This is page numbers 63 - 90 of the Hansard for the 13th Assembly, 7th 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 social.

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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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John Todd Keewatin Central

Employees? I am not aware of any employees being seconded from the RCMP, not in any of the notes that I have.

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

Mr. Todd.

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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John Todd Keewatin Central

As Mr. Henry indicated earlier, the government's position is to oppose the Firearms Program. We had to do some work on it, we are recovering the dollars. We have transferred it back to the federal government and we no longer have a role in it. Period. Time up. It may be that there were some people gone, I would have to look into it, but I am not aware of it.

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

Second question, 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

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Perhaps I could explain, Mr. Chairman. Many of the people working in the Firearms Office now are, to my knowledge, either former RCMP or they may still be RCMP who are seconded from the RCMP. While I do not have any concern with that, my point is that in a roundabout way, are we paying from the territorial government the RCMP its full allotment, yet they are seconding people to the Firearms Office?

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. I believe this is the right program under Justice. Mr. Todd.

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

March 22nd, 1999

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John Todd Keewatin Central

I do not know where that relates to this $80,000, but I will look into the matter and report back to 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. 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

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Mr. Chairman. It is correct, it does not relate to the $80,000, but I am just curious what is happening at the Firearms Office. There is a further concern there. In the communities, the program is administered by the RCMP, therefore this territorial government is paying for the administration of that. Are we recovering those monies from the federal government because it does consume the RCMP's time? They have to be concerned about training courses, issuing permits and so forth. That is my point.

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 for that clarification. Mr. Todd.

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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John Todd Keewatin Central

I think that would probably be a question better asked in question period to the Minister of Justice. All I am saying is that it does not relate to this $80,000 expenditure and I think that is where I would suggest the Member takes it. I do not have the answer so, as I said, my point I was trying, I was not trying to be a smart alec, I was just saying it has no relationship, I do not think whatsoever, to the $80,000 which we are debating today. My advice to him would be to ask the question to the Minister of Justice tomorrow.

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

I believe Mr. Ootes is indicating that he agrees, so we will try again. Registries and Court Services, $80,000. Agreed?

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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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

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 Justice and Corrections, not previously authorized. The $80,000 was not previously authorized. Community Justice and Corrections, not previously authorized, $50,000. Agreed?

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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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

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. Total department, special warrants, $2.160 million. Agreed?

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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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

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

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

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Mr. Chairman, I wonder if I could get permission from the Members to go back to Law Enforcement for a moment?

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 is seeking consent from Members to go back to Law Enforcement. Do we agree to allow Mr. Ootes to ask his questions?

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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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

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, proceed with the question.

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

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am concerned about this particular warrant from the perspective that we have traditionally advised the government that we do not want to get into an overly extensive number of warrants simply because certain items should be budgeted for ahead of time. It looks like the purchase of a new aircraft. While I do not have a problem with that, it is the process of having this special warrant to do it. I wonder why it was processed as a special warrant instead of budgeting for it in the usual process?

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

Perhaps it was unforseen. Mr. Todd.

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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John Todd Keewatin Central

While I concur with my honourable colleague that special warrants, you have to be careful that they are not abused, and I think I have demonstrated over the last four years that has not taken place. This particular expenditure came about because the lease was expiring on the aircraft and it was determined it was more cost-effective to purchase the aircraft rather than continue with the lease. This was at the request of the RCMP and when we did the analysis, we determined that there were significant fiscal savings to that.

For the record, for Mr. Ootes' benefit, we did purchase a new aircraft, but we sold a twin otter and we used those proceeds against the aircraft and the net cost to the government was $1.6 million. There was a leasing agreement that was costing us somewhere in the region of about $26,000 per month. That is the particular reason for the special warrant. I concur with him entirely, special warrants should be done as a last resort and, in this particular case, it was because the lease was expiring and it had to be done. It was determined that in the long run, this would in fact, save us money. Thank you.