Thank you, Mr. Antoine. Ms. Lee.
Debates of March 5th, 2003
This is page numbers 505 - 540 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 chairman.
Topics
Bill 3: Appropriation Act, 2003-2004
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 534
Bill 3: Appropriation Act, 2003-2004
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 534
Sandy Lee Range Lake
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I will just accept that answer for now. I just want to follow up on the definition of diamonds that are being considered by the Competition Bureau. Can I get clarification on whether or not the decision has been made already by the Competition Bureau and if that's the case, then I would think the only recourse the government may have is to challenge their decision on the definition of diamond through a court or something under an administrative law tribunal. Or is it the case that they are still considering it and you are trying to influence the process, the decision? Thank you.
Bill 3: Appropriation Act, 2003-2004
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 534
Bill 3: Appropriation Act, 2003-2004
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 534
Jim Antoine Nahendeh
The Competition Bureau made their decision two years ago. I am told that that decision is not challengeable through court and the only recourse is trying to influence them to change their definition via the Minister who is responsible for the Competition Bureau, Minister of Industry Allan Rock and the other Ministers in the government probably have influence. Thank you.
Bill 3: Appropriation Act, 2003-2004
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 534
Bill 3: Appropriation Act, 2003-2004
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 534
Floyd Roland Inuvik Boot Lake
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, to continue on with diamond projects, we have heard a number of things. With respect to the Competition Bureau, it sounds like we have done everything we can and the federal government has made a decision and Ministers seem to agree with that decision. So the idea of carrying a big stick is not too good for us because, as was previously pointed out to us, we don't have much of a stick to hold onto.
We need to work with what we already have, not with what we're trying to make the government or Competition Bureau do - we tried that and it doesn't seem to be working. The Minister talked about a portion of rough being made available to the polishers and those groups in the NWT. My understanding is it's about 10 percent. What kind of take-up have we had on that through the polishing companies, cutting and manufacturing companies? Do they regularly access the 10 percent that's being made available?
Bill 3: Appropriation Act, 2003-2004
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 535
Bill 3: Appropriation Act, 2003-2004
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 535
Jim Antoine Nahendeh
Yes, in the beginning of this development of the diamond manufacturing companies in the NWT, not all the allocations have been used up. Recently the three existing manufacturers have restructured and they have taken on partnerships. Bigger experienced and known diamond companies have bought into all three of them, made partnerships with all three existing diamond manufacturers. In fact, there is a plan to expand some of their factories to make them bigger. So we anticipate that as Diavik gets into production and the different manufacturers line up to be considered, I think there is going to be more of a take-up in the North. Some of the plans are to get diamonds that are bought separately. So there are major plans to do more with these manufacturing companies in Yellowknife. Thank you.
Bill 3: Appropriation Act, 2003-2004
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 535
Bill 3: Appropriation Act, 2003-2004
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 535
Floyd Roland Inuvik Boot Lake
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Can the Minister inform us when we might see an increase in production or the uptake on that percentage of diamonds?
Bill 3: Appropriation Act, 2003-2004
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 535
Bill 3: Appropriation Act, 2003-2004
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 535
Jim Antoine Nahendeh
Yes, the way I would like to answer it is that the companies, Arslanian Cutting Works and Sirius, are probably going to be taking all the allocation. Schechter Nimda, who has partnered up with the band in Ndilo, have restructured there as well. We anticipate that once they are geared up, they will be taking the full allotment. The whole situation with Tiffany's sis going on the right track as well. Tiffany's plans are big. They have big plans of fully utilizing their manufacturing site as well. Thank you.
Bill 3: Appropriation Act, 2003-2004
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 535
Bill 3: Appropriation Act, 2003-2004
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 535
Floyd Roland Inuvik Boot Lake
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. What's the total amount budgeted for diamond projects?
Bill 3: Appropriation Act, 2003-2004
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 535
Bill 3: Appropriation Act, 2003-2004
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 535
Jim Antoine Nahendeh
The total amount budgeted for diamond projects is $1.273 million.
Bill 3: Appropriation Act, 2003-2004
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 535
Bill 3: Appropriation Act, 2003-2004
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 535
Floyd Roland Inuvik Boot Lake
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Does that include travel within that amount, the total travel that they can allot within that part of the budget?
Bill 3: Appropriation Act, 2003-2004
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 535
Bill 3: Appropriation Act, 2003-2004
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 535
Jim Antoine Nahendeh
Yes, that includes the travel.
Bill 3: Appropriation Act, 2003-2004
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 535
Bill 3: Appropriation Act, 2003-2004
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 535
Floyd Roland Inuvik Boot Lake
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. How much of the budget actually goes towards travel?
Bill 3: Appropriation Act, 2003-2004
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 535
Bill 3: Appropriation Act, 2003-2004
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 535
Jim Antoine Nahendeh
There is $248,000 towards travel and transportation.
Bill 3: Appropriation Act, 2003-2004
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 535