This is page numbers 357 - 395 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 highway.

Topics

Further Return To Question 136-13(7): Tulita Hotel Project
Question 136-13(7): Tulita Hotel Project
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 365

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Again, we do not have a point of order. The Minister is only responding to what the Member for Tu Nedhe said. You have to be careful when you make reference to imputing a motive. That line with regard to imputing motive or casting aspirations upon any person could be seen if the Member for Tu Nedhe is suggesting that he is paying special attention to his constituency as a Minister. That is imputing a motive. The Minister is only responding to what would be considered, like, if any Member rose on a point, then there might have been imputing a motive here. But the Minister is only responding to what would be considered that motive. Mr. Kakfwi, I know that you were still responding when there was a point of order raised.

Further Return To Question 136-13(7): Tulita Hotel Project
Question 136-13(7): Tulita Hotel Project
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 365

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Mr. Speaker, the good members of the public as well as this Legislature, I think, always have to be vigilant in ensuring that, as Ministers, we go about carrying out our duties as fairly and as impartially as possible. So it holds equally that those that may hypothetically want to see my demise are in the same position as those who want to see me excel in my ministerial duties by pointing out those things that I am doing deficiently and those things I am sort of going overboard on, to make sure that all of us remain vigilant in ensuring that we, as Ministers, carry out our duties in as fair a way as possible. I take that very seriously. That is why I always ask my staff to make sure the decisions that I make and am involved in are always reviewed by everyone that I work with to ensure that there is no way that anyone can impute that I am doing it for self-serving reasons. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 136-13(7): Tulita Hotel Project
Question 136-13(7): Tulita Hotel Project
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 366

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Oral questions. Mrs. Groenewegen.

Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development. It has to do with oil and gas exploration. On a very positive note, we have much activity going on in the south Mackenzie in the area of oil and gas exploration. What role does this government play in the approval process for applications for oil and gas exploration, companies coming in from other jurisdictions to perform oil and gas exploration? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

The Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Kakfwi.

Return To Question 137-13(7): Oil And Gas Exploration
Question 137-13(7): Oil And Gas Exploration
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 366

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This government has no jurisdiction in regard to land and waters, exploration permits, any type of authority governing the activities of oil and gas and exploration companies in the Northwest Territories. What our department does is keep informed about the interest, the environment under which exploration companies have to operate, to lobby for benefits for communities to ensure that the oil companies, as well as our communities and business people, have the best possible environment under which to engage in business dialogue so that any possible benefits, if there are to be any, can be reaped by our people here in the north. Thank you.

Return To Question 137-13(7): Oil And Gas Exploration
Question 137-13(7): Oil And Gas Exploration
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 366

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Oral questions. Supplementary. Mrs Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 137-13(7): Oil And Gas Exploration
Question 137-13(7): Oil And Gas Exploration
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 366

Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If not in the approval process, does our government have any role to play whereby the benefits to which the Minister is referring are ensured through the application process? Is there anything in the actual application process which guarantees or requires or makes it mandatory that northerners and northern companies benefit from these operations taking place in our territory? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 137-13(7): Oil And Gas Exploration
Question 137-13(7): Oil And Gas Exploration
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 366

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Kakfwi.

Further Return To Question 137-13(7): Oil And Gas Exploration
Question 137-13(7): Oil And Gas Exploration
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 366

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There are different processes that are followed. In the case of lands that are covered by comprehensive claims agreements, very often the benefits packages are expected to be negotiated with the claimant groups. In cases outside regions like the Deh Cho and the South Slave, particularly Deh Cho, where there is no claim in place, federal legislation covers the benefits that should flow to communities that are neighbouring the area where the exploration permit is granted, or the exploration licence. And very often, the exploration licence is granted and then the company is expected, after the fact, to negotiate a benefits package with communities. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 137-13(7): Oil And Gas Exploration
Question 137-13(7): Oil And Gas Exploration
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 366

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Oral questions. Supplementary. Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 137-13(7): Oil And Gas Exploration
Question 137-13(7): Oil And Gas Exploration
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 366

Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, does the Minister, through his department, have any way of policing or following up, monitoring would be a better word, whether or not these negotiations with the beneficiary communities are followed through on by these companies after the fact? After their application has been approved and they have commenced work in the area what, if any, monitoring function does this government have? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 137-13(7): Oil And Gas Exploration
Question 137-13(7): Oil And Gas Exploration
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 366

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Kakfwi.

Further Return To Question 137-13(7): Oil And Gas Exploration
Question 137-13(7): Oil And Gas Exploration
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 366

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We do not have any monitoring function, but we do keep in touch with the oil companies, the companies operating and the communities involved to ensure that the relationship, that if there is one, and the commitments made by the two parties are adhered to and if there are difficulties, then to offer our support and assistance to make sure that the benefits and the commitments made, the understanding that is reached, is adhered to by both parties. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 137-13(7): Oil And Gas Exploration
Question 137-13(7): Oil And Gas Exploration
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 366

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Oral questions. Final supplementary. Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 137-13(7): Oil And Gas Exploration
Question 137-13(7): Oil And Gas Exploration
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 366

Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in some instances where drilling and oil and gas exploration companies have come into the Northwest Territories, I have heard from my constituents, business constituents in Hay River, that their names, their company names were used as a part of an application process. They were not always aware that their company name was being used as a supplier of goods or services and that they may have inadvertently or coincidentally come upon this information. Is there any process or activity of the Minister's department that could close that gap and preclude that kind of thing from happening? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 137-13(7): Oil And Gas Exploration
Question 137-13(7): Oil And Gas Exploration
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 366

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Kakfwi.

Further Return To Question 137-13(7): Oil And Gas Exploration
Question 137-13(7): Oil And Gas Exploration
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 366

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe that we can look at this with the federal government, federal officials that work to make sure that their federal legislation is complied with, to see what we can do to make sure that it is actually being complied with and benefits are to flow and people are mentioned as possible beneficiaries of exploration programs that they, in fact, are real beneficiaries. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 137-13(7): Oil And Gas Exploration
Question 137-13(7): Oil And Gas Exploration
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 367

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Oral questions. Mr. Krutko.

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in regard to the question I asked the Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Roland, on Friday, April 23rd, 1999, support for the Tl'oondih Healing Society, the Minister states, "I would like to assure Members that the department is in no way intending to centralize the services that are out there." But, Mr. Speaker, I received a letter from the Inuvik Regional Health Board in which they moved a motion which basically states that the Inuvik Regional Health and Social Services Boards wish to express their concerns with the Department of Health and Social Services decision to give all health treatment per diem rates directly to Nats' ejee K'eh treatment facility, and we feel that equitable responsibility of their treatment services may be affected because there is no cost effort to individual boards. Then there is a motion which was passed that directs that the Minister be asked to return northern referral treatment dollars to Inuvik Region Health and Social Services Board for administration of our regional needs. I would like to ask the Minister, on the one hand, he is saying that there are no drastic changes to the Department of Health and Social Services when it comes to treatment dollars, yet there is a motion from the Inuvik Regional Health Board which states exactly that is happening. Can the Minister state exactly what is happening within his department?

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

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

Return To Question 138-13(7): Treatment Referral Methods
Question 138-13(7): Treatment Referral Methods
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 367

Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I do indeed stand by what I said earlier in response to the Member on a question of funding that we are not intending to centralize the services provided to residents of the Northwest Territories. This is an interim measure that was taken in respect to the funding situation and concerns raised with one of our facilities in the territories. The referrals for treatment to the facility will continue to be processed by the boards and, at this existing time, I have been made aware that funding is being held at headquarters, but the referral process will still happen through the boards. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Return To Question 138-13(7): Treatment Referral Methods
Question 138-13(7): Treatment Referral Methods
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 367

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Supplementary To Question 138-13(7): Treatment Referral Methods
Question 138-13(7): Treatment Referral Methods
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 367

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, for one, thought this government was looking in the way of community empowerment and regionalizing programs and services to assist regions and communities to deal with their problems at home or within the region. So does this Minister state that there will be no opportunities in the future for regional health boards or regional organizations to take on the role of dealing with alcohol and drug treatment in the regional centres?

Supplementary To Question 138-13(7): Treatment Referral Methods
Question 138-13(7): Treatment Referral Methods
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 367

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Roland.