This is page numbers 1265 - 1329 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.

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 1293

The Chair

The Chair Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Vician. Mr. Krutko.

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

February 27th, 2001

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David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Does the deputy minister have any idea how many positions have been filled using the process of contracting out to fill those positions instead of having them filled in-house?

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 1293

The Chair

The Chair Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Mr. Vician.

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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Vician

Mr. Chairman, I am aware that over a period of time, we have procured contract services to do work that normally would be done by own forces. I do not have specifics, but when needed, if a snowplowing operation is necessary over a period of time and we do not have the resources to do that, we would procure that service. It really depends on the nature of the work, the location of the work and the time of the work. However, over a period of time, I do not have those statistics. 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 1293

The Chair

The Chair Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Vician. Mr. Krutko.

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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David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Does the deputy minister have any idea of the percentage that is used in that format? Are we talking 20 percent of vacancies that are filled in that manner? Ten percent? Do you have a general idea of what the percentage of using that method of filling positions is, where we are using outside sources to do the job when we are not able to fill it within?

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 1293

The Chair

The Chair Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Mr. Vician.

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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Vician

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would speculate the percentage is quite low, that in most cases of the vacancy rate the department experiences, we do not fill the majority with contract services. The majority are filled with either a backfill or we remain vacant for a period of time for the process of staffing and refilling the position. 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 1294

The Chair

The Chair Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Vician. Page 10-9, corporate services, budget summary, operations expense, total operations expense, $7,560,000.

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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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

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

On to page 10-11, airports, budget summary, operations expense, total operations expense, $19,217,000.

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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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

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

Page 10-13, airports, grants and contributions, information item. Onto 10-15, highways. Mr. Krutko.

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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David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

I am just going to go back to airports.

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

Mr. Krutko wants to go back to 10-11. Does the committee agree? Page 10-11, Mr. Krutko.

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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David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Regarding airports, one of the big concerns I have, especially with Transport Canada, is improving our fire protection programs at most airports that we have shut down. One was Norman Wells and Yellowknife. Now they are being reinstated in places like Iqaluit. Are we going to reinstate the fire protection system so that we do have firefighting capabilities at all our major airports, Inuvik, Norman Wells, Hay River, Yellowknife? Is that something the department is working in with regard to Transport Canada's regulations or guidelines? Are you considering reinstating the fire protection for these different airports?

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. Krutko. Mr. Steen.

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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Vince Steen

Vince Steen Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I believe we touched on this subject a little yesterday. The deputy minister was responding to a question from another Member on this particular subject, so I will ask Mr. Vician to respond.

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. Steen. Mr. Vician.

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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Vician

Mr. Chairman, as I believe I stated yesterday, the subject of airport emergency response services is one of particular concern for the department. The Minister of Transport Canada has brought forward first a regulatory amendment to the airport regulations. That amendment came to a Gazette reading, at which point the Government of the Northwest Territories responded. Since that time, it has been indicated to us by Transport Canada that the second stage of the regulation, Gazette Two, would be brought forward in the near future. Those regulations would require the reinstatement of some level of airport firefighting at particular airports, depending on the level of service and aircraft movement at those airports.

The department expects once these new regulations come into force -- not having seen them yet -- that five airports will be affected in the Northwest Territories; Fort Smith, Norman Wells, Fort Simpson, Inuvik and Hay River. Those requirements would require reinstatement of airport firefighting services.

I would want to state though that the responsibility for airport firefighting responsibilities prior to 1995 was with the Government of Canada, Transport Canada. It was their decision to remove and shut down those airport fire services at those airports. It was not the Government of the Northwest Territories. When the transfer occurred, the Government of the Northwest Territories did not have airport firefighting at those sites. 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 1294

The Chair

The Chair Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Vician. Mr. Krutko.

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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David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Does the Minister or deputy minister have any idea what the cost is going to be to reinstate these at all of these different airports you mentioned?

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 1294

The Chair

The Chair Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Mr. Vician.

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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Vician

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I believe, as I stated yesterday, we are anticipating a one-time capital expenditure of $2 million, plus ongoing annual O and M costs at those airports of $425,000. 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 1294

The Chair

The Chair Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Vician. Mr. Krutko.