This is page numbers 187 - 209 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 communities.

Supplementary To Question 71-13(7): Continued Operations Of Giant Mine
Question 71-13(7): Continued Operations Of Giant Mine
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 199

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Kakfwi.

Further Return To Question 71-13(7): Continued Operations Of Giant Mine
Question 71-13(7): Continued Operations Of Giant Mine
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 199

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Mr. Speaker, we are, as a government, interested in making sure that if the mine does shut down, that the arsenic stored underground is addressed clearly and emphatically by the federal government if no one else would assume responsibility. We have said that, if possible, we would like to keep the mine operating and we will do what we can to help the private sector find a way, if it is possible, to keep it operating which may mean to politically lobby the federal government as early as possible to assume some or all of the liability for the environmental costs. We have also said that if it needs to be shut down, if the mine is no longer viable, then it should be shut down gradually to minimize the impact it would have on the economy of the city of Yellowknife, on agencies like the Power Corporation and the fiscal situation of the Government of the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 71-13(7): Continued Operations Of Giant Mine
Question 71-13(7): Continued Operations Of Giant Mine
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 199

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Oral questions. Final supplementary, Mr. Ootes.

Supplementary To Question 71-13(7): Continued Operations Of Giant Mine
Question 71-13(7): Continued Operations Of Giant Mine
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 199

Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think it was good the Minister clarified that we do not have an environmental responsibility in this situation and that it is the responsibility of the owners of the asset or the federal government. I appreciate that clarification, but my question, Mr. Speaker, was to see if the Minister would commit his department's attention to this matter, because in my figuring the equation of a shutdown is not there. I want to see that mine keep going. As a government, we need to, as a government, be very concerned about that and I am wondering if the Minister would address the question of providing both very strong moral support and possibly some financial or other resources to work with a potential consortium that I have identified? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 71-13(7): Continued Operations Of Giant Mine
Question 71-13(7): Continued Operations Of Giant Mine
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 199

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Kakfwi, two questions.

Further Return To Question 71-13(7): Continued Operations Of Giant Mine
Question 71-13(7): Continued Operations Of Giant Mine
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 199

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Government of the Northwest Territories may potentially end up with the liability for cleaning up the surface lands on which the

mine is situated. The liability would be in the neighbourhood of $8 million to $10 million, which we would be quite prepared to assume if we do not get any financial assistance from the private sector to address and there is no financial assistance coming forth from Royal Oak or any of the other parties involved in this.

We are prepared to discuss with the representatives of the consortium, if there is such a consortium, that the Member has mentioned to discuss the merits of a proposal that they may be developing and it would be premature to suggest that the financial assistance would be provided. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 71-13(7): Continued Operations Of Giant Mine
Question 71-13(7): Continued Operations Of Giant Mine
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 200

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Oral questions. Mrs. Groenewegen.

Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are in follow-up to questions I asked in the House last week and also issues that I raised in my Member's statement today. First of all, I would like to ask the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment if he has a total cost to date on the ministerial forum that just recently concluded? Thank you.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. The Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Miltenberger.

Return To Question 72-13(7): Cost Of The Minister's Forum On Education
Question 72-13(7): Cost Of The Minister's Forum On Education
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 200

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The anticipated final cost of the ministerial forum, more specifically the strategic planning process which will result in a new strategic plan, is approximately $350,000.

Return To Question 72-13(7): Cost Of The Minister's Forum On Education
Question 72-13(7): Cost Of The Minister's Forum On Education
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 200

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 72-13(7): Cost Of The Minister's Forum On Education
Question 72-13(7): Cost Of The Minister's Forum On Education
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 200

Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, repeatedly the Minister has suggested that 31 of the recommendations are non-monetary recommendations, that they will not require any money. I have had a chance to look over the recommendations contained in the report, 44 recommendations. If I could, I mean they include words like; a major research project, additional special needs, resources for training teachers, pupil/teacher ratio which should be on par for their jurisdictions. When I read through these, more resources, career counselling, broadening of educational experience, vocational programs, I read all of these and I am sorry, but I fail to see how any of these things could be conducted without additional resources, so I am wondering if the Minister could please again, maybe, even if he has a copy of the report in front of him specifically tell us where he thinks there could be a shuffling of resources when there is such a shortage that could address some of these major initiatives indicated in the report. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary To Question 72-13(7): Cost Of The Minister's Forum On Education
Question 72-13(7): Cost Of The Minister's Forum On Education
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 200

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 72-13(7): Cost Of The Minister's Forum On Education
Question 72-13(7): Cost Of The Minister's Forum On Education
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 200

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Very clearly there are some big ticket items in the ministerial forum when you speak, for example, of the pupil/teacher ratio. The Minister of Finance articulated today how we are attempting to reallocate funds from last year where there were savings, so we were able to, for instance, maintain the pupil/teacher ratio so there was no increase, that we were able to top off and maintain the Healthy Children's Initiative, we were also going to find some money for youth employment and adult education. This is a function of some of the savings that were realized due to social and income support being less than anticipated, as well as the amount of the student financial assistance being drawn on that we had anticipated. So, we re-profiled and recirculated those particular funds.

In regard to the ministerial forum, I have the departmental staff working on pulling out their recommendations one by one. I have a breakfast meeting set up tomorrow morning at 6:45 a.m. to meet with the staff, as well as the support staff for the ministerial forum to see how we can best move ahead with getting specific implementation advice in regard to the forum recommendations. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 72-13(7): Cost Of The Minister's Forum On Education
Question 72-13(7): Cost Of The Minister's Forum On Education
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 200

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 72-13(7): Cost Of The Minister's Forum On Education
Question 72-13(7): Cost Of The Minister's Forum On Education
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 200

Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, I want to say that I appreciate what the Minister is saying and we do not expect him to wave a magic wand and all these problems and concerns to be alleviated, but the minister's forum went out at a cost of $350,000, has compiled this list of recommendations. As I said earlier, I do not think there is any real surprise in there.

I was curious about the Minister's comments last week when he said, you have told us what to do, now how can we do that? Is the intent of that comment that now the people who have identified the problems are going to be expected to identify the solutions as well? I do not think they have the broader context that we have here in the Legislature in terms of the budget and the variety and sizes of communities and different problems. I just wonder if you could explain that for me, you have told us what to do, now how do we do that? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary To Question 72-13(7): Cost Of The Minister's Forum On Education
Question 72-13(7): Cost Of The Minister's Forum On Education
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 200

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 72-13(7): Cost Of The Minister's Forum On Education
Question 72-13(7): Cost Of The Minister's Forum On Education
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 200

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, if I can attempt to clarify that I will be happy to. The Member indicated in her Member's statement that this is a challenge to us all. What my intent was in those comments was to, in fact, build on what the public has told us which was articulated by the members of the ministerial forum, which is why I indicated the plan was to consult again with the ministerial forum members themselves, as well as the DEAs and DECs to

look at specific ways we could try to address some of the recommendations made in the ministerial forum.

Very clearly we are not going to go back and do a public process again, but now we are going to call upon the people who are in the business in the various regions and communities as well as the broad experience brought to the table by the ministerial forum members to try to look at ways of how we can respond to the recommendations. They gave us the what, now in my opinion it is a need to build on and develop the how to do it. We are going to be looking at the experts in the field and try to reflect community and regional concerns, as well as the broad experience brought to the table by the ministerial forum members. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 72-13(7): Cost Of The Minister's Forum On Education
Question 72-13(7): Cost Of The Minister's Forum On Education
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 201

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Oral questions. Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 72-13(7): Cost Of The Minister's Forum On Education
Question 72-13(7): Cost Of The Minister's Forum On Education
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 201

Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I also indicated last week, I am very concerned that we may have elevated the expectations of people by conducting this forum and that now teachers, educators, parents are waiting to hear what we are going to do about these problems. I am going to ask the Minister to respond to how we might convey or communicate some hope to the educators who are out there existing without things like textbooks, classroom assistants, just basic supplies to do their jobs. We hear there is always no money, but how are we going to communicate hope to them, we cannot afford any more turnover I do not believe with our shortage of teachers in the north. What communication strategy or what are we going to say that is not just going to completely discourage the people who are out there working the communities? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 72-13(7): Cost Of The Minister's Forum On Education
Question 72-13(7): Cost Of The Minister's Forum On Education
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 201

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 72-13(7): Cost Of The Minister's Forum On Education
Question 72-13(7): Cost Of The Minister's Forum On Education
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 201

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Finance has articulated the situational circumstances regarding the budget. This House and the Members opposite have been working with the departments now for many months trying to come up with a budget that will help us live within our means but address some of the issues. We have taken the direction we can from the committees in that regard. The DECs within the regions, my understanding is, all have somewhat of a surplus, so I cannot speak specifically to the Member's statement that there are no textbooks in the communities, but I would be very happy to look at that item if the Member wanted to give me greater information on that particular issue.

We are also in the process of entering into negotiations with the NWTTA in regard to the salaries and benefits of teachers, which will address an issue that has been raised in terms of possible pay increases. The Minister of Finance very clearly said that we have two choices and I, like the Minister of Finance, am optimistic that if we take the positive road in terms of identifying revenues, working together with the aboriginal governments to, in fact, get more revenues that we can address some of these issues in the longer term. In the immediate term, we are going to be restricted to the options that have already been outlined and we have been discussing in this House in the last few days. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Further Return To Question 72-13(7): Cost Of The Minister's Forum On Education
Question 72-13(7): Cost Of The Minister's Forum On Education
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 201

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Oral questions. Mr. Krutko.

Question 73-13(7): Health And Social Services Inquiry
Item 7: Oral Questions

April 18th, 1999

Page 201

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In regard to my Member's statement, I made reference to the call for a public inquiry about the quality of health care in the Northwest Territories, especially from the residents in the Mackenzie Delta in regard to the petitions tabled in this House. Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister a question I asked of the previous Minister of Health and Social Services about establishing terms of reference, the question of membership for the Ministerial Forum on Health and Social Services. He mentioned that there will be, possibly will be ready by mid-April or late April, can the Minister tell the House what progress his department has made to meet this goal?

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

The Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Roland.