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

Page 696

The Chair

The Chair Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Mr. Roland.

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 696

Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I still did not have any numbers. It is rather vague here. Do you have some numbers that you can present to the committee as to what the department would have based its estimates on at that time, coming forward to the main estimates and the increases, the actual increases from that point that would justify this increase? In fact, for all the other departments as well? 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 697

The Chair

The Chair Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Mr. Voytilla.

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 697

Voytilla

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just for some clarity, the information we have on the Housing Corporation with respect to their additional needs for this year are the rate increases plus some updated consumption amounts based on the audited financial statements of the local housing organizations, because they give the contributions out to all the local housing organizations to pay the actual utility increases.

I would certainly note that we could provide the Member with the detail that he is requesting. We do not have it here today. It would be quite extensive, but we could certainly go through and show the detailed calculations by local housing authority that was done that underpins the budget 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 697

The Chair

The Chair Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Voytilla. Mr. Roland.

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 697

Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I fear that I could be drowned by paper here if I accept that offer. I am just interested in the actual amount that they would have based their fuel cost estimates on as part of their budget process. I am interested in what the fuel rates would have been then and what they actually are at the point of requesting this funding. That kind of information was what I am requesting. I do not need anymore of this 1996 stuff and stuff that is over a year old. 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 697

The Chair

The Chair Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Roland. 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 697

Joe Handley

Joe Handley Weledeh

I will refer this to Mr. Voytilla, Mr. Chairman.

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 697

The Chair

The Chair Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Mr. Voytilla.

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 697

Voytilla

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The base that the Housing Corporation would have worked on when they made their first adjustment to their utility budgets, the $967,000 that was in the main estimates for fuel price increases, would have been just shy of $7 million. With the increase they got in the main estimates, their utility base was $7.9 million. With this $1.3 million increase now, that raises their requirements up to $9,200,000. Our understanding is that what is incorporated in the main estimates are the rates that were implemented in September and January, so it should have been the POL rate increases. Most of the $1.3 million, one million dollars of that is electrical requirements that has to do with the interim rate approval that was approved in April. The other $300,000 is related to fuel, is related to updated consumption numbers by the local housing authorities. That helps. That is the basis and we can certainly try to get more of the specific numbers out of the Housing Corporation, if that would help.

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 697

The Chair

The Chair Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Voytilla. Mr. Roland.

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 697

Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and that information is helpful to a certain degree but hopefully, as the information that the Minister will provide will be, for example, what was the cost per litre of home heating oil at the time they put the main estimates in and what is the cost per litre of home heating oil when you have come forward requesting this increase. We can do that with power as well, although the information on power is a little more accurate. It is on the home heating side and again, my questions, Mr. Chairman, are driven by the fact that the same wording is used again in this department: to provide funding for forced growth in expenditures resulting from significant increases to the cost of heating fuel and power in the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

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 697

The Chair

The Chair Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Roland. 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 697

Joe Handley

Joe Handley Weledeh

Mr. Chairman, certainly the Member has made the point with regard to the wording in here. We will clarify it next time we have this kind of situation. We will provide the information. We will do it by housing association, which will be by community. We will try to keep it as concise as possible but it is going to be different for each housing association. 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 697

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

Page 697

Steven Nitah Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. In that particular area, if the information that is going to be provided to Mr. Roland could be provided to me as well, that would be appreciated. I would also request the cost of delivery of the fuel products to communities and the prices that are charged to consumers in those communities.

The one question I have for the Minister is does the government, through the petroleum products division or through Public Works, do they buy fuel in bulk? If so, do they buy it for a period of time that covers two, three or four years at a time? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

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 697

The Chair

The Chair Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Nitah. 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 697

Joe Handley

Joe Handley Weledeh

Mr. Chairman, yes, through the petroleum products division, the government does buy fuel in bulk. It does buy it for a period of time. I am not too sure how many years it is for but the price varies from year to year. It is set, as I said before, at a rack price at the time that it is loaded. The prices can vary from one year to another. 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 697

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

November 6th, 2001

Page 697

Steven Nitah Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. That is very similar to locking in a good interest rate or edging gold, for example. When was the last time that the petroleum products division bought their bulk fuel? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

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 697

The Chair

The Chair Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Nitah. 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 697

Joe Handley

Joe Handley Weledeh

Mr. Chairman, I believe the last time PPD would have bought fuel would have been during the summer for the barging season. I am not sure of the exact month but it would have been during the summer months and they would have paid the rack price at that time.

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 697

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

Page 697

Steven Nitah Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. This past summer was the last bulk fuel purchase? How long is that for, three years or four years? Why was the fuel purchased this summer when the prices were the highest? Did we run out of the three-year or four-year term that we buy the bulk fuel for? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

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 698

The Chair

The Chair Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Nitah. Mr. Handley.