Thank you, Mr. Erasmus. Mr. Minister.
Debates of April 29th, 1999
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.
Topics
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
April 29th, 1999
Page 460
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 460
Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The people that want to get into the business of fishing are supported by our government. We provide them with contributions, loans, like every other business. Applicants, we sometimes provide other forms of assistance. We look at value-added activities, so generally speaking I think we have been proactive in trying to support an industry here on the lake that faces some very strong competition from people down south. 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 460
The Chair Jake Ootes
Thank you, Mr. Minister. We are on Resource Management and Economic Development, operations and maintenance, $32.537 million. Agreed?
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 461
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
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 461
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 461
The Chair Jane Groenewegen
The committee will come back to order. We are on Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Resource Management and Economic Development, operations and maintenance, $32.537 million. 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
Page 461
Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The other day the Minister indicated that he got legal advice on the meaning of breach when we were talking about the NWT Development Corporation Board, so what I was wondering was since he did not have more than five board members since 1996, did he ever get legal advice on whether they could legally have a meeting without seven members?
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 461
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 461
Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu
Madam Chairperson. My understanding of breach is that breach is considered, by the lawyers that I have talked to, Mr. Erasmus not included, he said it is a bit of too strong a term. Have not complied with the legislation is much more to my liking. I believe that is more properly the term that should be used, it is a little more objective and gets to the point in a straightforward and to the point. I have not sought advice about the issue he is raising. As I have said we have tried to appoint the board over the years and it is obvious that we cannot really beat this issue to death beyond it and I think we are. We have not complied with the act. It is a fact. I accept that. The government accepts that. We have moved, in the last while, to address that. It has been addressed. It has been resolved, so what is the point? Where does the Member want to take this now is more the question, I guess.
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 461
The Chair Jane Groenewegen
Thank you, Mr. Kakfwi. Resource, Management and Economic Development, operations and maintenance, $32.537 million. I am going to ask the Member for Yellowknife North to keep his questions to the Main Estimates. I believe this is the fourth time the Member has been recognized on this particular line item. I will ask him to direct his question to the issue of the Main Estimates, and other issues to do with the Development Corporation Board can be taken up in question period. Thank you. 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
Page 461
Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North
Could the Chair clarify for me whether all Members have the opportunity to be extended the same line of questioning as every Member? I seem to recall that Mr. Henry was the first Member to ask questions about the board of the NWT Development Corporation.
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 461
The Chair Jane Groenewegen
I believe the question is, is every Member afforded the same opportunity to ask questions on a certain subject. Yes, they are and there has been a tremendous amount of latitude with respect to this particular subject today. The rule book indicates that no Member shall speak for more than ten minutes at any one time in committee of the whole and subject to the discretion of the Chair, a Member may speak more than once to a matter under discussion but not until every Member wishing to speak has spoken. My answer to the Member is that, I believe, as I said that this is the fourth time the Member has been recognized on this particular line item and I would say it is not infringing on the Member's privilege to ask questions in this committee. Thank you. 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
Page 461
Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North
Madam Chairperson, is it okay to ask questions about the Auditor General, who I believe gives direction to the Development Corporation and who has been, I believe has a lot to do with money anyways?
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 461
The Chair Jane Groenewegen
Certainly, Mr. Erasmus. As the Auditor General's reports do pertain to the issue of Main Estimates, absolutely.
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 461
Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North
Thank you, Madam Chairperson. The Minister had indicated that the Auditor General and the staff understood a quorum as being a majority of the Members appointed and that they had been able legally to meet the definition of what a quorum is. Could the Minister indicate whether the Auditor General had provided him with a letter on that particular legal opinion?
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 461
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 461
Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu
Thank you, Madam Chairperson. I am advised that there is a letter, and we can provide it to the Member. 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 461
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 461
Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North
Thank you, Madam Chairperson. Could the Minister indicate whether he knows if the Auditor General is a lawyer?
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 461
The Chair Jane Groenewegen
Mr. Erasmus, I am sorry, I am going to rule your question out of order. It has nothing to do with the Main Estimates. We are on line item, page 11-19, operations and maintenance, $32.537 million. Agreed?
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 461
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
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 461
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 461
Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North
Thank you, Madam Chairperson. Under Parks and Tourism, could we get the clock started 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 461
The Chair Jane Groenewegen
Mr. Erasmus, this is still on the same line item, so we are still on the same time segment. Thank you, 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
Page 461
Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North
Thank you, Madam Chairperson. Under Parks and Tourism, the parks in Yellowknife have parks officers and people working for parks in the summer. I have been informed by people who have worked in this particular area in the past that people who work in the summer have, I guess, I cannot remember the term, they work every year but they do not work full-time. They do not work all year. I understand that they found a way so that they can work a lot of overtime hours in the summer. Once the operation is shut down in September or
whatever, that they are able to get paid, at least one person in the past, has been able to get paid all winter from working during that summer. I had written the Minister about this some time ago. Could the Minister indicate whether he has moved to rectify this situation so this can no longer be done? Thank you.