This is page numbers 171 - 185 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 work.

Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I was always amazed when I went to Mr. Turner's place and talked to him. His mind was still as sharp as a tack. He could remember dates and names. It was just amazing the way he could remember things like that and he always seemed to be right. I always thought it would be nice to tape him about some of the history and what he had gone through and that, but unfortunately we never did. It was nice to talk to him and get a different viewpoint on things. He always seemed to have a different little twist to things. Ironically, there was kind of a life story done on him in yesterday's News North, kind of a tribute, I suppose in a sense. If people wish to learn a little bit more about some of the things he did up here, you can read yesterday's News North and go through that. The funeral for Mr. Turner will be this Friday. Thank you.

--Applause

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Mr. Miltenberger.

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a return to an oral question asked by Mrs. Groenewegen on March 24, 1999, in regard to the disposition of education board surpluses.

The Divisional Education Councils (DECs) are already responsible for surpluses and deficits for about 90 percent of the contributions which they receive from the Department of Education, Culture and Employment. This portion of school costs is calculated by formula. The remaining infrastructure contributions for utilities, leases, and personnel costs (advertising, recruitment, medical, removals and dental benefits) are largely funded based on actual expenditures.

Prior to 1997-98 the Department of Public Works & Services, Executive and the Financial Management Board Secretariat paid for and invoiced the divisional educational councils for most infrastructure services. Recognizing that this administrative arrangement only allowed the DECs a limited ability to manage utility and personnel costs, contributions were based on the actual costs incurred.

With the implementation of User Pay/User Say Initiative, DECs have gained an increased ability to manage infrastructure costs. At the current time the DECs do not have discretion over spending surpluses in the infrastructure category. This category includes utilities, leases and personnel funding. The DECs and departmental representatives on the School Finance Committee are working to establish a formula that will also give the DECs greater financial responsibility in the infrastructure area. The committee will complete its research and have an infrastructure formula ready for the 2000-2001 school year. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Miltenberger.

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

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Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize two people. First, my wife of almost 24 years and the power behind whatever I have accomplished, Jeri Miltenberger, and

--Applause

my fine, trusty, new constituency assistant from Fort Smith, Ms. Janelle Tourangeau. Thank you.

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Recognition of visitors in the

gallery. Mr. Krutko.

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

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David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize Ms. Pat Thomas with the NWTTA. Welcome back, Ms. Thomas.

--Applause

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Ootes.

Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Recently, the Premier obtained two new Ministers and he shuffled some Cabinet portfolios around, but I also notice that the title of Portfolio of Youth appeared. I take it this is in response to my profound statements and questioning regarding the youth issue. I wonder if the Minister responsible, the Honourable Michael Miltenberger, MLA for Thebacha, would be able to tell us if they have developed the terms of reference for this new portfolio. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

The Minister responsible for Youth, Mr. Miltenberger.

Return To Question 61-13(7): Youth Assignment Responsibilities
Question 61-13(7): Youth Assignment Responsibilities
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to clarify for the record first that it is not a separate portfolio, but it is an assignment, an important one geared to youth, but it is different than a portfolio. Mr. Speaker, this is an issue of great concern not only to my colleague, Mr. Ootes, but I think to all people in this Assembly, as well as northerners. While there are not any substantive new resources, what we are attempting to do is bring greater clarity to the money that is spent in the Department of Education, Culture and Employment.

As well, I am going to be meeting in the very near future with my colleagues in the social envelope committee. When we look at our budgets, very clearly there is a significant amount of money that we spend as a government dedicated to youth. Our purpose is going to be to try to bring that together in a more coordinated way. As well, I have already met with our Member of Parliament, Secretary of State for Youth, to look at what initiatives we could jointly partner up in such as tobacco cessation and possibly FAS/FAE initiatives. While we are at early days in this particular issue, there is work being done and we intend to hopefully be able to report back to this House in the not too distant future with some more concrete plans. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Return To Question 61-13(7): Youth Assignment Responsibilities
Question 61-13(7): Youth Assignment Responsibilities
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Ootes.

Supplementary To Question 61-13(7): Youth Assignment Responsibilities
Question 61-13(7): Youth Assignment Responsibilities
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I understood the Minister to say that they are looking at the possibility of resources in his own and other departments. Does he envision some sort of dedicated number of public servants to address this issue?

Supplementary To Question 61-13(7): Youth Assignment Responsibilities
Question 61-13(7): Youth Assignment Responsibilities
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 61-13(7): Youth Assignment Responsibilities
Question 61-13(7): Youth Assignment Responsibilities
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. While it is still early on in this process, the intent is to try to bring greater concrete form to how we deliver services for youth using the existing resources and staff that we do have. What that exactly will translate to at this point, I cannot give you a definitive answer. We are looking at trying to bring sort of a more one-window approach and a co-ordinated effort with the other social envelope partners in this particular area.

Further Return To Question 61-13(7): Youth Assignment Responsibilities
Question 61-13(7): Youth Assignment Responsibilities
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Ootes.

Supplementary To Question 61-13(7): Youth Assignment Responsibilities
Question 61-13(7): Youth Assignment Responsibilities
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There are naturally all sorts of areas that could be looked at, and I can approach this through a number of questions perhaps if I get an opportunity to ask again. My initial one would be with respect to the social problems that seem to be there among some youth, such as substance abuse and single people's pregnancies and so forth, is the Minister intending to address those kind of issues, is it that intent?

Supplementary To Question 61-13(7): Youth Assignment Responsibilities
Question 61-13(7): Youth Assignment Responsibilities
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 61-13(7): Youth Assignment Responsibilities
Question 61-13(7): Youth Assignment Responsibilities
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As my colleague has indicated, there are a wide range of issues related to youth. While we may not be able to deal with all issues, our intent is to try to bring some focus to those kinds of issues. I would like to point out, as well, that we would be very interested, I know I would as the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, be very interested in working closely with the Members opposite to, in fact, bring this kind of clarity to this very important issue. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 61-13(7): Youth Assignment Responsibilities
Question 61-13(7): Youth Assignment Responsibilities
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Oral questions. Final supplementary, Mr. Ootes.

Supplementary To Question 61-13(7): Youth Assignment Responsibilities
Question 61-13(7): Youth Assignment Responsibilities
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would also see, while I mentioned the social areas, I think there are other areas such as employment areas, transition from school to work, and I appreciate the Minister's comment that he would like to seek the Members' input from this side. Could the Minister tell us if he will, as he formulates this particular youth thrust, if he could keep us informed by way of a briefing session with the Members through the Government Operations Committee, for example?

Supplementary To Question 61-13(7): Youth Assignment Responsibilities
Question 61-13(7): Youth Assignment Responsibilities
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 61-13(7): Youth Assignment Responsibilities
Question 61-13(7): Youth Assignment Responsibilities
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would be happy to commit to a meeting with the committee whenever would be convenient to them, or whenever we have reached the point where we have enough on paper that we could present it to them. Whenever would be convenient to the committee, I would be happy to meet with them. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 61-13(7): Youth Assignment Responsibilities
Question 61-13(7): Youth Assignment Responsibilities
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Oral questions. Mr. Erasmus.

Question 62-13(7): Support For Giant Mine
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Premier. The last little while we have been hearing in the news, of course, how Royal Oak is going through some very tough times with low gold prices, copper prices, things like that, and is on the brink of bankruptcy. Of course, this affects the Giant Mine here. What I would like to know is if our Premier could expound a little on what this government is doing to keep the mine in operation. Obviously, with approximately 250 to 280 jobs involved, it is a huge concern of the people in Yellowknife. Thank you.