This is page numbers 695 - 716 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 project.

Topics

Further Return To Question 225-14(5): Fire Ecology Camp Program
Question 225-14(5): Fire Ecology Camps Program
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 703

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I do not have that information with me. It is more detailed information, so I will try to get that for the Member. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 225-14(5): Fire Ecology Camp Program
Question 225-14(5): Fire Ecology Camps Program
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 703

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Final supplementary, Mr. McLeod.

Supplementary To Question 225-14(5): Fire Ecology Camp Program
Question 225-14(5): Fire Ecology Camps Program
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 703

Michael McLeod

Michael McLeod Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister will be providing me with a considerable amount of information at a later date. I wonder, at least, if he could reassure me that the youth in my constituency will receive equal opportunity to participate in some form of a youth forestry education program this summer and in the future. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary To Question 225-14(5): Fire Ecology Camp Program
Question 225-14(5): Fire Ecology Camps Program
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 703

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you. I am not sure if that was a question, but the Minister may respond if he wishes. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Antoine.

Further Return To Question 225-14(5): Fire Ecology Camp Program
Question 225-14(5): Fire Ecology Camps Program
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 703

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the fire ecology camp had been established in communities that have expressed interest in it, especially where recent forest fires have happened and where the communities are concerned about the fire.

Youth from a number of different communities, including Fort Providence, have been involved, especially in the International Crown Fire Modelling Experiment that was run out of Fort Providence for the last six years, so there is opportunity for communities to participate.

As well, RWED has developed a forest module which is taught in all schools and is in the curriculum of the school. We are trying to do what we can to provide this information. Like I said, I will provide a listing of activities that are available to youth throughout the whole Northwest Territories, but specifically to the Deh Cho area.

We are familiar with the Aboriginal Youth Forest Ranger Program in Ontario and I think it is an excellent starting point for us in the forestry area of RWED. It is a good place to start programming for our youth so they have an introduction to the forest management of the North. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 225-14(5): Fire Ecology Camp Program
Question 225-14(5): Fire Ecology Camps Program
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 703

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Braden.

Bill Braden

Bill Braden Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question this afternoon is for the Minister of Public Works and Services. Ministers and MLAs, for the past several days, have received numerous letters from NWT construction businesses about the government's decision to waive the Business Incentive Policy to avoid cost overruns in phase two of the North Slave Correctional Centre.

Mr. Speaker, my question is, prior to waiving the Business Incentive Policy on this project, what other alternatives were explored in looking at ways to reduce costs on this project? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Braden. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Public Works and Services, Mr. Steen.

Return To Question 226-14(5): Reducing North Slave Correctional Project Costs
Question 226-14(5): Reducing North Slave Correctional Project Costs
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 703

Vince Steen

Vince Steen Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the department has had difficulties from day one with this project in that it was fast-tracked, so therefore, it was not the type of project that would have been designed prior to the price being put on the work. All along we have been experiencing difficulties as to how we could possibly keep the project on stream and still keep it in response to the programs that it was supposed to support. We have been going along and designing, so to speak, as we construct. That has been one of the problems with why the project is over budget.

What we have been doing is meeting with the client, the Department of Justice. We have been meeting with our project managers and discussing ways as to how we could possibly reduce the cost of this project, other than suggesting that we leave BIP for the time being. We basically ran out of options.

Short of reducing the scope of work down to where it would no longer be able to serve the purpose, we have also discussed the option of delaying the project for a better time, like say a couple of years from now...

-- Applause

...maybe the market will be better. Unfortunately, it is not an option. We have a basic timeline to get off of the property where our existing facility is and that is because we turned the property over to the new arena and we have a timeline to get off of there. We are very limited as to options.

Return To Question 226-14(5): Reducing North Slave Correctional Project Costs
Question 226-14(5): Reducing North Slave Correctional Project Costs
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 704

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 226-14(5): Reducing North Slave Correctional Project Costs
Question 226-14(5): Reducing North Slave Correctional Project Costs
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 704

Bill Braden

Bill Braden Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Indeed, and that is part of the concern all across the NWT about this policy and this project. The NWT Construction Association has shown a lot of leadership in this. They have come up with a couple of alternatives. Mr. Speaker, will the Minister commit to meet with northern builders and constructors, with the association, to look at these alternative methods so that we can achieve this project on time and hopefully on a reasonable budget? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 226-14(5): Reducing North Slave Correctional Project Costs
Question 226-14(5): Reducing North Slave Correctional Project Costs
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 704

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Braden. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Public Works and Services, Mr. Steen.

Further Return To Question 226-14(5): Reducing North Slave Correctional Project Costs
Question 226-14(5): Reducing North Slave Correctional Project Costs
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 704

Vince Steen

Vince Steen Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Member for that suggestion. We already have a plan in place for a meeting. I believe it is on the 13th at eleven o'clock in the morning, to meet with that NWT Construction Association and discuss this whole ruling of the BIP for this project.

Further Return To Question 226-14(5): Reducing North Slave Correctional Project Costs
Question 226-14(5): Reducing North Slave Correctional Project Costs
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 704

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 226-14(5): Reducing North Slave Correctional Project Costs
Question 226-14(5): Reducing North Slave Correctional Project Costs
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 704

Bill Braden

Bill Braden Great Slave

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the government and the people involved in the Construction Association for taking the initiative, but on the Cabinet decision to move off BIP on this one project, what message is the government sending to other builders and other stakeholders in the North's economy, Mr. Speaker, the mining and petroleum industry? What is the message that we are sending when we waive our own policies meant to encourage northern buying? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 226-14(5): Reducing North Slave Correctional Project Costs
Question 226-14(5): Reducing North Slave Correctional Project Costs
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 704

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Braden. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Public Works and Services, Mr. Steen.

Further Return To Question 226-14(5): Reducing North Slave Correctional Project Costs
Question 226-14(5): Reducing North Slave Correctional Project Costs
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 704

Vince Steen

Vince Steen Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, l do not know if I can speak directly to that question, but Public Works' intent was to broaden the field of competition. Rather than having just one or two bids come in, we were hoping that we would receive a number of bids from down south.

I am told that over the past number of years, we have been receiving less and less bids from down south. People are not even bothering to bid anymore, whereby in the past, they used to at least try. We think we are opening the field where competition will be larger and we will get better prices.

We are not only experiencing the problem in Yellowknife. We are experiencing a similar problem wherever there is a boom in the construction industry. It may be related to non-renewable resource activity. In Inuvik, for instance, we are also experiencing the same type of difficulties as we are in Yellowknife, in that many of our projects are going over and above budget.

Mr. Speaker, Public Works has been told by this Assembly and by the committee on a number of occasions when presenting our budgets and presenting our business plans and also when the supplementaries come forward, we have been asked if we have tried all options before we come forward with the supplementary request. Well, that is what we are doing. We are trying all options. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Further Return To Question 226-14(5): Reducing North Slave Correctional Project Costs
Question 226-14(5): Reducing North Slave Correctional Project Costs
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 704

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Final supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 226-14(5): Reducing North Slave Correctional Project Costs
Question 226-14(5): Reducing North Slave Correctional Project Costs
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 704

Bill Braden

Bill Braden Great Slave

Mr. Speaker, all options should be before all of us at all times, but the Cabinet's decision to cherry-pick this one project to move off BIP is unacceptable. Will the Minister restore the Business Incentive Policy to this project? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 226-14(5): Reducing North Slave Correctional Project Costs
Question 226-14(5): Reducing North Slave Correctional Project Costs
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 704

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Braden. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Public Works and Services, Mr. Steen.

Supplementary To Question 226-14(5): Reducing North Slave Correctional Project Costs
Question 226-14(5): Reducing North Slave Correctional Project Costs
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 704

Vince Steen

Vince Steen Nunakput

Mr. Speaker, if I heard the question properly, the Member is asking me if I will ensure the Business Incentive Policy will apply to this project?

Supplementary To Question 226-14(5): Reducing North Slave Correctional Project Costs
Question 226-14(5): Reducing North Slave Correctional Project Costs
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 704

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Steen. I will just ask Mr. Braden to re-ask the question. I think it was shorter than that. Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 226-14(5): Reducing North Slave Correctional Project Costs
Question 226-14(5): Reducing North Slave Correctional Project Costs
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 704

Bill Braden

Bill Braden Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question was, will the Minister restore the Business Incentive Policy to this project? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 226-14(5): Reducing North Slave Correctional Project Costs
Question 226-14(5): Reducing North Slave Correctional Project Costs
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 705

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Braden. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Public Works and Services, Mr. Steen.

Further Return To Question 226-14(5): Reducing North Slave Correctional Project Costs
Question 226-14(5): Reducing North Slave Correctional Project Costs
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 705

Vince Steen

Vince Steen Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, at this point in time, I cannot give the Member that commitment. Thank you.