Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Miltenberger.
Debates of Dec. 2nd, 1997
Topics
Further Return To Question 45-13(5): Central Public Government System
Question 45-13(5): Central Public Government System
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 224
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Supplementary To Question 45-13(5): Central Public Government System
Question 45-13(5): Central Public Government System
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 225
Michael Miltenberger Thebacha
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My final question to the Premier is this. Does the Premier envision our current legislative mandate continuing for the foreseeable future in the west unless there are changes agreed to through the constitutional development process now underway in the west?
Supplementary To Question 45-13(5): Central Public Government System
Question 45-13(5): Central Public Government System
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 225
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Morin.
Further Return To Question 45-13(5): Central Public Government System
Question 45-13(5): Central Public Government System
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 225
Don Morin Tu Nedhe
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have made a commitment to the people of the Northwest Territories to make sure the transition to Nunavut and the new Western Territory would happen as smoothly as possible. We have made a commitment to the people of the Northwest Territories that there will be no disruption in services. We fully intend on living up to those commitments and that the new western government will govern basically the same as this government does until we have agreement on the process we agreed to, until the new constitutional development process comes up and gives us a new government.
Further Return To Question 45-13(5): Central Public Government System
Question 45-13(5): Central Public Government System
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 225
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. Rabesca.
Question 46-13(5): Housing Concerns In Wha Ti
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 225
James Rabesca North Slave
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Question for the honourable Minister of Housing. In light of my Member's statement earlier today and concerns raised by the community of Wha Ti, would the Minister consider going to Wha Ti in the near future to see for himself the condition of these housing units and discuss the concerns they have? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Question 46-13(5): Housing Concerns In Wha Ti
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 225
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
The Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation, Mr. Arlooktoo.
Return To Question 46-13(5): Housing Concerns In Wha Ti
Question 46-13(5): Housing Concerns In Wha Ti
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 225
Goo Arlooktoo Baffin South
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have recently seen the condition reports and the needs survey from the North Slave Region, including Wha Ti. I fully realize the level of concern the community and the Member has. I do not see in my schedule any opportunity in the next few weeks. However, I would be willing to send a senior official of the Housing Corporation up to Wha Ti at the earliest opportunity, even during the month of December.
Return To Question 46-13(5): Housing Concerns In Wha Ti
Question 46-13(5): Housing Concerns In Wha Ti
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 225
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. Henry.
Question 47-13(5): Diamond Task Force Terms Of Reference
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 225
Seamus Henry Yellowknife South
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to Mr. Kakfwi, the Minister for Renewable Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development. Mr. Kakfwi informed the House earlier on this afternoon about the progress he has made with the task force set up to look at diamond valuation, sorting and the benefits that could be accrued to the people of Canada and the people of the Northwest Territories, in particular. My question to the Minister is will these terms of references that are being produced by, I understand, a joint committee of joint chairmanship of GNWT and Minister Stewart's DIAND Department be made available to the people of the Northwest Territories? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Question 47-13(5): Diamond Task Force Terms Of Reference
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 225
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Minister of Resource, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Kakfwi.
Return To Question 47-13(5): Diamond Task Force Terms Of Reference
Question 47-13(5): Diamond Task Force Terms Of Reference
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 225
Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The draft terms of reference, as far as I know, report from the deputy minister this afternoon, from Ottawa, in large part, agreed to by the various federal departments. I believe, as I said at the first meeting, the task force is slated for tomorrow morning. Following that, I believe the draft terms of reference will be finalized and will be available to Members.
Return To Question 47-13(5): Diamond Task Force Terms Of Reference
Question 47-13(5): Diamond Task Force Terms Of Reference
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 225
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Henry.
Supplementary To Question 47-13(5): Diamond Task Force Terms Of Reference
Question 47-13(5): Diamond Task Force Terms Of Reference
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 225
Seamus Henry Yellowknife South
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister how difficult he thinks it will be to convince the officials within DIAND of the need to provide this facility in the north? I believe last week we had, as the Minister referred to, one official, and I take it that was Mr. Lazarovitch here in Yellowknife telling delegates at a conference that we should not get too excited about the possibility of having diamond valuation and sorting. If this is the view of the department, as it has been in the past, how difficult is it going to be for the Minister's staff to try and convince that size of a bureaucracy that they should look at this from the perspective of changing their minds and attitude? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Supplementary To Question 47-13(5): Diamond Task Force Terms Of Reference
Question 47-13(5): Diamond Task Force Terms Of Reference
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 225
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Can I ask the Member to rephrase his question? I do not know how the Minister can respond to your question. It is hypothetical.
Supplementary To Question 47-13(5): Diamond Task Force Terms Of Reference
Question 47-13(5): Diamond Task Force Terms Of Reference
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 225
Seamus Henry Yellowknife South
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you. I will probably take that opportunity, or at least I hope I have the opportunity to ask the task force or make that comment to the task force at the time. Maybe I would ask Mr. Kakfwi, will he inform the House as to the dates this task force will be available for northerners to have input into it, so they can have the opportunity to advise the task force on how they feel about it along with getting outside expertise to make our view known? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Supplementary To Question 47-13(5): Diamond Task Force Terms Of Reference
Question 47-13(5): Diamond Task Force Terms Of Reference
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 225
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Kakfwi.
Further Return To Question 47-13(5): Diamond Task Force Terms Of Reference
Question 47-13(5): Diamond Task Force Terms Of Reference
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 225
Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The task force is going to be comprised of two co-chairs, Mr. Handley from my department and someone from the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs will be co-chairing this on behalf of the Government of Canada. The task force members will be, again, the Department of Finance from our side, my department, and the federal department of Finance, Indian and Northern Affairs, and Natural Resources Canada. We know the views expressed by the band officials so far to date is not necessarily shared or supported by everyone in the various federal departments. It is my view that the task force
is primarily set up to review existing information and advice both governments have received to date and to share them to make sure they are of some substance and merit and further, to see what we can do together as governments, to get ready to account for ourselves to the Canadian public for the day when we will be asked, for instance, why did we not insist that as a condition of licence that diamonds be sorted and possibly sold in this country? Why did we not, like other countries, insist that valuation for government purposes be done off site in an adjacent community? What are the views that have compelled Dr. Lazarovitch to argue so strongly in favour of the business interests of BHP and so little in favour of promoting and protecting the public interest? We will have time to review that in substance. As a government and as a Minister, I would be prepared to find ways in which to make as much of that information available as possible. Of course, we would have to get agreement from the federal government on that as well, but I am sure there will be no substantive objections to that. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 47-13(5): Diamond Task Force Terms Of Reference
Question 47-13(5): Diamond Task Force Terms Of Reference
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 226
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Henry.
Supplementary To Question 47-13(5): Diamond Task Force Terms Of Reference
Question 47-13(5): Diamond Task Force Terms Of Reference
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 226
Seamus Henry Yellowknife South
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the Minister consider writing a letter to Minister Stewart expressing concerns that his government has its officials coming to Yellowknife expressing opinions that we should not get excited about having diamond valuation and sorting and the jobs that that could bring, not to get excited about that at the same time his own department officials were working on terms of reference to receive input from the people of the Northwest Territories. Will the Minister consider writing that letter to Minister Stewart? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Supplementary To Question 47-13(5): Diamond Task Force Terms Of Reference
Question 47-13(5): Diamond Task Force Terms Of Reference
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 226
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Kakfwi.
Further Return To Question 47-13(5): Diamond Task Force Terms Of Reference
Question 47-13(5): Diamond Task Force Terms Of Reference
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 226
Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu
Mr. Speaker, it is obvious that we have concerns about the advice the federal government has been receiving in the past and the amount of time that has passed since the federal government should have been doing its planning and the strategic work preparing for the diamond industry. It is late in the day, and I think they are aware of that. We have said that we will, in good faith, work with the federal government together to do what we can to ensure that every possible economic benefit that should rightfully flow to Canadians and to Canadian people and northern people will be examined and maximizing every means available to us. That is where we focus our attention. A letter expressing our consternation with the views and the behaviour of certain officials could be fitted in there somehow, I am sure. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 47-13(5): Diamond Task Force Terms Of Reference
Question 47-13(5): Diamond Task Force Terms Of Reference
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 226
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Oral questions. Mr. O'Brien.
Question 48-13(5): Nunavut Transition Costs
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 226
Kevin O'Brien Kivallivik
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Minister responsible for Transitional Planning. Mr. Speaker, recently there has been a fair bit of talk about the transitional costs associated with division. I wonder if the Minister responsible can update this House as to where these talks are to date? Thank you.
Question 48-13(5): Nunavut Transition Costs
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 226
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
The Deputy Premier, Mr. Arlooktoo.