This is page numbers 1215 - 1254 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 communities.

Topics

Further Return To Question 381-14(6): Increasing Numbers Of Child Apprehensions And Permanent Custody Cases
Question 381-14(6): Increasing Numbers Of Child Apprehensions And Permanent Custody Cases
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1229

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today in this House we made reference to Family Violence Awareness Week. We are making concerted efforts to focus on prevention and that we're trying to deal with problems at the front end. We've funded and increased the funding for alcohol and drug workers, we've added social work positions, we've increased the environmental budget over the last three years by $40 million. Mr. Speaker, we are basically pouring a lot of money into the health and social service system. Until we deal with the front end issues of what causes the problems and what causes the people to drink and to abuse their families, we will never have enough money to deal with the issues. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 381-14(6): Increasing Numbers Of Child Apprehensions And Permanent Custody Cases
Question 381-14(6): Increasing Numbers Of Child Apprehensions And Permanent Custody Cases
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1229

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Minister Miltenberger. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee.

Sandy Lee

Sandy Lee Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question today is to the Premier and it's following up on the answers the Premier provided last Friday with regard to the question asked by Mr. Dent. Mr. Speaker, the Premier indicated that he will be taking appropriate action with regard to the rules and procedures about discretionary funding. I'd like to know from the Premier whether or not he would make available to us what kind of actions he will be taking in this regard. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Ms. Lee. The honourable Premier, Mr. Kakfwi.

Return To Question 382-14(6): Publish And Revisit Procedures For Discretionary Funding Applied By Ministers
Question 382-14(6): Publish And Revisit Procedures For Discretionary Funding Applied By Ministers
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1230

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the controls and guidelines that we have in place that define how decisions are made, resources are allocated, are, I believe, available to Members. As well, the way in which Ministerial discretion is allowed for under the legislation is exercised. I had indicated that Ministerial discretion was used in this instance and following discussions between myself and the Minister we had agreed that we should look at the guidelines that govern how decisions are made and review that and also the parameters given to Ministerial discretion to focus more on using the process rather than the area that allows for Ministerial discretion. We will try to make those available to Members as it becomes available. Thank you.

Return To Question 382-14(6): Publish And Revisit Procedures For Discretionary Funding Applied By Ministers
Question 382-14(6): Publish And Revisit Procedures For Discretionary Funding Applied By Ministers
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1230

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

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

Supplementary To Question 382-14(6): Publish And Revisit Procedures For Discretionary Funding Applied By Ministers
Question 382-14(6): Publish And Revisit Procedures For Discretionary Funding Applied By Ministers
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1230

Sandy Lee

Sandy Lee Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I don't want to tie up the hands of the Ministers to do their job. I appreciate that in some cases they should be left to use their discretion, but as the Premier has pointed out, we're moving closer to the elections and the Members around this House have been given lots of rules to follow in light of that. I'd like to know from the Premier whether or not he's provided any direction to his Cabinet Ministers as to their conduct and rules and procedures so that there might be no perception whatsoever or no opinion from the public as to any Ministers abusing their discretionary powers. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary To Question 382-14(6): Publish And Revisit Procedures For Discretionary Funding Applied By Ministers
Question 382-14(6): Publish And Revisit Procedures For Discretionary Funding Applied By Ministers
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1230

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Ms. Lee. The honourable Premier, Mr. Kakfwi.

Further Return To Question 382-14(6): Publish And Revisit Procedures For Discretionary Funding Applied By Ministers
Question 382-14(6): Publish And Revisit Procedures For Discretionary Funding Applied By Ministers
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1230

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As early as a year ago we had alerted Ministers, especially new Ministers, to the fact that a phenomenon visits us starting about six months before the election called "the silly season." It does cause us to act in a way that perhaps is a little different from our usual mode of behaviour. That is because of the proximity to elections and it's not only one that can affect the behaviour of Premiers and Ministers, but also Members of the legislature on the other side as well.

We are aware of that and we've fortified ourselves well in advance of it, but it's still upon us and we try to conduct ourselves with as much dignity and restrained passion as possible at this time. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 382-14(6): Publish And Revisit Procedures For Discretionary Funding Applied By Ministers
Question 382-14(6): Publish And Revisit Procedures For Discretionary Funding Applied By Ministers
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1230

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

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

Supplementary To Question 382-14(6): Publish And Revisit Procedures For Discretionary Funding Applied By Ministers
Question 382-14(6): Publish And Revisit Procedures For Discretionary Funding Applied By Ministers
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1230

Sandy Lee

Sandy Lee Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think I might need a translator to figure out what the Premier just said. I hear fortification and silly season or something. Mr. Speaker, I don't think there's anything silly and unserious about Ministers, especially in his own riding weeks before the election writing out text on discretionary conditions. I'd like to ask a very serious question to the Premier. Would he issue a guideline to his Ministers about what they should and should not do with discretionary funding at this time of election, which is very serious? There is nothing silly about that, in my opinion. Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 382-14(6): Publish And Revisit Procedures For Discretionary Funding Applied By Ministers
Question 382-14(6): Publish And Revisit Procedures For Discretionary Funding Applied By Ministers
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1230

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Ms. Lee. The honourable Premier, Mr. Kakfwi.

Further Return To Question 382-14(6): Publish And Revisit Procedures For Discretionary Funding Applied By Ministers
Question 382-14(6): Publish And Revisit Procedures For Discretionary Funding Applied By Ministers
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1230

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think the Member's beating a point to death. As far as I'm concerned the process is working. The Member and Members have identified an instance where Ministerial discretion that was used is being questioned. I shared that, the Minister shares that. We've agreed to address it. There are other areas in legislation where Ministers are allowed to use discretion as they come up and we agree that we should visit the way in which these Ministerial authorities can be exercised. That's a good thing to continue raising it day after day when we've already agreed, we've acknowledged that there's perhaps a deficiency there. The Ministerial discretion area should be reviewed. We've agreed to do that. There's really nothing more to be said. She's asked that we share whatever it is we decide to do and we've agreed with that as well. So let us get on with our work. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 382-14(6): Publish And Revisit Procedures For Discretionary Funding Applied By Ministers
Question 382-14(6): Publish And Revisit Procedures For Discretionary Funding Applied By Ministers
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1230

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Premier. Final supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Supplementary To Question 382-14(6): Publish And Revisit Procedures For Discretionary Funding Applied By Ministers
Question 382-14(6): Publish And Revisit Procedures For Discretionary Funding Applied By Ministers
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1230

Sandy Lee

Sandy Lee Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It might be that this issue's been beaten to death from that end, but thus far, Mr. Speaker, I have nothing that's been given to me that tells me under what discretion the Minister has spent this money. Under what rules? I have no information as to what the Premier is prepared to do. All I have is that they're going to do something about it. How could it be beaten to death? May I please have the Premier give me information as to how the Minister spent $120,000 in Inuvik for 12 people, tomorrow? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 382-14(6): Publish And Revisit Procedures For Discretionary Funding Applied By Ministers
Question 382-14(6): Publish And Revisit Procedures For Discretionary Funding Applied By Ministers
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1230

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Ms. Lee. There is a question there. The honourable Premier, Mr. Kakfwi.

Further Return To Question 382-14(6): Publish And Revisit Procedures For Discretionary Funding Applied By Ministers
Question 382-14(6): Publish And Revisit Procedures For Discretionary Funding Applied By Ministers
Item 6: Oral Questions

October 5th, 2003

Page 1230

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, some resources were allocated to members of the public in Inuvik and in reviewing it we felt that we should have more guidelines in place to govern that and rely less on the Ministerial discretion. We've agreed with the comments made by the Members and we have committed to addressing that. We haven't done any work since the session started. We've asked officials to look at it and they will do their work and we will make it available to Members as soon as it is available. We agree it's an area that needs attention. We've acknowledged that and we said we're going to address it. The Member wants us to share our work so she can understand how it is that we're going to address it and we're prepared to do that. That is what we've agreed to do, so there we are. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 382-14(6): Publish And Revisit Procedures For Discretionary Funding Applied By Ministers
Question 382-14(6): Publish And Revisit Procedures For Discretionary Funding Applied By Ministers
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1231

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Premier. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Nitah.

Steven Nitah Tu Nedhe

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question's for the Minister of Transportation. As we see in today's headlines, $85 million for Northwest Territories roads and highways. I'd like to ask the Minister, since we got more money for Highway No. 3 and two other highways in the Northwest Territories, will we see now an accelerated pace on other construction projects on Northwest Territories highways, specifically Highway No. 6? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Nitah. The honourable Minister of Finance, Minister Handley.

Return To Question 383-14(6): Infrastructure Funding For Highway No. 6
Question 383-14(6): Infrastructure Funding For Highway No. 6
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1231

Joe Handley

Joe Handley Weledeh

Mr. Speaker, I expect we will see some action on the other roads that are not included in the Corridors for Canada proposal. As Members know, the Corridors for Canada proposal my department put together is a proposal that links economic return with highway infrastructure. The additional money that we're receiving on top of the $20 million we already have for this year, that $45 million has not yet been allocated and remains to be negotiated between Mr. Rock's officials and my officials. Thank you.

Return To Question 383-14(6): Infrastructure Funding For Highway No. 6
Question 383-14(6): Infrastructure Funding For Highway No. 6
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1231

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Minister Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Nitah.

Supplementary To Question 383-14(6): Infrastructure Funding For Highway No. 6
Question 383-14(6): Infrastructure Funding For Highway No. 6
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1231

Steven Nitah Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as the Minister's negotiating with Mr. Rock's office I'd like him to keep in mind Highway No. 6 and the need for improved road infrastructure including a chipseal that's thicker than half an inch, Mr. Speaker. So I'd like to ask the Minister if he would consider Highway No. 6 for an accelerated improvement pace. Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 383-14(6): Infrastructure Funding For Highway No. 6
Question 383-14(6): Infrastructure Funding For Highway No. 6
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1231

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Nitah. The honourable Minister of Finance, Minister Handley.

Further Return To Question 383-14(6): Infrastructure Funding For Highway No. 6
Question 383-14(6): Infrastructure Funding For Highway No. 6
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1231

Joe Handley

Joe Handley Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Certainly. As we factor in the additional $45 million into our Transportation infrastructure budget, we'll need to look at our whole capital plan in Transportation to figure out where we can prioritize money and distribute the opportunities that are here. Definitely Highway No. 6 will be taken into consideration on that, as will other highways. I think, Mr. Speaker, the next government has a big task to figure out how to reallocate all of our resources. Thank you.