Thank you, Mr. Braden. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.
Debates of June 12th, 2002
This is page numbers 717 - 740 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 policy.
Topics
Supplementary To Question 239-14(5): Recruitment Of Health Care Professionals
Question 239-14(5): Recruitment Of Health Care Professionals
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 727
Further Return To Question 239-14(5): Recruitment Of Health Care Professionals
Question 239-14(5): Recruitment Of Health Care Professionals
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 727
Michael Miltenberger Thebacha
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we are close to a final agreement with the Capital Health Authority. There are some final details being worked out. I have been informed that we do have a long history and a good working relationship and a contractual arrangement with the Capital Health Authority. I am fully confident that we will be continuing that relationship. It has not been renegotiated since 1996, so we are trying to be as vigilant and diligent in terms of the costs as is possible. We fully anticipate that we will have an agreement in the next few weeks. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 239-14(5): Recruitment Of Health Care Professionals
Question 239-14(5): Recruitment Of Health Care Professionals
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 727
The Speaker Tony Whitford
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.
Question 240-14(5): Suspension Of The Business Incentive Policy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 727
Jane Groenewegen Hay River South
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yesterday we had quite a bit of discussion in the House about the Business Incentive Policy. We have heard that Cabinet can waive the Business Incentive Policy when it suits them and that they did this because they think they are going to save money. They are not going to change their mind about this. That is what we have heard to date.
That being the case, it would appear that there is a new policy now that the BIP can be waived at the discretion of Cabinet. Seeing as this door has now been opened for this case-by-case, ad hoc consideration of application of the Business Incentive Policy, I would like to ask the Deputy Premier if Cabinet will now entertain other proposals to waive the BIP to save money. Thank you.
Question 240-14(5): Suspension Of The Business Incentive Policy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 727
Return To Question 240-14(5): Suspension Of The Business Incentive Policy
Question 240-14(5): Suspension Of The Business Incentive Policy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 727
Jim Antoine Nahendeh
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the North Slave Correctional Centre second phase is the only project where there was a Cabinet decision to waive the BIP. That is the only one at this point in time. The intention is not to entertain any other projects at this time. Thank you.
Return To Question 240-14(5): Suspension Of The Business Incentive Policy
Question 240-14(5): Suspension Of The Business Incentive Policy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 727
Supplementary To Question 240-14(5): Suspension Of The Business Incentive Policy
Question 240-14(5): Suspension Of The Business Incentive Policy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 727
Jane Groenewegen Hay River South
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It would seem that the Cabinet does have the discretionary ability to waive the BIP when it involves taxpayers' dollars and they can save money. That is what they have been telling us. Why would they not consider other applications to waive the BIP where it would accomplish the same thing? Thank you.
Supplementary To Question 240-14(5): Suspension Of The Business Incentive Policy
Question 240-14(5): Suspension Of The Business Incentive Policy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 727
Further Return To Question 240-14(5): Suspension Of The Business Incentive Policy
Question 240-14(5): Suspension Of The Business Incentive Policy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 728
Jim Antoine Nahendeh
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, if we come into another situation, such as we did in the second phase of the North Slave Correctional Institute, and the Department of Public Works and Services, which is administering the project on our behalf, makes the recommendations to us as Cabinet, then we will entertain that. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 240-14(5): Suspension Of The Business Incentive Policy
Question 240-14(5): Suspension Of The Business Incentive Policy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 728
Supplementary To Question 240-14(5): Suspension Of The Business Incentive Policy
Question 240-14(5): Suspension Of The Business Incentive Policy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 728
Jane Groenewegen Hay River South
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we are elected to represent our constituents here in this Legislature. Is the Deputy Premier saying he would not allow or would not have the various Ministers responsible for departments bring forward such possible decision papers to Cabinet on behalf of their departments? Thank you.
Supplementary To Question 240-14(5): Suspension Of The Business Incentive Policy
Question 240-14(5): Suspension Of The Business Incentive Policy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 728
Further Return To Question 240-14(5): Suspension Of The Business Incentive Policy
Question 240-14(5): Suspension Of The Business Incentive Policy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 728
Jim Antoine Nahendeh
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we certainly are open to discussing this with AOC, these possibilities, but at this point in time, the issue is the North Slave Correctional Institute. The first phase of it had a cost overrun. We were told that the estimate for the second phase was also going to be a cost overrun.
To come back to the Legislative Assembly for additional supplementary appropriation, we did not want to do that. When we were trying to look to see all the other options, to see if we could bring the costs down, we decided to waive the BIP policy on the second phase to hopefully save money. That is the only reason we have entertained this and made a Cabinet decision as such. It is the only decision at this point in time. There are no other projects that we are looking at to waive the BIP at this time. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 240-14(5): Suspension Of The Business Incentive Policy
Question 240-14(5): Suspension Of The Business Incentive Policy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 728
Supplementary To Question 240-14(5): Suspension Of The Business Incentive Policy
Question 240-14(5): Suspension Of The Business Incentive Policy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 728
Jane Groenewegen Hay River South
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, maybe the Deputy Premier could tell me if the Business Incentive Policy is under review by this government at this time? Thank you.
Supplementary To Question 240-14(5): Suspension Of The Business Incentive Policy
Question 240-14(5): Suspension Of The Business Incentive Policy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 728
Further Return To Question 240-14(5): Suspension Of The Business Incentive Policy
Question 240-14(5): Suspension Of The Business Incentive Policy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 728
Jim Antoine Nahendeh
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, the Business Incentive Policy has been under review since January 2001. There has been a lot of consultation that has gone to the businesses. There has been a lot of feedback. The Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development is bringing forward a decision paper to Cabinet at the end of this month to see if it has any support there. There are definitely going to be some changes, if it passes through Cabinet, to the Business Incentive Policy. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 240-14(5): Suspension Of The Business Incentive Policy
Question 240-14(5): Suspension Of The Business Incentive Policy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 728
The Speaker Tony Whitford
Thank you, Mr. Minister. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee.
Question 241-14(5): Review Of The Business Incentive Policy
Item 6: Oral Questions
June 11th, 2002
Page 728
Sandy Lee Range Lake
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is also on the cancellation of the BIP policy. I do not know which Minister to ask now because there have been a lot of different Ministers answering it. Maybe I could follow up with the last question to the Deputy Premier.
Are we to understand that in the government's review of BIP that there is a possibility of scrapping this altogether? Is there an indication of that there? Thank you.
Question 241-14(5): Review Of The Business Incentive Policy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 728
Return To Question 241-14(5): Review Of The Business Incentive Policy
Question 241-14(5): Review Of The Business Incentive Policy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 728
Jim Antoine Nahendeh
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the question is are we going to totally scrap the Business Incentive Policy? No, we are going to be revising it according to the recommendations made by the consultation process that we have undergone for the last two years or so. Thank you.
Return To Question 241-14(5): Review Of The Business Incentive Policy
Question 241-14(5): Review Of The Business Incentive Policy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 728
Supplementary To Question 241-14(5): Review Of The Business Incentive Policy
Question 241-14(5): Review Of The Business Incentive Policy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 728
Sandy Lee Range Lake
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The answers that the Members here have been receiving from Cabinet have done nothing but cause more confusion and dismay by the public. I received calls this morning from the Construction Association asking whether or not it is even worth it to have this meeting when the Cabinet has already decided on their position and there seems to be no room to budge.
I would like to ask the Deputy Premier whether or not there is any openness for any kind of input from the Construction Association, or anybody else who is at the meeting, to get out of this situation without cancelling the BIP? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Supplementary To Question 241-14(5): Review Of The Business Incentive Policy
Question 241-14(5): Review Of The Business Incentive Policy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 728