Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As Members know, this government places a great deal of importance on the advice that it receives from all Members, but we've also received advice from all Members as to what we should be doing in our fiscal situation and the budget that we have before us reflects that fiscal situation. The decisions that have been made, where there are reductions, have been made where there will be the least impact on people receiving the services. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Debates of Feb. 23rd, 2005
This is page numbers 1477 - 1520 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
Return To Question 469-15(3): Closure Of The South Mackenzie Correctional Centre Remand Unit
Question 469-15(3): Closure Of The South Mackenzie Correctional Centre Remand Unit
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1493
Return To Question 469-15(3): Closure Of The South Mackenzie Correctional Centre Remand Unit
Question 469-15(3): Closure Of The South Mackenzie Correctional Centre Remand Unit
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1493
The Speaker Paul Delorey
Thank you, Mr. Dent. The time for oral questions has expired; however, I will allow the Member to continue her supplementary questions. Mrs. Groenewegen.
Supplementary To Question 469-15(3): Closure Of The South Mackenzie Correctional Centre Remand Unit
Question 469-15(3): Closure Of The South Mackenzie Correctional Centre Remand Unit
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1493
Groenewgen
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Minister indicated he places importance on the input and the consultation with the Members in this House. What did the Members of this House and the members of the committees who considered the closure of the remand in Hay River have to say about that? Thank you.
Supplementary To Question 469-15(3): Closure Of The South Mackenzie Correctional Centre Remand Unit
Question 469-15(3): Closure Of The South Mackenzie Correctional Centre Remand Unit
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1493
Further Return To Question 469-15(3): Closure Of The South Mackenzie Correctional Centre Remand Unit
Question 469-15(3): Closure Of The South Mackenzie Correctional Centre Remand Unit
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1493
Charles Dent Frame Lake
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The government listened to the recommendations that came from the committee and did add a lot of money back into the budget to a number of areas, but not in all of the areas that the committees recommended. The government tried to respond as best it could within the fiscal reality that the government faces. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Further Return To Question 469-15(3): Closure Of The South Mackenzie Correctional Centre Remand Unit
Question 469-15(3): Closure Of The South Mackenzie Correctional Centre Remand Unit
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1493
Supplementary To Question 469-15(3): Closure Of The South Mackenzie Correctional Centre Remand Unit
Question 469-15(3): Closure Of The South Mackenzie Correctional Centre Remand Unit
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1493
Groenewgen
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Minister, in the fulfillment of his duties as any Minister, does consider the consultation and the input from officials in his department, from hearing from people in the community-at-large and certainly, we hope, places a considerable amount of importance on what people duly-elected to this House have to say. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to know if the Minister, who is seemingly very heavily reliant on the advice of the officials in this department, would consider, as he's had to in the past on a number of issues, an independent review of the remand services provided in the Northwest Territories, to give Members on this side of the House confidence that what he is proceeding with makes sense and is in the best interests of the people and our fiscal situation? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Supplementary To Question 469-15(3): Closure Of The South Mackenzie Correctional Centre Remand Unit
Question 469-15(3): Closure Of The South Mackenzie Correctional Centre Remand Unit
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1494
Further Return To Question 469-15(3): Closure Of The South Mackenzie Correctional Centre Remand Unit
Question 469-15(3): Closure Of The South Mackenzie Correctional Centre Remand Unit
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1494
Charles Dent Frame Lake
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A review might cost as much as the amount of money we're talking about saving. So we'd have to increase the budget rather than decreasing it. I am satisfied. I have challenged the department on the figures that have been advanced. I am satisfied that they are accurate and verifiable and I am prepared to sit down with the Member and go through them. Maybe that way we can come to some agreement on whether there are any savings or not. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 469-15(3): Closure Of The South Mackenzie Correctional Centre Remand Unit
Question 469-15(3): Closure Of The South Mackenzie Correctional Centre Remand Unit
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1494
Supplementary To Question 469-15(3): Closure Of The South Mackenzie Correctional Centre Remand Unit
Question 469-15(3): Closure Of The South Mackenzie Correctional Centre Remand Unit
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1494
Groenewgen
Mr. Speaker, I hate to point this out, but I think it's time to mention that this is the same Minister who stood up in this House and said there was no unusual or unsafe or any human resource issues at the North Slave Correctional Centre, and then commissioned a review that told him exactly the opposite. So I don't have a lot of confidence in what the Minister has been told. I don't have any confidence in his numbers. I ask him again, would he get an independent opinion that would prove that what he's doing with closing remand services in Hay River is a good and sound decision? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Supplementary To Question 469-15(3): Closure Of The South Mackenzie Correctional Centre Remand Unit
Question 469-15(3): Closure Of The South Mackenzie Correctional Centre Remand Unit
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1494
An Hon. Member
Hear! Hear!
Supplementary To Question 469-15(3): Closure Of The South Mackenzie Correctional Centre Remand Unit
Question 469-15(3): Closure Of The South Mackenzie Correctional Centre Remand Unit
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1494
Further Return To Question 469-15(3): Closure Of The South Mackenzie Correctional Centre Remand Unit
Question 469-15(3): Closure Of The South Mackenzie Correctional Centre Remand Unit
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1494
Charles Dent Frame Lake
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The decision is a fiscal decision and we are basing it on the fact that we can save money and provide the service in the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Further Return To Question 469-15(3): Closure Of The South Mackenzie Correctional Centre Remand Unit
Question 469-15(3): Closure Of The South Mackenzie Correctional Centre Remand Unit
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1494
The Speaker Paul Delorey
Thank you, Mr. Dent. Time for oral questions has expired. Item 7, written questions. Item 8, returns to written questions. Item 9, replies to opening address. Item 10, petitions. Item 11, reports of standing and special committees. Item 12, reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 13, tabling of documents. Item 14, notices of motion. Item 15, notices of motions for the first reading of bills. Item 16, motions. Item 17, first reading of bills. Item 18, second reading of bills. Item 19, consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters, Bill 15, Tlicho Community Services Agency Act; Bill 17, Modernization of Benefits and Obligations Act; Bill 19, Appropriation Act, 2005-2006; Bill 20, Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 3, 2004-2005; Committee Report 9-15(3), Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight Report on the Review of the Draft 2005-2006 Main Estimates; Committee Report 10-15 (3), Standing Committee on Governance and Economic Development Report on the Review of the Draft 2005-2006 Main Estimates; Committee Report 11-15(3), Standing Committee on Social Programs Report on the Review of the Draft 2005-2006 Main Estimates; Committee Report 12-15(3), Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures Report on the Review of the Report of the Chief Electoral Officer on the Administration of the 2003 General Election; Minister's Statement 86-15(3), Northern Strategy; Minister's Statement 88-15(3), Update on Oil and Gas Development in the NWT; Minister's Statement 89-15(3), Community Leaders' Conference Report: Preparing for the Pipeline; Minister's Statement 90-15(3), Social Impacts of the Mackenzie Gas Project; and, Minister's Statement 91-15(3), Preparation for the Mackenzie Gas Project. By the authority given to me as Speaker, by Motion 2-15(3), I hereby resolve the House into Committee of the Whole to sit beyond the hour of adjournment until such time as the committee is ready to report progress, with Mrs. Groenewegen in the chair.
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1494
The Chair Jane Groenewegen
I call Committee of the Whole to order. The Members are aware of the items before us today. What is the wish of the committee? Mr. Menicoche.
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1494
Kevin A. Menicoche Nahendeh
Thank you, Madam Chair. We wish to consider Bill 19, Appropriation Act, 2005-2006, specifically Environment and Natural Resources, followed by Education, Culture and Employment upon conclusion.
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1494
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1494
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1494
The Chair Jane Groenewegen
At the discretion of the chair, we will resume after a short break. Thank you.
---SHORT RECESS
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1494
The Chair Jane Groenewegen
I am going to call Committee of the Whole back to order. We are on the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. We left off last night under general comments on the department's main estimates. Last night when we adjourned, I had Mr. Zoe next on the list to speak. General comments for ENR. I'm sorry. What a great idea, thank you. If the committee is agreed, can Mr. Bell bring witnesses into the Chamber?
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1494
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1494
The Chair Jane Groenewegen
Thank you. Mr. Bell, would you like to bring in witnesses? Yes. I will ask the Sergeant-at-Arms if he will escort Mr. Bell's witnesses to the witness table.
For the record, Mr. Bell, please introduce your witnesses.
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1494
Brendan Bell Yellowknife South
Thank you, Madam Chair. The same as yesterday. Today I have the acting deputy minister for Environment and Natural Resources, Bob Bailey; and, I have the director of corporate services, Jim Kennedy, with me. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1494