This is page numbers 481 - 509 of the Hansard for the 13th Assembly, 6th 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 nunavut.

Topics

Return To Question 242-13(6): GNWT Post-employment Policies
Question 242-13(6): GNWT Post-employment Policies
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 494

John Todd Keewatin Central

Well, Mr. Speaker, as I said, Mr. Bailey, in accordance with the contracting rules and regulations, did meet the criteria set before us. It means that they can take work as long as the work they are taking does not give them the opportunity to unduly exploit confidential information. Perhaps that is the area where it is in dispute right now and that is the unduly exploit confidential information. Maybe that is what we need to define at some point.

It is my understanding that the contracting agency awarded the contract to Mr. Bailey, which went to RFP I believe, request for proposals, and they must have taken into consideration the guidelines and the regulations that are laid out in this policy. I am not trying to foist stuff onto anybody else, I mean my honourable colleague is correct, I am ultimately responsible, but I have had no waiver come across my desk in relationship to any employee. None. I am saying that perhaps what needs to be clarified is, unduly exploit confidential information. That is the only way I can answer that question. Thank you.

Return To Question 242-13(6): GNWT Post-employment Policies
Question 242-13(6): GNWT Post-employment Policies
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 494

The Speaker

Thank you. Oral questions. Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 242-13(6): GNWT Post-employment Policies
Question 242-13(6): GNWT Post-employment Policies
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 494

Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, we

are getting into technicalities here over what is or is not confidential information. I understand that the discussions that took place with respect to the privatization of POL primarily took place in Cabinet meetings and senior deputy minister meetings I would say that is confidential information. That is not information that I have access to as a Member of the Legislative Assembly, that is for certain. My question to the Minister is, is the onus for the enforcement of the policy on the Minister or is it on the employee?

Supplementary To Question 242-13(6): GNWT Post-employment Policies
Question 242-13(6): GNWT Post-employment Policies
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 495

The Speaker

Mr. Todd.

Further Return To Question 242-13(6): GNWT Post-employment Policies
Question 242-13(6): GNWT Post-employment Policies
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 495

John Todd Keewatin Central

The onus of the responsibility for the policy I think is twofold. I have an obligation and a responsibility to ensure that this policy, along with hundreds of others, is enacted to. The employee has a responsibility and the employees have responsibilities to ensure that they behave and authorize contracts in a manner in which they have sworn to do. The employee who leaves the government has a responsibility to ensure that they meet the criteria that is set out in this policy. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 242-13(6): GNWT Post-employment Policies
Question 242-13(6): GNWT Post-employment Policies
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 495

The Speaker

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 242-13(6): GNWT Post-employment Policies
Question 242-13(6): GNWT Post-employment Policies
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 495

Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just for a moment, let us pursue Mr. Todd's responsibility in this matter. Ministers take an oath of office, they say that they solemnly swear to conduct their business with impartiality, objectivity and fairness. Let us just leave the POL contract for a minute and look at the Aurora Fund, a direct appointment of Mr. Bailey. Does Mr. Todd personally take responsibility for the appointment of Mr. Bailey in that particular contract which took place within the 12 month post-employment period and in fact, probably the discussion of it took place while Mr. Roland was, in fact, still employed by the Government of the Northwest Territories? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary To Question 242-13(6): GNWT Post-employment Policies
Question 242-13(6): GNWT Post-employment Policies
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 495

The Speaker

Mr. Todd.

Further Return To Question 242-13(6): GNWT Post-employment Policies
Question 242-13(6): GNWT Post-employment Policies
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 495

John Todd Keewatin Central

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The decision to appoint Mr. Bailey, who was qualified for the job and met all of the criteria for the Aurora Fund general managers job, was made by the board of directors of which I chair.

Further Return To Question 242-13(6): GNWT Post-employment Policies
Question 242-13(6): GNWT Post-employment Policies
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 495

The Speaker

Thank you. Oral questions. Final supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 242-13(6): GNWT Post-employment Policies
Question 242-13(6): GNWT Post-employment Policies
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 495

Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The direct question to the Minister is then, did he have a responsibility to enforce as Chairman of the FMBS the post-employment policy of the Government of the Northwest Territories with respect to the appointing of Mr. Bailey as the manager of the Aurora Fund? Yes or no. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary To Question 242-13(6): GNWT Post-employment Policies
Question 242-13(6): GNWT Post-employment Policies
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 495

The Speaker

Mr. Todd.

Further Return To Question 242-13(6): GNWT Post-employment Policies
Question 242-13(6): GNWT Post-employment Policies
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 495

John Todd Keewatin Central

I was asked that same question by the Conflict of Interest Commissioner and I refused at that time to answer yes or no and I will today. I appreciate where my honourable colleague is going and I respect her questioning, it is what she has got every right to do. I fundamentally believe then as I do now that Mr. Bailey, first of all, had the qualifications for that job and secondly, met the criteria as set out under the policy and guidelines by this government. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 242-13(6): GNWT Post-employment Policies
Question 242-13(6): GNWT Post-employment Policies
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 495

The Speaker

Thank you. Again, just to remind the Ministers to that if they do, when a question is asked of them is, when a Minister answers a question that he can answer, they can take it as notice or decline to answer it at all. If they decline then it should be left at that. That was your final supplementary. Oral questions. Mr. Miltenberger.

Question 243-13(6): Update On Power Corporation Negotiations
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 495

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is addressed to the Minister responsible for the Power Corporation. As we move into the final days of our sitting prior to Christmas and our last full sitting as an Assembly, I would like the Minister, if he could, to update the House on the status of the disposal or the future of the NWT Power Corporation and the negotiations that have been taking place and where we are at this particular point. Thank you.

Question 243-13(6): Update On Power Corporation Negotiations
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 495

The Speaker

The Minister responsible for the NWT Power Corporation, Mr. Dent.

Return To Question 243-13(6): Update On Power Corporation Negotiations
Question 243-13(6): Update On Power Corporation Negotiations
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 495

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have been informed that the parties are fairly close to an agreement on the final wording of a transition agreement, which would set out the process for eventual division of the Power Corporation into two operating entities, east and west, should there not be some move in the future to bring it back together. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Return To Question 243-13(6): Update On Power Corporation Negotiations
Question 243-13(6): Update On Power Corporation Negotiations
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 495

The Speaker

Thank you. Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Miltenberger.

Supplementary To Question 243-13(6): Update On Power Corporation Negotiations
Question 243-13(6): Update On Power Corporation Negotiations
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 495

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Could the

Minister indicate when this agreement would take effect and how long it is anticipated at this juncture that this agreement would last? Is it one year, two year or three years? Could the Minister indicate that?

Supplementary To Question 243-13(6): Update On Power Corporation Negotiations
Question 243-13(6): Update On Power Corporation Negotiations
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 496

The Speaker

Thank you. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 243-13(6): Update On Power Corporation Negotiations
Question 243-13(6): Update On Power Corporation Negotiations
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 496

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I understand it right now, the agreement is for a total of three years, but I believe the first year is for a form of operation and the second period would be for the final transition to two operating agencies. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Further Return To Question 243-13(6): Update On Power Corporation Negotiations
Question 243-13(6): Update On Power Corporation Negotiations
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 496

The Speaker

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Miltenberger.

Supplementary To Question 243-13(6): Update On Power Corporation Negotiations
Question 243-13(6): Update On Power Corporation Negotiations
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 496

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Is the intent that after April 1st the two new Legislatures would, in fact, be able to sit down and look at the plan and the agreement that has been signed to see if, in fact, they want to continue with division or move to keep the Power Corporation as one? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 243-13(6): Update On Power Corporation Negotiations
Question 243-13(6): Update On Power Corporation Negotiations
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 496

The Speaker

Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 243-13(6): Update On Power Corporation Negotiations
Question 243-13(6): Update On Power Corporation Negotiations
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 496

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there is nothing in the transition agreement that would stop that kind of process from taking place should the new governments after April 1st choose to discuss the issue of keeping the Power Corporation together. That is possible, yes. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.