This is page numbers 25 - 46 of the Hansard for the 14th Assembly, 2nd 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 services.

Topics

Further Return To Question 18-14(2): Student Advocate Proposal
Question 18-14(2): Student Advocate Proposal
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 36

Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I will answer, Mr. Speaker. We will definitely take that as a serious concern and we will follow through with it.

Further Return To Question 18-14(2): Student Advocate Proposal
Question 18-14(2): Student Advocate Proposal
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 36

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Ootes. Mr. Bell, second supplementary. Your question started off with, "we must assume". We cannot assume, we must be factual. Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 18-14(2): Student Advocate Proposal
Question 18-14(2): Student Advocate Proposal
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 36

Brendan Bell

Brendan Bell Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The question relates to timeframes. I am wondering if we can look at a student advocate in the next budget? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 18-14(2): Student Advocate Proposal
Question 18-14(2): Student Advocate Proposal
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 36

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Bell. The Minister responsible for the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Further Return To Question 18-14(2): Student Advocate Proposal
Question 18-14(2): Student Advocate Proposal
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 36

Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, the student issue is extremely critical and we all realize that. All of these types of suggestions are very important to us. Wherever we can, we will follow up and we will look at it before the next budget. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 18-14(2): Student Advocate Proposal
Question 18-14(2): Student Advocate Proposal
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 36

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Ootes. Item 6, oral questions. The Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee.

Sandy Lee

Sandy Lee Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister responsible for the Department of Transportation. Yesterday in my statement, I talked about the dangerous situations and hazards that the condition of Highway No. 3 poses to the travellers and the motor vehicle operators. I was wondering if the Minister could tell us what he knows about the accident I was referring to. Specifically, I would like to know the cause of the accident and the road conditions at that time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Ms. Lee. The Minister responsible for the Department of Transportation, the Honourable Vince Steen.

Return To Question 19-14(2): Accident On Highway No. 3
Question 19-14(2): Accident On Highway No. 3
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 36

Vince Steen

Vince Steen Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this question is quite specific and the response could be taken one way or the other. I will take the question as notice and respond to the Member in writing.

Return To Question 19-14(2): Accident On Highway No. 3
Question 19-14(2): Accident On Highway No. 3
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 36

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Steen. The question has been taken as notice. Item 6, oral questions. The Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, Mr. Roland.

Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as in my Member's statement, I will be continuing on from my questions yesterday on the budget process. The Minister responsible for the Department of Finance has given a speech today and remarked on a number of things that we have embarked on as Members of the 14th Assembly.

Specifically, in his statement, he talked about the second conclusion, that there are no short term fixes to most of the issues we face. The issues have been developed over a long period of time, so solving them, from what I read here, will take quite some time.

The other area he speaks of is one that we have to pay attention to because it relates directly to a concern that I have raised. It reads "otherwise we will end up tinkering around the edges of our economic and social issues, while they only get worse". I agree that if we do not look at the long term and take a serious inward look at how government carries on its programs and services, tinkering just will not do the job.

Hopefully the Minister can inform us in this House that the directions that are given to staff will not only ensure we do not hit our debt wall, but will ensure that some of the work that is going to be ongoing will in fact be taking a very serious look at how we deliver programs in the House. Is that the situation, Mr. Speaker?

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Roland. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Finance, Mr. Handley.

Return To Question 20-14(2): Solution To Financial Problems
Question 20-14(2): Solution To Financial Problems
Item 6: Oral Questions

February 22nd, 2000

Page 37

Joe Handley

Joe Handley Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I said yesterday, I can reassure you we will do everything in our power to make sure we do not hit that wall. We also have to look at the short term, and we are. If we are going to balance our budget, there are only two ways of doing it. Either we cut expenditures or we find new revenues. We are always open to finding new ways of cutting expenditures.

We are going through a process of reviewing our operations across the government. The departments are working on it. They are looking at everything from capital plans to procurement practices to the way we do business. They are asking is there any money we can save in our current operations? We are looking at the long term, in terms of how do we re-adjust ourselves as a government, what are some potentials for new revenues and what are some ways of doing business differently.

As I said earlier, we want to work in participation with other partners, and we certainly want to discuss a lot of this with the other stakeholders, particularly the aboriginal leaders, before we get into any detail on it. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Return To Question 20-14(2): Solution To Financial Problems
Question 20-14(2): Solution To Financial Problems
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 37

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Roland.

Supplementary To Question 20-14(2): Solution To Financial Problems
Question 20-14(2): Solution To Financial Problems
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 37

Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I must agree with the Minister that the details of this need to be worked out in partnership with other governments of the Northwest Territories. Will the Minister inform us, because he just talked about a balanced budget, is that the situation? Or are we looking at a combination of reducing expenditures and carrying some debt? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 20-14(2): Solution To Financial Problems
Question 20-14(2): Solution To Financial Problems
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 37

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Roland. The Minister responsible for the Department of Finance, Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 20-14(2): Solution To Financial Problems
Question 20-14(2): Solution To Financial Problems
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 37

Joe Handley

Joe Handley Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, we expect in this current year, 1999-2000, to have a deficit. I expect that in 2000-2001, we will likely look at another deficit. I do not think it is going to be possible in the short term to see a balanced budget in the next fiscal year. I think we can take some important steps to working towards a balanced budget in the longer term. I do not see how that would be possible right now. We will do everything we can to keep the deficit well under control and we will certainly try not to hit that wall. We have made that commitment. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 20-14(2): Solution To Financial Problems
Question 20-14(2): Solution To Financial Problems
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 37

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Handley. The Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, Mr. Roland.

Supplementary To Question 20-14(2): Solution To Financial Problems
Question 20-14(2): Solution To Financial Problems
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 37

Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there has been talk among employees and regions, that there is some downsizing exercises going on. Can the Minister inform us if that direction has been given, or is it still under development? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 20-14(2): Solution To Financial Problems
Question 20-14(2): Solution To Financial Problems
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 37

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Roland. The Minister responsible for the Department of Finance, Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 20-14(2): Solution To Financial Problems
Question 20-14(2): Solution To Financial Problems
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 37

Joe Handley

Joe Handley Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, we have a working group, set up by deputy ministers, that is looking at a number of issues. The exercise is ongoing and as I mentioned earlier, we are looking at our main cost drivers, at procurement practices, at the capital budget, at energy consumption and generally how we do business and what things are costing us money. That exercise is ongoing. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Further Return To Question 20-14(2): Solution To Financial Problems
Question 20-14(2): Solution To Financial Problems
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 37

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Final supplementary, Mr. Roland. Item 6, oral questions. The Chair recognizes the Member for Thebacha, Mr. Miltenberger.

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to direct my question to the Minister responsible for the Department of Health and Social Services. She sent me a note saying to ask more questions about things she can answer. I am not quite sure where to set the bar here, but I will try this one.

Under the scope of the Child and Family Services Review, specifically item seven, if she wants to flip open her briefing book, it is recommended that the Child Welfare League is supposed to recommend what needs to be done in what priority to ensure that the Child and Family Services Program is designed to meet the present and future needs of clients, staff and communities.

These folks are going to be here for possibly six weeks. Can the Minister indicate whether she seriously believes that they are going to be able to answer a question that this department, this government has not been able to answer for 25 years? Does she seriously believe they can answer adequately and finally in six weeks? Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. I wonder if that is a question or if that is seeking an opinion. I think you are asking more for an opinion. I wonder if the Member would phrase it in such a way that it is more of a direct question?

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will attempt to not ask an opinion from the Minister. Can the Minister tell me, will the contractor be able to do this work in such a short period of time, given the tremendous complexity of item seven alone, forgetting the other seven points listed here? Thank you.