This is page numbers 177 - 204 of the Hansard for the 15th Assembly, 4th 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 ---applause.

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Supplementary To Question 80-15(4): Commitment To Provide List Of Capital Projects That Lapsed Or Were Held Over To Subsequent Years
Question 80-15(4): Commitment To Provide List Of Capital Projects That Lapsed Or Were Held Over To Subsequent Years
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 192

David Ramsay

David Ramsay Kam Lake

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I think the Minister of Finance may have his Regular Members mixed up in the quotes that occurred in the local press in regard to support of this initiative. I've said before and I'll say it again, I am supportive of decentralization when it makes sense and when this government can show us an actual business case that does make sense. In this regard there was none, there was no consultation. If you want to call consultation us standing up on this side of the House questioning the Minister of Health and Social Services to try to get him to produce a document that we can digest and we can look at, what type of consultation is that, Madam Speaker?

Again, it goes back to process and it goes back to timing. The timing on this was just terrible. To me it is not any form of consultation and I'd like the Minister to maybe give us some kind of respect and show us a little bit of respect. We have a job to do too. We have constituents to look after as well, and it's causing us a great deal of concern. Maybe the Minister can commit to having a look at this. Maybe we can learn something from this and we can move forward from here. I would like the Minister to say that he'll maybe sit down with AOC and sit down with some of the Regular Members to try to sort out what happened here so we don't see a repeat performance. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Supplementary To Question 80-15(4): Commitment To Provide List Of Capital Projects That Lapsed Or Were Held Over To Subsequent Years
Question 80-15(4): Commitment To Provide List Of Capital Projects That Lapsed Or Were Held Over To Subsequent Years
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 192

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Minister Roland.

Further Return To Question 80-15(4): Commitment To Provide List Of Capital Projects That Lapsed Or Were Held Over To Subsequent Years
Question 80-15(4): Commitment To Provide List Of Capital Projects That Lapsed Or Were Held Over To Subsequent Years
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 192

Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, with the branch being extended about working together, I am always willing to work with the Members of this Assembly on the rules that we use. In fact, as a result of the questioning and some of the confusion about what applies in the guidelines that are used, I intend to and have talked with my Cabinet colleagues and intend to strengthen section 302 of the FAM document to make it formal, that the communication be done in writing instead of being in the area of consulting. Consulting is a number of things; where it's a discussion in the hall, in a Minister's office, or the formal process of making an actual presentation to committee. So I'll agree and inform Members here now that what I intend to do is go back to my department and work on redoing that section of the FAM to make it very clear that the consultation shall be formal and it shall be in writing. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 80-15(4): Commitment To Provide List Of Capital Projects That Lapsed Or Were Held Over To Subsequent Years
Question 80-15(4): Commitment To Provide List Of Capital Projects That Lapsed Or Were Held Over To Subsequent Years
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 192

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Minister Roland. Item 7, oral questions. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.

Question 81-15(4): Greater Transparency On Edap Program Details
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 192

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, my questions will be for the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation, the Honourable David Krutko. Madam Speaker, I am still concerned that there is zero transparency on this program and I'm not even sure I can quote any numbers because we don't even know if they're all correct. I've never been replied to with a new profile, a signed letter to say that they're all correct. So, Madam Speaker, the point of transparency still stands. Will this Minister hear me when I say confidentiality is not an issue to be hiding behind, because if he goes out and breaks these details, it will have no effect in identifying an individual person? So the question to the Minister of Housing is will he go back to his department and get the information and commit to coming forward with the details I've asked as to the scenarios on that list he provided to me? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Question 81-15(4): Greater Transparency On Edap Program Details
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 192

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation, Mr. Krutko.

Return To Question 81-15(4): Greater Transparency On Edap Program Details
Question 81-15(4): Greater Transparency On Edap Program Details
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 192

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I'd just like to point out to the Member that he did request information through an oral question. I took it as notice. The information will be coming, but in the Member's question I would just like to point out to the Member that the information that he is requesting is barred because it's confidential information. We cannot start releasing information from somebody's application and where someone has been approved for these programs and expect to have credibility in the process.

So I would just like to point out to the Member that a lot of the information that the Member is requesting is confidential information, which came through an application. A person got approved based on the information provided, they met the criteria of the program and they were able to get the program. So I would like to make it clear to the Member that the information that you are requesting is confidential information and we will not release confidential information. Thank you.

Return To Question 81-15(4): Greater Transparency On Edap Program Details
Question 81-15(4): Greater Transparency On Edap Program Details
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 192

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Minister Krutko. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 81-15(4): Greater Transparency On Edap Program Details
Question 81-15(4): Greater Transparency On Edap Program Details
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 192

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, asking for stats and information is not confidential when you don't connect it to people's names and when you have a pool of 14 people in a city as large as 20,000, it's pretty tough to know who is who. On top of that, we don't announce or publicize in any way the recipients of these grants. So we don't say John Doe or Jane Doe received a grant. It's very difficult to imagine how even to start to begin with how someone would connect a name with who potentially got this. So the bottom line is I think what's being flaunted here is the word confidentiality and we're going to hide behind it. Well I'm sorry, Madam Speaker, that is not good enough. We can provide that information. I sought legal advise in this question, which is we could provide it. So the question to the Minister is will he provide the information that I've asked for, which is people's situation before they got this grant, such as were they in public housing or not, how big was the family; those types of scenarios. I have given him lots of questions. So to the point, will the Minister provide those types of answers that I've asked of him? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Supplementary To Question 81-15(4): Greater Transparency On Edap Program Details
Question 81-15(4): Greater Transparency On Edap Program Details
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 193

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Minister Krutko.

Further Return To Question 81-15(4): Greater Transparency On Edap Program Details
Question 81-15(4): Greater Transparency On Edap Program Details
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 193

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I will provide the Member the information that's appropriate to the question, but I will not provide information that is confidential. So I'd like to make that clear to the Member. The information that he will get is based on information that we can release, because we do have responsibilities through ATIPP legislation, which protects individuals' rights so that they know that their information will be held confidential. So I just want to point that out to the Member. I will get him the information that's appropriate to his question, but I will not give him all the information appropriate to a person's application. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 81-15(4): Greater Transparency On Edap Program Details
Question 81-15(4): Greater Transparency On Edap Program Details
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 193

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Minister Krutko. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 81-15(4): Greater Transparency On Edap Program Details
Question 81-15(4): Greater Transparency On Edap Program Details
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 193

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I will say thank you, Mr. Minister, for moving forward on that issue.

---Applause

Thank you, good Minister. Madam Speaker, would the Minister...I'm overwhelmed at this moment. He's budged. Madam Speaker, the question I want to ask is would the Minister agree today to at his earliest convenience by next week, can he update this sort of Yellowknife information that I had requested in my written question of March 9th, which is asking the details on the Yellowknife recipients? So would he update the letter he had sent me under his signature that there was some typos in? Can he start with that? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Supplementary To Question 81-15(4): Greater Transparency On Edap Program Details
Question 81-15(4): Greater Transparency On Edap Program Details
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 193

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Minister Krutko.

Further Return To Question 81-15(4): Greater Transparency On Edap Program Details
Question 81-15(4): Greater Transparency On Edap Program Details
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 193

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I will get the Member the information he requested through the questions he has raised in this House and the ones that I have taken as notice. I will get him that information, but I will make it clear to the Member that I will ensure that we follow the ATIPP legislation and ensure that we protect the confidentiality of our applicants and that we do not release any information that could jeopardize their privacy. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 81-15(4): Greater Transparency On Edap Program Details
Question 81-15(4): Greater Transparency On Edap Program Details
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 193

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Minister Krutko. Final brief supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 81-15(4): Greater Transparency On Edap Program Details
Question 81-15(4): Greater Transparency On Edap Program Details
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 193

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I'm sorry for those that had to read the Hansard because I was sort of lost due to being overwhelmed on getting that last one. So, Madam Speaker, my only question now to the Minister, which should be quite easy for him, is when can I get these responses? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Supplementary To Question 81-15(4): Greater Transparency On Edap Program Details
Question 81-15(4): Greater Transparency On Edap Program Details
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 193

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Minister Krutko.

Further Return To Question 81-15(4): Greater Transparency On Edap Program Details
Question 81-15(4): Greater Transparency On Edap Program Details
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 193

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I will provide the Member the information when it comes available from my office to make sure that the list is accurate and we have the information. Timelines; we're probably looking at next week or the week after. Thank you.

---Applause

Further Return To Question 81-15(4): Greater Transparency On Edap Program Details
Question 81-15(4): Greater Transparency On Edap Program Details
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 193

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Minister Krutko. Item 7, oral questions. The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Braden.

Question 82-15(4): Consultation And Business Planning Process Of GNWT
Item 7: Oral Questions

June 1st, 2005

Page 193

Bill Braden

Bill Braden Great Slave

Madam Speaker, my questions this afternoon are for the Minister responsible for the Financial Management Board Secretariat related to the process of consultation and changes in business plans and projects. Madam Speaker, it's bewildering that Members were put through a cycle in the last few days of hearing again and again and again from one Minister that a project was a done deal, the money was in place, it was gone, it was over, and then for the Minister of Finance or FMBS to come before this Assembly and ask permission for what the Minister said is already a done deal. This is the dilemma that we're in.

Madam Speaker, a few minutes ago the Minister did say, in response to a question from my colleague, that they do want to go back and revisit this guideline, strengthen it up, firm it up and I welcome that very much, but what I didn't hear -- we're talking about consultation -- is that the Minister is going to ask for our input into how we believe that process would come about. Is this going to be another one-sided, arbitrary process, or is the Minister going to invite our input into what we believe to be a satisfactory level of consultation? Thanks, Madam Speaker.

Question 82-15(4): Consultation And Business Planning Process Of GNWT
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 193

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Braden. The honourable Minister responsible for the FMBS, Mr. Roland.

Return To Question 82-15(4): Consultation And Business Planning Process Of GNWT
Question 82-15(4): Consultation And Business Planning Process Of GNWT
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 193

Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I think over a number of years the department has made changes in its process of how it does things as a result of concerns being raised in the House. We have made a number of changes and as I'd committed to this process I'm hearing the concerns here and looking at the document and seeing already where we can strengthen that. Again, I'll provide that to the Members and see what input they want on it. Some Members would probably like to sit beside me at the FMB table and say yes or no to certain projects. Unfortunately, we won't get to that level, but I will forward the revised draft of that section to the committee and Members of this Assembly for their input to see if that in fact it doesn't meet their satisfaction. Thank you.

Return To Question 82-15(4): Consultation And Business Planning Process Of GNWT
Question 82-15(4): Consultation And Business Planning Process Of GNWT
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 194

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Minister Roland. Supplementary, Mr. Braden. Item 7, oral questions. The honourable Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee.

Question 83-15(4): Delivery Of Programs Under Protection Of Family Violence Legislation
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 194

Sandy Lee

Sandy Lee Range Lake

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I have questions for the Minister of Justice and it's in regard to the joint staff relationship between the YWCA and the TTC. Madam Speaker, I heard, with interest, the Minister's statement earlier today about the new legislation, the Protection Against Family Violence Act, which is groundbreaking legislation that just got started in April. It's going to take some time to get it working well and, as the Minister indicated in his statement, the YWCA is a key organization in implementing this legislation. It is a clearing centre in Yellowknife and across the Territories. If there are, in communities, not a women's centre or a family violence centre that the women can call, or men in some cases, the 1-800 line goes directly to the YWCA. I don't know if the Minister of Justice is aware that the three key employees at the YWCA also work at TTC. I'd like to know if the Minister responsible for family violence and related issues was able to bring this to the Cabinet table or whether he's even aware of it. Thank you.