Debates of March 8th, 2007

This is page numbers 1335 - 1380 of the Hansard for the 15th Assembly, 5th 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 work.

Topics

Members Present
Item 1: Prayer
International Women's Day
Construction Of The Tulita Bypass On The Mackenzie Valley Winter Road
Lack Of Health Services In The Nunakput Communities
International Women's Day
Women In Leadership
Honouring The Contributions Of Women
Importance Of Reviewing Territorial Boards And Agencies
Honouring The Contribution Of Women
Tamerlane Ventures Negotiations With Deninu Kue First Nation
Honouring The Contributions Of Women
Opportunities For Women In The Mackenzie Gas Project
International Women's Day
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Resource Revenue Sharing Negotiations
Resource Revenue Sharing Negotiations
Review Of Territorial Boards And Agencies
Funding For Territorial Schools
Tlicho Community Services Agency Hiring Practices
Meeting With Alberta Officials To Discuss Transboundary Issues
Management Support For The Fort Resolution Band Council
Student Financial Assistance For Students With Dependents
Resource Revenue Sharing Negotiations
Public Sector Growth
Resource Revenue Sharing Negotiations
Opportunities For Women In The Mackenzie Gas Project
Pan-territorial Northern Vision
Mackenzie Gas Project Socio-economic Impacts Funding
Bill 22: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 3, 2006-2007
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Zero-based Review Of Public Service Positions
Implementation Of The Third-party Accountability Framework
Item 17: Report Of Committee Of The Whole
Item 19: Orders Of The Day

Committee Motion 50-15(5): Implementation Of The Third-party Accountability Framework, Carried
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1377

Paul Delorey

Paul Delorey Hay River North

Thank you, Madam Chair. The issue that's brought up by the Member, and I thank him for the question, is one that's been around for a while. We put a lot of importance in the research staff that we have, especially the staff that's working with our standing committees. It's an issue that we've been trying to address for some time now. We're making some progress in that, have had some agreement from Human

Resources to allow us to reclassify some of the positions and make them more comparable to analyst positions that work for Cabinet and that's progressing. As we speak, actually, there is communications going on between the Clerk's office and Human Resources, and with the new job descriptions we're hoping to have the pay levels more equalized and that should help us recruit and retain staff that will work with the committees a lot better. So that's where we are now on that. Thank you.

Committee Motion 50-15(5): Implementation Of The Third-party Accountability Framework, Carried
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1378

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Ramsay.

Committee Motion 50-15(5): Implementation Of The Third-party Accountability Framework, Carried
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1378

David Ramsay

David Ramsay Kam Lake

Thank you, Madam Chair. I wish the Speaker and the Clerk's office well in the negotiations or the discussions with Human Resources because it is imperative that Members on this side of the House have the opportunity and ability to attract and retain a research staff that is comparable to what a researcher or analyst inside a department would be remunerated at. It's obvious; I mean we have to be as well prepared as our colleagues across the floor when it comes to getting information to us at our disposal so we can use it here in the House. Again, I want to wish the Speaker well on that.

One of the other things in the office of the Clerk, I just wanted to touch on this for a second, I think we've added a public affairs officer. It's not a new position, but that has been a tremendous help to Members as well. Again, I wanted to mention that that office has been a really big help to me individually and I know other Members. Attracting that person to that position was a very good move on the part of the Clerk's office. So again, I wanted to say thank you for that too. Thank you.

Committee Motion 50-15(5): Implementation Of The Third-party Accountability Framework, Carried
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1378

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay, and our new Clerk. I think we're grateful to all of the staff that serve us here at the Legislative Assembly. We have got a very good group. Activity summary, office of the Clerk, operations expenditures, $7.653 million.

Committee Motion 50-15(5): Implementation Of The Third-party Accountability Framework, Carried
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1378

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

Committee Motion 50-15(5): Implementation Of The Third-party Accountability Framework, Carried
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1378

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Agreed, thank you. Activity summary, office of the Speaker, operations expenditure summary, $388,000.

Committee Motion 50-15(5): Implementation Of The Third-party Accountability Framework, Carried
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1378

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

Committee Motion 50-15(5): Implementation Of The Third-party Accountability Framework, Carried
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1378

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Agreed, thank you. Page 1-21, activity summary, expenditures on behalf of Members, operations expenditure summary, $6.045 million.

Committee Motion 50-15(5): Implementation Of The Third-party Accountability Framework, Carried
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1378

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

Committee Motion 50-15(5): Implementation Of The Third-party Accountability Framework, Carried
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1378

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Agreed, thank you. Activity summary on page 1-23, office of the Chief Electoral Officer, operations expenditure summary, $1.123 million.

Committee Motion 50-15(5): Implementation Of The Third-party Accountability Framework, Carried
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1378

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

Committee Motion 50-15(5): Implementation Of The Third-party Accountability Framework, Carried
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1378

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Agreed, thank you. Page 1-27, activity summary, statutory officers, operations expenditure summary, $1.085 million. Mr. Ramsay.

Committee Motion 50-15(5): Implementation Of The Third-party Accountability Framework, Carried
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1378

David Ramsay

David Ramsay Kam Lake

Thank you, Madam Chair. I had my hand up on 1-23, sorry about that, but if I could request the committee's indulgence to go back to 1-23 just for one question. Thank you.

Committee Motion 50-15(5): Implementation Of The Third-party Accountability Framework, Carried
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1378

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Does the committee agree to go back to office of the Chief Electoral Officer?

Committee Motion 50-15(5): Implementation Of The Third-party Accountability Framework, Carried
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1378

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

Committee Motion 50-15(5): Implementation Of The Third-party Accountability Framework, Carried
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1378

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Agreed, thank you. Mr. Ramsay.

Committee Motion 50-15(5): Implementation Of The Third-party Accountability Framework, Carried
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1378

David Ramsay

David Ramsay Kam Lake

Thank you, Madam Chair. I just wanted to ask this question, too, to get it on the record. There are going to be some changes coming up to boundaries in Inuvik, Hay River and in Yellowknife and I just wanted to know, from a public standpoint, when are we going to be going to a public relations campaign to show the public what these new boundaries are? I know the election is six months away, but I think we have to get that information out there.

Committee Motion 50-15(5): Implementation Of The Third-party Accountability Framework, Carried
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1378

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Speaker.

Committee Motion 50-15(5): Implementation Of The Third-party Accountability Framework, Carried
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1378

Paul Delorey

Paul Delorey Hay River North

Thank you, Madam Chair. That information should be out fairly shortly. The only thing that we're a little bit hampered with right now is waiting for the federal government to actually sign off on the resolution to dissolve the House on August 31st so that we will be allowed to have an election on October 1st. We're still planning on that, but we're getting tight on the time on the six-month period and timelines that affect the election. So the Chief Electoral Officer is being hampered somewhat waiting for the federal government to sign off on that, but as soon as that comes through, then the Chief Electoral Officer will be proceeding with plans for the election and the information that you're looking for. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Committee Motion 50-15(5): Implementation Of The Third-party Accountability Framework, Carried
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1378

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Ramsay.

Committee Motion 50-15(5): Implementation Of The Third-party Accountability Framework, Carried
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1378

David Ramsay

David Ramsay Kam Lake

That's good. Thank you, Madam Chair, thank you.

Committee Motion 50-15(5): Implementation Of The Third-party Accountability Framework, Carried
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1378

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Activity summary, office of the Chief Electoral Officer, operations expenditure summary, $1.123 million.

Committee Motion 50-15(5): Implementation Of The Third-party Accountability Framework, Carried
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1378

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

Committee Motion 50-15(5): Implementation Of The Third-party Accountability Framework, Carried
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1378

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Agreed, thank you. Page 1-27, activity summary, statutory officers, operations expenditure summary, $1.085 million.

Committee Motion 50-15(5): Implementation Of The Third-party Accountability Framework, Carried
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1378

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.