This is page numbers 2921 - 2956 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 work.

Topics

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment, Mr. Bob McLeod.

Bob McLeod

Bob McLeod Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We actually have people right on the ground that can go and investigate the business to make sure that there are products that are being sold, that they are sold here from an establishment in the Northwest Territories. As well, we do a check on the individual’s involvement in the business. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Mr. Speaker, to avoid naming the specific company, the Minister knows the one I am referring to, because I actually brought it to his attention a couple of months ago. The fact is that the storefront exists but it was in the context of a manufacturing business that could be described as...Once the business was sold, the business moved all of its manufacturing to Edmonton to the company that does it. So they just filtered through the Yellowknife office. Mr. Speaker, by the definition of this Minister for ITI, in his view, would this still qualify as a northern business although it is sold to a southern company and the only thing they really keep is just the storefront and the phone number in the phone book? Does that still qualify under this Minister’s definition? Thank you.

Bob McLeod

Bob McLeod Yellowknife South

I would like to point out to the Member, as he knows, that we are undertaking a review of the Business Incentive Policy and certainly that is a perfect opportunity to address these kinds of concerns. We also have a Senior Management Preference Policy that is set up specifically to look at these kinds of issues. The whole premise behind the Business Incentive Policy is to benefit northern businesses. If there are no benefits to the North, then it would be of concern. I don’t have all of the specifics of the business that the Member is referring to. I think it is a rule of thumb that there would have to be benefits to the North and it would have to be based here in the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Mr. Speaker, I think the answer there is the willingness to look at this issue. I want to get assurance from this Minister, because my constituent has brought this issue forward to me

and wants to continue to make investment in the North. You don’t have to go too far to see their investment; it’s quite significant. The investment by this company that I’m referring to, I’d be more than pleased to refresh the name to the Minister after this question period. The fact is, they don’t represent northern business anymore; their name, maybe. Would the Minister be willing to reinvestigate this business I’m referring to, to make sure they stand up to the standards of the BIP policy, that they are providing benefits to the North, and be prepared to perhaps disqualify them for using their BIP name when they’re not really a northern company doing northern business? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Bob McLeod

Bob McLeod Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When we investigate these types of complaints or businesses, we use spirit and intent. The whole spirit and intent of the Business Incentive Policy is to provide for northern preference. Certainly we would investigate and our normal practice is if they don’t meet the criteria, then they wouldn’t be eligible. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Final supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Is the Minister willing to, if I was to refresh the Minister with that name here later today…refresh his memory, that is; I said refresh the Minister...

---Laughter

…I’ll leave that up to his own discretion. Mr. Speaker, if I remind the Minister later of this name, would he be willing to send someone down tomorrow morning to make sure that this business that I would describe as a mock northern business, to make sure that they, sort of, get the treatment that they deserve when we have true northern businesses wanting to make further investment but they don’t believe that there’s a true level playing field provided here and they just want to make sure ITI is providing that true, fair playing field? Would the Minister be willing to do that? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Bob McLeod

Bob McLeod Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would be pleased to investigate it. The BIP policy does provide for non-resident-owned businesses that qualify for the Business Incentive Policy. If the Member would refresh my memory, I would check it out. However, the last business that we checked out indicated that that business was BIP-able. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

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

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is directed to the Minister responsible for the Workers’ Compensation Board. As we all know, the term of the present chair of the Workers’ Compensation Board is coming to a close. I’d like to ask the Minister, when are you going to be advertising for the replacement of the existing chairman of the Workers’ Compensation Board?

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Minister responsible for the Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission, Mr. Robert McLeod.

Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Member is very well aware that the chair’s chairmanship is coming up in April. We are putting an ad out in the paper and it should be coming out very shortly seeking nominations for the chair. Thank you.

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Mr. Speaker, as we all know, this is a joint appointment. I believe the last time it was advertised in the papers here. Would it also be advertised in the Nunavut papers? Also, would interested groups be able to take part by way of aboriginal organizations being notified about this appointment?

Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Mr. Speaker, we have had discussions with the new Minister, my counterpart in Nunavut, and it was agreed to that we would put an ad out and seek nominations. Anyone interested would just follow the nomination process. Thank you.

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Mr. Speaker, are there any board appointments coming up here in this short while and are those going to be advertised in the papers?

Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Mr. Speaker, we have our board, I think the earliest one is going to be a year from now. I would be able to provide the list to the Members so they can see exactly which board appointments are going to be up. The earliest one, I believe, would be about a year from now. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Item 8, written questions. The honourable Member for Kam Lake, Mr. Ramsay.

David Ramsay

David Ramsay Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Justice.

1. Would the Minister provide historic data on

number of inmates on remand at North Slave Correctional Centre by month for the past five years, with the length of stay for each of those inmates on remand?

2. Why is there no day-to-day mental health

services at North Slave Correctional Centre?

3. What happened to the other clinical

psychologists that were employed at North Slave Correctional Centre?

Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Item 9, returns to written questions. Item 10, replies to opening address. Item 11, petitions. Item 12, reports of standing and special committees. Item 13, reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 14, tabling of documents. The honourable Minister of Finance, Mr. Miltenberger.

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Minister of Finance

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document entitled Supplementary Appropriation No. 1 (Infrastructure Expenditures) 2009-2010. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The honourable Minister responsible for the Status of Women, Ms. Lee.

Sandy Lee

Sandy Lee Minister Responsible for the Status of Women

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document entitled Status of Women Council of the NWT Annual Report 2007-2008. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Ms. Lee. The honourable Minister responsible for the Workers’

Safety and Compensation Commission, Mr. Robert McLeod.

Michael McLeod

Michael McLeod Deh Cho

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document entitled Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission 2009-2011 Corporate Plan. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.