Thank you, Mr. Steen. Mr. Premier.
Debates of Feb. 4th, 1997
Topics
Committee Motion 8-13(4): Reconsider Elimination Of Funding For Metis Nation Community Resource Director
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 393
Committee Motion 8-13(4): Reconsider Elimination Of Funding For Metis Nation Community Resource Director
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 393
Don Morin
Thank you, Madam Chair. We do not have any verbal or written agreement with the federal government on incremental cost, transitional cost, or any other cost after April 1 of 1999, or any other extra costs at all associated with the creation of two new territories.
Committee Motion 8-13(4): Reconsider Elimination Of Funding For Metis Nation Community Resource Director
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 393
Committee Motion 8-13(4): Reconsider Elimination Of Funding For Metis Nation Community Resource Director
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 393
Vince Steen Nunakput
Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, obviously, there is hope to be reimbursed for these costs from the federal government. This is confirmed by the fact that they are keeping track of the amounts of incremental transitional costs. My question to the Premier then is: we are identifying our share of this transitional cost but it is my understanding that the creation of Nunavut is a tri-party agreement. Therefore, is there any indication that the other two parties are contributing equal amounts of funding or resources or time to achieve the same goal? On an equal basis?
Committee Motion 8-13(4): Reconsider Elimination Of Funding For Metis Nation Community Resource Director
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 393
Committee Motion 8-13(4): Reconsider Elimination Of Funding For Metis Nation Community Resource Director
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 393
Don Morin
Thank you, Madam Chair. I believe it would be safe to say that the Government of the Northwest Territories has taken on the majority of the costs and the majority of the work. The simple reason is that we have and can look into the costs of running government in the Northwest Territories, because those costs are here and reflected in our budgets. It would be safe to say that we carry the brunt of the those costs. And also we are in the process now in Mr. Todd's office of documenting, and producing a document - what we have spent on divisional issues on east and west, so that we can present that to the federal government. We have raised that with DIAND many times and we are now starting to put our case together to present it to the federal government on what the incremental and transitional costs will be. We are presently doing that work now and hopefully when we go up to Cambridge, I believe it is, for the Nunavut Summit, people are going to be ready to talk about costs. We hope to hear soon from the federal government on their true commitment on Nunavut. Thank you.
Committee Motion 8-13(4): Reconsider Elimination Of Funding For Metis Nation Community Resource Director
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 393
Committee Motion 8-13(4): Reconsider Elimination Of Funding For Metis Nation Community Resource Director
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 393
Vince Steen Nunakput
Thank you, Madam Chair. Would the Premier indicate if the cost we are bearing right now, at what point in time this government feels we have spent all we can afford to spend on this thing, without the parties doing their share, we are going to lay off it and quit spending money on this issue without some help from the other parties?
Committee Motion 8-13(4): Reconsider Elimination Of Funding For Metis Nation Community Resource Director
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 393
Committee Motion 8-13(4): Reconsider Elimination Of Funding For Metis Nation Community Resource Director
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 393
Don Morin
Thank you, Madam Chair. I think it would be premature to say, as a government that we are going to set a certain date which without a commitment from the federal government on covering costs, that we could not proceed any further. But it is a very important issue that the Member raises. An issue that we, as a government, still have to talk about in Cabinet and to Members of the Legislative Assembly as well. We have to make sure that the federal government is living up to the commitments they have made not only to the Nunavut people, but to people in the western Arctic. That is our job, to make sure the federal government lives up to those commitments, so that April 1st, 1999, we have two viable Territories. Our Minister of Finance is working on his staff is working on bringing together all those costs, so we can present it to the federal government.
Committee Motion 8-13(4): Reconsider Elimination Of Funding For Metis Nation Community Resource Director
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 393
Committee Motion 8-13(4): Reconsider Elimination Of Funding For Metis Nation Community Resource Director
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 393
Vince Steen Nunakput
Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I still would like a clearer response as to how far do we carry these responsibilities? I mean, we obviously can not bear the total cost of creating Nunavut all by ourselves. But we seem to be doing that at this point without any input from the federal government.
My question to the Premier is, obviously there is a meeting in February, but my concern is that: if we are spending money that should be the responsibility of the federal government, where they do not have money to carry out other programs. That is my concern. It is reducing our ability to carry out other programs. My question, Madam Chair, is at what point can we no longer afford it? We use too many other programs. I would like the Minister to identify for us whether Cabinet is in fact reaching the point of no return, where we get so deep into this thing that we can not quit. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Committee Motion 8-13(4): Reconsider Elimination Of Funding For Metis Nation Community Resource Director
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
February 3rd, 1997
Page 393
Committee Motion 8-13(4): Reconsider Elimination Of Funding For Metis Nation Community Resource Director
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 393
Don Morin
Thank you, Madam Chair. I can understand the Member's concern. We have an agreement already with the federal government to start negotiations for transitional and incremental costs in March, next month. That is when we are going to start negotiating those costs. Mr. Todd, the Minister of Finance has met with Mr. Paul Martin, Minister of Finance from the federal government, who has agreed to look at incremental and transitional costs. How long those negotiations will go on for, I do not know. We will have a better idea by March or so. We could see what will happen in the very near future, but we do have an agreement to negotiate this very important issue, and we will keep the Members informed as it unfolds. Thank you.
Committee Motion 8-13(4): Reconsider Elimination Of Funding For Metis Nation Community Resource Director
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 393
Committee Motion 8-13(4): Reconsider Elimination Of Funding For Metis Nation Community Resource Director
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 393
Vince Steen Nunakput
Thank you, Madam Chair. I would like to respond to the Minister. That is the clearest answer I have heard yet in this House as to incremental or transitional costs being addressed by the federal government. I appreciate his response and I am sure the Nunavut Members appreciate it too, so we all know that there is going to be federal responsibility identified through the funding coming forth at some point. Thank you.
Committee Motion 8-13(4): Reconsider Elimination Of Funding For Metis Nation Community Resource Director
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 393
Committee Motion 8-13(4): Reconsider Elimination Of Funding For Metis Nation Community Resource Director
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 393
Seamus Henry Yellowknife South
Thank you, Madam Chair. I think all that is required here is some clarification. I think the public may be a
little confused as to the process here. Yesterday there was a motion which carried, regarding recommendations to the government on increasing or reinstating funding for the Native Women's Association and Status of Women's Council. Before we proceed with the program summary, I think an explanation is in order as to what approving this does, and what the process is for the Premier in this case, to bring back comments or responses from his government on the recommendations that were made. Thank you.
Committee Motion 8-13(4): Reconsider Elimination Of Funding For Metis Nation Community Resource Director
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 394
Committee Motion 8-13(4): Reconsider Elimination Of Funding For Metis Nation Community Resource Director
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 394
Don Morin
Thank you, Madam Chair. I believe the motion was a recommendation to the government, and we have time to respond to that recommendation. Thank you.
Committee Motion 8-13(4): Reconsider Elimination Of Funding For Metis Nation Community Resource Director
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 394
Committee Motion 8-13(4): Reconsider Elimination Of Funding For Metis Nation Community Resource Director
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 394
Seamus Henry Yellowknife South
Thank you, Madam Chair. Does the Premier have the timeframe on his response? On that particular issue?
Committee Motion 8-13(4): Reconsider Elimination Of Funding For Metis Nation Community Resource Director
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 394
Committee Motion 8-13(4): Reconsider Elimination Of Funding For Metis Nation Community Resource Director
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 394
Don Morin
Thank you, Madam Chair. I would take a look at what Members have to say to that motion, just like we took a look at what the committee had to recommend. We give our reasons why we disagreed with it at that time. Take a motion, look at the motion, the recommendation, after we get through every stage of the budget. We see what else kicked out of the cap and we will consider it then. Thank you.
Committee Motion 8-13(4): Reconsider Elimination Of Funding For Metis Nation Community Resource Director
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 394
The Chair Jane Groenewegen
Thank you, Mr. Morin. Does that answer your question, Mr. Henry? Program summary, Executive Offices, total operations and maintenance, $10,248,000.