Debates of June 10th, 2008

This is page numbers 1059 to 1114 of the Hansard for the 16th Assembly, 2nd 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 going.

Topics

Oral Questions

Prayer

Minister’s Statement 59-16(2) GNWT Energy Programs And Initiatives

Minister’s Statement 60-16(2) Scotland Exhibit

Minister’s Statement 61-16(2) WSCC Mine Rescue Competition

Northern Exploration Expertise Development In The Beaufort Sea

Environmentally Sound Modes Of Transportation

Return Of Service Bursary Program Recipients

Maintenance And Continuation Of The GNWT Business Incentive Policy

Equal Shared Parenting Rights

Homeless Support Services In Northern Communities

Condition Of The Mackenzie Valley Highway

Reducing The Cost Of Electricity In The North

Infrastructure And Services In Tu Nedhe

Condolences To The Pagotto And Jodrell Families

Question 299-16(2) Oil And Gas Development In The Beaufort-Delta

Question 300-16(2) Repayment Of Outstanding Return Of Service Bursaries

Question 301-16(2) Efficient Operation Of The NWT Power Corporation

Question 302-16(2) Support For Non-Resident Transients

Question 303-16(2) Transfer Of Responsibility From North To South Slave Regional Office

Question 304-16(2) Environmentally Friendly Modes Of Transportation

Question 305-16(2) Equal Shared Parenting

Question 306-16(2) Location Of The Arctic Research Institute

Question 307-16(2) Water Quality Standards

Question 308-16(2) Train Tracks On The Deh Cho Bridge

Question 21-16(2) Aboriginal Employment Statistics In Maca

Question 22-16(2) Return Of Service Bursaries

Bill 12 An Act To Amend The Human Rights Act

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Main Estimates 2008–2009 Department Of Education, Culture And Employment

Main Estimates 2008–2009 Department Of Industry, Tourism And Investment

Committee Motion 39-16(2) That The Department Of ITI Review Its Management Structure To Bring Senior Management Positions Into Proportion With Total Positions In The Department (Committee Motion Carried)

Committee Motion 40-16(2) That The Department Of ITI Review Organizational Structure To Ensure All Opportunities For Decentralization Are Maximized And Include This Initiative In Business Plans (Committee Motion Carried)

Committee Motion 41-16(2) That The Department Of ITI Develop A Strategy To Increase Aboriginal Employment In Management Positions And Include Strategy In Business Plans (Committee Motion Carried)

Committee Motion 42-16(2) To Reinstate $100,000 In Contribution Funding For The Diavik Socio-Economic Agreement Under The ITI Minerals And Resources Activity (Committee Motion Carried)

Committee Motion 43-16(2) Development Of A Strategy To Support Traditional Economies (Committee Motion Carried)

Committee Motion 44-16(2) To Defer Consideration Of The Operations Expenditures (Committee Motion Carried)

To Delete $1.5 Million From Tourism And Parks For Parks Renewal (Committee Motion Carried)

Report of Committee of the Whole

Orders of the Day

Main Estimates 2008–2009 Department Of Industry, Tourism And Investment
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Bob McLeod Yellowknife South

We don’t have the finalized

public accounts yet. Once we have that, we can provide the Member with that information.

Main Estimates 2008–2009 Department Of Industry, Tourism And Investment
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair David Krutko

We’re on page 10-10,

Revenue Summary, information Item. Agreed?

Department of Industry, Tourism and

Investment, Department Summary, Revenue Summary, information item, approved.

Main Estimates 2008–2009 Department Of Industry, Tourism And Investment
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair David Krutko

Moving on to page 10-13,

Corporate Management, Activity Summary, Operations Expenditure Summary: $6.661 million. Agreed?

Department of Industry, Tourism and

Investment, Activity Summary, Corporate Management, Operations Expenditure Summary: $6.661 million, approved.

Main Estimates 2008–2009 Department Of Industry, Tourism And Investment
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair David Krutko

Mr. Ramsay.

Main Estimates 2008–2009 Department Of Industry, Tourism And Investment
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

David Ramsay Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I’d like to

move a motion.

June 9th, 2008

David Ramsay Kam Lake

I move that this committee strongly

recommends that the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment review its management structure to bring the number of senior management positions into proportion with the total number of positions within the department;

and further, that the department include its analysis and any necessary structural changes within its departmental business plan to be considered in the fall of 2008.

The Chair David Krutko

The motion is in order.

The motion is being circulated. To the motion, Mr. Ramsay.

David Ramsay Kam Lake

Yes. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I

mentioned yesterday — I believe it was yesterday in my statement — that the Department of ITI seems somewhat top-heavy. There are 21 managers in that department.

If we are in times of reductions and looking at reduction exercises, the committee feels that we should be taking a look at the management structure and not just in ITI. ITI is, arguably, the worst offender, but we’ve got to bring management in line with the people that they’re there to supervise and oversee and the functions they serve. I think we need to be always looking at that, to try to do more with what we’ve got. Like I said, 21 senior management positions in a department the size of ITI is just too many. We’d like to see some movement in that direction in the business plans in the fall.

The Chair David Krutko

To the motion?

Some Honourable Members

Question.

The Chair David Krutko

The question is being

called.

Motion carried.

The Chair David Krutko

We’re on page 10-13.

Mrs. Groenewegen.

Jane Groenewegen Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I

also have a motion.

I move that this committee strongly recommends that the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment review its organizational structure to ensure that all opportunities for decentralization of the department’s functions and personnel into the regions are maximized;

and further, that the department include its analysis and necessary decentralization initiatives within its departmental business plan to be considered in the fall of 2008.

The Chair David Krutko

The motion is in order.

The motion is being circulated. To the motion, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Jane Groenewegen Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

The motion is pretty well self-explanatory. We’re looking at the structure of the Department of ITI. Mr. Ramsay’s motion, which was just voted on, speaks to the fact that there are a lot of positions in the upper management of this department. It is good, from time to time, to look at any functions that can be decentralized to the regions. A number of the regions are being negatively impacted by these potential job reductions in the communities. We just believe that ITI is a department that could potentially look at further opportunities. That is the reason for this motion.

The Chair David Krutko

To the motion.

An Honourable Member

Question.

The Chair David Krutko

The question is being

called.

Motion carried.

The Chair David Krutko

Mr. Abernethy.

Committee Motion 41-16(2) That The Department Of ITI Develop A Strategy To Increase Aboriginal Employment In Management Positions And Include Strategy In Business Plans (Committee Motion Carried)
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Glen Abernethy Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I have a

motion.

I move that this committee strongly recommends that the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment take immediate action to develop a strategy to increase aboriginal employment in management positions and across the department;

and further, that the department include the strategy within its departmental business plans to be considered in the fall of 2008.

The Chair David Krutko

The motion is in order.

The motion is being circulated. To the motion, Mr. Abernethy.

Glen Abernethy Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I’m going to

be really brief. This is similar to the motion we raised yesterday. Although ITI does have a fairly decent aboriginal representation at the lower levels within the department, it is still low in the senior management and management-level positions. We would like to see this department take the lead and increase their aboriginal representation at the senior and management levels.

The Chair David Krutko

To the motion?

Some Honourable Members

Question.

The Chair David Krutko

The question is being

called.

Motion carried.

Debates of June 10th, 2008

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