Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Dent.
Debates of March 13th, 2002
This is page numbers 597 - 648 of the Hansard for the 14th Assembly, 5th 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
Return To Question 213-14(5): Diamonds Allocated To Northern Manufacturers
Question 213-14(5): Diamonds Allocated To Northern Manufacturers
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 613
Supplementary To Question 213-14(5): Diamonds Allocated To Northern Manufacturers
Question 213-14(5): Diamonds Allocated To Northern Manufacturers
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 614
Charles Dent Frame Lake
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, could the Minister give us an approximate percentage of the amount that was taken up by northern manufacturers?
Supplementary To Question 213-14(5): Diamonds Allocated To Northern Manufacturers
Question 213-14(5): Diamonds Allocated To Northern Manufacturers
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 614
The Speaker Tony Whitford
Thank you, Mr. Dent. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Antoine.
Further Return To Question 213-14(5): Diamonds Allocated To Northern Manufacturers
Question 213-14(5): Diamonds Allocated To Northern Manufacturers
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 614
Jim Antoine Nahendeh
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I do not have that number handy. I will get it for the Member as soon as I can. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 213-14(5): Diamonds Allocated To Northern Manufacturers
Question 213-14(5): Diamonds Allocated To Northern Manufacturers
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 614
Supplementary To Question 213-14(5): Diamonds Allocated To Northern Manufacturers
Question 213-14(5): Diamonds Allocated To Northern Manufacturers
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 614
Charles Dent Frame Lake
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, would the Minister advise the House whether or not the government is pursuing a similar commitment from Diavik and De Beers as was made by BHP Billiton to provide diamonds to northern manufacturers for polishing? Thank you.
Supplementary To Question 213-14(5): Diamonds Allocated To Northern Manufacturers
Question 213-14(5): Diamonds Allocated To Northern Manufacturers
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 614
The Speaker Tony Whitford
Thank you, Mr. Dent. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Antoine.
Further Return To Question 213-14(5): Diamonds Allocated To Northern Manufacturers
Question 213-14(5): Diamonds Allocated To Northern Manufacturers
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 614
Jim Antoine Nahendeh
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, a similar approach that we have with BHP has been worked on with regard to Diavik Diamond Mines as well as De Beers. There are varying degrees of success, Mr. Speaker.
With specific regard to Diavik Diamond Mines, this government had already initiated, in the summer of 1999, they entered into an MOU with Diavik Diamond Mines over support to the diamond value-added industry. The discussion was on a supply of rough diamonds that would run parallel with Diavik Diamond Mines developing their own plans for marketing the rough diamonds. In February of last year, this government requested information from Diavik towards the establishment of this industry.
In 2001, Rio Tinto established RT Diamonds in Antwerp. RT Diamonds is responsible for marketing Rio Tinto diamonds produced at Diavik. RT Diamonds has indicated a willingness to work with the government on fulfilling the value-added commitments and also addressing the GNWT issues.
We are working with Diavik according to our MOU. There is commitment there on their part to supply approximately the same amount of diamonds that are available from BHP.
As well, we have been working with Aber, who is also involved in the Diavik project, to provide rough diamonds. There is positive discussion at this point in time. As you know, in April of next year, Diavik will be in full production, so we have some work to do at this point in time.
In regard to the De Beers operation at Snap Lake, they are into the regulatory process at this point in time. Our Premier has met with the people in De Beers in London when he went on this European trip and was not able to get the type of commitments with regard to the supply of rough diamonds as we did from BHP, as well as the commitments we are working on with Diavik.
We have some way to go with De Beers. I think there are still some options available to us as we deal with this. If they are not willing to come to the table, similar to the other diamond mines here in the North, they are still in their regulatory process. I understand that through the regulatory process, there are socio-economic agreements that they have to reach, so we have some options there.
We would like to leave it at that. We hope they come to the table with similar types of arrangements as we have with these other two diamond mines. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 213-14(5): Diamonds Allocated To Northern Manufacturers
Question 213-14(5): Diamonds Allocated To Northern Manufacturers
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 614
Supplementary To Question 213-14(5): Diamonds Allocated To Northern Manufacturers
Question 213-14(5): Diamonds Allocated To Northern Manufacturers
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 614
Charles Dent Frame Lake
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to hear that the Premier and the Minister are going to pursue aggressively a deal for getting diamonds left in the Northwest Territories. I know all Members in this House want to see that happen.
Mr. Speaker, we need to also work on making sure that diamond manufacturers can be profitable, particularly if we want to see more of them in the Northwest Territories. Has the Minister talked to the three manufacturers currently in operation to get their opinion on this government's efforts to remove the 10 percent excise tax?
Supplementary To Question 213-14(5): Diamonds Allocated To Northern Manufacturers
Question 213-14(5): Diamonds Allocated To Northern Manufacturers
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 614
The Speaker Tony Whitford
Thank you, Mr. Dent. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Antoine.
Further Return To Question 213-14(5): Diamonds Allocated To Northern Manufacturers
Question 213-14(5): Diamonds Allocated To Northern Manufacturers
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 614
Jim Antoine Nahendeh
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, we have had meetings with the three manufacturing groups here that are operating in the North. The exclusion of this excise tax towards the manufacturing of the diamonds that come from our country, we are working on them right here, so this approach has been dealt with and we are going to be pursuing it with the federal government. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 213-14(5): Diamonds Allocated To Northern Manufacturers
Question 213-14(5): Diamonds Allocated To Northern Manufacturers
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 614
The Speaker Tony Whitford
Thank you, Mr. Minister. The time for oral questions has ended. Item 7, written questions. The honourable Member for Hay River North, Mr. Delorey.
Further Return To Question 213-14(5): Diamonds Allocated To Northern Manufacturers
Question 213-14(5): Diamonds Allocated To Northern Manufacturers
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 614
Paul Delorey Hay River North
Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to go back to item 6, oral questions.
Further Return To Question 213-14(5): Diamonds Allocated To Northern Manufacturers
Question 213-14(5): Diamonds Allocated To Northern Manufacturers
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 614
The Speaker Tony Whitford
Thank you. The Member is seeking unanimous consent to return to item 6, oral questions. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Hay River North, Mr. Delorey.
Question 214-14(5): Status Of H.h. Williams Hospital Employees
Revert To Item 6: Oral Questions
March 12th, 2002
Page 615
Paul Delorey Hay River North
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, colleagues. My question is for the Minister of Health and Social Services. Mr. Speaker, the Minister is well aware that talks are now ongoing to bring the employees of the H.H. Williams Memorial Hospital into the mainstream of territorial public service. Hospital staff may have many concerns about this process.
Would the Minister be in agreement with allowing these workers, whose work situations have been turned into chaos by this government, the comfort of at least being able to choose to have their pensions administered separately under their existing plan, or will they be forced to transfer their superannuation plan, regardless of their interests and wishes? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Question 214-14(5): Status Of H.h. Williams Hospital Employees
Revert To Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 615
Question 214-14(5): Status Of H.h. Williams Hospital Employees
Revert To Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 615
Jim Antoine Nahendeh
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Health and Social Services has just returned to the Chamber is more able to answer this question than I am. Thank you.
Question 214-14(5): Status Of H.h. Williams Hospital Employees
Revert To Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 615
The Speaker Tony Whitford
Using his prerogative, the honourable Deputy Premier has assigned this question to the honourable Minister for Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.
Return To Question 214-14(5): Status Of H.h. Williams Hospital Employees
Question 214-14(5): Status Of H.h. Williams Hospital Employees
Revert To Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 615
Michael Miltenberger Thebacha
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there is a working group that has been formed to deal with this issue, made up of officials from the department, the health authority and the union. They are currently looking at all of these particular questions and coming to a resolution they can bring forward for us to look at. Thank you.
Return To Question 214-14(5): Status Of H.h. Williams Hospital Employees
Question 214-14(5): Status Of H.h. Williams Hospital Employees
Revert To Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 615
Supplementary To Question 214-14(5): Status Of H.h. Williams Hospital Employees
Question 214-14(5): Status Of H.h. Williams Hospital Employees
Revert To Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 615
Paul Delorey Hay River North
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I do not think the Minister answered my question. Will the Minister provide assurances in this House today that the workers at H.H. Williams Memorial Hospital will not be expected to accept any reductions in their pension entitlements that they have paid into over the course of their employment at the hospital? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Supplementary To Question 214-14(5): Status Of H.h. Williams Hospital Employees
Question 214-14(5): Status Of H.h. Williams Hospital Employees
Revert To Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 615
The Speaker Tony Whitford
Thank you, Mr. Delorey. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.
Further Return To Question 214-14(5): Status Of H.h. Williams Hospital Employees
Question 214-14(5): Status Of H.h. Williams Hospital Employees
Revert To Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 615
Michael Miltenberger Thebacha
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there will be no loss to pension benefits by this particular process. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 214-14(5): Status Of H.h. Williams Hospital Employees
Question 214-14(5): Status Of H.h. Williams Hospital Employees
Revert To Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 615