Debates of Oct. 19th, 2009

This is page numbers 3341 - 3368 of the Hansard for the 16th 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 plan.

Topics

Oral Questions
Prayer
Minister’s Statement 5-16(4): Economic And Fiscal Update
Minister’s Statement 6-16(4): Aboriginal Student Achievement Initiative
On-The-Land Addictions Treatment Programs
Involvement Of Regular Members In Policy Development
Operations Funding For Tuktoyaktuk Multi-Purpose Facility
Protection Of Northern Jobs Under Opportunities Fund Investments
Establishment Of Industrial Arts And Home Economics Programs In Tu Nedhe Schools
Revitalization Of The NWT Freshwater Fishery
Stanton Territorial Hospital Master Development Plan
Nahanni Butte Winter Access Road
Opening Of Yellowknife Homeless Day Shelter
GNWT Contracts Awarded To Former Cabinet Ministers
Shortage Of Health Care Professionals In Small Communities
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
On-The-Land Addictions Treatment Programs
Report On Summer Student Hiring Practices
Funding For Tuktoyaktuk Multi-Purpose Facility
Protection Of Northern Jobs Under Opportunities Fund Investments
Establishment Of Industrial Arts And Home Economics Programs In Tu Nedhe Schools
Revitalizing The NWT Freshwater Fishery
Stanton Territorial Hospital Master Development Plan
Delays To Nahendeh Capital Projects
Support For Barren Ground Caribou Outfitters
GNWT Contracts Awarded To Former Cabinet Ministers
Shortage Of Health Care Professionals In Small Communities
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery (Reversion)
Written Question 2-16(4): On-The-Land Alcohol And Drug Treatment Programs
Tabled Document 7-16(4): Northern Strategy Group Contract For Services Tabled Document 8-16(4): John Todd Holdings Contract For Services
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Report of Committee of the Whole
Orders of the Day

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

David Ramsay

David Ramsay Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just wanted to go on record. I have stated this in committee meetings as well. When it comes to replacing, if it does come to replacing the Fire Centre in Fort Smith, that the government do everything in its power to look at a business case for building its own stand-alone centre in Fort Smith and not get into a leasing arrangement with anybody, because the space is so unique and it requires warehousing, areas for telecommunications and data centre. It makes sense that the government should look at building its own building there in Fort Smith. I know there has been some talk about getting somebody to build a building and leasing it back or whatever. I think the government should be looking at building its own building in Fort Smith instead of leasing. I

just wanted to go on record as stating that today. Thank you.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Glen Abernethy

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. It is more of a comment. Would the Minister like to make a response?

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We appreciate the comment from the Members. I believe we have committed, when we were here before in the Members’ committee, that we would come back with our business case and have that discussion with committee before we proceed to any formal steps. Thank you.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Glen Abernethy

Thank you, Minister Miltenberger. We are still on 11-2. I am pretty sure I saw Mr. Krutko’s hand this time. Mr. Krutko.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would just like to question the Minister, especially if there are capital dollars moved from one Member’s riding to another riding, that there are some assurances from the Minister that those investment dollars will be made going forward. So I know that I got a letter from the Minister in regards to the fire lookout tower south of Fort McPherson. I think it is important that we haven’t had some major fires over the last number of years, but we are not immune to having bad fire seasons. I would just like to get some assurance from the Minister that that capital investment will be made in regards to that particular lookout tower, which basically was moved out of my riding into another riding. I would just like to get some assurances from the Minister that that work will be concluded somewhere in the future and that capital investment will be spent in my riding. Thank you.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Glen Abernethy

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Mr. Miltenberger.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

The intention is in the coming summer of 2010 to return to doing the evaluation and planning work related to the infrastructure in the Member’s riding to be able to determine what the next best steps are going to be as we look at all our similar infrastructure in the Member’s riding and across the North. Some of it is getting on in years and some if it doesn’t meet code. The commitment would be that we are going to go back into the Member’s riding and carry out the evaluation and planning work this coming summer. Thank you.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Glen Abernethy

Thank you, Minister Miltenberger. We are on page 11-2, Environment and Natural Resources, department summary, infrastructure investment summary, total infrastructure investment summary, $2.160 million.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Glen Abernethy

Does committee agree that we have concluded the capital estimate

review of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources?

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Glen Abernethy

I believe the next order of business was to review the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment. Does committee agree?

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Glen Abernethy

Can I get committee to turn to page 10-2? Similar to the last one, we will defer this page until after consideration of the activity summary.

So let’s turn to page 10-4, Industry, Tourism and Investment, activity summary, tourism and parks, infrastructure investment summary, total infrastructure investment summary, $1.930 million.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Glen Abernethy

We will move along to page…Is that it? One activity. We were on page 10-4. We have agreement on it so we are now going to page 10-2, Industry, Tourism and Investment, department summary, infrastructure investment summary, total infrastructure investment summary, $1.930 million.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Glen Abernethy

All right. Does committee agree that we have concluded the capital review of Industry, Tourism and Investment?

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Glen Abernethy

The next on our list would be Transportation but due to some scheduling issues, Transportation is not available. We can, I believe, move on to Education, Culture and Employment, if that is the wish of the committee. What is the wish of committee? Mrs. Groenewegen.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River South

ECE.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Glen Abernethy

We will go into the Department of Education, Culture and Employment?

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Glen Abernethy

Are you agreed, Mr. Minister?

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would just make the observation that we’ve moved at such great speed here and Minister Lafferty was not feeling well, so he’s gone home. The deputy minister should be hot footing it on his way over here and should be here momentarily, so I believe we are prepared to proceed.