This is page numbers 19 - 39 of the Hansard for the 13th Assembly, 8th 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 nurses.

Return To Question 16-13(8): Recruitment Of A Territorial Librarian
Question 16-13(8): Recruitment Of A Territorial Librarian
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 29

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In public and for the record, I would like to note and confirm a number of things. First, that the issue of libraries is a very important one and how they function and a subject especially dear to my heart. I would be happy to confirm unequivocally to the Member from Hay River that as far as I am aware, there are no ulterior motives, there is nobody with their eye on that position. As Minister, I can say that position will be restaffed in Yellowknife, or ... a terrible Freudian slip, Mr. Speaker, I hope I am not struck down from lightening from my riding. Unequivocally, the position will remain where it is in Hay River. It is unfortunate that it is going to become vacant, but it will be staffed in the community in which it now exists. The

headquarters for the library is there and will remain there. Thank you.

Return To Question 16-13(8): Recruitment Of A Territorial Librarian
Question 16-13(8): Recruitment Of A Territorial Librarian
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 30

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Oral questions. Mr. Ootes.

Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Finance regarding our budget this year. Earlier this year, the Minister spoke about the difficulty that we may face with this year's budget, that there could be a potential shortfall and that we might have a deficit. I do not know whether that is correct, but I believe that is correct. Certainly next year we will have problems. It is my understanding that the Minister may have asked departments to economize wherever they can and to seek possible money so that we do not get a deficit. I wonder if the Minister could explain a bit more about his program in that area? Thank you.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

The Minister of Finance, Mr. Dent.

Return To Question 17-13(8): Projected Budget Shortfall Update
Question 17-13(8): Projected Budget Shortfall Update
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 30

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As Members will remember, in the budget this year, we had presented a $34 million deficit. Our expenditures this year are $34 million more than what we are bringing in. I have made no secret of this fact and mentioned it in the budget speech in April. We project that deficit amount and if we are not vigilant, it will grow if we try to maintain the same level of services in future years, given what we see coming in for revenue. In presentations to the Chambers of Commerce, to the Dene chiefs and various organizations and groups across the Territories, this government has been quite open about the fact that we face a significant problem in terms of having adequate revenues to cover our expenditures. As part of the normal good business practice, all departments have been asked to look for areas where they might economize in order to reduce the need for future cuts when we may face an even more difficult challenge. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Return To Question 17-13(8): Projected Budget Shortfall Update
Question 17-13(8): Projected Budget Shortfall Update
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 30

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Ootes.

Supplementary To Question 17-13(8): Projected Budget Shortfall Update
Question 17-13(8): Projected Budget Shortfall Update
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 30

Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. What is the projection that the Minister foresees for this particular year? Is he still projecting a large deficit? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 17-13(8): Projected Budget Shortfall Update
Question 17-13(8): Projected Budget Shortfall Update
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 30

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 17-13(8): Projected Budget Shortfall Update
Question 17-13(8): Projected Budget Shortfall Update
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Mr. Speaker, we are still projecting a $34 million deficit. As I have stated, next year if expenditures or services were to be delivered in the same way, our expenditures would exceed our revenues by an estimated $60 million.

Further Return To Question 17-13(8): Projected Budget Shortfall Update
Question 17-13(8): Projected Budget Shortfall Update
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 30

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Ootes.

Supplementary To Question 17-13(8): Projected Budget Shortfall Update
Question 17-13(8): Projected Budget Shortfall Update
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 30

Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

The departments have been asked to look at possible areas where they can trim. Have they been given objectives as to how much they need to trim from their budgets this year?

Supplementary To Question 17-13(8): Projected Budget Shortfall Update
Question 17-13(8): Projected Budget Shortfall Update
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 30

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 17-13(8): Projected Budget Shortfall Update
Question 17-13(8): Projected Budget Shortfall Update
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. No. Departments were just asked to take a look at all planned expenditures and identify those could be avoided that would not impact on service or reduce the levels of service significantly.

Further Return To Question 17-13(8): Projected Budget Shortfall Update
Question 17-13(8): Projected Budget Shortfall Update
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 30

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Oral questions. Final supplementary, Mr. Ootes.

Supplementary To Question 17-13(8): Projected Budget Shortfall Update
Question 17-13(8): Projected Budget Shortfall Update
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Is there such a thing as re-profiling some of the savings into other areas, other programs, that we may not have approved within the budget? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 17-13(8): Projected Budget Shortfall Update
Question 17-13(8): Projected Budget Shortfall Update
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 30

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 17-13(8): Projected Budget Shortfall Update
Question 17-13(8): Projected Budget Shortfall Update
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 30

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, within each department, the Minister may move funds within certain limits from one program to another, if necessary, in order to undertake projects or initiatives. Any movement over $250,000 has to be reported to the Standing Committee on Government Operations. This report is provided to the committee on a quarterly basis.

Further Return To Question 17-13(8): Projected Budget Shortfall Update
Question 17-13(8): Projected Budget Shortfall Update
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 30

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Oral questions. Mr. Krutko.

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development. It is regarding the large fire that we had in the Mackenzie Delta region, the one around Tsiigehtchic. There was a lot of concerns raised by the community. We heard news reports and also trying to find a mechanism that we can work closer with communities and get them more involved in the day-to-day information that this government has, especially in relation to the forest fire management centre in Fort Smith, where they make a lot of the decisions in light of what community's concerns may be or concerns from the region and how fires should be fought. We have used the used the concern of the costs to this government as one of the main elements of not fighting the fires this summer. In the long run, we probably would have been better off if we had been more proactive and responded when we had the fire under control to a point where it became out of control and burned some 170,000 hectares. I would like to ask the Minister what is his department doing to

improve the consultation with communities, other departments, people in MACA, emergency measures, which were called in? We had to shut the Dempster Highway. I would like to ask the Minister exactly what has his department done to try to improve the situation we had in the Inuvik region regarding the Tsiigehtchic fire?

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

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

Return To Question 18-13(8): Mackenzie Delta Forest Fire Concerns
Question 18-13(8): Mackenzie Delta Forest Fire Concerns
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 31

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The department is prepared to review the work that was done in the Inuvik region regarding fires this summer, once we have wrapped up this fire season. We know that communication issues critical and a vital part of any strategy and there is always a need to improve that and to review. We will try to do that. We are prepared to discuss with the Gwich'in leadership ways to improve communication within the government itself, within the government's operations for fighting fires as well as with the public and the communities involved.

There is information that will be available that we would like to share as well, such as the chronology of events, the actions taken on the number of fires that were reported, the ones that were actioned, the ones that were not, the reasons why we took the action that we did, why we decided not to act in certain areas and the variables that changed and made the fire into one that was basically out of control in a very short time. There is information that we can share, as well, about the degree of the burn in the area, for instance, some of the areas may very well be reduced to charcoal and stumps, others will be just crown fire, others have probably already turned green again. We will prepare that information and share it with the Gwich'in leadership and the people of the area so that they have as much information as we have about the fire, how it started, its progression, the action we took, the nature of communications that were involved here, as well as the impact that it has had in the very, very large area that the fire consumed this summer. Thank you.

Return To Question 18-13(8): Mackenzie Delta Forest Fire Concerns
Question 18-13(8): Mackenzie Delta Forest Fire Concerns
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 31

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Supplementary To Question 18-13(8): Mackenzie Delta Forest Fire Concerns
Question 18-13(8): Mackenzie Delta Forest Fire Concerns
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 31

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. One of the areas of concern that the community raised with me, which I was not really aware of, there is presently a land use plan in place for the Gwich'in settlement region. It identifies areas that people would set as a priority-protected area or area that is sensitive and people want to ensure there are certain mechanisms in place. Under the fire zone concept that your department uses, I am not too sure if the department had an opportunity to look at the land use plan and try to find new ways of restructuring your fire zones to ensure that there are certain areas where there will be priorities put on fire retention and other areas there is not. Can your department also take into account new information that has come to light and review your fire zone priority areas for responding to fires?

Supplementary To Question 18-13(8): Mackenzie Delta Forest Fire Concerns
Question 18-13(8): Mackenzie Delta Forest Fire Concerns
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 31

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Kakfwi.

Further Return To Question 18-13(8): Mackenzie Delta Forest Fire Concerns
Question 18-13(8): Mackenzie Delta Forest Fire Concerns
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 31

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We will be accepting any new and relevant information in our meetings with the communities and the Gwich'in Tribal Council, Gwich'in leadership, when we start having these meetings. There will be a debriefing with the communities in the area that the fire had taken place. The two Gwich'in communities will have meetings set up so that the communities will be properly briefed. It will be done in consultation with yourself as an MLA, as well as the Gwich'in Tribal Council. Thank you.