Oral questions. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Ms. Bromley.

Mr. Speaker, I have a question for the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources. I think people are aware that the federal government has proposed an amendment to the Navigable Waters Protection Act. It’s really a measure that guts the environmental protection of recreational and traditionally used streams and rivers. I’m wondering if the Department of ENR has a position on that. I’m certainly aware that the Department of Transportation does. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The honourable Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, Mr. Miltenberger.

Mr. Speaker, I’m aware that this act is being updated; it is very old. There are some things that we believe are of benefit to us. I’ve heard the concerns raised on the radio and I’ve seen the press release by the Member of Parliament, but at this point I don’t have much more detail than that. I know the Minister of

Transportation has been looking at this and has been dealing with that issue. Thank you.

Thank you for those rather startling comments from the Minister of ENR. I would assure the Minister that this is an issue worthy of his attention. I’m wondering if the Minister would commit to learning promptly about this issue and offering comment to the federal government in a way that protects the long-held protection of traditional and recreational use of small rivers, which also happen to be the most productive water bodies that we have, these small, especially small, shallow and ephemeral streams. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Yes, Mr. Speaker, I will ensure that by this time tomorrow that I am conversant on this issue and able to engage in a meaningful discourse with the Member. Thank you.

I very much appreciate that commitment on the part of this Minister. This is something that has been put through very speedily by the federal government, this particular federal government, in a low profile way that has prevented substantive input such as this. I’m wondering if the Minister would commit to making his department’s position on this clear for the public, as well, and my concerned constituents. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I will look at this. I’ll talk to my colleagues and we would be more than willing and ready to share the government’s position on what’s being proposed for the upgrades to the Navigable Waters Act. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Final supplementary, Mr. Bromley.

I was particularly asking about this department’s perspective. I’m sure the government will once again follow the developer’s perspective and get rid of any environmental protection such as is offered by this act for these small streams. I’d be very interested in the department’s perspective as well as this government’s perspective. Will the Minister commit to providing that? Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to suggest that on these issues where the territorial government deals with the federal government, that the positions we are trying to make sure are consistent and one and the same so that we don’t send out confusing messages as a government. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Oral questions. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.

Mr. Speaker, my question is directed to the Minister of Public Works and Services in regard to a comment that was made in regard to one of the community leaders in which the staffer in Inuvik made reference: well, we don’t like negotiated contracts, it takes too long, so basically that’s not the process we like to follow. I’d like to ask the Minister who makes the decision on a negotiated contract. Is it someone in the field or is it Cabinet?

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Minister of Public Works and Services, Mr. Michael McLeod.

Mr. Speaker, the process requires that Cabinet review the request by the community with the required support letters and documents and that decision is made by Cabinet. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, we did have a sit down meeting with the Gwich’in leadership and one of the chiefs did raise some concern with a staff position and comments made. We will look into the situation and we will take the advice of the Member and provide the guidelines to all our staff. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I don’t know if there is going to be any reprimand to this but I think that there should be some consequences to those types of statements, especially when it does have a direct implication on that decision which caused grief at the top level and could have been avoided. If anything, we have to work together going forward. I’d like to ask the Minister, can he get back to me

on exactly what the outcome of the discussions are with those individuals? Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, this issue was raised by the Gwich’in leadership. We will look into the situation and take the opportunity to talk to the Member in that area. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Oral questions. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.

Mr. Speaker, I, too, would like to get into the proposal that was brought forward in regard to ATCO. I, for one, being a previous Minister, know pretty well that ATCO has been trying to get their foot in the door in the North but that they already have their foot in the door. I’m just wondering why is it that this government is not in discussions with Northland Utilities, which is a northern company in partnership with ATCO but yet nowhere has there been any discussions with Northland Utilities in regard to their joint venture with the Dene Development Corporation. Why is that discussion not taking place?

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Premier, Mr. Roland.

Mr. Speaker, just to make Members aware of the situation, Northland Utilities is a subsidiary of ATCO company. Thank you.

I like to hear that from the Premier. I had a discussion with the president of the Dene Development Corporation who is the partner of Northland Utilities which is a partner of ATCO in which they have had not one phone call. They have been trying to get in contact with Nancy Sutherland, president of ATCO Frontec, with no response back by way of wondering what the arrangement is with their deal. They have a deal with ATCO in regard to their partnership to distribute power in the Northwest Territories, Hay River, Yellowknife, Providence, and other communities in the Northwest Territories. There’s an agreement in place with that organization. But they are not being consulted on what’s going on with this proposal. I’d like to ask the Premier if he would personally make a call to Darrel Beaulieu of the Dene Development Corporation and ask him what role they are playing in regard to this proposal that you received from ATCO.