This is page numbers 491 - 519 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 education.

Topics

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have a return to an oral question asked by the honourable Mr. Krutko on April 21, 1999, in regard to policies to assist small business.

The Business Incentive Policy is the government's main procurement policy. The policy provides existing northern businesses with a level of business incentive that compensates for the higher cost of operating a business in the Northwest Territories. The business incentive provides a 15 percent bid adjustment for approved northern businesses and an additional 5 percent for operating the business in a specific community, resulting in a combined preference for local content of 20 percent. Despite this, it is still the responsibility of individual businesses to bid competitively on government contracts.

A negotiated contract for the design and construction of a new school at Fort McPherson was awarded to the Gwich'in Development Corporation by the Beaufort Delta Education Council. Tetlit'zheh Construction Ltd. is a sub-contractor under this contract. The parties to this contract are currently under mediation in an effort to resolve outstanding issues.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Returns to oral questions. Mr. Steen.

Return To Oral Question 166-13(7): Microfilming Government Documents
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

May 9th, 1999

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Vince Steen

Vince Steen Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have a return to an oral question asked by Mr. Henry on April 30, 1999, regarding microfilming government documents.

The GNWT has made substantial progress in recent years toward improving records keeping and records storage processes. The Department of Public Works and Services has been working with departments toward effective records management in a variety of areas. The adoption of a standard classification system was a major step, as are the ongoing efforts towards computerization.

As part of its advice and support to departments, PWS provides regular information concerning the best form for keeping records, whether it be paper, microfilm or some other format. For example, filming records that must be kept longer than 25 years may be done to save storage space or it may be done so that a backup copy is readily available. Information about these types of issues is provided and discussed at regular meetings of department records coordinators. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Return to oral question, Mr. Kakfwi.

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Thank you Mr. Speaker, I have two returns today, both to Mr. Erasmus from questions he asked on the 30th of April. The first is in relation to alternative mining technology.

As required by the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, proponents are required to consider any alternative means of carrying out the project which are technically and economically feasible and assess the environmental effects of each alternative means. The Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, as the lead regulatory authority under the environmental assessment process, evaluated the three alternative mining technologies presented by Diavik. DIAND hired a consultant who evaluated Diavik's assessment of alternatives and provided a written critique.

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Mr. Speaker, the second return is on the question about the evaluation of diamond mining proposals. Mr. Speaker, the responsibility for evaluating mining alternatives rests with the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development as the lead regulatory authority under the environmental assessment and review process. The Canadian Environmental Assessment Act requires that the environmental impacts of any technically and economically feasible alternatives be considered. The overall purpose of the environmental assessment process is to ensure that projects do not cause significant adverse environmental effects. Therefore, environmental effects are the key criteria government uses in evaluating alternative technologies. However, safety aspects and employment opportunities are also factored into the decision. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Returns to oral question. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Krutko.

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

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David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize Pat Thomas with the NWTTA.

--Applause

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Welcome to the Assembly. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Item 6, oral questions. Mrs. Groenewegen.

Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, from my Member's statement people might think that I have questions for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, but before I would turn my questions to him, I have some questions for the Minister of Finance. As everyone knows, Mr. Speaker, we concluded three weeks of consideration of the budget a week ago Friday. We had some times during that when there were some unusual circumstances in the House, whereby we had few members here and we did have an unanticipated break in the budget session for a one week period.

Now we are back, after that one week period, here in the House. So, Mr. Speaker, I was very disappointed on the Friday night after we rose for the week break to come back when I heard the Honourable Minister of Finance being interviewed on the radio on Friday night, making comments about the fact that the education budget had not been passed, and in fact, university students now returning home to look for jobs would probably be delayed, in part, thanks to the Ordinary Members for the budget not being passed and this would not be considered until sometime in May. That was on CJCD radio, Mr. Speaker, that was on Friday night and all day Saturday. I have never heard a piece run so many times, and I perceived it as bullying, badgering and browbeating the Ordinary Members for what happened.

We had good cause and good reason to postpone dealing with the education budget last Friday because we had few Members, we wanted to go home to consult our constituents, and we were pressed for time. We had been here for three weeks and we needed time to do research.

Mr. Speaker, my question for the Minister of Finance is, did the Minister of Finance anticipate that we were actually going to consider the $167 million in education last Friday in two hours and walk out of here with a concluded budget? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

The Minister of Finance, Mr. Dent.

Return To Question 172-13(7): Dealing With The Education Budget
Question 172-13(7): Dealing With The Education Budget
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the budget process has been going on for sometime. It started last fall when the business plans were presented to the committees of this House. It carried on with presentations of the budgets to the committees and then, finally, it culminates in the budget session in the Legislature. As the Member indicates, we were here for three weeks and, yes, it was the expectation of the government that we are here to work on the budget and we would probably conclude the budget. Mr. Speaker, the Member asks specifically about the Department of Education, Culture and Employment budget. It is within $1 million or $2 million of the amount for the Department of Health and Social Services and, perhaps, the Member would like to check how long it took this Assembly to consider that budget. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Return To Question 172-13(7): Dealing With The Education Budget
Question 172-13(7): Dealing With The Education Budget
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 172-13(7): Dealing With The Education Budget
Question 172-13(7): Dealing With The Education Budget
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River

Mr. Speaker, now I have so many questions. I will try to fit them into three supplementary. Could the Minister of Finance agree that education was the last scheduled department for consideration, and that the Department of Education has created a tremendous amount of concern amongst the people of the Western Arctic who have been contacting us as MLAs, unlike other departments of this government at this time? Would the Minister of Finance, in view of the scheduling, not agree, and come clean and tell the public that there was an unanticipated break in the budget session, a one week break? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 172-13(7): Dealing With The Education Budget
Question 172-13(7): Dealing With The Education Budget
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 172-13(7): Dealing With The Education Budget
Question 172-13(7): Dealing With The Education Budget
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Obviously there was a break in consideration of the budget as we were not sitting last week and we are here today considering the budget. I had not anticipated there would be a break, and there was. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 172-13(7): Dealing With The Education Budget
Question 172-13(7): Dealing With The Education Budget
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 172-13(7): Dealing With The Education Budget
Question 172-13(7): Dealing With The Education Budget
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If there was an unanticipated break, Mr. Speaker, in for one week, the budget session, would the Minister not concur that we would return to

this House to conclude consideration of the budget? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 172-13(7): Dealing With The Education Budget
Question 172-13(7): Dealing With The Education Budget
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 172-13(7): Dealing With The Education Budget
Question 172-13(7): Dealing With The Education Budget
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have said previously we are here today to conclude consideration of the budget. I hope we are able to conclude consideration of the budget today, tomorrow or however long it takes. Thank you, Mr. Speaker

Further Return To Question 172-13(7): Dealing With The Education Budget
Question 172-13(7): Dealing With The Education Budget
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 172-13(7): Dealing With The Education Budget
Question 172-13(7): Dealing With The Education Budget
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, would the Minister of Finance, since he seems to be very keenly aware of this particular program he referred to in his radio interview called Working Together, would the Minister please tell us if the one week delay on the consideration on this very important Department of Education, Culture and Employment has caused a delay in the hiring of any students or has this caused any hardship that he is aware of, or was this just an issue he raised to, as I said browbeat the Ordinary Members? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 172-13(7): Dealing With The Education Budget
Question 172-13(7): Dealing With The Education Budget
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 172-13(7): Dealing With The Education Budget
Question 172-13(7): Dealing With The Education Budget
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On Friday, April 30th, the Members of Cabinet may have felt browbeaten by the actions of some of the Ordinary Members.

In fact, Mr. Speaker, there has been a delay in the implementation of that program because that program was not included in the Main Estimates. Therefore the Interim Supply Bill that was passed did not include any funds for that program. It is, therefore, in contravention of the Financial Administration Act for any funds for this program to be expended. The program cannot be funded until the budget is concluded and that amount of money is approved. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Further Return To Question 172-13(7): Dealing With The Education Budget
Question 172-13(7): Dealing With The Education Budget
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Oral questions. Mr. Krutko.