This is page numbers 91 - 116 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 aboriginal.

Topics

Supplementary To Question 38-13(7): Future Power Rates In Nunavut
Question 38-13(7): Future Power Rates In Nunavut
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 98

Barnabas

Thank you Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, maybe if I rephrase my question the Minister will understand. In Nunavut we will be paying seven percent after division of the NWT Power Corporation. On top of that we will be paying to the headquarters, which is in the west in Hay River. How long will this be? I understand we have one year to decide if the headquarters will be moved to Nunavut. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary To Question 38-13(7): Future Power Rates In Nunavut
Question 38-13(7): Future Power Rates In Nunavut
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 98

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 38-13(7): Future Power Rates In Nunavut
Question 38-13(7): Future Power Rates In Nunavut
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 98

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Member has suggested there would be a seven percent increase in cost during the transition agreement and that is not correct. Through the transition agreement, there will be no increase in costs because the corporation is continuing to run as it is. Until another headquarters is established, there is no increase. That seven or 10 percent increase was projected as a result of creating a new headquarters in Nunavut. Until that headquarters is created there is nothing that drives up the costs in Nunavut. There is no cost increase proposed during the two-year life of this transition agreement, Mr. Speaker.

Further Return To Question 38-13(7): Future Power Rates In Nunavut
Question 38-13(7): Future Power Rates In Nunavut
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 98

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Oral Questions. Mr. Krutko.

Question 39-13(7): GNWT Cost-plus Leases
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 98

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Minister of Public Works in regards to the government leasing policy that is in place presently, and also the benefit that this government gets from leases that we presently have. My concern, Mr. Speaker, the ones that are basically are classified as leases which are considered cost-plus, which means that they are over and above the prime rate that this government pays. I would like the Minister, if possible, to provide a list of all leases which are cost-plus and the possibility of those leases being posted publicly.

Question 39-13(7): GNWT Cost-plus Leases
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 98

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

The Minister of Public Works and Services, Mr. Roland.

Return To Question 39-13(7): GNWT Cost-plus Leases
Question 39-13(7): GNWT Cost-plus Leases
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 98

Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the department can look at what is available. I am not familiar with this area of the different leases and the cost-plus portion of them. I will get back to my department and receive some information on that and then forward the information on to the Member to see if we can clarify what the specific concern is. Thank you

Return To Question 39-13(7): GNWT Cost-plus Leases
Question 39-13(7): GNWT Cost-plus Leases
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 98

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Supplementary To Question 39-13(7): GNWT Cost-plus Leases
Question 39-13(7): GNWT Cost-plus Leases
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 98

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we hear a lot of statements made in this House about how the government should save money, especially in areas of negotiated contracts. I think if we are going to look at all aspects of savings to this government, I also feel it is time we assessed the value of leases this government has in the Northwest Territories, and the cost to this government of these leases, which are classified as a cost-plus, which is over and above the prime rate that this government will pay for leases in the communities and in the larger centres. I would like to ask again, can the Minister provide such a list and identify who we are leasing this space from and exactly what the amounts of those leases are?

Supplementary To Question 39-13(7): GNWT Cost-plus Leases
Question 39-13(7): GNWT Cost-plus Leases
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 98

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 39-13(7): GNWT Cost-plus Leases
Question 39-13(7): GNWT Cost-plus Leases
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 98

Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I said earlier, I will get back to my department to try and get some specific information. There are some areas we are going to have to look into as to confidentiality of some agreements, or what is put out there. What can be brought together and brought forward. I will look at doing that and providing the information to the Member. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 39-13(7): GNWT Cost-plus Leases
Question 39-13(7): GNWT Cost-plus Leases
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 98

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Supplementary To Question 39-13(7): GNWT Cost-plus Leases
Question 39-13(7): GNWT Cost-plus Leases
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 98

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The other half of my question was the possibility of having this information made public, put in the newspaper or wherever else, so the public knows how this government is spending its money. Thank you

Supplementary To Question 39-13(7): GNWT Cost-plus Leases
Question 39-13(7): GNWT Cost-plus Leases
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 98

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 39-13(7): GNWT Cost-plus Leases
Question 39-13(7): GNWT Cost-plus Leases
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 98

Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the Member stated earlier, in an earlier part of his question was, is the government looking at trying to save money and looking at the way it does business. We can try and do something in the area providing information to the Member if there are some specific cases he would like to address, but in the case of putting out adds in the papers, that would just drive up the cost of this government to provide information to everybody. If there are some specific cases, we can look at doing something and providing that information to the Member or to this House if that is the case. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Further Return To Question 39-13(7): GNWT Cost-plus Leases
Question 39-13(7): GNWT Cost-plus Leases
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 98

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Oral question. Final Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Supplementary To Question 39-13(7): GNWT Cost-plus Leases
Question 39-13(7): GNWT Cost-plus Leases
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 98

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In regard to the question of cost, I believe there are several calls for reviews of negotiated contracts, there are calls for review of affirmative action candidates. I do not see why the cost factor has to be a barrier on getting this information and being made public. I believe you do have that information in-house and I do not see why cost should be a barrier. I am asking for information in this

house, and I would like that information made public. Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 39-13(7): GNWT Cost-plus Leases
Question 39-13(7): GNWT Cost-plus Leases
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 99

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 39-13(7): GNWT Cost-plus Leases
Question 39-13(7): GNWT Cost-plus Leases
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 99

Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I stated earlier, we will look at having the information provided to the Member as well as to Members of this House. There are other ways of providing the information out there to the public and we will look at doing what we can do that is available. One other thing that is available that this government does provide, on a quarterly basis, is the contract report which would include any contract for leases. That already is made available to this House and to the public. Thank you, Mr. Speaker

Further Return To Question 39-13(7): GNWT Cost-plus Leases
Question 39-13(7): GNWT Cost-plus Leases
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 99

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Oral questions. Mr. Ootes.

Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for Mr. Todd, Minister of the Financial Management Board, and it is a follow-up to my question from yesterday, regarding the employment equity benefits for non-unionized government employees. Yesterday the Minister confirmed that benefits are available to non-unionized employees who are currently working for the government. Certainly it is heartwarming to see that employment equity payouts will be equally available to union and non-union members, but there are a couple of matters I would like to ask questions on.

I wonder if the Minister could tell us, since there is a deadline of March 31st that has been given on notice and payout, and yesterday he indicated that no decision had been made regarding non-unionized employees who are no longer with this government; could he tell us when that decision will be made, so that those no longer with the government can know where they stand on this issue? Thank you.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

The Minister responsible for the Financial Management Board, Mr. Todd.

Return To Question 40-13(7): Pay Equity Benefits To Excluded Employees
Question 40-13(7): Pay Equity Benefits To Excluded Employees
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 99

John Todd Keewatin Central

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well I am off tonight to Ottawa for a quick meeting with Mr. Martin Stewart. I will be back Friday. There is a FMB meeting on Thursday, so I suspect that a decision on this issue will probably be made by the new Finance Minister. I would like to get it done, but I think I am basically running out of time. Thank you

Return To Question 40-13(7): Pay Equity Benefits To Excluded Employees
Question 40-13(7): Pay Equity Benefits To Excluded Employees
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 99

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Ootes.

Supplementary To Question 40-13(7): Pay Equity Benefits To Excluded Employees
Question 40-13(7): Pay Equity Benefits To Excluded Employees
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 99

Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I understood there was a deadline of March 31st. Could the Minister tell us if that will be changed? Thank you.