This is page numbers 149 - 169 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 nunavut.

Topics

Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe my question may be directed to the Premier, however, I appreciate it if he has to refer to another Member. It is with regard to the Aurora Fund. My question, Mr. Speaker, is that I would like to start getting some clarification on this whole area, because to be quite honest I have been left with the impression that I do not know how much has been invested in this fund. I do not know how much has been received for this fund. It has been difficult for me to interpret this whole area. What I would like to know to start with, Mr. Speaker, is who will be taking over as chairman of the board or organization that heads this, that Mr. Todd has been chair of. Who will be taking his position? Thank you.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Premier.

Return To Question 52-13(7): Clarification On Aurora Fund Issues Strategy
Question 52-13(7): Clarification On Aurora Fund Issues Strategy
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, whoever is assigned the Ministry of Finance will be taking over as the chair of the Aurora Fund. Thank you.

Return To Question 52-13(7): Clarification On Aurora Fund Issues Strategy
Question 52-13(7): Clarification On Aurora Fund Issues Strategy
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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Ootes.

Supplementary To Question 52-13(7): Clarification On Aurora Fund Issues Strategy
Question 52-13(7): Clarification On Aurora Fund Issues Strategy
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wonder it the Premier can also undertake to commit to me to provide within the next ten days, before April 13, 1999, a listing of all of the monies received for this fund, all of the monies that have been invested, and the amount of money invested in each organization that has been awarded to various organizations in this territory? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary To Question 52-13(7): Clarification On Aurora Fund Issues Strategy
Question 52-13(7): Clarification On Aurora Fund Issues Strategy
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Antoine.

Further Return To Question 52-13(7): Clarification On Aurora Fund Issues Strategy
Question 52-13(7): Clarification On Aurora Fund Issues Strategy
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have to take this question under advisement. I need to get some clarification about the Aurora Fund on the limits of providing the type of information that the honourable Member is asking for and I will get back to him as quickly as I can. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 52-13(7): Clarification On Aurora Fund Issues Strategy
Question 52-13(7): Clarification On Aurora Fund Issues Strategy
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Ootes.

Supplementary To Question 52-13(7): Clarification On Aurora Fund Issues Strategy
Question 52-13(7): Clarification On Aurora Fund Issues Strategy
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Additionally, I wonder if the Minister could provide me with a list of the board members and a list of all those individuals who have worked on the Aurora Fund? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 52-13(7): Clarification On Aurora Fund Issues Strategy
Question 52-13(7): Clarification On Aurora Fund Issues Strategy
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Antoine.

Further Return To Question 52-13(7): Clarification On Aurora Fund Issues Strategy
Question 52-13(7): Clarification On Aurora Fund Issues Strategy
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Yes, thank you. We will get the information that the honourable Member is asking for in regard to who are the board members and who are the employees involved in the Aurora Fund. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 52-13(7): Clarification On Aurora Fund Issues Strategy
Question 52-13(7): Clarification On Aurora Fund Issues Strategy
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Oral questions. Mr. Erasmus.

Question 53-13(7): Diamond Training Programs
Item 6: Oral Questions

March 28th, 1999

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Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Mr. Speaker, recently this government approved Sirius Diamonds for a training program. I am not sure if there were other items that were approved to assist them in their efforts to open a cutting and polishing facility here in Yellowknife. They had a diamond training course in Victoria and I have been led to believe that there was not one aboriginal selected on that course. I have a very, very difficult time understanding how this could be done when we are paying for that. I would like the Minister to indicate if what I am hearing is true, that there were no aboriginal people selected to go on this training course in Victoria?

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

The Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Dent.

Return To Question 53-13(7): Diamond Training Programs
Question 53-13(7): Diamond Training Programs
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Sirius Diamonds is supported through a training on-the-job-program to provide training to people in the diamond industry. Although I do not have any figures with me in the House, Mr. Speaker, I believe, the Members is correct and there are no aboriginal trainees in the program at present. If I remember the situation correctly, Mr. Speaker, and if I am wrong I will make sure to correct this with the Member, I do not believe that Sirius had any program applicants who were aboriginal. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Return To Question 53-13(7): Diamond Training Programs
Question 53-13(7): Diamond Training Programs
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Erasmus.

Supplementary To Question 53-13(7): Diamond Training Programs
Question 53-13(7): Diamond Training Programs
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North

Mr. Speaker, if that is the case, if there were no aboriginal people involved, then I do not think we can give serious consideration to any further ongoing financial commitment to these people. What I would like to know is do we have an ongoing financial commitment to Sirius Diamonds for further on-the-job-training, whether it is for these same people or for new people?

Supplementary To Question 53-13(7): Diamond Training Programs
Question 53-13(7): Diamond Training Programs
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 53-13(7): Diamond Training Programs
Question 53-13(7): Diamond Training Programs
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the program will be ongoing for the existing trainees who are all northern residents. I believe a commitment has been made for a second intake, so the existing trainees will qualify for ongoing support and I do believe, Mr. Speaker, that there will be a second program offered.

Further Return To Question 53-13(7): Diamond Training Programs
Question 53-13(7): Diamond Training Programs
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Erasmus.

Supplementary To Question 53-13(7): Diamond Training Programs
Question 53-13(7): Diamond Training Programs
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North

Mr. Speaker, the Minister has indicated that there would be a second intake. I am assuming he is meeting with the same Sirius Diamonds people. I would like to have a commitment from the Minister that a certain percentage of those training dollars should be allocated for aboriginal trainees because I do not think we should give one dime to these guys if they are not going to make a serious effort to ensure that the aboriginal people who comprise 50 percent or thereabouts of the western population, if they are not going to make a serious commitment to one half of the population in the western NWT, then why should we bother providing them with any money? We have all kinds of diamond companies lining up to open up their business here. Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 53-13(7): Diamond Training Programs
Question 53-13(7): Diamond Training Programs
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 53-13(7): Diamond Training Programs
Question 53-13(7): Diamond Training Programs
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the commitment I will make is that the department will work with Sirius Diamonds and all other companies to ensure that we do get a representative workforce in the diamond industry in the Northwest Territories. We were hoping that with the second intake being planned for residents in Yellowknife, there will be a greater opportunity for us to encourage northern aboriginal people to apply.

It is also important to note that the courses offered by Aurora College are being taken advantage of by many aboriginal people. So, we are hoping that some of the graduates from the Aurora College course will find jobs in the secondary diamond industry with Sirius or any one of the other approved diamond projects. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Further Return To Question 53-13(7): Diamond Training Programs
Question 53-13(7): Diamond Training Programs
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Oral questions. Final supplementary, Mr. Erasmus.

Supplementary To Question 53-13(7): Diamond Training Programs
Question 53-13(7): Diamond Training Programs
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am certainly glad to hear that we are going to train only northerners. I do not think we want to be training someone that just jumped off the plane, has been here for one day and signs up, but what I would like to know is, can we make a commitment that a certain percentage of these people will be aboriginal northerners, since we do make up 48 percent or thereabouts of the population in the western NWT? It does not have to be that high, but can there be a commitment that at least a certain percentage of that money will be for northern aboriginal people? Thank you.