This is page numbers 1181 - 1214 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 know.

Topics

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The honourable Minister of Finance, Mr. Handley.

Return To Question 372-14(6): Revisions To The Business Incentive Policy
Question 372-14(6): Revisions To The Business Incentive Policy
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Joe Handley

Joe Handley Weledeh

Mr. Speaker, this question should be directed to the Minister responsible for the business incentive policy, the Minister of RWED. I can't refer it to him, so the question was: Is it financial? Finances are always a motivation in everything we do in government. It doesn't matter whether we are talking about school programs or BIP or whatever it may be. We always have to look at whether we are getting good return for the money we spend. So I can't say that money is not a motivation, but it's certainly not the only motivation. Thank you.

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The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

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Question 372-14(6): Revisions To The Business Incentive Policy
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Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River South

Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Finance Minister then, with that response, is the elusive amount of money, whatever it is that we spend on the BIP, is that money well spent?

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Question 372-14(6): Revisions To The Business Incentive Policy
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The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. That borders on an opinion. Perhaps the honourable Member would like to rephrase that in a more legislative way. Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 372-14(6): Revisions To The Business Incentive Policy
Question 372-14(6): Revisions To The Business Incentive Policy
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Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Surely as the Minister of Finance and the keeper of the purse of our government, the Minister must have a sense of whether or not what we make expenditures on are good investments and expenditures on behalf of the people. So is the business incentive policy a good expenditure, a valuable expenditure? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 372-14(6): Revisions To The Business Incentive Policy
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The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

That's still a difficult question, but I will allow the Minister, in his own tactful way, to answer that. The honourable Minister of Finance, Mr. Handley.

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Joe Handley

Joe Handley Weledeh

Again, Mr. Speaker, the money is always a consideration in any program we are operating. Are we getting good return? Some people say we get very good return. They like the business incentive policy. Other people would say we don't get good return. I don't have any conclusive evidence as Finance Minister. Is it a good return? I believe it is. I think the business incentive policy serves a purpose. Is it perfect? No, I don't think it's perfect and we have worked hard, not just this government but previous governments, to try to make improvements to it. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 372-14(6): Revisions To The Business Incentive Policy
Question 372-14(6): Revisions To The Business Incentive Policy
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The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 372-14(6): Revisions To The Business Incentive Policy
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Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Minister Handley says some people think it is and some people think it isn't. The fact is, he's the Finance Minister, so it's very important what he thinks, not so much what other people think. He is the one who is ultimately responsible for deciding what is good value for our money. The audit bureau does value-for-money audits. Has this program ever been audited? The Minister says that he needs conclusive evidence. What conclusive evidence does he have that the BIP is not good money invested and money well spent? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 372-14(6): Revisions To The Business Incentive Policy
Question 372-14(6): Revisions To The Business Incentive Policy
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The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The chair is a bit concerned with the question. I think you asked two initially. Has the program ever been audited? Which of the two would you like, Mrs. Groenewegen?

Supplementary To Question 372-14(6): Revisions To The Business Incentive Policy
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Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would ask the Minister of Finance, has the audit bureau ever done a value-for-money audit on the business incentive policy? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 372-14(6): Revisions To The Business Incentive Policy
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The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The Minister of Finance, Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 372-14(6): Revisions To The Business Incentive Policy
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Joe Handley

Joe Handley Weledeh

Mr. Speaker, to my knowledge, there has never been a formal value-for-money audit done on the BIP program by the audit bureau. Thank you.

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The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Your final supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

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Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to challenge the Minister of Finance to table evidence in this House if he has any evidence that the business incentive policy is not an excellent investment with a good return to the northern business economy. I would challenge him to take that to this House. Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 372-14(6): Revisions To The Business Incentive Policy
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The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The honourable Minister of Finance, Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 372-14(6): Revisions To The Business Incentive Policy
Question 372-14(6): Revisions To The Business Incentive Policy
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Joe Handley

Joe Handley Weledeh

Mr. Speaker, as I said earlier, I don't have any conclusive evidence one way or the other. So I would have nothing to table to prove anything conclusively. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 372-14(6): Revisions To The Business Incentive Policy
Question 372-14(6): Revisions To The Business Incentive Policy
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for North Slave, Mr. Lafferty.

Leon Lafferty North Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Health and Social Services, the Honourable Michael Miltenberger. Mr. Speaker, I know the Minister is saying that his department will not build treatment centres, but we see in the South Slave the only addiction centre in the entire territory is having internal problems. If nothing is resolved, then there would be no treatment facilities in the North, our people would have to go south for treatment, away from families which creates problems in itself. I would like to ask the Minister, what is his plan to provide treatment services if the dispute with the staff in Hay River creates a shut-down? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

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

Return To Question 373-14(6): Alcohol And Drug Treatment Services In The North Slave
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Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

There is currently a process underway on the reserves that will eventually lead to an agreement that is mutually agreed to. In the meantime, we are taking steps to ensure if there is a requirement for residential treatment, it can be met in Yellowknife at the Salvation Army and we will use the access we have to southern facilities as a short-term interim basis. Thank you.

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Question 373-14(6): Alcohol And Drug Treatment Services In The North Slave
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Lafferty.

Supplementary To Question 373-14(6): Alcohol And Drug Treatment Services In The North Slave
Question 373-14(6): Alcohol And Drug Treatment Services In The North Slave
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Leon Lafferty North Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In answer to my colleague, Mr. Braden, yesterday, the Minister said what we've attempted to do over the last few years is focus attention at the community level with the increase in social workers and the money. As we know, in light of the information we have, by creating...(inaudible)...we have increased child apprehensions and breaking families apart because these social workers are not addiction counsellors. I would like to ask the Minister, is he going to do anything, like bricks and mortar, for services in the North Slave? We already have one in the South Slave. Can he do something for the North Slave?

Supplementary To Question 373-14(6): Alcohol And Drug Treatment Services In The North Slave
Question 373-14(6): Alcohol And Drug Treatment Services In The North Slave
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

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