Debates of July 5th, 2000

This is page numbers 467 - 532 of the Hansard for the 14th Assembly, 3rd 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

Members Present
Item 1: Prayer
Review Of Child Welfare Services By The Child Welfare League Of Canada
Canada Day Celebrations
Incentive Policies For The Northern Business Community
Mackenzie Youth Summer Games
Proposed Hotel Tax
Manufacturing In The North
Recognition Of Yellowknife Participants In The Calgary Marathon
Accountability Of Cabinet Ministers
Northern Manufacturing
Tribute To Mary Beth Miller
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Alleged Contraventions Of The Financial Administration Act
Land Claims And Self-government Negotiations
Projected Hotel Tax Revenue
Using NWT Suppliers And Manufacturers
Diamond Training Success Rates
Policy To Assist Northern Manufacturers
Proposed Hotel Tax Administration
Basic Education Services For Adults
Support For Northern Manufacturers
Proposed Hotel Tax Projections
Impact Of Free Trade On Procurement Policies
Student Financial Assistance Loans
Profiling Revenues From The Proposed Hotel Tax
Premium Paid Due To Manufacturing Incentive Policies
Written Question 5-14(3): Support For Northern Manufacturers In Interjurisdictional Ventures
Written Question 6-14(3): Information Regarding Douglas Anderson
Written Question 7-14(3): Palliative Care
Written Question 8-14(3): Fibreglass Water And Sewer Tanks
Tabled Document 26-14(3): GNWT Business Plans 2000-2003
Tabled Document 27-14(3): GNWT Results Report 1998-99
Tabled Document 28-14(3): It Takes A Community: A Report To The Northwest Territories Department Of Health And Social Services On Child Welfare Services In The Northwest Territories
Tabled Document 29-14(3): Summary Of Indemnities And Expenses For Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2000 For Members Of 13th Assembly
Tabled Document 30-14(3): Annual Report Of Members' Indemnities And Expenses For Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2000 For Members Of 14th Assembly
Tabled Document 31-14(3): Declarations Made By Members Setting Out Their Place Of Residence
Tabled Document 32-14(3): Modernizing Our Electoral System: Report Of The Chief Electoral Officer Of The Northwest Territories
Development Of A Comprehensive Literacy Strategy
Extended Adjournment
Bill 10-14(3): An Act To Amend The Adoption Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
General
Expenditure Reductions; Highway Strategy And Federal Funding
Winter Roads, Community Access Roads And Ferries
Public Safety
Recommendation That The GNWT Not Make Any Further Reductions In Funding To The Northwest Territories Transportation System (carried)
Committee Motion 20-14(3) Recommendation For Continued Cooperation With Other Jurisdictions Regarding The Provision Of Any Restored Public Housing Funding (carried)
Committee Motion 21-14(3) Recommendation For Continued Lobby Efforts To Access Aboriginal Housing Funding
Recommendation To Form An Interdepartmental Working Group To Study Processes For Streamlining And Integrating Services Offered To Seniors (carried)
Recommendation That New Business Plan Strategies Or Policies Be Provided In Advance To Committees (carried)
Co-ordination Of Negotiations
Negotiating Tables
Budget
Recommendation That Aboriginal Affairs Press For Negotiations To Take Place In The North (carried)
Item 20: Report Of Committee Of The Whole
Item 22: Orders Of The Day

Committee Motion 21-14(3) Recommendation For Continued Lobby Efforts To Access Aboriginal Housing Funding
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 528

The Chair Leon Lafferty

Thank you. Mr. Krutko.

Committee Motion 21-14(3) Recommendation For Continued Lobby Efforts To Access Aboriginal Housing Funding
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 528

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Do you have an actual cash breakdown of the amounts that were spent in the different areas for this project?

Committee Motion 21-14(3) Recommendation For Continued Lobby Efforts To Access Aboriginal Housing Funding
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 528

The Chair Leon Lafferty

Thank you. Mr. Anderson.

Committee Motion 21-14(3) Recommendation For Continued Lobby Efforts To Access Aboriginal Housing Funding
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 528

Anderson

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yes, the Corporation went as far as getting a third party to evaluate the results of the program and, I believe, that was provided to the Members about six months ago. Thank you.

Committee Motion 21-14(3) Recommendation For Continued Lobby Efforts To Access Aboriginal Housing Funding
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 528

The Chair Leon Lafferty

Thank you. Mr. Krutko.

Committee Motion 21-14(3) Recommendation For Continued Lobby Efforts To Access Aboriginal Housing Funding
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 528

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The reason I ask is that it was great for the real estate companies, but it was not great for the smaller communities. The smaller communities, where your income is a lot lower and you do not have the accessibility to banks or financial institutions or real estate companies that you do not get the same benefit or the same service that was provided at the larger centres.

So I think that, in regard to the evaluation of this program, I, personally, did not agree with it because I felt that it would have been misused. Also, it was a benefit to the larger centres, like you mentioned, but it did not benefit the smaller communities in any way, shape or form. So that is why I have a problem.

Can you clarify the area point that you made where you transferred money back to the Government of the Northwest Territories, where they gave you $3.6 million? Can you clarify exactly what you mean by that?

Committee Motion 21-14(3) Recommendation For Continued Lobby Efforts To Access Aboriginal Housing Funding
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 528

The Chair Leon Lafferty

Mr. Anderson.

Committee Motion 21-14(3) Recommendation For Continued Lobby Efforts To Access Aboriginal Housing Funding
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 528

Anderson

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Housing Corporation was in a position where we were generating operations and maintenance surpluses that were accumulating over several years. What we did was paid that surplus back to the Government of the NWT and then they provided us with $3.6 million of it back through our capital program delivery. Thank you.

Committee Motion 21-14(3) Recommendation For Continued Lobby Efforts To Access Aboriginal Housing Funding
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 528

The Chair Leon Lafferty

Thank you. Mr. Krutko.

Committee Motion 21-14(3) Recommendation For Continued Lobby Efforts To Access Aboriginal Housing Funding
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 528

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Sounds like a heck of a good deal. You get a surplus, and then they take it back and they give you a bonus.

-- Laughter

Committee Motion 21-14(3) Recommendation For Continued Lobby Efforts To Access Aboriginal Housing Funding
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 528

The Chair Leon Lafferty

I will call the detail again. The department summary, operations expense, total operations expense, $43,371,000.

Committee Motion 21-14(3) Recommendation For Continued Lobby Efforts To Access Aboriginal Housing Funding
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 528

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

Committee Motion 21-14(3) Recommendation For Continued Lobby Efforts To Access Aboriginal Housing Funding
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 528

The Chair Leon Lafferty

Northwest Territories Housing Corporation is now concluded. Is everyone agreed?

Committee Motion 21-14(3) Recommendation For Continued Lobby Efforts To Access Aboriginal Housing Funding
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 528

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

Committee Motion 21-14(3) Recommendation For Continued Lobby Efforts To Access Aboriginal Housing Funding
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 528

The Chair Leon Lafferty

Mr. Dent.

Committee Motion 21-14(3) Recommendation For Continued Lobby Efforts To Access Aboriginal Housing Funding
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 528

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Frame Lake

Mr. Chairman, this is to do with all of the committees in the social envelope. The Standing Committee on Social Programs would like to propose a couple of other motions. Mr. Chairman,

Committee Motion 22-14(3): Recommendation To Form An Interdepartmental Working Group To Study Processes For Streamlining And Integrating Services Offered To Seniors (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 528

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Frame Lake

I MOVE that this committee recommends that the departments in the Social Envelope form an interdepartmental working group, under the leadership of the Minister responsible for Seniors.

AND FURTHER, that this working group should conduct a study and provide recommendations on how the Government of the NWT can better streamline and integrate the services that are offered to seniors.

AND FURTHERMORE, that the Minister report on the findings and recommendations of this interdepartmental working group to the Standing Committee on Social Programs within one calendar year.

Committee Motion 22-14(3): Recommendation To Form An Interdepartmental Working Group To Study Processes For Streamlining And Integrating Services Offered To Seniors (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 528

The Chair Leon Lafferty

The motion is in order. To the motion. Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

Thank you, Mr. Dent.

Committee Motion 23-14(3): Recommendation That New Business Plan Strategies Or Policies Be Provided In Advance To Committees (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 528

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The second motion for the committee is;

I MOVE that this committee recommends that when a department of corporation plans to use a new strategy or policy, they have developed in formulating a business plan, that the strategy or policy should be provided to the committee in advance of the budget review.

AND FURTHER, that the standing committee be given every opportunity to comment on new strategies and initiatives, prior to their use as a basis for setting government policy. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Committee Motion 23-14(3): Recommendation That New Business Plan Strategies Or Policies Be Provided In Advance To Committees (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 528

The Chair Leon Lafferty

The motion is in order. To the motion. Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

I would like to thank the Minister and his staff. What is the wish of the committee, Mr. Dent?

Committee Motion 23-14(3): Recommendation That New Business Plan Strategies Or Policies Be Provided In Advance To Committees (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 528

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Frame Lake

Mr. Chairman, I would like to recommend that committee consideration of Bill 1, and Committee Reports 1, 2, and 3, specifically now to consider the budget for the Department of Aboriginal Affairs.

Committee Motion 23-14(3): Recommendation That New Business Plan Strategies Or Policies Be Provided In Advance To Committees (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 528

The Chair Leon Lafferty

Thank you. I would now, before we continue, I would like to recognize Joy Stewart and Rich Groenewegen in the visitors' gallery.

-- Applause

We will now proceed with Aboriginal Affairs. Do you wish to make any comments, Minister Jim Antoine?

Committee Motion 23-14(3): Recommendation That New Business Plan Strategies Or Policies Be Provided In Advance To Committees (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 529

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Chairman, thank you for the opportunity to present today the Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs' 2000-2001 main estimates for the committee's consideration.

The proposed budget is derived from the ministry's business plan which has been developed based on the government and the ministry's goals, strategies and expected outcomes.

Mr. Chairman, completing lands, resources and self-government agreements is critical to achieving this government's vision, priorities and goals as set out in Towards a Better Tomorrow. Final agreements from these negotiations will result in a stable economic and political environment and vibrant and stable economic conditions will attract more economic investments. More importantly, it will result in aboriginal people having greater self-determination over their social, cultural and political destiny. These agreements will also create effective partnerships with aboriginal governments. Mr. Chairman, negotiating lands, resources and self-government agreements demand a full commitment from the GNWT in order for this government to achieve its goals.

This ministry's 2000-2001 proposed budget is $4,732,000 in salaries and other operations and maintenance and $75,000 in capital. The total number of active positions is 34, an increase of six positions over the 1999-2000 main estimates.

The 2000-2001 operations and maintenance budget of $4,732,000 is broken down as follows:

  • • $3,112,000 for compensation and benefits
  • • $360,000 for grants and contributions
  • • $1,215,000 for other expenses, and
  • • $45,000 for amortization expense.

In addition to the operations and maintenance budget, the ministry has identified $75,000 in capital for office renovations to accommodate additional positions. The ministry does not collect any revenue.

The ministry also receives $375,000 in vote 4/5 from the federal government to implement GNWT obligations created by the Inuvialuit, Gwich'in and Sahtu land claims and $384,000 from interchange agreements. With the implementation funds, the ministry employs three full-time positions.

Mr. Chairman, this concludes my opening remarks. Mahsi cho.

Committee Motion 23-14(3): Recommendation That New Business Plan Strategies Or Policies Be Provided In Advance To Committees (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 529

The Chair Leon Lafferty

Thank you, Mr. Antoine. Mr. Roland.

Committee Motion 23-14(3): Recommendation That New Business Plan Strategies Or Policies Be Provided In Advance To Committees (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 529

Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The committee's report on the Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs, in the general areas:

The Establishment Policy of the ministry states, "The mandate of the Minister and Ministry is to protect, develop and promote the interests of the territorial government and the residents of the Northwest Territories in the negotiation and implementation of land claims, self-government and treaty entitlement agreements; in the political and constitutional development of the western Northwest Territories; and develop and maintain mutually beneficial working relations with the Aboriginal leadership."

The Standing Committee on Governance and Economic Development met with the Minister and ministry to review the 2000-2003 business plans and the 2000-2001 main estimates on Tuesday, May 30th, 2000. The committee noted a $1,034,000 or 28 percent increase in total operations or operations and maintenance expenditures between their 1999-2000 main estimates and the 2000-2001 draft main estimates. Committee members also noted a significant increase of six positions, and an overall increase of 21 percent from the 1999-2000 main estimates.