Question 78-13(7): Trade Mission To Nunavut

In the Legislative Assembly on April 19th, 1999. See this topic in context.

Question 78-13(7): Trade Mission To Nunavut
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 206

Seamus Henry Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Premier, and it relates to my Member's statement today. I believe it is fairly obvious from media reports that other Canadian jurisdictions are aggressively pursuing business opportunities in Nunavut. Can the Premier tell me whether his government is considering a trade mission to Nunavut? I would point to trade missions that his predecessor took to the Middle East where there was successful fundraising created for the Aurora Fund. Again, Mr. Speaker, my question to the Premier is, is he considering any trade missions from the business community of the Northwest Territories to introduce

himself to the government and the business community of Nunavut? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 78-13(7): Trade Mission To Nunavut
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 207

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Premier.

Return To Question 78-13(7): Trade Mission To Nunavut
Question 78-13(7): Trade Mission To Nunavut
Item 7: Oral Questions

April 18th, 1999

Page 207

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we have only just been separated for 19 days, and it sounds like the honourable Member already misses Nunavut. Division just happened very recently and, as we know, we are still providing programs and services to Nunavut, so there is still a very close working relationship with the Government of Nunavut. We will be providing the programs and services, as a government, for some time into the future. However, the honourable Member in his Member's statement made reference to the fact that there are architectural firms in this community that were not invited to participate in the public tendering process, I understand in the Member's statement. I think the Member made reference to it. If that is the case, then certainly I think it is a good idea to meet with the Government of Nunavut.

There has already been some discussion with myself and the Cabinet mentioning the fact that we should have some arrangement like a memorandum of understanding of some sort with the Nunavut government. We have that sort of arrangement with other jurisdictions. The Yukon government, for example, the Alberta Government, for example, I think with the Government of Manitoba there was an MOU prior to division. There is a working relationship between different jurisdictions already. This is one possibility of some sort of arrangement rather than a trade mission that we could look at as well. However, I would not mind approaching it by discussion between the Premier of Nunavut as well as the Premier of the Yukon, and see what possibilities there are in terms of a closer working relationship or a continuation of a working relationship between the different companies that are in the Northwest Territories and working in Nunavut. Thank you.

Return To Question 78-13(7): Trade Mission To Nunavut
Question 78-13(7): Trade Mission To Nunavut
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 207

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Question period is over. I will allow the Member, if he wishes, to conclude his question. Mr. Henry.

Supplementary To Question 78-13(7): Trade Mission To Nunavut
Question 78-13(7): Trade Mission To Nunavut
Item 7: Oral Questions

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Seamus Henry Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I do not particularly miss Nunavut, but I can assure the Premier that the business community, not only now, but certainly for the past couple of years, has been missing the business opportunities that could be created. I am very serious when I say that I think it is imperative that the Premier take this seriously. There are a lot of businesses that could benefit from the work that is going on in Nunavut and, therefore, the people of the Northwest Territories will benefit from that economic activity. My question to the Premier is, has he planned any other trade missions or is it just a status quo when we sit and wait for people to come in or are there plans for trips to other jurisdictions to promote northern business? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary To Question 78-13(7): Trade Mission To Nunavut
Question 78-13(7): Trade Mission To Nunavut
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 207

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Antoine.

Further Return To Question 78-13(7): Trade Mission To Nunavut
Question 78-13(7): Trade Mission To Nunavut
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 207

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I take the concern very seriously. In terms of working with other jurisdictions, we took initiatives to, all the time, whenever we travel down south, make the emphasis that we are open for business in the Northwest Territories and that we have firms that are capable of participating in business in Alberta. As well, we signed an MOU with the Government of Yukon recently to develop a closer working relationship. It is aimed at trying to see how we could work closer together. There are opportunities for businesses from the Northwest Territories participating in other jurisdictions. Certainly, this hopefully will lead to it.

In my comment about talking with the Premier of Nunavut on having a meeting in the future, some of the topics raised would be to see how we could work closely together in Nunavut and maybe continue with the kind of relationship that we have in terms of the business opportunities that are there. This could be a subject of discussion when we are going to be meeting with the Premier of Nunavut.

No, it is not going to be a status quo. We will not be sitting around waiting for people coming to us to see whether we could participate. I think we should take the initiative and say yes, we want to continue to work in Nunavut and that the businesses that are here have the expertise of working in the north. We should try to promote that. That is the intention for us to look at. The division has happened very recently. We are still getting familiar with how things are working. I think we have to continue in that working relationship. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 78-13(7): Trade Mission To Nunavut
Question 78-13(7): Trade Mission To Nunavut
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 207

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Question period is over. Again, another reminder to the Members regarding question period. I have noticed, on several occasions today, that Members are using their final supplementary to ask two questions. That is against the rules. In that case, the question could be disallowed or else we will ask the Minister to answer only one question. Item 8, written questions. Item 9, returns to written questions. Item 10, replies to opening address. Item 11, replies to budget address. Item 12, petitions. Item 13, reports of standing and special committees. Item 14, reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 15, tabling of documents. Mr. Miltenberger.