Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I wasn't really concerned about the actual name of the individual, more so under which line item I would find it under, if the Minister could point that out.
Debates of March 29th, 2004
This is page numbers 403 - 454 of the Hansard for the 15th Assembly, 3rd 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
Committee Motion 10-15(3): Recommendation That Public Works And Services Adopt A Consistent Practice For Showing Compensation And Benefits Costs, Carried
Revert To Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 435
Committee Motion 10-15(3): Recommendation That Public Works And Services Adopt A Consistent Practice For Showing Compensation And Benefits Costs, Carried
Revert To Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 435
Committee Motion 10-15(3): Recommendation That Public Works And Services Adopt A Consistent Practice For Showing Compensation And Benefits Costs, Carried
Revert To Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 435
Joe Handley Weledeh
Mr. Chairman, we will find the exact place, but it would be under contract services. It's included in the $1.634 million. I gave the break out on it. I don't think there's any one item that shows up with that particular cost as an isolated item. It's in other expenses.
Committee Motion 10-15(3): Recommendation That Public Works And Services Adopt A Consistent Practice For Showing Compensation And Benefits Costs, Carried
Revert To Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 435
The Chair David Ramsay
Thank you, Mr. Minister. I believe that appears in the blue contract book, Mr. Hawkins, that the Minister speaks of. Go ahead, Mr. Hawkins.
Committee Motion 10-15(3): Recommendation That Public Works And Services Adopt A Consistent Practice For Showing Compensation And Benefits Costs, Carried
Revert To Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 435
Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. If the Minister could elaborate what we get for $95,000 out of this $245,000 breakdown. We pay $100,000 for someone to negotiate on our behalf; $50,000 we pay for someone to do research. If you could elaborate on what the $95,000 gives the territorial government for service. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Committee Motion 10-15(3): Recommendation That Public Works And Services Adopt A Consistent Practice For Showing Compensation And Benefits Costs, Carried
Revert To Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 435
Committee Motion 10-15(3): Recommendation That Public Works And Services Adopt A Consistent Practice For Showing Compensation And Benefits Costs, Carried
Revert To Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 435
Joe Handley Weledeh
Mr. Chairman, I will have Mr. Warren give more detail if you want, but it is the advice on a national devolution strategy and communications related to that. Mr. Chairman, if the Member wants more detail, I'll ask Mr. Warren.
Committee Motion 10-15(3): Recommendation That Public Works And Services Adopt A Consistent Practice For Showing Compensation And Benefits Costs, Carried
Revert To Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 435
The Chair David Ramsay
Thank you, Mr. Minister. Mr. Hawkins, do you wish to request more information?
Committee Motion 10-15(3): Recommendation That Public Works And Services Adopt A Consistent Practice For Showing Compensation And Benefits Costs, Carried
Revert To Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 435
Committee Motion 10-15(3): Recommendation That Public Works And Services Adopt A Consistent Practice For Showing Compensation And Benefits Costs, Carried
Revert To Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 435
Committee Motion 10-15(3): Recommendation That Public Works And Services Adopt A Consistent Practice For Showing Compensation And Benefits Costs, Carried
Revert To Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 435
Warren
Mr. Chairman, thank you. Basically we have a couple of contracts. This is what we spent money on in the past, but not necessarily exactly with the same companies. But it's seen that within the devolution work, it's necessary for us to have an overall communications strategy on our overall approach to how we're getting out the message that the Northwest Territories should be the controller of its own resources, and that there's value to not just the Northwest Territories but value to the rest of Canada in our resource revenue and doing a devolution deal. In order to promote that approach, we need to promote it more than just in the Northwest Territories. Well, this strategy would include a Northwest Territories strategy, and also one that is on the national stage and that can be heard by the other provinces, the other Premiers, and the other First Ministers. So we have contracted with a couple of companies to help us develop an overall strategy for providing communication on a national stage about the values of devolution and resource revenue sharing in the Northwest Territories. I think a lot of that has been seen throughout the press over the last year.
Committee Motion 10-15(3): Recommendation That Public Works And Services Adopt A Consistent Practice For Showing Compensation And Benefits Costs, Carried
Revert To Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 435
Committee Motion 10-15(3): Recommendation That Public Works And Services Adopt A Consistent Practice For Showing Compensation And Benefits Costs, Carried
Revert To Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 436
Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre
Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you, Mr. Warren, for your comments. How long has this group or function held this $95,000 negotiated contract? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Committee Motion 10-15(3): Recommendation That Public Works And Services Adopt A Consistent Practice For Showing Compensation And Benefits Costs, Carried
Revert To Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 436
Committee Motion 10-15(3): Recommendation That Public Works And Services Adopt A Consistent Practice For Showing Compensation And Benefits Costs, Carried
Revert To Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 436
Joe Handley Weledeh
Mr. Chairman, they were contracted last year, and right now it's ongoing. I can't predict how long it will continue, possibly for a full year.
Committee Motion 10-15(3): Recommendation That Public Works And Services Adopt A Consistent Practice For Showing Compensation And Benefits Costs, Carried
Revert To Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 436
Committee Motion 10-15(3): Recommendation That Public Works And Services Adopt A Consistent Practice For Showing Compensation And Benefits Costs, Carried
Revert To Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 436
Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre
Thank you. Did the Minister say we've done a negotiated contract for one more year? Has it not gone out to tender so they will fall under the breadth of a two-year program?
Committee Motion 10-15(3): Recommendation That Public Works And Services Adopt A Consistent Practice For Showing Compensation And Benefits Costs, Carried
Revert To Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 436
Committee Motion 10-15(3): Recommendation That Public Works And Services Adopt A Consistent Practice For Showing Compensation And Benefits Costs, Carried
Revert To Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 436
Joe Handley Weledeh
Mr. Chairman, it's an ongoing contract that we would have to terminate when we no longer need the services. So there is new contracting happening.
Committee Motion 10-15(3): Recommendation That Public Works And Services Adopt A Consistent Practice For Showing Compensation And Benefits Costs, Carried
Revert To Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 436
Committee Motion 10-15(3): Recommendation That Public Works And Services Adopt A Consistent Practice For Showing Compensation And Benefits Costs, Carried
Revert To Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 436
Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I think I'll just finish with this section in the sense to get an answer maybe. What type of advertisement did the MAA proceed to get some of these individuals who negotiate, who research, who provide advice, our value for devolution? What type of arm's reach did our territorial government go out to get these folks, and why didn't we continue them from before if these positions have been existing for some time, and maybe if the Minister could reference if they had been in existence for some time. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Committee Motion 10-15(3): Recommendation That Public Works And Services Adopt A Consistent Practice For Showing Compensation And Benefits Costs, Carried
Revert To Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 436
Committee Motion 10-15(3): Recommendation That Public Works And Services Adopt A Consistent Practice For Showing Compensation And Benefits Costs, Carried
Revert To Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 436
Joe Handley Weledeh
Mr. Chairman, I'm assuming we're still talking about the $95,000 for those two contracts. Both of those are with firms in Ottawa. We're going back into something that was done in the last government. I believe that there was no formal tender for it as such, although there would have been a number of interviews with firms who have the ability to deliver on the service and expertise that was needed and it was narrowed down to two firms who, it was felt at that time, could serve our needs. We will continue to assess their usefulness for our purposes as things move along. Thank you.
Committee Motion 10-15(3): Recommendation That Public Works And Services Adopt A Consistent Practice For Showing Compensation And Benefits Costs, Carried
Revert To Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 436
The Chair David Ramsay
Thank you, Mr. Minister. Mr. Hawkins, your time has expired. Is there anyone else for general comments? Mr. Hawkins.
Committee Motion 10-15(3): Recommendation That Public Works And Services Adopt A Consistent Practice For Showing Compensation And Benefits Costs, Carried
Revert To Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
March 29th, 2004
Page 436
Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I didn't quite get the answer to my first one, and it could have been how I phrased it. If the Minister could finish with letting me know how these positions were staffed, the $100,000 devolution negotiator position, and the $50,000 research advice position. How were they staffed or how were they negotiated? Did they do research on their own, or did they put out a public tendering process? Lastly, on this particular question, why did we research and negotiate with individual companies on the $95,000 advice section, rather than calling a public tender? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.