Debates of Nov. 6th, 2001

This is page numbers 659 - 727 of the Hansard for the 14th Assembly, 4th 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
Amendments To Highway Investment Strategy
The Proposed Human Rights Act
The Highway Troll Fairy Tale
Hay River Family Support Centre
Support For The Oil And Gas Industry
Support For Wildlife Harvesters
Highway Investment Issues
Plans To Return Home To The Inuvik Boot Lake Constituency
St. John Ambulance Investiture Ceremonies
Gwich'in Tribal Council Meetings In Ottawa
Human Organ And Tissue Donor Program
Highway Taxation Limitations
Clawback Of The Federal Child Benefit Supplement
Deh Cho First Nations Leadership Meeting
Acknowledgement Of Canadian Rangers And Junior Rangers
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Costs Of Community Harvests
Redesign Of The Highway Investment Strategy
GNWT Contracting Policies
Oil And Gas Training In The South Mackenzie
Organ Donor Identification
Family Support Centre Funding
Examination Of The Highway Investment Strategy
Status Of Forest Resources Inventory
Protecting The Safety Of Highway Users
GNWT Contract Budgeting Process
Rental Accommodation For Income Support Clients
Organ Donor Identification
Community-based Resource Development Funding
Approach For Investing In Highways
Written Question 9-14(4): Workers' Compensation Board Fiscal Policies
Item 11: Reports Of Standing And Special Committees
Tabled Document 73-14(4): Northwest Territories Emergency Plan
Tabled Document 74-14(4): Investing In The Future Of Northerners, Northwest Territories Development Corporation 2000-2001 Annual Report
Tabled Document 75-14(4): Interim Manufacturing Directive
Tabled Document 76-14(4): Evolving Education For An Evolving North: Aurora College Annual Report, 2000-2001
Tabled Document 77-14(4): Letters Of Support For The Premier And Staff
Tabled Document 78-14(4): Comments By Sheila Macpherson, Solicitor For Premier Kakfwi, Regarding The Report Of The Special Committee On Conflict Process
Tabled Document 79-14(4): Northwest Territories Power Corporation Annual Report 2000-2001
Appointment To The Standing Committee On Accountability And Oversight And The Board Of Management
Setting Of Sitting Hours By The Speaker
Appointment To The Standing Committee On Accountability And Oversight And The Board Of Management (carried)
Setting Of Sitting Hours By The Speaker (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
To Adopt Tabled Document 42-14(4)
To Institute A Supplementary Pension Plan (carried)
To Repeal Section 32 Of The Elections Act (carried)
That Elections NWT Develop A Permanent List Of Electors (carried)
That Elections NWT Develop An Automated Enumeration Data Entry And Retrieval System (carried)
To Amend The Elections Act To Reduce The Nomination Period To Five Days (carried)
To Amend The Elections Act Respecting Candidates Withdrawing Their Nomination (carried)
To Amend The Elections Act To Repeal Revision Day And Substitute Revision Period (carried)
To Amend The Elections Act To Eliminate Photo Placards (carried)
To Amend The Elections Act To Provide Write-in Ballots For Voting By Mail (carried)
To Amend The Elections Act Respecting Advance Polls (carried)
To Amend The Elections Act To Eliminate Proxy Voting (carried)
To Amend The Elections Act To Permit Returning Officers To Vote (carried)
To Amend The Elections Act To Establish Special Mobile Voting Stations (carried)
To Amend The Elections Act Respecting Refund Of Candidates' Deposit (carried)
To Amend The Elections Act To Provide For A 28 Day Electoral Event (carried)
To Adopt The General And Technical Recommendations In Cr 7-14(4), Pp 10-11 (carried)
To Amend The Elections Act To Provide For The Appointment Of A Deputy Chief Electoral Officer (carried)
To Amend The Elections Act Respecting Returning Officer Appointment Expiration (carried)
That The Chief Electoral Officer May Re-appoint A Returning Officer (carried)
That The Preliminary List Of Electors No Longer Be Posted (carried)
That Special Ballots Be Available (carried)
That Candidate Returns Be Available For Public Inspection (carried)
That An Elector May Decline To Vote (carried)
That An Elector Must Swear Or Affirm Eligibility To Vote (carried)
That An Elector May Vote In Polling Division Where Resident (carried)
To Repeal Section 51(3)(a) Of The Elections Act (carried)
That The Poll Clerk Shall Witness Deputy Returning Officer Providing Assistance (carried)
That Mail-in Ballots Be Changed To Special Ballots (carried)
That Incarcerated Electors Vote By Special Ballot (carried)
Eligibility Of Electors In A By-election (carried)
To Amend The Rules Of The Legislative Assembly To Add Rule 27(3) (carried)
To Amend Rule 85 (2)(c) Of The Rules Of The Legislative Assembly (carried)
Item 20: Report Of The Committee Of The Whole
To Amend Rule 85(2)(c) Of The Rules Of The Legislative Assembly
To Amend The Rules Of The Legislative Assembly
To Amend Rule 85(2)(c) Of The Rules Of The Legislative Assembly (carried)
To Amend The Rules Of The Legislative Assembly (carried)
Bill 8: An Act To Amend The Motor Vehicles Act
Bill 14: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 2, 2001-2002
Assent To Bills

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Leon Lafferty North Slave

Thank you. Would any of these contracts within that $834,000 meet a competitor's bid if they were to come back to us and challenge it? Thank you.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Mr. Handley.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Joe Handley

Joe Handley Weledeh

Mr. Chairman, if the question is whether the various contractors who experienced higher costs, whether their bid now with this adjustment would have been higher than the next bidder, I do not know. I would guess that because this was by tender, because all the bidders would have faced these same cost overruns, then it would not have made any difference. The lowest bidder is probably still the lowest one because I am assuming that the second lowest one would have had these same cost overruns. Thank you.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Mr. Lafferty.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Leon Lafferty North Slave

Thank you. Would the Minister and his department be able to share the information with us of the bidders, how low they were or how high they were, if they meet or whatever?

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Mr. Handley.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Joe Handley

Joe Handley Weledeh

Mr. Chairman, just a correction. These are not cost overruns right now. The project is not that far along. So these are the amounts that the bids came in over the estimates. In that sense, to answer your question, the lowest ones are still the lowest because this applies to everyone. I would be happy to give the Members the same breakout that I just referred to here.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 700

The Chair

The Chair Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Mr. Lafferty.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Leon Lafferty North Slave

Thank you. Can the Minister tell me which department did the estimates?

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 700

The Chair

The Chair Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Mr. Handley.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 700

Joe Handley

Joe Handley Weledeh

Mr. Chairman, this project is managed by the Department of Justice through community justice and corrections. They would have done this in consultation with the department of Public Works and Services.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 700

The Chair

The Chair Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Mr. Lafferty.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Leon Lafferty North Slave

Which department's responsibility is it for the estimates? Thank you.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 700

The Chair

The Chair Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Mr. Handley.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 700

Joe Handley

Joe Handley Weledeh

Mr. Chairman, basically when it comes to architectural or engineering expertise, that resides in the department of Public Works and Services. Public Works and Services works closely with each of the client departments who are responsible for managing the projects. This has to be a joint one between the two.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Mr. Lafferty.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Leon Lafferty North Slave

Thank you very much. Is it common for estimates to be that much out of whack when the project is only $6 million? Thank you.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Mr. Handley.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 700

Joe Handley

Joe Handley Weledeh

Mr. Chairman, typically we would not have this high of an increase. This is a project that was originally estimated at $5.4 million and to have an $834,000 increase is not usual. However, we are not dealing in usual times. We do have a very much heated up economy, particularly in Inuvik. So the bidders are putting in higher bids because they are busier. Their cost of doing business is higher so this is a bit unusual. Thank you.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Mr. Lafferty.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Leon Lafferty North Slave

Thank you. Would the high cost be due to southern companies bidding on these contracts and the high overhead costs?

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Mr. Handley.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 700

Joe Handley

Joe Handley Weledeh

Mr. Chairman, I do not think that it is due to southern companies having higher overhead costs. I think that it is due to everyone who has bid on this bidding higher than what was estimated. Everyone is suffering the same situation of an overheated economy, high demands for skilled workers and so on. Thank you.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Mr. Nitah.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Steven Nitah Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the Department of Public Works and Services and crossover seem to be synonymous. I do have a question related to this one though. The $834,000 that has been requested here, $234,000 is reprofiling. Is it a common practice to take reprofiling and departmental dollars through supplementary appropriation? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.