This is page numbers 397 - 430 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 chairman.

Topics

Supplementary To Question 141-13(7): Minister's Forum On Health And Social Services
Question 141-13(7): Minister's Forum On Health And Social Services
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 400

Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In the Minister's statement he stated that currently there are nine health and social services boards in the NWT. In light of the recent announcement of Nunavut that they are looking at the elimination of health and social services boards, obviously for financial reasons, perhaps there are more reasons, but could the Minister tell us here in the territories will that also be under consideration, the possibility of the elimination of health boards?

Supplementary To Question 141-13(7): Minister's Forum On Health And Social Services
Question 141-13(7): Minister's Forum On Health And Social Services
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 400

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker David Krutko

Thank you, Mr. Ootes. Mr. Minister.

Further Return To Question 141-13(7): Minister's Forum On Health And Social Services
Question 141-13(7): Minister's Forum On Health And Social Services
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 400

Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would not want, before the forum even gets started, to establish that it would go out and start looking at reduction of services. Mr. Speaker, the Nunavut government has announced indeed that they are looking at consolidating their health boards, but as I stated in an interview with CBC, their situation is quite different from our situation. One of the things, as I stated in my statement, we will be looking at our governance structures and again, looking at affordability and sustainability of the systems we carry on with today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Further Return To Question 141-13(7): Minister's Forum On Health And Social Services
Question 141-13(7): Minister's Forum On Health And Social Services
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 400

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker David Krutko

Oral questions. Final supplementary, Mr. Ootes.

Supplementary To Question 141-13(7): Minister's Forum On Health And Social Services
Question 141-13(7): Minister's Forum On Health And Social Services
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 400

Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am somewhat concerned about the cost factor that this may take. We have done the Med-Emerg Report to the tune of $750,000 and jokingly referred to as a doorstop and several other reports that need to be, of course, taken into consideration. Could the Minister tell us if he has a budget allocation for the Minister's forum?

Supplementary To Question 141-13(7): Minister's Forum On Health And Social Services
Question 141-13(7): Minister's Forum On Health And Social Services
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 400

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker David Krutko

Thank you, Mr. Ootes. Mr. Minister.

Further Return To Question 141-13(7): Minister's Forum On Health And Social Services
Question 141-13(7): Minister's Forum On Health And Social Services
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 400

Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There has not been a budget laid out, so to speak, but we definitely will come under the Med-Emerge Report that was done and I would like to notify the Member that, in fact, the Med-Emerge Report

was used in the strategic plan that was developed and put forward by the department, not as a doorstop. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Further Return To Question 141-13(7): Minister's Forum On Health And Social Services
Question 141-13(7): Minister's Forum On Health And Social Services
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 401

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker David Krutko

Oral questions. Mr. Morin.

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister responsible for Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development. The cornerstone of this government's political agenda is to get the most out of the resources that we harvest in the Northwest Territories and have value-added products produced from those resources that we harvest in the Northwest Territories, for example, diamonds, the value-added was the polishing and cutting. This government pushed very hard for that, Mr. Speaker. Is this still the cornerstone of this government's political agenda, resources harvested in the Northwest Territories that we get value-added product from ? Thank you.

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker David Krutko

Thank you, Mr. Morin. Minister responsible for Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Kakfwi.

Return To Question 142-13(7): Value-added Resource Sector
Question 142-13(7): Value-added Resource Sector
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 401

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it is our intention wherever there is resource development to maximize the economic returns and benefits to our communities and our businesses. Where there are potential value-added activities, yes, as a government we try to maximize the realization of those. Thank you.

Return To Question 142-13(7): Value-added Resource Sector
Question 142-13(7): Value-added Resource Sector
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 401

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker David Krutko

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Morin.

Supplementary To Question 142-13(7): Value-added Resource Sector
Question 142-13(7): Value-added Resource Sector
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 401

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Presently, it is my understanding, there is a review being done of Great Slave Lake Forest Products which the Minister is responsible for. It is now late April, the first of May comes along fairly quickly and the normal season of logging and sawing, the slaver of a sawmill will be firing up in very early May to start sawing the logs that are in the yard, the resource that was harvested, to maximize the benefits from that resource. At present they do have a plan that was put forward to the Development Corporation and, in order for any part of that plan to be in place, they would have to start actioning it soon. So my question to the Minister is, how soon will they start actioning the plan and sawing the logs in Fort Resolution? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 142-13(7): Value-added Resource Sector
Question 142-13(7): Value-added Resource Sector
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 401

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker David Krutko

Thank you Mr. Morin. Mr. Kakfwi.

Further Return To Question 142-13(7): Value-added Resource Sector
Question 142-13(7): Value-added Resource Sector
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 401

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the department, and also through the Development Corporation, we had initiated discussions with Chief Don Balsillie in March to address the situation with the sawmill in Fort Resolution, Great Slave Forest Products, to see if there was some way in which we could work together to ensure the operation becomes increasingly efficient and viable under the present circumstances. One of the difficulties we are having is making sure the financial information we have is accurate and, once that is done, the Development Corporation president will work with Great Slave Lake Forest Products and the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development and the community of Fort Resolution to take some action to ensure the operation in Fort Resolution can continue in some form or other that is acceptable to the Development Corporation and to the community as well. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 142-13(7): Value-added Resource Sector
Question 142-13(7): Value-added Resource Sector
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 401

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker David Krutko

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Morin.

Supplementary To Question 142-13(7): Value-added Resource Sector
Question 142-13(7): Value-added Resource Sector
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 401

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is good that Great Slave Lake Forest Products as well as the NWT Development Corporation are working on a plan with the community. That is good news, but the problem that we have is in the milling operation, and the logging operation and producing lumber in the Northwest Territories is something similar to building a house, Mr. Speaker. We have so many days of warm weather in the Northwest Territories, south of the lake, and we have so many days of warm sun in order to air-dry that lumber. It takes time to do that, so it is not as simple as sawing it and selling it. You have to air-dry it before you plane it. All of that stuff takes time, and the days that you lose at the beginning of your sawing season, you never gain them back at the end, because then it is fall and it rains constantly. So how long is this review going to take to get finalized if the numbers are correct, and when will we have the get-together in Fort Resolution to address this issue? There is a time restraint here, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 142-13(7): Value-added Resource Sector
Question 142-13(7): Value-added Resource Sector
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 401

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker David Krutko

Thank you, Mr. Morin. I heard two questions, you used up your supplementary. Mr. Minister.

Further Return To Question 142-13(7): Value-added Resource Sector
Question 142-13(7): Value-added Resource Sector
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 401

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We had a meeting this morning, myself, the Deputy Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, the new president of the NWT Development Corporation. We know there is urgency to come up with a business plan for the NWT Development Corporation as well as a need to respond quickly to the business plan that was tabled by Mr. Morin the other day. I have asked them to work quickly to address that and come up with some plan with the community that would ensure the ongoing viability of the sawmill and to look at different options on how that could be done. It is clear to all of us that the level of funding that was available in previous years is simply no longer there. There is a real need on our part to make sure all subsidiaries are treated the same way, and given the same level of support. We will work to achieve that. There are concerns with the auditor general that need to be addressed. We will be looking at ways in which we can make sure the operation of the Development Corporation is done in a way that assures the public, this government and the communities that we are doing everything we can to operate in line with legislation, in line with

acceptable accounting practices and with sound business practices and policies in place.

An operational audit, as I said, was requested by the Financial Management Board in February and we are now looking at doing a full comprehensive audit, and are requesting that to be done on the NWT Development Corporation and each subsidiary, looking at the value-for-dollar component of it by asking the Auditor General of Canada to do a comprehensive audit of the Development Corporation. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 142-13(7): Value-added Resource Sector
Question 142-13(7): Value-added Resource Sector
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 402

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker David Krutko

Oral questions. Mrs. Groenewegen.

Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question today is for the Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation. Mr. Speaker, under the Expanded Down Payment Assistance Program, the Housing Corporation can end up with considerable equity in a home. I believe that could be as high as 70 percent of the cost of the home. My question is what measures are taken when assisting a potential home owner in ensuring they are investing in a sound structure that will meet the client's needs? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker David Krutko

Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation, Mr. Roland.

Return To Question 143-13(7): Support Provided To Down Payment Assistance Plan Applicants
Question 143-13(7): Support Provided To Down Payment Assistance Plan Applicants
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 402

Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In the area of the Expanded Down Payment Assistance Plan, the Member is correct, it can range from as low as 5 percent to as high as 70 percent, but I believe it is a cap at 70 percent. I would have to get that information. As to the process, there is a lengthy process involved with the clients that would come forward in filling out their applications and understanding the process. We do give the Down Payment assistance to those that qualify and come through with an actual purchase, but the mortgage that is held, is held by the bank, so, under most approvals, the banks would have the first right for things that would happen if anything were to go wrong in the application for those that had received assistance. The Housing Corporation has, through the EDAP, found itself that this process has been quite successful and we have not had to deal with many individuals when it comes to their mortgages failing. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Return To Question 143-13(7): Support Provided To Down Payment Assistance Plan Applicants
Question 143-13(7): Support Provided To Down Payment Assistance Plan Applicants
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 402

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker David Krutko

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 143-13(7): Support Provided To Down Payment Assistance Plan Applicants
Question 143-13(7): Support Provided To Down Payment Assistance Plan Applicants
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 402

Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I was specifically looking for what kind of assistance the Corporation would provide to, for example, in the case of a first-time home buyer, where I am referring specifically to issues of structural integrity, those types of issues that the average person might not be aware of. Thank you Mr. Speaker.