Thank you. Mrs. Ballantyne.
Debates of March 1st, 1997
Topics
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
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
Page 986
Ballantyne
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the Minister and I did attend a future focus session with the city of Yellowknife in the fall. The full presentation on community empowerment was given at that time. In addition, the stepping forward community planning process, the binder of booklets which have been distributed to all MLAs, sets forth a community-based planning process which is very much along the lines of the future-focus concept. It includes facilitated meetings that are provided either by trained staff or by staff that the community already has in place who are able to conduct such meetings. It is very much in agreement with the kind of approach the Member is describing. Very much in line with the community-based planning approach. 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. 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 Yellowknife Centre
Thank you. Thank you for that explanation and clarification. In the case of the Keewatin, the community airports have been transferred to the communities. I am wondering what sort of discussions have taken place with community leaders in regard to the legal implications of this, the availability of finances and labour relations? Have all those areas been discussed with those communities that are taking over airports, for example? 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
Page 986
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. Madam Minister.
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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Manitok Thompson Aivilik
Thank you, Mr. Chair. There will be a Keewatin leadership meeting on the 17th to the 24th of this month, where we will address these issues to the leadership. Nothing has been transferred yet to the communities until all these issues the Member has brought forward have been discussed or addressed with the leadership. 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
Page 986
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. 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 Yellowknife Centre
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yesterday, Mr. Roland spoke about the concern of building infrastructure and facilities in communities, but there has not been an addressing of how these facilities in the future will be maintained, in other words the operating cost of these. We seem to have a capital plan, and that community needs a recreational centre, that
community needs a rink, that community needs this or that, but are we addressing the whole O and M question for the communities because at some point we are cutting down the O and M cost. Can the communities be assured they will have the access and availability of funds to maintain these facilities for a long time?
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
Page 987
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. Madam Minister.
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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Manitok Thompson Aivilik
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, forced growth is calculated every year for new projects. 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. Final supplementary, 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 Yellowknife Centre
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We may have good intentions here, but has a survey been done with the communities? Have we analyzed what these communities need? In other words, we have 52 communities, have we identified that they can continue to maintain the infrastructure they have in these communities? Has a survey been done on that?
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
Page 987
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. Madam Minister.
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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Manitok Thompson Aivilik
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I will get Vern Christensen to answer the Member.
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. Christensen.
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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Christensen
Thank you, Mr. Chair. In each annual planning cycle, the department does look at the O and M costs of new infrastructure. When we fund through our O and M estimates, we have incorporated costs of operating new facilities. Based on our funding formula for communities, this whole area is also going to be the subject of the municipal financing review the department is proposing in the coming year, in which we are going to be examining the whole financial relationship of the department with communities, part of which is related to the ongoing operations and maintenance of their infrastructure and the municipal programs that they deliver.
As Mrs. Ballantyne mentioned yesterday, the future funding for ongoing activities with communities is subject to annual review and guarantees are not there for future years, but for the current year the funding is available. Thank you, Mr. 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. Community development, I have Mr. Krutko. 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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David Krutko Mackenzie Delta
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. My question is to the Minister in relation to the community negotiating process that is going on in Aklavik, regarding comments made in the House about Liz McPherson. There is a letter sent to the Premier, January 23rd, from the chairman of the Aklavik Aboriginal Committee, Charlie Furlong, and it clearly states Mr. Furlong was advised by Liz McPherson that the regional superintendent of MACA Inuvik is not co-operating in allowing her to participate effectively in the community empowerment activities. If the superintendents are not following this process, because they are the ones that make the ultimate decision in the Inuvik region, how can this process be conducted in a way that is manageable and allows the individuals who have been given the responsibility to oversee, as a co-ordinator of rights in Inuvik region, Ms. McPherson, yet the superintendents are not cooperating? If this process is suppose to be simplified is allowed to proceed. Have the regional superintendents been given warning that this is a priority of this government?
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
Page 987
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. Madam Minister.
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
Page 987
Manitok Thompson Aivilik
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am aware of that letter and I am also aware that this matter has been dealt with. There was a bit of a misunderstanding in that area. I will get Penny to give you more details on that. 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
Page 987
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. Mrs. Ballantyne.
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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Ballantyne
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just to add that I have spoken to all parties concerned on this matter. I believe it is cleared up now and I do not anticipate there will be any problems in the future. 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. Krutko.
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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David Krutko Mackenzie Delta
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. There is a problem in the future with the regional superintendent. What is the process to either move them, transfer them, or replace them with someone who is more resourceful and co-operative with communities?
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
Page 987
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. Madam Minister.