This is page numbers 479 - 506 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.

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 500

The Chair

The Chair Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Bell. 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, no, not specific to that position, but there are a lot of senior managers in government whose contracts are at pleasure, so we would have a boilerplate contract for those.

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 500

The Chair

The Chair Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Mr. Bell.

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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Brendan Bell

Brendan Bell Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would suggest to you that this one is significantly different. Would the Minister not agree?

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 500

The Chair

The Chair Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Bell. 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 500

Joe Handley

Joe Handley Weledeh

To my knowledge, no, it is not different than other at pleasure contracts. It would have similar provisions.

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 500

The Chair

The Chair Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Mr. Bell.

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 500

Brendan Bell

Brendan Bell Yellowknife South

Can the Minister inform me as to how many other at pleasure contracts would have the degree of termination benefits that we have seen these two have?

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 500

The Chair

The Chair Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Bell. 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 500

Joe Handley

Joe Handley Weledeh

Mr. Chairman, all of the deputy minister contracts, which are at pleasure contracts and probably, I do not know the exact number, three or four others, would have the same termination provisions.

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 500

The Chair

The Chair Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Mr. Dent.

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 500

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. First off, I have a real problem with how this has been characterized in the supplementary appropriation as costs associated with the Special Committee on Conflict Process. There may be some argument that the $161,500 in witness legal fees is related to the Special Committee on Conflict Process, but I have no understanding at all of how we could possibly lump what Mr. Handley has today called transition costs in as part of those costs. Could he give me some kind of explanation for that, please?

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 500

The Chair

The Chair Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Dent. 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 500

Joe Handley

Joe Handley Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I think the resignations by these individuals was a fallout from the whole conflict process, and therefore, that is the reason they are put within this category. 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 500

The Chair

The Chair Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Mr. Dent.

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 500

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Frame Lake

Fallout from the whole conflict process. There are an awful lot of things that we could probably characterize as being fallout from that process, but I think that if anything, it is making it more difficult for the public to appreciate just what the expenditure is when you hide it under that term. I am not convinced that is a proper way of putting this in. It should have been shown quite clearly as compensation and benefits on termination so there would be a better understanding on that. Who in the government normally negotiates and signs deputy minister contracts?

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 501

The Chair

The Chair Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Dent. 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 501

Joe Handley

Joe Handley Weledeh

Mr. Chairman, these would normally be negotiated by the secretary to Cabinet and would be signed by the Premier.

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 501

The Chair

The Chair Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Mr. Dent.

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 501

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Minister is saying that the normal process was followed. In a letter I received today from the Minister, which provided a little more information on these contracts, he notes that the process followed was similar to the manner in which several senior level positions have been implemented, including that of the principal secretary. Can he tell me how many have not followed this process?

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 501

The Chair

The Chair Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Dent. 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 501

Joe Handley

Joe Handley Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, to my knowledge, all of the at pleasure contracts would follow the same process and would have followed the same process.

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 501

The Chair

The Chair Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Mr. Dent.

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 501

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Frame Lake

So the normal process is that the senior person in the bureaucracy would negotiate and, I assume, first sign off on the contract before presenting them to the Premier for signature, is that correct?

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 501

The Chair

The Chair Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Mr. Handley.