It is one of the things that’s always been, I guess at some stage, a point of contention for Members when they consider running for a Cabinet position. It does impact your ability to speak freely about your constituency issues. That doesn’t limit the debate that happens at the Cabinet table about initiatives, but the simple fact that the process we’re involved in right now is fundamental in the existing framework and establishment we operate in. If we want to change that I think it is so fundamental that if we want to change that structure, then we should really be talking about an overall process that would involve governance in the Northwest Territories in those structures here. I wouldn’t say necessarily party politics. Is it a way of consensus government with aboriginal leadership at the table at the same time? What does that take in? I think we have now reached the stage of our evolution in the Northwest Territories, we have one signed self-government agreement in the Northwest Territories, we know that’s going to be the base and others will work to that or higher, so we have that in place. We know our structures and the limitations of our structures. So here’s the opportunity to take a real run at what the next government might have to look like or might look like or that they might work on implementing. I think in our time frame the best we’re going to be able to do is what I’ve reached out with as let’s come up with some protocols on the communication, the information we share, the involvement at committee levels, whether it’s joint Cabinet committees, things of that nature. We’re working on that and we’re working with the Members of this Assembly in trying to come up with a process that will work, and work better for the time frame we have left. Beyond that we will, I believe, need to look at the bigger picture.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. The honourable Member for Nunakput, Mr. Jacobson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just to let you know, I’m here for you.

Today my questions are for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Will the

government conduct a thorough review of limited availability and suitable high school student accommodations for students coming from small communities specifically in the Beaufort-Delta?

Thank you, Mr. Jacobson. The honourable Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Lafferty.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Currently we do provide funding to the local boards, the regional boards. They offer assistance to the students if the high school will be out of the community. So we do provide assistance through that avenue. If we need to look at the structure of the residents outside of the small communities, then they will have to be part of that process. Whether it be a district education authority or district education at the regional level council, I think we need to have a consultation process in that respect.

That ain’t happening. Will this government allocate the appropriate resources for these accommodation problems to be adequately resolved to ensure the quarterly reviews and benchmarks are carefully monitored in the future?

We need to gather the information from the local district education authorities and district education councils at the regional level. They’re the ones who have all the information at the community level and how many students are attending outside their communities to regional centres. We need to gather all the facts and then meet with them. We have our own regional representatives that work for us that can certainly meet with the board, with the MLA, and identify if there are solutions that need to be worked out. I’m more than willing to do that.

My problem is I have five students from a small community that I represent where two of them have dropped out due to lack of housing. That’s my problem. I look forward to seeing that information that you are going to get me. I’ll bring it back to my constituents of the community.

That information will likely come from the regional council. Like I said, they have all the information. I’m willing to have my staff meet with the regional representative and provide that information. Whatever information we have from our department perspective we can share with the regional council. But then again, it is the regional council that is responsible for looking after the students based on our funding allocation through the council.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question I believe is for the Minister of the Power Corporation or the ATCO proposal. I’m wondering what criteria have been given to the review committee who are looking at the ATCO proposal. Are they asking is it well written, will it reduce power costs, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase employment, lower environmental impacts? I’m wondering what guidance has been given to that review committee. We certainly didn’t have any input to that.

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The honourable Minister responsible for the NWT Power Corporation, Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I guess, first of all, the Power Corporation itself is not a part of that process. It is under the Executive branch that we’re doing this review on that piece. I’ve requested some time with committee to sit down and go over it. It is general in nature initially. We want to do the first phase as to what they’ve put on the table and get some more detail. In fact, the group will be meeting with a couple of the experts in the field coming up, so they can sit down with them to get further indication of what they would want to do. But it’s based on what the offer’s been put on the table is the initial phase of looking at that.

We have a number of other things within the Power Corporation itself and the review of the Power Corporation around electricity distribution delivery that we’re doing some work on as well. Also, the Minister of the Energy Coordinating Committee tabled in the House the Hydro Strategy for the Northwest Territories. All of these pieces will have to fit together as we look at the future of the Northwest Territories and development of energy possibilities.

I appreciate those comments. Just for clarification, is there a terms of reference for this ATCO power proposal review committee? Is there a terms of reference for them? If so, would the Minister table that in the House?

It’s one thing to engage with a private sector company and look at a proposal and establish a terms of reference for our crew to have a look at that. I’m prepared to sit down with committee to go over that and present the terms of reference at that time, but I’m not prepared at this time to table them.

Given that this is clearly a behind-the-scenes, behind-closed-doors process, and we’ve had no input into it, and we’ve had repeated calls for a public/private partnership

policy, I’m wondering what guidance this Premier has given along the line in the absence of that policy and exactly what process he will provide the Members on this side of the House for real input that can assure the public that this behind-closed-doors process is a valid one.

I guess clearly the 3P process or work that’s beginning is separate from an initiative like this. We’re looking at a partnership potentially that could help us. As well, I’ve said to other groups out there, for example the regional leadership, if they want to put a proposal in, we’d be prepared to look at it. We don’t know the levels of partnership that would be involved. But at this time, as I’ve committed to Members and said a number of times, the initial review of the proposal that was brought forward I’ll get a response, I will go back to Cabinet and then committee before any further decisions and decide if this is the right avenue to be going, so Members are well aware of steps that need to be taken or should be considered.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, I just have to say if this public government is partnering with a private company, it sounds like 3P policy would be appropriate to have in place to help guide that process. Can the Minister at least assure me that there are strong environmental considerations that the committee has been alerted to, to ensure is part of the review of this unsolicited proposal?

One of the overall things, our own interest in the Northwest Territories is how we can reduce our footprint when it comes to the environment. The Hydro Strategy that we’ve put out there is one of those avenues, as this budget also speaks to alternative energy. So we’re definitely interested in that piece. As we go forward, looking at those initiatives, it would be the next stage. The first stage is looking at what they’ve actually brought to the table and what it means in detail for any steps going forward. I’m prepared to sit down with Members on that and go through a process with Members.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are addressed to the Minister of Finance. In the recent federal budget millions of dollars were highlighted that are available to

Canadians for infrastructure and many other projects. Some of that money has been identified as an Infrastructure Stimulus Fund. Possibly $5 million could accrue to us. I would like to ask the Minister of Finance if he knows what that money can be used for and when it might be available.

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. The honourable Minister responsible for Finance, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We are still waiting for the detail of how these many pots of money are going to roll out. Some are clearer than others. The Building Canada Fund, for example, is an existing program where we’re compressing the time frame. This Infrastructure Stimulus Fund, along with their Green Fund and a host of other smaller pots of money that we may be eligible for, we’re still awaiting the detail to see what’s possible for us in terms of the conditions and criteria, how they apply to us as a Territory and how they may possibly apply to municipalities.