Debates of Oct. 22nd, 1997

This is page numbers 23 - 84 of the Hansard for the 13th Assembly, 5th 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
Closure Of Hay River Abattoir
Premier's Visit To Tuktoyaktuk
Congratulates To Rcmp Graduate Rufus Manik
Recognition Of Inga Alainga
Arctic Bay Sport Hunting Trip
Appreciation To Colleagues
Passing Of Melanie Beaulieu
Community Empowerment For Clyde River
The Need For A Child Advocate
Issues From The Yellowknife Mlas Constituency Meeting
Fort Simpson Municipal Election Results
De Beers Building Project For Luanda
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Appointment Of Baffin Health Board Chair
Resources For Abused Children
Response From First Air
Timing Of Keewatin Resupply
Keewatin Resupply Savings
Keewatin Resupply Pipelines
Keewatin Resupply Project
Need For Child Advocacy Group
Aurora Fund Eligibility
Plan For Hay River Abattoir
Post Division Contract Commitments
Tabled Document 2-13(5): Letter From Kivalliq Inuit Association Regarding Keewatin Region Health Care Services
Tabled Document 3-13(5): Letter From The Hamlet Of Arviat Regarding The Proposed Fuel Resupply Pipeline
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 20: Report Of Committee Of The Whole
Item 22: Orders Of The Day

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I do not have a question, but I wish to make a motion to ask that the Ministers take the witness chair?

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Vince Steen

Thank you, Mr. Ootes. Your motion is out of order. Procedures to ask the Minister if they wish to take the witness chair is up to Ministers as to whether they would want to or not. So, with that, I recognize you if you have a question, Mr. Ootes.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Would you ask the Minister if he would take the witness chair?

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair John Ningark

Thank you, Mr. Ootes. I plan to do that as soon as somebody puts forward a question. Mr. Picco.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Edward Picco Iqaluit

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I would like to begin with several questions to the Premier as outlined in the format that we have agreed to. Yes, I would like to begin now, if that is OK, Mr. Chairman.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair John Ningark

Mr. Morin, would you like to take the witness chair?

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am fine right where I am.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair John Ningark

Thank you. You may proceed with your question, Mr. Picco.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Edward Picco Iqaluit

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, as I said in my earlier statement concerning this government, it seems that the government is being painted fairly or unfairly in the public eye as greedy and unseemingly underhanded. That is not acceptable. Some of my questions that I will begin with today are on the accountability and the policies of this government with the Premier as the head of that government. Will the Premier address the issue of the new reliance of using Request for Proposals as a seemingly easy way to circumvent the public tendering process? My first question. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair John Ningark

Thank you, Mr. Picco. Mr. Morin.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Requests for proposals do not circumvent any tender public process. It is part of the public tender process, and we have different ways of tendering contracts. There is public tender, requests for proposals, negotiated contracts and sole-sourced. Thank you.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair John Ningark

Thank you, Mr. Morin. Mr. Picco, your second question.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Edward Picco Iqaluit

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, from the answers I am getting it seems like deja vu from being in the House. My next question, then, will be, will the Premier direct his Ministers and himself to try and answer questions in the House in a serious and constructive way without the excess verbiage?

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair John Ningark

Thank you, Mr. Picco. Mr. Morin.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Next question, that one is not worth answering, Mr. Chairman.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair John Ningark

Thank you, Mr. Morin. Questions to the Premier. Mr. Picco.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Edward Picco Iqaluit

Mr. Chairman, do we have the honour bound asking a serious question instead of trying to dodge, like I said in my Member's Statement, is there constructive criticism? When I sit across this House and I ask a serious question, I would like a serious answer. So my question to the Premier was, will he take those questions seriously and not in a flippant manner? I am not asking him in a flippant manner. I am asking him in a serious manner. His response to me, Mr. Chairman, as you just heard, was, I do not think that was a serious question, I will not answer it. It was a serious question and I am asking it seriously. I am not going to repeat it.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair John Ningark

Thank you, Mr. Picco. Could I ask the Members to please relax. Mr. Morin.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am still waiting for the question. Thank you.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair John Ningark

Thank you, Mr. Morin. Questions for the Premier. Mr. Picco.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Edward Picco Iqaluit

A point of clarification. If I ask that question, it will be a third question that I have used, and I am not going to play that game. I asked the question, I asked it twice. I asked the question, are you going to respond?

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair John Ningark

The Chair would like some order, Mr. Picco. According to the procedure we agreed as a committee, clarification of questions are questions. You are entitled to five more questions, Mr. Picco. Mr. Picco.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Edward Picco Iqaluit

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I will continue with my questions. Will the Premier address the ongoing charges of public calls for resignations of individual Ministers with constructive reasons why or why not? Thank you.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair John Ningark

Thank you, Mr. Picco. Mr. Morin.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. As Members heard me speak when we started off this process today, I am very proud to be working with this team of Ministers I have. They have the full confidence of myself and the full confidence of the government. Thank you.