Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I detect that this was by invitation only; however, I was concerned with the transparency of it. Apparently the MLAs were not allowed into the meeting. I am wondering if the Minister could address that?
Debates of Jan. 22nd, 1998
Topics
Supplementary To Question 69-13(5): Attendance At Post-budget Address Meeting
Question 69-13(5): Attendance At Post-budget Address Meeting
Item 7: Oral Questions
Page 268
Supplementary To Question 69-13(5): Attendance At Post-budget Address Meeting
Question 69-13(5): Attendance At Post-budget Address Meeting
Item 7: Oral Questions
Page 268
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
I did not hear any question, Mr. Ootes.
Supplementary To Question 69-13(5): Attendance At Post-budget Address Meeting
Question 69-13(5): Attendance At Post-budget Address Meeting
Item 7: Oral Questions
Page 268
Supplementary To Question 69-13(5): Attendance At Post-budget Address Meeting
Question 69-13(5): Attendance At Post-budget Address Meeting
Item 7: Oral Questions
Page 268
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Todd.
Further Return To Question 69-13(5): Attendance At Post-budget Address Meeting
Question 69-13(5): Attendance At Post-budget Address Meeting
Item 7: Oral Questions
Page 268
John Todd Keewatin Central
I do not know how the subject has got to the point it has. I am sort of at a loss, quite frankly. At a complete loss, and if I have offended anybody by not being in the Great Hall when I was trying to, on behalf of the constituency of the north, on behalf of this government, to convince the banks that this is a good place to invest, I apologize. It was not by invitation. It was just a continuing discussion with respect to the technical briefings that we have been giving the banks in an effort to persuade them, and they are listening to us right now, in an effort to persuade them to continue to invest in this country and help us build our infrastructure. Now, I do not know what I did wrong, but if I have done something wrong, I will say again, I apologize, but I thought the exercise was to show some maturity, some stability and to welcome them. It was not an MLA/Legislative Assembly thing. It was a technical exercise. That is all, nothing else.
Further Return To Question 69-13(5): Attendance At Post-budget Address Meeting
Question 69-13(5): Attendance At Post-budget Address Meeting
Item 7: Oral Questions
Page 268
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Ootes.
Supplementary To Question 69-13(5): Attendance At Post-budget Address Meeting
Question 69-13(5): Attendance At Post-budget Address Meeting
Item 7: Oral Questions
Page 268
Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre
Thank you. No doubt the public/private partnerships were discussed, but my question is, were the NWT Construction Association and NWT Teachers' Association, and the various unions invited to this meeting? Thank you.
Supplementary To Question 69-13(5): Attendance At Post-budget Address Meeting
Question 69-13(5): Attendance At Post-budget Address Meeting
Item 7: Oral Questions
Page 268
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Todd.
Further Return To Question 69-13(5): Attendance At Post-budget Address Meeting
Question 69-13(5): Attendance At Post-budget Address Meeting
Item 7: Oral Questions
Page 268
John Todd Keewatin Central
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, I am glad somebody has a sense of humour in this House. This just arrived to me in an envelope. No, they were not, Mr. Speaker; but I do want to assure my honourable colleague for the last two weeks I have done nothing but talk to the NWT Construction Association, the NWT Chamber Commerce, Alternatives North and any other of the organizations that wish to talk to me with respect to budget initiatives. This was an initiative and still is, unless this conversation carries on, to reassure the banks that this was a good place to invest and I certainly appreciate whoever sent me this, the sense of humour, that this subject should be dealt with. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 69-13(5): Attendance At Post-budget Address Meeting
Question 69-13(5): Attendance At Post-budget Address Meeting
Item 7: Oral Questions
Page 268
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Oral questions. Final supplementary, Mr. Ootes.
Supplementary To Question 69-13(5): Attendance At Post-budget Address Meeting
Question 69-13(5): Attendance At Post-budget Address Meeting
Item 7: Oral Questions
Page 268
Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wonder if the Minister could indicate if he will meet with the other organizations that may have an interest in this whole subject of public/private partnerships on a fairly immediate basis? Thank you.
Supplementary To Question 69-13(5): Attendance At Post-budget Address Meeting
Question 69-13(5): Attendance At Post-budget Address Meeting
Item 7: Oral Questions
Page 269
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Todd.
Further Return To Question 69-13(5): Attendance At Post-budget Address Meeting
Question 69-13(5): Attendance At Post-budget Address Meeting
Item 7: Oral Questions
Page 269
John Todd Keewatin Central
Well, perhaps my honourable colleague has a hearing problem, because I think I just said I already did. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 69-13(5): Attendance At Post-budget Address Meeting
Question 69-13(5): Attendance At Post-budget Address Meeting
Item 7: Oral Questions
Page 269
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Oral questions. Mrs. Groenewegen.
Question 70-13(5): Minister's Attendance At Reception
Item 7: Oral Questions
January 21st, 1998
Page 269
Jane Groenewegen Hay River
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am hesitant to wade in on this subject that we are asking about right now, but to put things into a little bit of perspective, could I just preamble my question by telling the Finance Minister that this was his day? He was the man of the hour. We invited the public to a public reception. People who do not have the ready access to him that we as Ordinary Members have came and joined us. I think the budget was balanced. It is a celebration. It was done in partnership with the Ordinary Members so I would liken this to an analogy where there is a wedding and the receiving line, the groom was missing and we have to tell them, we have to tell the guests that he has gone to a technical briefing on how the marriage is going to go.
--Applause/Laughter
I guess my concern is that this is a happy day. This is a celebration. We have balanced the budget, and I am saddened if there are any hard feelings or anybody is offended; but the next time we do something like this, could I ask the Minister of Finance if he would be kind enough to grace us with his presence at a public reception? Thank you.
Question 70-13(5): Minister's Attendance At Reception
Item 7: Oral Questions
Page 269
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Minister of Finance, Mr. Todd.
Return To Question 70-13(5): Minister's Attendance At Reception
Question 70-13(5): Minister's Attendance At Reception
Item 7: Oral Questions
Page 269
John Todd Keewatin Central
Yeah, sure, absolutely.
Return To Question 70-13(5): Minister's Attendance At Reception
Question 70-13(5): Minister's Attendance At Reception
Item 7: Oral Questions
Page 269
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Oral questions. Mr. Steen.
Return To Question 70-13(5): Minister's Attendance At Reception
Question 70-13(5): Minister's Attendance At Reception
Item 7: Oral Questions
Page 269
Vince Steen Nunakput
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In consideration for time, I would like to ask to extend question period until I finish my questions.
Return To Question 70-13(5): Minister's Attendance At Reception
Question 70-13(5): Minister's Attendance At Reception
Item 7: Oral Questions
Page 269
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Steen, would you rephrase your question to seek unanimous consent to extend question period?
Return To Question 70-13(5): Minister's Attendance At Reception
Question 70-13(5): Minister's Attendance At Reception
Item 7: Oral Questions
Page 269
Return To Question 70-13(5): Minister's Attendance At Reception
Question 70-13(5): Minister's Attendance At Reception
Item 7: Oral Questions
Page 269
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. The Member for Nunakput is seeking unanimous consent to extend question period. Do we have any nays? There are no nays. Mr. Steen.
Return To Question 70-13(5): Minister's Attendance At Reception
Question 70-13(5): Minister's Attendance At Reception
Item 7: Oral Questions
Page 269
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Steen. Oral questions.
Question 71-13(5): Departmental Intervention Policy
Item 7: Oral Questions
Page 269
Vince Steen Nunakput
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, honourable Members. Mr. Speaker, considering the amount of concern that is being expressed by the Members other than myself, with the problems with the health board in the Keewatin in particular and considering the different service in other regions as well, my question is directed to the Minister of Health, Mr. Ng. If the department has a policy in place whereby they step in if there are concerns being expressed in regard to how health boards are being run or operated at which point in time does the department step in? Is there a policy on that?
Question 71-13(5): Departmental Intervention Policy
Item 7: Oral Questions
Page 269
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
The Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Ng.