Thank you. Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Henry.
Debates of Feb. 26th, 1998
Topics
Return To Question 448-13(5): Diamond Industry Task Force
Question 448-13(5): Diamond Industry Task Force
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1146
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Supplementary To Question 448-13(5): Diamond Industry Task Force
Question 448-13(5): Diamond Industry Task Force
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1147
Seamus Henry Yellowknife South
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Minister for that. I would appreciate if he could respond a little further as to the timetable of the committee, when they are coming north, what communities they are going to visit - this type of information - and any advertising or advance notice the residents of the territories will have in preparing submissions to this group. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Supplementary To Question 448-13(5): Diamond Industry Task Force
Question 448-13(5): Diamond Industry Task Force
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1147
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Kakfwi.
Further Return To Question 448-13(5): Diamond Industry Task Force
Question 448-13(5): Diamond Industry Task Force
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1147
Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu
Mr. Speaker, I can provide a written response to the Member and all Members of the Legislature giving them details of the tentative meeting schedules and agenda items for the task force over the next month and a half. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 448-13(5): Diamond Industry Task Force
Question 448-13(5): Diamond Industry Task Force
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1147
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Henry.
Supplementary To Question 448-13(5): Diamond Industry Task Force
Question 448-13(5): Diamond Industry Task Force
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1147
Seamus Henry Yellowknife South
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister tell the people of the Northwest Territories through this forum what the goals of the Government of the Northwest Territories are in regard to this diamond task force. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Supplementary To Question 448-13(5): Diamond Industry Task Force
Question 448-13(5): Diamond Industry Task Force
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1147
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Kakfwi.
Further Return To Question 448-13(5): Diamond Industry Task Force
Question 448-13(5): Diamond Industry Task Force
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1147
Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu
Mr. Speaker, in general terms, the task force was set up because we are of the view that senior officials within the federal government and various departments involved do not have sufficient interest or knowledge/information available to them in order to properly advise the federal government on how important this new emerging industry is to Canada and how the government should be advised by their officials in regard to how they handle this new emerging industry. The foremost task of this is to get educated, to become aware and to become familiar with the diamond industry. The second is to put together the two or three federal departments, the senior managements from within those departments together with the senior officials from our government here in the Northwest Territories and come up with some recommendations that would guide the federal government and this government on how we can best work together to identify and maximize the economic benefits. Opportunities are presented as a result of this new industry that is coming into force in Canada. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 448-13(5): Diamond Industry Task Force
Question 448-13(5): Diamond Industry Task Force
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1147
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Henry.
Supplementary To Question 448-13(5): Diamond Industry Task Force
Question 448-13(5): Diamond Industry Task Force
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1147
Seamus Henry Yellowknife South
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Hopefully, this is my final supplementary. I believe this government well over a year ago, did go out and get expertise outside of its own ranks to help them provide a starting point as to the benefits they could receive. I believe the federal government had relied solely on some of their internal staffs. There was a commitment from the federal government that they were going to go outside of their own government ranks to bring in this expertise. To the Minister's knowledge, has this happened? Has the federal government acquired outside expertise on this topic? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Supplementary To Question 448-13(5): Diamond Industry Task Force
Question 448-13(5): Diamond Industry Task Force
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1147
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Kakfwi.
Further Return To Question 448-13(5): Diamond Industry Task Force
Question 448-13(5): Diamond Industry Task Force
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1147
Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu
Mr. Speaker, as a general rule, the federal government has no experts within its ranks. There are no experts on diamonds within the federal government. What the federal government has are a few people who have taken the time to visit with diamentaires and are regurgitating for federal officials and Ministers the information they have gleaned from meeting with diamentaires in Europe and also in the country. There are presently no people within the federal government who have first hand experience in working and dealing with diamonds. The federal government has had to lean exclusively on getting information from outside expertise to formulate the positions they have taken to date. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 448-13(5): Diamond Industry Task Force
Question 448-13(5): Diamond Industry Task Force
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1147
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. Miltenberger.
Question 449-13(5): GNWT Job Evaluation System
Item 6: Oral Questions
February 25th, 1998
Page 1147
Michael Miltenberger Thebacha
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is addressed to the Minister responsible for FMBS and is in regard to the job evaluation system. Earlier in the week, we raised concerns about communicating with the employees about this new system to inform them so they are not caught unawares and are aware of what the intent is. It would appear that in addition to communicating with employees, there are some discrepancies or questions about how ratings were done that have quickly become evident. Tradesmen, for instance, are being rated where they are. As well, there is some disparity with social workers and nurses. Is the government going to be looking at fixing any possible glitches or disparities in this system as part of the implementation process to, in fact, ensure there is a fair and equitable system? Thank you.
Question 449-13(5): GNWT Job Evaluation System
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1147
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Minister responsible for the Financial Management Board, Mr. Todd.
Return To Question 449-13(5): GNWT Job Evaluation System
Question 449-13(5): GNWT Job Evaluation System
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1147
John Todd Keewatin Central
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Certainly in any major undertaking like we have taken with regard to job evaluation, there are going to be glitches, and where they are, we will take whatever steps that are necessary to make the appropriate adjustments so that the majority of our employees are content. Thank you.
Return To Question 449-13(5): GNWT Job Evaluation System
Question 449-13(5): GNWT Job Evaluation System
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1148
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Miltenberger.
Supplementary To Question 449-13(5): GNWT Job Evaluation System
Question 449-13(5): GNWT Job Evaluation System
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1148
Michael Miltenberger Thebacha
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am glad to hear the Minister's response. Would the Minister include that in his communication with the employees that, in fact, this system, while attempts are made to make it a perfect system, may have glitches and that, in fact, it is not carved in stone and the undertaking the Minister just gave this House will be passed on to employees? Thank you.
Supplementary To Question 449-13(5): GNWT Job Evaluation System
Question 449-13(5): GNWT Job Evaluation System
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1148
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Todd.
Further Return To Question 449-13(5): GNWT Job Evaluation System
Question 449-13(5): GNWT Job Evaluation System
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1148
John Todd Keewatin Central
Mr. Speaker, in fact, we are doing that right now in trying to deal with some of the situations on a one-to-one basis. I would advise my colleague that, like in any situation, not everybody will be content with what we are doing. However, we will to the best of our ability try to reach the appropriate accommodation as necessary so the job evaluation system is fair and transparent. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 449-13(5): GNWT Job Evaluation System
Question 449-13(5): GNWT Job Evaluation System
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1148
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Oral questions. Mr. Roland.
Question 450-13(5): Inuvik Region Detoxification Centre
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1148
Floyd Roland Inuvik
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question at this time will be directed to the Minister responsible for Health and Social Services. In line with my Member's statement, these questions were prepared by the same class at the Aurora Campus. The Inuvik region has identified a definite need for a detox centre. With recent emphasis that has been consistently placed on community empowerment and development, how can the government explain their decision to ignore the needs identified by the communities themselves? Thank you.
Question 450-13(5): Inuvik Region Detoxification Centre
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1148
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Ng.
Return To Question 450-13(5): Inuvik Region Detoxification Centre
Question 450-13(5): Inuvik Region Detoxification Centre
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1148
Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we are not ignoring the needs of the communities as identified. It is unfortunate that we cannot provide these services in every community or every region, but certainly, the services are still available in the Northwest Territories for detox. Thank you.
Return To Question 450-13(5): Inuvik Region Detoxification Centre
Question 450-13(5): Inuvik Region Detoxification Centre
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1148
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Roland.