Oral questions. Mr. O'Brien.
Debates of Oct. 21st, 1997
Topics
Further Return To Question 10-13(5): Partnership Legislation
Question 10-13(5): Partnership Legislation
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 17
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Question 11-13(5): Keewatin Resupply Initiative
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 17
Kevin O'Brien Kivallivik
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Minister responsible for the Department of Public Works and Services. Mr. Speaker, in my statement today, I referred to the request for proposal to the Keewatin resupply. Mr. Speaker, for the record, I want to state that I stand behind the report of the committee that I chaired on the resupply. I want to say I stand behind this report in its entirety. I think for someone to cherry pick is somewhat unfair. Mr. Todd, I will get to the question, I know you are very concerned about this issue. Mr. Speaker, the question is, at this point in time, what consultation has taken place with the communities? What meetings have taken place with the mayors and town councils? Thank you.
Question 11-13(5): Keewatin Resupply Initiative
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 17
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
The Minister responsible for Public Works and Services, Mr. Arlooktoo. Two questions.
Return To Question 11-13(5): Keewatin Resupply Initiative
Question 11-13(5): Keewatin Resupply Initiative
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 17
Goo Arlooktoo Baffin South
Thank you. Mr. Speaker, I did state last week that I was very pleased that the government was able to come forward with such a positive proposal that was kind of a combination of the effort of our Ordinary MLAs and the government. The Keewatin Resupply Steering Committee was chaired by Mr. O'Brien. From what I read from the report we are doing exactly what the report asked us to do. I think what I can do for the part of his question is give time the chronology of events of the meetings that were held with the mayors, the MLAs. There were some very recent meetings in Arviat and there is one coming up next week. I plan to go to Arviat for a meeting with the hamlet council on Wednesday, this coming Wednesday at 7:00 with the Minister of Finance. We will be going over the concerns of the hamlet council point by point and see if we can deal with them. Thank you.
Return To Question 11-13(5): Keewatin Resupply Initiative
Question 11-13(5): Keewatin Resupply Initiative
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 17
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. O'Brien.
Supplementary To Question 11-13(5): Keewatin Resupply Initiative
Question 11-13(5): Keewatin Resupply Initiative
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 17
Kevin O'Brien Kivallivik
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the real issue here is not whether we are going to save $50 or $100 million. The issue is safety and all the people are asking for is to be assured that their environment will not be damaged or the sea life. Mr. Speaker, to date, the residents have not been properly consulted. We do not know for sure what the actual cost is today as far as the savings go. We hear numbers being thrown out and I think what the hamlets are looking for is to see these numbers to be assured that the environment is not at risk. Mr. Speaker, I would ask the Minister, is he aware of any comprehensive study that is being carried out regarding a risk to the environment if this proposal is to go ahead?
Supplementary To Question 11-13(5): Keewatin Resupply Initiative
Question 11-13(5): Keewatin Resupply Initiative
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 17
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Arlooktoo.
Further Return To Question 11-13(5): Keewatin Resupply Initiative
Question 11-13(5): Keewatin Resupply Initiative
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 17
Goo Arlooktoo Baffin South
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can assure the Member that the technology and the way of building these short pipe lines will be the most current and safest that we can find. I would like to point out also that this type of resupply has been practised in the Baffin region for more than 30 years and has been improved upon. It is not a weak thing and is very safe. Certainly, I plan to give those assurances and give some more information to the hamlet of Arviat when I meet with them.
Further Return To Question 11-13(5): Keewatin Resupply Initiative
Question 11-13(5): Keewatin Resupply Initiative
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 17
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Oral questions. Final supplementary, Mr. O'Brien.
Supplementary To Question 11-13(5): Keewatin Resupply Initiative
Question 11-13(5): Keewatin Resupply Initiative
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 17
Kevin O'Brien Kivallivik
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker as we all know, regions differ from region to region and the concerns
laid out in the Baffin were somewhat different, I am sure, from the Keewatin. Mr. Speaker, the hydrographic surveying and mapping that took place over the last summer in my home community of Arviat and some of the other communities in the Keewatin. Mr. Speaker, in reference to these have the results of this mapping and work been completed and analyzed so that we know exactly what is out there?
Supplementary To Question 11-13(5): Keewatin Resupply Initiative
Question 11-13(5): Keewatin Resupply Initiative
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 18
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Arlooktoo.
Further Return To Question 11-13(5): Keewatin Resupply Initiative
Question 11-13(5): Keewatin Resupply Initiative
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 18
Goo Arlooktoo Baffin South
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I do not have the latest status report on where these hydrographic maps are, but what I can say is that there is enough information there for us to say that it is possible to go with deep draft and shallow draft tankers into these communities. I will be pleased to share with the Member whatever information we have to date.
Further Return To Question 11-13(5): Keewatin Resupply Initiative
Question 11-13(5): Keewatin Resupply Initiative
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 18
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Oral questions. Mr. Rabesca.
Question 12-13(5): Municipal Funding Inequity: Rae-edzo
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 18
James Rabesca North Slave
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As you may recall last week during the Fourth Session, I made a Member's statement regarding inadequacies facing the hamlet of Rae under the current funding formula. Today, Mr. Speaker, I would like to give one example of this, and I will then ask some questions to the Minister responsible. The hamlet of Rae-Edzo provided a report that they had commissioned which states the hamlet of Rae-Edzo received the lowest per capita of contributions amongst all of the Northwest Territories communities. This report shows community areas where even the smallest hamlet are receiving more funding than my home community is. One example is this section of protected service my community has a population base of 1,615 and received $68,059 or $42.10 per person in my community, whereas a community of lower population received up to $80,627 or $90.10 per person in that community. As you can see there is something wrong. With this in mind I will ask the Minister responsible for Municipal and Community Affairs, is her department communicating with the hamlet of Rae-Edzo to ensure this type of inequality is corrected with a review of the funding formula currently taking place. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Question 12-13(5): Municipal Funding Inequity: Rae-edzo
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 18
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Minister responsible for Municipal and Community Affairs, Ms. Thompson.
Return To Question 12-13(5): Municipal Funding Inequity: Rae-edzo
Question 12-13(5): Municipal Funding Inequity: Rae-edzo
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 18
Manitok Thompson Aivilik
(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My staff are working together with Rae-Edzo representatives on this matter. One of the department's initiatives is a complete municipal financing review. This information and findings will be shared at the NWT Association of Municipalities annual general meeting. This specific matter is being dealt with by my department officials. (Translation ends)
Return To Question 12-13(5): Municipal Funding Inequity: Rae-edzo
Question 12-13(5): Municipal Funding Inequity: Rae-edzo
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 18
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Oral questions. Mr. Roland.
Question 13-13(5): NWT Employment Vision
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 18
![Floyd Roland](/media/CACHE/images/polpics/13-floyd-roland/0b9708903b9f913ff93ddcd4599c8ba2.jpg)
Floyd Roland Inuvik
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question would be directed to the Premier. During the last days of the Fourth Session, I asked him about his economic panel and plans they had put forward. The Premier said he would forward me some information. It seems I do not have it yet and we are talking of trying to increase wealth in the Territories. Does the Premier have a plan and vision for the Territories as to increasing the jobs that are available to the people?
Question 13-13(5): NWT Employment Vision
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 18
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Premier.
Return To Question 13-13(5): Nwt Employment Vision
Question 13-13(5): NWT Employment Vision
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 18
Don Morin Tu Nedhe
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Our government is working on many initiatives for creating employment in the Northwest Territories and we are also working with the Premier's panel on the economy and employment for the Northwest Territories. As a matter of fact, we will be meeting this weekend and part of that agenda is to look at and discuss the Business Incentive Policy as well as northern manufacturing, transportation strategy, northern initiatives and investment of the northern people that our government is doing. We have already committed, Mr. Speaker, $32 million investment in the people and to beef up the programs that we have in existence already. The Honourable Charles Dent as well as Steve Kakfwi steerhead that for this government and we expect great and exciting things to happen from that. Thank you.
Return To Question 13-13(5): Nwt Employment Vision
Question 13-13(5): NWT Employment Vision
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 18
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Oral question. Supplementary, Mr. Roland.
Supplementary To Question 13-13(5): Nwt Employment Vision
Question 13-13(5): NWT Employment Vision
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 18
![Floyd Roland](/media/CACHE/images/polpics/13-floyd-roland/0b9708903b9f913ff93ddcd4599c8ba2.jpg)
Floyd Roland Inuvik
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Hopefully that excitement will hit the community soon. The Premier mentioned the transportation strategy and that strikes many in our community near and dear to their hearts, as that has been a topic that has been talked about for a long time. Is it a new strategy, is it something we can see being put forward and maybe implemented in the near future? Thank you.
Supplementary To Question 13-13(5): Nwt Employment Vision
Question 13-13(5): NWT Employment Vision
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 18
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Morin.
Further Return To Question 13-13(5): Nwt Employment Vision
Question 13-13(5): NWT Employment Vision
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 18
Don Morin Tu Nedhe
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Honourable Jim Antoine, responsible for Transportation is working on the strategy along with other Cabinet Ministers as well as Mr. Todd, our Minister responsible for Financial Management Board Secretariat, is also working on that issue because it has to tie in with private sector partnership. There would be nothing new if there was only the government doing it. That is guaranteed for sure because as everyone knows, we are operating under a fiscal restraint. We do not have any new dollars to put into capital projects, highway projects, any type of projects. We have reduced our spending in the capital end of our budget. We are looking and trying to bring in private sector partnerships into the development of the transportation strategy as well.
I had an opportunity this weekend, as a matter of fact, to go into Tuktoyaktuk with Mr. Vince Steen. I must commend Inuvik and Tuktoyaktuk as well as the Department of Transportation for their fine work which is new work on the development of a plan to develop a highway from Tuktoyaktuk to Inuvik. I will take the time to read that plan. With the community being involved, Mr. Speaker, the community taking the bull by the horns, as could be said, and the community getting excited about economic development in their region. They have taken the initiative, an old transportation strategy that was tabled in previous Assemblies by Mr. Gordon Wray. It was revisited and all those gravel deposits were looked at, Mr. Speaker, throughout that region. Previously, before Tuktoyaktuk and Inuvik leg were supposed -
Further Return To Question 13-13(5): Nwt Employment Vision
Question 13-13(5): NWT Employment Vision
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 19
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Can we get some order in the House, please, and allow the Minister to respond to the question? Mr. Morin.