Oral questions. Mr. Miltenberger.
Debates of May 25th, 1998
Topics
Supplementary To Question 525-13(5): Funding For Major Highways Initiative
Question 525-13(5): Funding For Major Highways Initiative
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1377
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Question 526-13(5): Funding For Tourism Operators
Item 6: Oral Questions
May 24th, 1998
Page 1377
Michael Miltenberger Thebacha
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is directed to the Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development. It is in regard to the current structure of the tourism boards or the fact that we only have one set up in the Western Territory that was centralized. This seems like a contradiction to all of the other moves that the government has been doing to empower communities and move things away from the centre. My question to the Minister is, given the fact that this decision was made by a previous Assembly and that a number of years have transpired since that decision and there is concern about how effective that decision was and is, would the Minister consider having that evaluated to see if it is, in fact, meeting the needs of the stakeholders it was designed to do? Thank you.
Question 526-13(5): Funding For Tourism Operators
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1377
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
The Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Kakfwi.
Return To Question 526-13(5): Funding For Tourism Operators
Question 526-13(5): Funding For Tourism Operators
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1377
Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, with division less than a year away, is it perhaps timely to look at the way that we conduct business and specifically in regard to the tourism portfolio and the strategy. We will be interested in looking at suggestions on how the Western Territory by itself could perhaps be in need of a review and an updated approach to tourism. The Finance Minister has taken the lead on behalf of this government to develop an economic strategy. We believe that we can advance a strategy particularly in the west in the next few months and work that in partnership with the federal government. This brings up the
possibilities of new economic development monies, perhaps from the federal government. I think it is a good suggestion, and we will take it into serious consideration and deal with it through the development of this economic strategy. Thank you.
Return To Question 526-13(5): Funding For Tourism Operators
Question 526-13(5): Funding For Tourism Operators
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1378
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Miltenberger.
Supplementary To Question 526-13(5): Funding For Tourism Operators
Question 526-13(5): Funding For Tourism Operators
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1378
Michael Miltenberger Thebacha
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to thank the Minister for that response. Does the Minister anticipate that this work will have progressed sufficiently and that there will be some meaningful information and progress to bring to the Western Caucus and committees when we start doing business plans for the 1999-2000 budget. Thank you.
Supplementary To Question 526-13(5): Funding For Tourism Operators
Question 526-13(5): Funding For Tourism Operators
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1378
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Kakfwi.
Further Return To Question 526-13(5): Funding For Tourism Operators
Question 526-13(5): Funding For Tourism Operators
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1378
Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe the development of the strategy as a package will take a matter of months, three or four months at the very least. It is possible to look at earlier versions of some sections within that strategy. We will see what we can do to move things as quickly as we can. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 526-13(5): Funding For Tourism Operators
Question 526-13(5): Funding For Tourism Operators
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1378
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Oral questions. Mr. Henry.
Question 527-13(5): Returning To The Collective Bargaining Table
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1378
Seamus Henry Yellowknife South
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister responsible for the Financial Management Board, Mr. Todd. It is regarding the collective agreement and pay equity issue. Last week I had asked Mr. Todd if he would, in fact, direct his officials to return to the table. Has the Minister made any advances to the UNW or has the UNW contacted the Minister's officials to come back to the table to talk? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Question 527-13(5): Returning To The Collective Bargaining Table
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1378
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
The Minister responsible for the Financial Management Board, Mr. Todd.
Return To Question 527-13(5): Returning To The Collective Bargaining Table
Question 527-13(5): Returning To The Collective Bargaining Table
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1378
John Todd Keewatin Central
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I said publicly the other day in the House, I was prepared to come back to the table, but I did indicate there was not a lot of room to move by saying that publicly late last week. I believe it is now really in the hands of the UNW. We are ready, willing and able to move forward to try to reach an arrangement that will put this difficult issue behind us and get on with delivering more money to our employees.
Return To Question 527-13(5): Returning To The Collective Bargaining Table
Question 527-13(5): Returning To The Collective Bargaining Table
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1378
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Henry.
Supplementary To Question 527-13(5): Returning To The Collective Bargaining Table
Question 527-13(5): Returning To The Collective Bargaining Table
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1378
Seamus Henry Yellowknife South
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think a little background is warranted here. I think it is fair to say that the GNWT has suggested they have a final offer that is on the table. The UNW is saying they will not have further discussions until the issue of pay equity is removed from the table. Hence the impasse. My question to the Minister is, and he has spoken a number of times and suggested that the UNW bring this question to the membership. My question to the Minister is, if the UNW does bring this question and package before the membership and the membership rejects it, will the Minister at that time consider taking the pay equity issue off the table and discussing them separately? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Supplementary To Question 527-13(5): Returning To The Collective Bargaining Table
Question 527-13(5): Returning To The Collective Bargaining Table
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1378
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Todd.
Further Return To Question 527-13(5): Returning To The Collective Bargaining Table
Question 527-13(5): Returning To The Collective Bargaining Table
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1378
John Todd Keewatin Central
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It would be difficult for me to determine the outcome vote. What I would really appreciate would be that the UNW let the membership move forward and vote in their democratic right whether the agreement or the proposal we put before them, our final agreement, is one that they think is fair and reasonable. It would be difficult for me to specify at this time what would take place should there be a rejection if the employees do get the opportunity. I am reasonably confident that what we have presented to our membership, the constituency, is fair and I am optimistic if it gets to a vote which I hope it will, that they will vote yes. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 527-13(5): Returning To The Collective Bargaining Table
Question 527-13(5): Returning To The Collective Bargaining Table
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1378
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Henry.
Supplementary To Question 527-13(5): Returning To The Collective Bargaining Table
Question 527-13(5): Returning To The Collective Bargaining Table
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1378
Seamus Henry Yellowknife South
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I certainly agree with the Minister that it would be unfair to expect him to be able to determine the outcome what the membership would agree on. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recall some of the statements that the Minister made in the House last week on this collective agreement and the package in general. I quote the Minister stated...
Supplementary To Question 527-13(5): Returning To The Collective Bargaining Table
Question 527-13(5): Returning To The Collective Bargaining Table
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1378
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Henry, do you have a supplementary question?
Supplementary To Question 527-13(5): Returning To The Collective Bargaining Table
Question 527-13(5): Returning To The Collective Bargaining Table
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1378
Seamus Henry Yellowknife South
I do.
Supplementary To Question 527-13(5): Returning To The Collective Bargaining Table
Question 527-13(5): Returning To The Collective Bargaining Table
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1378
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Would you continue with your supplementary question, please?
Supplementary To Question 527-13(5): Returning To The Collective Bargaining Table
Question 527-13(5): Returning To The Collective Bargaining Table
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1378
Seamus Henry Yellowknife South
My question to the Minister is, Mr. Speaker, would the Minister not give some consideration to removing the issue if the UNW rejected the offer? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Supplementary To Question 527-13(5): Returning To The Collective Bargaining Table
Question 527-13(5): Returning To The Collective Bargaining Table
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1378
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Todd.
Further Return To Question 527-13(5): Returning To The Collective Bargaining Table
Question 527-13(5): Returning To The Collective Bargaining Table
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1379
John Todd Keewatin Central
My interpretation, Mr. Speaker, and I was trying to be diplomatic in my responses, if the UNW rejected the offer, then the next move is to strike and I would hope that at some point, we would avoid that. That is certainly our intention. We need to try to get everybody back to the bargaining table, as my honourable colleague says, and I do appreciate the fact that he is working hard along with myself, to get that done. We simply have to get people back to the table to take another look at this proposal, and at the end of the day, I fundamentally believe and I will say it until I am blue in the face, our constituency and the membership of the UNW should have the democratic right to vote on this offer that is before them and we will live with the consequences of that vote. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 527-13(5): Returning To The Collective Bargaining Table
Question 527-13(5): Returning To The Collective Bargaining Table
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1379
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Henry.