Debates of May 27th, 2009

This is page numbers 3035 - 3072 of the Hansard for the 16th 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 agreed.

Topics

Oral Questions

Prayer

Minister’s Statement 68-16(3): Sessional Statement

Transfer Of Government-Owned Assets To Communities

Media Coverage Of Governor General’s Visit To Rankin Inlet

Fact Finding Mission To Scandinavia To Examine Climate Change Technologies

National Day Of Healing And Reconciliation Of Residential School Survivors

Fact Finding Mission To Scandinavia To Examine Climate Change Technologies

Proposed Northern Development Agency

GNWT Response To Supplementary Health Benefits Motion

Implementation Of 911 Telephone Service

Closure Of John Tsetso Memorial Public Library

Condolences To Constituents’ Families That Have Suffered The Loss Of Loved Ones

On-Line Petitions

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Biomass Initiatives In Smaller Communities

Establishment Of Independent Northern University

Implementation Of 911 Telephone Service

GNWT Response To Supplementary Health Benefits Motion

Proposed Northern Development Agency

National Aboriginal Day Of Healing And Reconciliation Of Residential School Survivors

NWT Declaration

Power Corporation Mandate To Deliver Biomass Energy Alternatives

Southern Bids And Northern Construction Projects

Transfer Of Government-Owned Assets To Communities

Use Of Rental Vehicles During Medical Travel

Return To Written Question 4-16(3): Mackenzie Valley Highway Construction

Return To Written Question 5-16(3): Mental Health Services At North Slave Correctional Centre

Return To Written Question 6-16(3): NWT Resource Royalties

Return To Written Question 7-16(3): Activities Of Business Development Investment Corporation

Return To Written Question 8-16(3): Dehcho Process And Protected Areas Strategy

Petition 6-16(3): Comprehensive Review Of Child And Family Services Act

Petition 7-16(3): Long-Term Care Facility In Ulukhaktok

Committee Report 5-16(3): Auxiliary Report On The Review Of The Report Of The Chief Electoral Officer On The Administration Of The 2007 Election

Motion To Receive Committee Report 5-16(3) And Move Into Committee Of The Whole

Bill 6: Species At Risk (NWT) Act Bill 14: An Act To Amend The Motor Vehicles Act

Bill 2: Settlement Of International Investment Disputes Act Bill 15: Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act, 2009 Bill 12: Securities Transfer Act

Tabled Document 35-16(3): Supplementary Appropriation No. 1 (Operations Expenditures), 2009-2010 Tabled Document 36-16(3): Supplementary Appropriation No. 2 (Infrastructure Expenditures), 2009-2010 Tabled Document 37-16(3): Supplementary Appropriation No. 4, 2008-2009

Tabled Document 38-16(3): North Slave Correctional Centre – Remand Statistics

Tabled Document 39-16(3): Federal Revenues From Non-Renewable Natural Resources In The North

Tabled Document 40-16(3): Conflict Of Interest Commissioner Report Dated May 25, 2009, Respecting Alleged Breach By Premier Roland On Section 75 Of The Legislative Assembly And Executive Council Act

Tabled Document 41-16(3): Conflict Of Interest Commissioner Report Dated March 25, 2009, Allegation Of Jane Groenewegen That Premier Roland Breached Section 86 Or Section 75 Of The Legislative Assembly And Executive Council Act

Tabled Document 42-16(3): Response To Petition 1-16(3)

Tabled Document 43-16(3): Response To Petition 2-16(3)

Tabled Document 44-16(3): Response To Petition 3-16(3)

Tabled Document 45-16(3): Response To Petition 4-16(3)

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Concurrence Of Td 37-16(3): Supplementary Appropriation No. 4, 2008-2009

Concurrence Of Td 35-16(3): Supplementary Appropriation No. 1, (Operations Expenditures), 2009-2010

Concurrence Of Td 36-16(3): Supplementary Appropriation No. 2 (Infrastructure Expenditures), 2009-2010

Report of Committee of the Whole

Orders of the Day

Committee Motion 17-16(3): Concurrence Of Td 35-16(3): Supplementary Appropriation No. 1, (Operations Expenditures), 2009-2010, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to refer that question, with your indulgence, to Mr. Neudorf.

The Chair David Krutko

Mr. Neudorf.

Russ Neudorf

Thank you. This project here will not change the number of agents that we have that provide services to the public, but we are going to renovate the office to make it a little more functional. So we are going to improve the waiting area, we are going to provide a little better separation from the people who are waiting in the office and those that are getting service, so a little

bit more privacy. Then we are going to just update the functional, improve the layout of the counters where the agents provide their service to the public. So it should make their life, their operations a little bit easier and we’ll get a little bit better improvement in service that way. We are within the same general envelope, the same area, so just improvement to what is happening there.

We do have other initiatives underway where we are looking at the information system and seeing if we can improve that mainly through some on-line services and take away some of the demand that is required for people to come to the office, but that is a separate initiative that we have underway. Thank you.

David Ramsay Kam Lake

I thank the deputy minister for that and I do look forward to the renovations that are going to take place there and the work that’s ongoing. Just as an aside, I think if there is an issue out there -- and I’m not sure if other Members have heard the same issue -- maybe we do need to look at staffing levels at that office and make sure that we do have it staffed adequately to service the public. That’s a discussion we can have down the road in the fall during business plans. Thank you.

The Chair David Krutko

Minister of Finance.

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just will note the Member’s comments and will look forward to that discussion, as the Member suggested, during business plan. Thank you.

The Chair David Krutko

Okay. Mr. Yakeleya, page 17.

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just to get some clarification from the Minister in terms of the air terminal building rehab at Fort Good Hope in the books. Is this something that we will see become a reality in this fiscal year, in terms of that building getting some work done?

The Chair David Krutko

Deputy minister of Finance, Mr. Neudorf.

Russ Neudorf

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, it’s our intention to proceed with the improvements to the terminal building. This involves improving some insulation and the siding on the building. So we do hope to get it done this summer. Thank you.

The Chair David Krutko

Okay, have we concluded page 17?

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

The Chair David Krutko

If we can turn back to page 18, Industry, Tourism and Investment, capital investment expenditures, tourism and parks, not previously authorized, $1.567 million. Agreed?

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

The Chair David Krutko

Total department, not previously authorized, $1.567 million. Agreed?

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

The Chair David Krutko

Page 20, Environment and Natural Resources, capital investment expenditures, corporate management, not previously authorized, $77,000. Agreed?

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

The Chair David Krutko

Forest management, not previously authorized, $436,000. Agreed?

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

The Chair David Krutko

Wildlife, not previously authorized, $74,000. Agreed?

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

The Chair David Krutko

Total department, not previously authorized, $587,000. Agreed?

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

The Chair David Krutko

Does the committee agree that Tabled Document 36-16(3) is concluded?

Debates of May 27th, 2009

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