This is page numbers 1143 - 1180 of the Hansard for the 14th Assembly, 6th 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

Question 357-14(6): Lot Subsidies In Inuvik
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1151

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Ms Lee. The honourable Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation, Mr. Allen.

Return To Question 357-14(6): Lot Subsidies In Inuvik
Question 357-14(6): Lot Subsidies In Inuvik
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1151

Roger Allen

Roger Allen Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With all due respect, Mr. Speaker, we have a legal instrument. This is something we call the NWT Housing Corporation Act that we use to assist those who are involuntarily forced to move. So that was the discretion that I used at the time, after a number of consultations with the tenants. As well there were previous consultations between the tenants and the committee of the Town of Inuvik town council. So that was the base of that decision. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Return To Question 357-14(6): Lot Subsidies In Inuvik
Question 357-14(6): Lot Subsidies In Inuvik
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1152

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Ms Lee.

Supplementary To Question 357-14(6): Lot Subsidies In Inuvik
Question 357-14(6): Lot Subsidies In Inuvik
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1152

Sandy Lee

Sandy Lee Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Minister mentioned that legal instrument being the NWT Housing Corporation Act. At the same time he mentioned the word discretion, and I understand the discretion to mean a power of the Minister to make decisions. I would like to know, which is it? Is there a law that provides a program on this, or is this completely based on the Minister's discretion and are there any guidelines as to what criteria the Minister has to use to use his discretion? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary To Question 357-14(6): Lot Subsidies In Inuvik
Question 357-14(6): Lot Subsidies In Inuvik
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1152

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Ms Lee. The honourable Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation, Mr. Allen.

Further Return To Question 357-14(6): Lot Subsidies In Inuvik
Question 357-14(6): Lot Subsidies In Inuvik
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1152

Roger Allen

Roger Allen Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I gather we are entering into some kind of a legal debate here. The issue here is that we have referenced a number of sections of the act. I guess I should have used more discretion, but the point is, Mr. Speaker, that we have an act and through that act, we have used a section to assist those who were at risk of having to move from their homes. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 357-14(6): Lot Subsidies In Inuvik
Question 357-14(6): Lot Subsidies In Inuvik
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1152

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Supplementary To Question 357-14(6): Lot Subsidies In Inuvik
Question 357-14(6): Lot Subsidies In Inuvik
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1152

Sandy Lee

Sandy Lee Range Lake

Mr. Speaker, I don't believe there is any legal debate going on here whatsoever. Mr. Speaker, I am simply asking the Minister how he is spending public money. Not too long ago, he made decisions to give out 12 cheques in the amount of $10,000. I want to know what these people had to do, fill out a form or anything, to get the $10,000.

Supplementary To Question 357-14(6): Lot Subsidies In Inuvik
Question 357-14(6): Lot Subsidies In Inuvik
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1152

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you. The honourable Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation, Mr. Allen.

Further Return To Question 357-14(6): Lot Subsidies In Inuvik
Question 357-14(6): Lot Subsidies In Inuvik
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1152

Roger Allen

Roger Allen Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There are a number of avenues that we entertain when we deal with those people who are at risk and require assistance under certain housing programs. We have a number of policies. We have 16 different housing programs that are administered across the NWT. We also have a formal housing strategy that identifies both market and non-market communities for...(inaudible)...sufficient funding for housing. We assist every community and we work with those individuals who apply under certain programs and that's application based. So we deal with each one on an individual basis. In some communities, we have to entertain the idea that it's a community problem, so certainly I convey to the Members that we have done the best we can under certain aspects of our affordable housing strategy. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 357-14(6): Lot Subsidies In Inuvik
Question 357-14(6): Lot Subsidies In Inuvik
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1152

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Your final supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Supplementary To Question 357-14(6): Lot Subsidies In Inuvik
Question 357-14(6): Lot Subsidies In Inuvik
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1152

Sandy Lee

Sandy Lee Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I believe I am asking a very specific question that the Minister has failed to answer thus far. Mr. Speaker, my question to the Minister is what did these 12 people have to do? What did they have to do to get the $10,000? What was the criteria? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 357-14(6): Lot Subsidies In Inuvik
Question 357-14(6): Lot Subsidies In Inuvik
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1152

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Ms. Lee. The honourable Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation, Mr. Allen.

Further Return To Question 357-14(6): Lot Subsidies In Inuvik
Question 357-14(6): Lot Subsidies In Inuvik
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1152

Roger Allen

Roger Allen Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I referred to earlier, there was a consultation process. It was a consultation process between the tenants and the town. We had done due diligence. We met with the tenants. The tenants indicated that they could not afford to pay some of those costs, so we made a decision based on a portion of the act. So that's the end result. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Further Return To Question 357-14(6): Lot Subsidies In Inuvik
Question 357-14(6): Lot Subsidies In Inuvik
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1152

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Item 7, oral questions. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Nitah.

Steven Nitah Tu Nedhe

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. My question today is for the Premier. Mr. Speaker, I spoke the other day about the importance of employment to people in the Northwest Territories. At that point in time, I entertained the idea of diversifying the Northwest Territories economy. I believe through the transitional document, we considered the direction of how diversifying the economy and taking the evolution of jobs could benefit the Northwest Territories. I would like to ask the Premier if he would direct his government to start a process that would look at a study of the cost-benefit analysis of the socio-economic conditions of the people of the Northwest Territories by devolving 150 government positions into the 27 non-tax-based communities in the Northwest Territories.

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Nitah. The honourable Premier, Mr. Kakfwi.

Return To Question 358-14(6): Decentralization Of GNWT Positions
Question 358-14(6): Decentralization Of GNWT Positions
Item 7: Oral Questions

October 1st, 2003

Page 1152

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the next legislature will, I am sure, entertain ideas like this. We have the transitional planning process that is being prepared now for the next legislature. Some suggestions on what we need to do to recognize if the political aspect of the Northwest Territories is changing. The Government of the Northwest Territories, as it was and the way it still appears to be, is possibly no longer viable in the sense that we are having emerging regional entities that also want to deliver programs and services and the next legislature may find the political will to embrace these regional governments that are aboriginal public institutions that are being created or in the making. If such is the case, then part of the planning documents entertain the suggestion that we may want to take some of the resources presently allocated at the Yellowknife headquarters level and reprofile or reallocate those to support these regional institutions and governments, so they can deliver programs and services. There is some planning going on to meet that if the next legislature should want to jump on that with both feet, eyes wide open. Thank you.

Return To Question 358-14(6): Decentralization Of GNWT Positions
Question 358-14(6): Decentralization Of GNWT Positions
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1153

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Premier. Supplementary, Mr. Nitah.

Supplementary To Question 358-14(6): Decentralization Of GNWT Positions
Question 358-14(6): Decentralization Of GNWT Positions
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1153

Steven Nitah Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I kind of like that answer from the Premier. I wish we had gotten those answers the last four years, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I agree with the Premier when he says the political landscape is changing in the Northwest Territories. Through negotiations and the creation of aboriginal governments, we will see positions devolve, but that's not going to happen overnight, Mr. Speaker. I would like a specific number. I think 150 positions is a reasonable number considering the number of people in the GNWT bureaucracy. It would be a good training program for people in those communities. If those people are not capable or able to do their jobs, then the entire NWT will be suffering. The quicker we put positions into the community, the quicker the transition between different levels of government and programs and services. Would the Premier use his Premiership to push the 150 positions or a number near there that is reasonable? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary To Question 358-14(6): Decentralization Of GNWT Positions
Question 358-14(6): Decentralization Of GNWT Positions
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1153

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Nitah. The honourable Premier, Mr. Kakfwi.

Further Return To Question 358-14(6): Decentralization Of GNWT Positions
Question 358-14(6): Decentralization Of GNWT Positions
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1153

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we have a little over a week left to do some work together. We have issues regarding some legislation that we've committed to dealing with. We have issues like the business incentive policy that will require attention. There is proposed legislation, such as the Tlicho agreement, that should be dealt with by this legislature. So as far as my capacity to give such direction, it's rather limited. If it's something we wanted to do, it's something we should have done in January 2000 or even in the first year, but the Member should be assured that while we are not talking numbers, there is the need for a political will by the next legislature to say there is a regional government emerging in the Mackenzie Delta, the Tlicho have set up a regional government; those have to be reckoned with.

The Government of the Northwest Territories provides budgets, provides legislation, and staff to provide the services. They will have to address these emerging institutions and decide either to be dragged kicking and screaming into the future without really knowing where they are heading or to take leadership and say here is where we are going to be in 15 years.

There are regional institutions coming up, there are aboriginal governments coming up, as far as legislative power, legislative process, the allocation of resources, budgeting. Here is how we have to provide leadership in order to keep everything happening and everybody working together in a way that brings benefits to everybody. That is going to be a huge question for the next legislature. I look forward to seeing them deal with it. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 358-14(6): Decentralization Of GNWT Positions
Question 358-14(6): Decentralization Of GNWT Positions
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1153

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you. Item 7, oral questions. The honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, Mr. Roland.

Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question would be directed to the Minister of Health and Social Services and the area of vital stats in the office operation up in Inuvik. I would like to know and get a commitment from this Minister that no actions will be taken to remove that function from Inuvik and put it back into headquarters. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Roland. The honourable Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.