This is page numbers 579 - 604 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 chairperson.

Topics

Supplementary To Question 203-13(7): Ntpc Employee/management Negotiations
Question 203-13(7): NTPC Employee/management Negotiations
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 586

Seamus Henry Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister had informed me in the House, I believe this week, that in fact there was one short from a majority of the membership of the Union of Northern Workers Power Corporation workers, that there was one member short of the majority. If, in fact, the Power Corporation workers, for the Power Corporation in Nunavut, are being represented by a different union, would the Minister still say that a majority of the western members wish to choose who represents them, of the 117 workers, 108 signed that petition in the west? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary To Question 203-13(7): Ntpc Employee/management Negotiations
Question 203-13(7): NTPC Employee/management Negotiations
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 586

The Speaker

Thank you. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 203-13(7): Ntpc Employee/management Negotiations
Question 203-13(7): NTPC Employee/management Negotiations
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 586

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would say that we take the petition and correspondence that we have received from union members very seriously. We are trying to ascertain exactly what the wishes of the employees are, but it will take some time to respond appropriately to the request. The reason being if we were to make a change, a Labour Relations Board would have to be established in the Northwest Territories to handle certification issues within the public service.

That would require me to approach my colleague, the Minister of Justice, to examine exactly how our labour regulations should evolve, given self-government negotiations and the changing nature of the public service. I will commit to do that. It is something that we are looking at very seriously and in consultation with my Cabinet colleagues, we will examine just how we should respond. I should make it clear that this will not happen in time for the next sitting in July. I doubt that we could draft any legislation should Cabinet agree, in time for the July sitting. It will take quite some time as there are other implications we have to consider as it does not just affect one group of employees. If we make a change to the Public Service Act for them, we would have to then recognize that there may be requirements to change the Public Service Act for all representatives and there has to be a whole new system set up. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Further Return To Question 203-13(7): Ntpc Employee/management Negotiations
Question 203-13(7): NTPC Employee/management Negotiations
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 586

The Speaker

Oral questions. Final supplementary, Mr. Henry.

Supplementary To Question 203-13(7): Ntpc Employee/management Negotiations
Question 203-13(7): NTPC Employee/management Negotiations
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 586

Seamus Henry Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank the Minister for all that detail he provided. There was just one little part that he left out. If I could refresh his memory, part of the question I asked was, does the Minister still feel that out of the 130 members who are in the west, that 108 of them signing a petition would be an overwhelming majority of people requesting the Minister's consideration of this? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary To Question 203-13(7): Ntpc Employee/management Negotiations
Question 203-13(7): NTPC Employee/management Negotiations
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 586

The Speaker

Thank you. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 203-13(7): Ntpc Employee/management Negotiations
Question 203-13(7): NTPC Employee/management Negotiations
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 586

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe I said in my last reply that I did take it as an indication that there was a considerable number of people who were interested in some kind of change. We are not absolutely certain if that

means a change from the UNW or the freedom to select their own representation, and we were seriously looking at trying to ascertain the proper response. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 203-13(7): Ntpc Employee/management Negotiations
Question 203-13(7): NTPC Employee/management Negotiations
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 587

The Speaker

Oral questions. Mr. Erasmus.

Question 204-13(7): Home Repair Programs
Item 6: Oral Questions

May 12th, 1999

Page 587

Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation. Mr. Speaker, in the last little while we have heard several Members speak about the $10,000 Minimum Down Payment Assistance Program and we now know that it has cost approximately $4 million and that there were really no restrictions on who can get this assistance. Apparently, someone could have just stepped off the plane and saw a good deal and applied for the $10,000 and could have received it. It did not matter if they made half a million dollars a year or $100,000 a year, they would still be eligible. I have had concerns expressed by people, long term Northerners, who need assistance in repairing their houses and are not able to and apparently there are no means of doing this. What I would like to ask the Minister is, are there any programs in Yellowknife for repairing homes? Thank you.

Question 204-13(7): Home Repair Programs
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 587

The Speaker

Thank you. The Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation, Mr. Roland.

Return To Question 204-13(7): Home Repair Programs
Question 204-13(7): Home Repair Programs
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 587

Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the MDAPP program was designed and one of the features of it was to try and have people who work in the North but live out of the North, to attract them to buy homes and move to the Northwest Territories. That was one of the features of it and there are programs available to residents of the Northwest Territories for repair of their homes. There are programs for seniors, programs for individuals who have their own homes here in the Northwest Territories, but they would have to meet different criteria for different programs that are out there. If the Member would share some of the specific concerns with him, I would gladly look at those for him. Thank you.

Return To Question 204-13(7): Home Repair Programs
Question 204-13(7): Home Repair Programs
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 587

The Speaker

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Erasmus.

Supplementary To Question 204-13(7): Home Repair Programs
Question 204-13(7): Home Repair Programs
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 587

Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister had indicated that there are indeed programs for repairs in the Northwest Territories. Could the Minister indicate if the budget for those repair programs comes anywhere near the $4 million that has apparently already been spent for this MDAPP? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 204-13(7): Home Repair Programs
Question 204-13(7): Home Repair Programs
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 587

The Speaker

Thank you. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 204-13(7): Home Repair Programs
Question 204-13(7): Home Repair Programs
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 587

Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There are a number of programs. For example, under EDAP, which is again another one to help northern residents purchase their own homes, there is significant amount of funding in that particular program. If the Member is speaking of seniors' repair programs, that program is a grant to seniors who own their own homes in the Northwest Territories and that is capped at $15,000 per household. There are a number of different areas that residents can access. If it is an improvement program, there are funds available, but I need to know some specifics to give the Member the right information as to the funding allocations for each program. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Further Return To Question 204-13(7): Home Repair Programs
Question 204-13(7): Home Repair Programs
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 587

The Speaker

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Erasmus.

Supplementary To Question 204-13(7): Home Repair Programs
Question 204-13(7): Home Repair Programs
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 587

Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If I recall correctly, all the repair programs put together in the Northwest Territories would be less than $1 million and they all also have means tests, so, that if you make over a certain amount of money you are not eligible for that repair program. Yet, we have been passing out $10,000 bills to anybody who asks for it to help them purchase a home and we did not care how much money they made. I would like to ask the Minister if he would consider initiating a repair program for long-term Northerners and with, at least, a $4 million budget and how soon he could do that? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 204-13(7): Home Repair Programs
Question 204-13(7): Home Repair Programs
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 587

The Speaker

Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 204-13(7): Home Repair Programs
Question 204-13(7): Home Repair Programs
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 587

Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As we are aware, Members of this House just the other day, passed a motion for us to find funding for education and we are not sure where we are going to find that, if we are going to have to search from within other departments to come up with that as one Member suggested. That $4 million that was put into the MDAPP program was one-time monies that was out of a surplus that we had as a government in the previous year. As we know, this year we are eating up the rest of that surplus to continue with a balanced book at the end of this term. For more money to go into other programs it would be difficult. The programs we have existing, have existing funding put into it on a yearly basis. This program is going to be ending at the end of June. If this House feels that it should end sooner, I would gladly look at that request as well. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 204-13(7): Home Repair Programs
Question 204-13(7): Home Repair Programs
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 587

The Speaker

Oral questions. Mr. Ootes.

Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question will be for Mr. Kakfwi and it is in regard to the value-added industry in the diamond business. We were successful in getting the valuation plant for BHP established here in the North and, following that, we have been able to get the cutting plant established with a number of employees and all that is in the process of happening. Naturally, it is of interest for us to ensure that we pursue this whole area because it can lead to numerous jobs for Northerners. Could the Minister tell me how many applications have been approved by this government for assistance to establish cutting plants? Thank you.

The Speaker

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

Return To Question 205-13(7): Value-added Diamond Industry
Question 205-13(7): Value-added Diamond Industry
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 588

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This government has approved two proposals for assistance. Thank you.

Return To Question 205-13(7): Value-added Diamond Industry
Question 205-13(7): Value-added Diamond Industry
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 588

The Speaker

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Ootes.

Supplementary To Question 205-13(7): Value-added Diamond Industry
Question 205-13(7): Value-added Diamond Industry
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 588

Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Could the Minister tell us if the Department of Northern Affairs, Ms. Jane Stewart, the Minister, does that particular department provide any kind of funding or economic support for these value-added industries? Thank you.