This is page numbers 649 - 694 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

Supplementary To Question 219-14(5): Location Of Energy And Hydro Secretariat
Question 219-14(5): Location Of Energy And Hydro Secretariat
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 661

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The honourable Deputy Premier, Mr. Antoine.

Further Return To Question 219-14(5): Location Of Energy And Hydro Secretariat
Question 219-14(5): Location Of Energy And Hydro Secretariat
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 661

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Cabinet does get together and strategize. We were planning on a series of meetings here in the next couple of months, so we could reassess all the different issues and ideas that are floating out there. This will probably be one of them. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 219-14(5): Location Of Energy And Hydro Secretariat
Question 219-14(5): Location Of Energy And Hydro Secretariat
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 661

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Premier. Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 219-14(5): Location Of Energy And Hydro Secretariat
Question 219-14(5): Location Of Energy And Hydro Secretariat
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 661

Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When Cabinet has come up with a list of activities, programs, units, departments, things that could possibly be decentralized, could they share that with the Members on this side of the House please? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 219-14(5): Location Of Energy And Hydro Secretariat
Question 219-14(5): Location Of Energy And Hydro Secretariat
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 661

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The honourable Deputy Premier, Mr. Antoine.

Further Return To Question 219-14(5): Location Of Energy And Hydro Secretariat
Question 219-14(5): Location Of Energy And Hydro Secretariat
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 661

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, when we talk about it and if we decide, then we will share all the information with the Members. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 219-14(5): Location Of Energy And Hydro Secretariat
Question 219-14(5): Location Of Energy And Hydro Secretariat
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 661

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Premier. Your final supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 219-14(5): Location Of Energy And Hydro Secretariat
Question 219-14(5): Location Of Energy And Hydro Secretariat
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 661

Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As a matter of fact, I think Members on this side of the House who represent communities other than Yellowknife would like an opportunity to have input into that, so perhaps we will also compile a list and share that with you, so you will have it available for your deliberations and you can respond to what we might suggest could be moved out of Yellowknife. Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 219-14(5): Location Of Energy And Hydro Secretariat
Question 219-14(5): Location Of Energy And Hydro Secretariat
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 661

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The honourable Deputy Premier, Mr. Antoine.

Further Return To Question 219-14(5): Location Of Energy And Hydro Secretariat
Question 219-14(5): Location Of Energy And Hydro Secretariat
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 661

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as a Member of Cabinet, I always like to work with everybody and get ideas. However, there are a lot of good ideas outside of Cabinet as well, and if you can share that kind of information, we will certainly work with you. Thank you.

-- Applause

Further Return To Question 219-14(5): Location Of Energy And Hydro Secretariat
Question 219-14(5): Location Of Energy And Hydro Secretariat
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 661

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Premier. Item 7, oral questions. The honourable Member for Hay River North, Mr. Delorey.

Question 220-14(5): Authenticating Northwest Territories Diamonds
Item 7: Oral Questions

March 13th, 2002

Page 661

Paul Delorey

Paul Delorey Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister responsible for Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, and it has to do with our trip to New York and Washington. Mr. Speaker, one of the things that we heard down there was the positive reception to certified Canadian diamonds and how that project is being received in the diamond industry. One of the things that was brought to light there was the fact that just because we attach a certificate to these diamonds, it is going to take a while to be able to develop a market and attract customers that are willing to pay maybe the extra value for these diamonds. It was put to us that this could be a very expensive process and time consuming. Could the Minister update us on whether he has informed our diamond industry here in the NWT to that aspect and what is being done about it right now? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Delorey. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Antoine.

Return To Question 220-14(5): Authenticating Northwest Territories Diamonds
Question 220-14(5): Authenticating Northwest Territories Diamonds
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 661

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yes, the three diamond manufacturers up here in the North are very aware of the circumstances. We are new and we are a fledging industry here. We just started about three years ago and there are a lot of growing problems that we have. As we go along, we realize what needs to get done. The information we received from the diamond dealers in New York was very timely. In fact, some of the people who are in the diamond industry from New York are also working with our diamond manufacturers up here.

The different concerns are there. We have related to the manufacturers and our diamond section in RWED is working very closely with the manufacturers to continue developing our certificate program. It is a very popular and positive one, and there is a very good future for our certificate program. It is unique and it is different from other countries that are producing diamonds. People are looking for pure natural diamonds from the Arctic, from the North, and through our certificate program, it is a good way to market.

Return To Question 220-14(5): Authenticating Northwest Territories Diamonds
Question 220-14(5): Authenticating Northwest Territories Diamonds
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 662

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Delorey.

Supplementary To Question 220-14(5): Authenticating Northwest Territories Diamonds
Question 220-14(5): Authenticating Northwest Territories Diamonds
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 662

Paul Delorey

Paul Delorey Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as the Minister has stated, there is a demand and a market out there for pure Canadian diamonds. One of the contracts that was signed was Ben Sofer Diamonds, I think, with Arslanian to sell their diamonds. One of the things that was stated was that in order to create a market and find a good customer base, it may take some time and a good sales pitch, and it will take some money. It will be expensive for the manufacturers, for governments and for themselves, the marketers. I was wondering if the Minister can tell me if there is any Government of the Northwest Territories money going into a marketing program for these diamonds right now?

Supplementary To Question 220-14(5): Authenticating Northwest Territories Diamonds
Question 220-14(5): Authenticating Northwest Territories Diamonds
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 662

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Delorey. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Antoine.

Further Return To Question 220-14(5): Authenticating Northwest Territories Diamonds
Question 220-14(5): Authenticating Northwest Territories Diamonds
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 662

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, with our diamond section of RWED, we are working very closely with the manufacturers. We are working on developing a marketing plan with the manufacturers. There are some initiatives in the works. We do provide funding for this as well. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 220-14(5): Authenticating Northwest Territories Diamonds
Question 220-14(5): Authenticating Northwest Territories Diamonds
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 662

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Delorey.

Supplementary To Question 220-14(5): Authenticating Northwest Territories Diamonds
Question 220-14(5): Authenticating Northwest Territories Diamonds
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 662

Paul Delorey

Paul Delorey Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am glad to hear that we are doing everything we can to market and get this industry going. With regard to our trip to Washington and the oil and gas sector, Mr. Speaker, one of the things we heard from the producer groups when we met with them was, of course, the ongoing issue of our regulatory process here and how important it is for us as a government to work with the federal government and all the different boards to try and streamline our regulatory process and bring it down from what they see as maybe a four-year period closer to two years. I was wondering if the Minister could update us as to what is happening in that area. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary To Question 220-14(5): Authenticating Northwest Territories Diamonds
Question 220-14(5): Authenticating Northwest Territories Diamonds
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 662

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Delorey. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Antoine.

Further Return To Question 220-14(5): Authenticating Northwest Territories Diamonds
Question 220-14(5): Authenticating Northwest Territories Diamonds
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 662

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the regulatory processes are through the federal legislation and there are a number of different agencies under a number of different federal government departments that are out there that have their own processes. The cooperative approach started last spring was to try to get all these different regulatory agencies to find a way to work together so they have a smoother, streamlined approach on how to do the environmental assessments and all the work that has to get done for a pipeline. This work is ongoing. They are still negotiating with each other on how to proceed. At the end of the day, the federal Ministers responsible will have to agree on the process.

At this point in time, the information I have is that the work is ongoing and there are cooperative meetings going on and they are just finalizing on how they are going to proceed. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 220-14(5): Authenticating Northwest Territories Diamonds
Question 220-14(5): Authenticating Northwest Territories Diamonds
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 662

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. I would just like to remind Members that questions should stick to one topic. Although we are talking about the same trip, we are talking about two topics here, so I caution the Member. Final supplementary, Mr. Delorey.

Supplementary To Question 220-14(5): Authenticating Northwest Territories Diamonds
Question 220-14(5): Authenticating Northwest Territories Diamonds
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 662

Paul Delorey

Paul Delorey Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just one further question on that. With the pipeline, it is obvious that our government has been out there for at least three years now, that I know of, anyway, saying we are ready for a pipeline, we are promoting a pipeline and we are open for business.

I have a concern when the Minister says we are playing a supportive role but it is up to the producers and the Aboriginal Pipeline Group to move this initiative forward.

I am hoping the Minister could give us some assurances that this government is making sure this project continues to go ahead, and if something comes along that is going to kill this project, that we would not be playing a supportive role in that area as well. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary To Question 220-14(5): Authenticating Northwest Territories Diamonds
Question 220-14(5): Authenticating Northwest Territories Diamonds
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 662

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Delorey. On the subject of regulations, the Deputy Premier, Mr. Antoine.