Question 186-13(4): Funding For The Western Constitutional Process
Question 186-13(4): Funding For The Western Constitutional Process
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 299

Edward Picco Iqaluit

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am not used these type of barbs and catcalls. My question, Mr. Speaker, I just cannot explain the depth of my frustration with this line of questioning, so Mr. Speaker, my supplementary question to the Minister is, maybe he could explain the difference between western constitutional development and aboriginal self-government talks, because even that is not here in our budget, the million dollars, like I said it is not in the business plan. So, as I said, it does not matter one way or the other. If it is not with constitutional development, if it is not the other area, where is it coming from?

Supplementary To Question 186-13(4): Funding For The Western Constitutional Process
Question 186-13(4): Funding For The Western Constitutional Process
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 299

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you, I must rule the question out of order. The question should be more appropriate to the Minister responsible for Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Constitutional Affairs. Oral questions. Oral questions, Mr. Picco.

Edward Picco Iqaluit

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the budget address given by the Finance Minister there is one million dollars identified for self-government talks. I understand now, in conversation with the Finance Minister, that this appeared in a supplementary appropriation. Can the Minister tell me where the authorization for the $1 million came from, to put the $1 million into a supplementary appropriation?

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

The Minister of Finance, Mr. Todd.

Further Return To Question 187-13(4): Funding For Aboriginal Self-government Negotiations
Question 187-13(4): Funding For Aboriginal Self-government Negotiations
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 299

John Todd Keewatin Central

Well, Mr. Speaker, the supplementary is not in the House, but the normal process, for Mr. Picco's benefit, is that a department or a Minister will bring forward a supplementary appropriation to the FMB who have the responsibility to approve expenditures for this government, and they would approve it. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 187-13(4): Funding For Aboriginal Self-government Negotiations
Question 187-13(4): Funding For Aboriginal Self-government Negotiations
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 299

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you, supplementary, Mr. Picco.

Supplementary To Question 187-13(4): Funding For Aboriginal Self-government Negotiations
Question 187-13(4): Funding For Aboriginal Self-government Negotiations
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 299

Edward Picco Iqaluit

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, because I really do not understand very much, maybe the Minister could explain to me, is it regular process then, to bring forward such a supplementary appropriation without going through the standing committee that would be responsible for that department?

Supplementary To Question 187-13(4): Funding For Aboriginal Self-government Negotiations
Question 187-13(4): Funding For Aboriginal Self-government Negotiations
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 299

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Todd.

Further Return To Question 187-13(4): Funding For Aboriginal Self-government Negotiations
Question 187-13(4): Funding For Aboriginal Self-government Negotiations
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 300

John Todd Keewatin Central

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just for clarification for my good friend from Iqaluit, the supplementary appropriation would obviously have to be approved by the House.

Further Return To Question 187-13(4): Funding For Aboriginal Self-government Negotiations
Question 187-13(4): Funding For Aboriginal Self-government Negotiations
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 300

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Oral questions, supplementary, Mr. Picco.

Supplementary To Question 187-13(4): Funding For Aboriginal Self-government Negotiations
Question 187-13(4): Funding For Aboriginal Self-government Negotiations
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 300

Edward Picco Iqaluit

Thank you, Mr Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question was does it have to go to the standing committee before hand, not about the House. He did not answer my question.

Supplementary To Question 187-13(4): Funding For Aboriginal Self-government Negotiations
Question 187-13(4): Funding For Aboriginal Self-government Negotiations
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 300

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Todd.

Further Return To Question 187-13(4): Funding For Aboriginal Self-government Negotiations
Question 187-13(4): Funding For Aboriginal Self-government Negotiations
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 300

John Todd Keewatin Central

It depends on the circumstances, if it is part of the overall business plan, et cetera, Mr. Speaker.

Further Return To Question 187-13(4): Funding For Aboriginal Self-government Negotiations
Question 187-13(4): Funding For Aboriginal Self-government Negotiations
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 300

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Final supplementary, Mr. Picco.

Final Supplementary To Question 187-13(4): Funding For Aboriginal Self-government Negotiations
Question 187-13(4): Funding For Aboriginal Self-government Negotiations
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 300

Edward Picco Iqaluit

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It was not in the business plan, that was my point. So, maybe, the Minister could explain where it came from, if it was not in the business plan, but the FMBS, the department that Mr. Todd is in control of, chair of, approved it.

Final Supplementary To Question 187-13(4): Funding For Aboriginal Self-government Negotiations
Question 187-13(4): Funding For Aboriginal Self-government Negotiations
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 300

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Todd.

Further Return To Question 187-13(4): Funding For Aboriginal Self-government Negotiations
Question 187-13(4): Funding For Aboriginal Self-government Negotiations
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 300

John Todd Keewatin Central

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It came from Mr. Antoine. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 187-13(4): Funding For Aboriginal Self-government Negotiations
Question 187-13(4): Funding For Aboriginal Self-government Negotiations
Item 6: Oral Questions

January 29th, 1997

Page 300

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Oral questions.

Speaker's Ruling

At this time, the Chair would like to make a ruling. Before we proceed to item 7, written questions, I would like to provide to the House my ruling on the written question posed by the Member for Hay River yesterday regarding support programs for seniors. As Members will recall, I indicated that the preamble to written questions should be very brief and the question should not raise a debate. Our rules stipulate that written questions are to be used when a Member is seeking information which requires, and I quote from Rule 39(1): "a detailed or complex answer which would not reasonably be assumed to be within the present knowledge of the Minister", end of quote. After reviewing the unedited Hansard from yesterday, I wish to offer some comments and advice regarding written questions that I hope will assist all Members.

Written questions differ from oral questions in that they should be used to seek information that is complex or detailed in nature. A good example of this is the question posed by Mr. Rabesca yesterday when he asked a written question regarding cancer statistics. The information he sought was detailed and a reasonable assumption was that it was not information within the Minister's present knowledge, nor would it have been easily accessible.

In addition to clarifying the general nature of written questions, I would also like to comment on restrictions covering the form and content of written questions. Citation 428 in Beauchesne's Parliamentary Rules and Forms, 6th edition, lays out the list of prohibitions and includes matters such as and I quote: "a question must not contain an expression or of opinion, nor be a speech however short, nor be of unreasonable length nor to be framed so as to suggest its own answer". I find that the Member for Hay River's written question yesterday approaches the terms of these and other restrictions. However, I will allow her question to stand but I offer you these comments with the hope that all Members will in the future pay closer attention to the form and content of written questions. As your speaker I want to provide wide latitude to Members in asking your question and seeking information from the government. However, I will also enforce the rules. Written questions, Mr. Krutko.

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My written question will be directed to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Will the Minister provide this House a list of all capital projects in which the final cost exceeded the original budget among the departments for the last five years?