This is page numbers 431 - 469 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.

Committee Motion 25-13(7): Resurrecting And Priorizing The Northern Accord Proposal
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 450

The Chair

The Chair Jake Ootes

Thank you, Mr. Henry. Mr. Koe.

Committee Motion 25-13(7): Resurrecting And Priorizing The Northern Accord Proposal
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Koe

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. These are guidelines that I mentioned. One job would be equivalent to a contribution of $100,000 capital, so if they were going to create, at one time, five jobs, it would be requesting $500,000 or equivalent. If it is ongoing operating subsidies, we use a standard of $10,000 per job. If there is a $200,000 operating subsidy that should equate to about 20 jobs. Those are the guidelines that are in existence now and they are under review.

Committee Motion 25-13(7): Resurrecting And Priorizing The Northern Accord Proposal
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Jake Ootes

Thank you, Mr. Koe. Mr. Henry, your time has expired. I will just ask if there are other questions from other Members? Mr. Henry. Mr. Erasmus.

Committee Motion 25-13(7): Resurrecting And Priorizing The Northern Accord Proposal
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I had not really intended to ask any questions on the Development Corporation, however, I was going through Hansard last night and there were a couple of things that peaked my interest. I noted that the other day, the Minister had indicated that perhaps it would be a good time to have a better discussion on this in committee of the whole. Also, I was pleased to hear that there are now, I think the Minister said, nine members which would comply with the minimum of seven board members on the NWT Development Corporation as the act stipulates that there has to be a minimum of seven board members at all times.

On Monday, the 26th, the Minister had indicated that there had not been seven board members since around 1996. Then on Tuesday, the Minister replied to a question I had asked, he did not answer my question, but in reply to it, he had implied that it was the MLAs fault that there had not been seven board members since 1996. He said that we had not responded to letters for suggestions for board members. Could the Minister explain a little better why it is our fault that there had not been seven board members from 1996 until April 1999?

Committee Motion 25-13(7): Resurrecting And Priorizing The Northern Accord Proposal
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 450

The Chair

The Chair Jake Ootes

Thank you, Mr. Erasmus. Mr. Minister.

Committee Motion 25-13(7): Resurrecting And Priorizing The Northern Accord Proposal
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Can you tell me, Mr. Chairman, how the Member could twist what he read in Hansard so late at night into feeling that I was blaming him and other MLAs for this particular situation is beyond me. That was not what I implied at all. It is set out very clearly that, that was the process that was used to solicit nominees to be put forward by the cabinet to make appointments. That is the process that has been used for years. We await nominees to come forward from MLAs. Surely the Member is not suggesting that I should, as Minister, just put forward whatever name I want or that the President of the Development Corporation should do that either. It has been a long established practice in this Legislature. That is the way we appoint board members to the many boards and agencies that we have. I have said it is the responsibility of Cabinet to make the appointments ultimately. If Cabinet has not been doing that then, I would probably take

the responsibility for not having helped Cabinet comply with the minimum requirements for appointments in the act. Thank you.

Committee Motion 25-13(7): Resurrecting And Priorizing The Northern Accord Proposal
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 451

The Chair

The Chair Jake Ootes

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Further questions, Mr. Erasmus.

Committee Motion 25-13(7): Resurrecting And Priorizing The Northern Accord Proposal
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. On page 608 of Hansard, Tuesday April 27, 1999, sorry I made a mistake earlier, the Minister is quoted as saying here, Members have not always come up with names. We have waited sometimes months for good names to come forward. The president has been advising me over the last few years when we have not had a minimum of seven appointed. Each time that was done, letters were sent out to Members of the Legislature asking for nominees to be put forward. Mr. Chairman, since we did not comply, he is saying he did not put the name forward to Cabinet. Is that not what he is saying? Maybe he can explain that a little better then if that is not what he was saying there.

Committee Motion 25-13(7): Resurrecting And Priorizing The Northern Accord Proposal
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 451

The Chair

The Chair Jake Ootes

Mr. Erasmus, could you give us the page number again, please?

Committee Motion 25-13(7): Resurrecting And Priorizing The Northern Accord Proposal
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 451

Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North

Page 608 at the top of the page.

Committee Motion 25-13(7): Resurrecting And Priorizing The Northern Accord Proposal
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Jake Ootes

Mr. Erasmus, I think your line of questioning is going away from the Main Estimates rather than addressing the estimates that are before us. It would probably be more appropriate to address this during question period rather than addressing it here, an issue outside of the expenditure area. I will offer it to the Minister to reply if he wishes to.

Committee Motion 25-13(7): Resurrecting And Priorizing The Northern Accord Proposal
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Thank you, Chairman. Just to console the Member, it was never my intention to lay blame on the Ordinary Members of the Legislature. The act says the responsibility lies with Cabinet to make the appointments, and it is my job as Minister to make sure that Cabinet complies with the legislation by forwarding names. Obviously, the process that I have been using has not been the best. There is no need to lay blame with anybody. We have, as of this morning, agreed to appoint more than the minimum amount of seven and that just to make sure that we always comply with the minimum requirements of the act for board members, the Cabinet has also agreed that as Minister, I can, on my own without consulting with the rest of the Assembly, put forward names for appointment to the board so that as an added safety mechanism to make sure we always comply with the minimum number. Thank you.

Committee Motion 25-13(7): Resurrecting And Priorizing The Northern Accord Proposal
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 451

The Chair

The Chair Jake Ootes

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Mr. Erasmus.

Committee Motion 25-13(7): Resurrecting And Priorizing The Northern Accord Proposal
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I was simply complying with Mr. Kakfwi's suggested mode of dealing with this issue during question period, and similarly, Mr. Chairman, Mr. Henry just asked the question about the board. Obviously, we are all Members here, I am assuming we are all going to be treated similarly, that we are all going to be able to ask similar questions on the same topic.

Committee Motion 25-13(7): Resurrecting And Priorizing The Northern Accord Proposal
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 451

The Chair

The Chair Jake Ootes

Thank you, Mr. Erasmus. I believe the Minister did reply to your comments. Mr. Erasmus.

Committee Motion 25-13(7): Resurrecting And Priorizing The Northern Accord Proposal
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Also on Tuesday, April 27th, the Minister indicated that Cabinet is responsible for ensuring that the board is properly constituted at all times. First of all he said it was MLAs and now it is Cabinet. Could the Minister indicate what he meant by that please?

Committee Motion 25-13(7): Resurrecting And Priorizing The Northern Accord Proposal
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 451

The Chair

The Chair Jake Ootes

Thank you, Mr. Erasmus. Mr. Minister.

Committee Motion 25-13(7): Resurrecting And Priorizing The Northern Accord Proposal
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I believe the Member had said earlier he had read the act. I was advised by legal counsel that the responsibility to ensure that the board is appointed in keeping with the requirements of the act rests with the Executive Council. In fact, what it says is "there shall be a Board of Directors appointed by the Commissioner and the Executive Council". In layman's terms that is fully intended to mean.

Committee Motion 25-13(7): Resurrecting And Priorizing The Northern Accord Proposal
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 451

The Chair

The Chair Jake Ootes

Thank you, Mr. Kakfwi. Mr. Erasmus, your time is up. I would just like to remind Members that the Development Corporation's budget is on page 11-18 and if there are detailed questions of this sort we could possibly keep the comments, if there are detailed questions, for that particular area. Thank you. Further questions?

Committee Motion 25-13(7): Resurrecting And Priorizing The Northern Accord Proposal
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the Minister had indicated that during the past year and one-half the number of Community Futures boards operating in the NWT and Nunavut has increased from four to nine. Could the Minister indicate how the funding is provided to those nine boards?

Committee Motion 25-13(7): Resurrecting And Priorizing The Northern Accord Proposal
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 451

The Chair

The Chair Jake Ootes

Thank you, Mr. Erasmus. Mr. Handley.

Mr. HANDLEY: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yes, each of the boards through this budget will be allocated $200,000 for operations. That is for the operation of their office. I am not sure if the question was with regard to capital money as well.

Committee Motion 25-13(7): Resurrecting And Priorizing The Northern Accord Proposal
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 451

The Chair

The Chair Jake Ootes

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Mr. Erasmus, did you wish further information on capital?

Committee Motion 25-13(7): Resurrecting And Priorizing The Northern Accord Proposal
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, what I am wondering is, do each of these boards receive an equal amount of funding or is it done by per diem? Do they receive a certain amount for each person within their area or how are the boards funded? Are they treated equally or how does it work?

Committee Motion 25-13(7): Resurrecting And Priorizing The Northern Accord Proposal
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 451

The Chair

The Chair Jake Ootes

Thank you, Mr. Erasmus. Mr. Handley.

Mr. HANDLEY: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, in terms of the operating money, each board is treated equally, each will get $200,000 for their operations regardless of the size of the area that they serve. In terms of capital money, that differs because some had existed as federal entities before they were taken over by the GNWT, they already had capital. Others are fairly new and as we have the available resources we will build them up to an amount of capital that will meet their needs.

Committee Motion 25-13(7): Resurrecting And Priorizing The Northern Accord Proposal
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 451

The Chair

The Chair Jake Ootes

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Mr. Erasmus.