Mr. Speaker, I have a return to written question asked by Ms. Bisaro on March 7, 2011, regarding nutrition and healthy eating programs.

1. Provide a list of all the nutrition or healthy

eating or healthy foods programs run by the GNWT across all the departments.

The Government of the Northwest Territories supports various school-based healthy eating and nutrition programs and initiatives. The Department of Health and Social Services is currently developing an overall NWT Healthy Eating and Nutrition Strategy, of which the Department of Education, Culture and Employment is a partner. Later today, at the appropriate time, I will table the Listing of Nutrition, Healthy Eating and Healthy Foods Programs.

The departments of Education, Culture and Employment, and Health and Social Services, as well as Health Canada and the Public Healthy Agency of Canada also provide funding to support a variety of NWT community wellness programs. These programs work to improve the well-being of NWT children, families and communities. Later today, at the appropriate time, I will table the Listing of NWT Community Wellness Programs.

2. Provide the amount of funding on an annual

basis attached to each of these programs.

The GNWT has been able to utilize a combination of federal, external and territorial funding sources to support and promote children’s health in school-based settings. Drop the Pop and Together for Healthy Learning are federally funded under the Aboriginal Diabetes Initiative through the collaborative efforts of HSS and ECE under the

broader umbrella of the Healthy Choices Framework. Funding information is provided in the tabled document Listing of Nutrition, Healthy Eating and Healthy Foods Programs.

3. Provide the anticipated sunset or termination

date for each of these programs.

The anticipated sunset or termination dates vary for the different GNWT school-based nutrition and healthy eating programs. Drop the Pop and Together for Healthy Learning are ongoing annually, dependent on the availability and approval of use of federal funds to continue these programs. The SipSmartNWT project funding from Canadian Partnerships Against Cancer (CLASP) will sunset March 31, 2012. Healthy Food for Learning and ASA attendance projects that did sunset on March 31, 2011. The Healthy Promotion Fund is ongoing annually, however, funding is based on eligible applications received from school-based organizations and varies considerably from year to year. This is not a school-based program per se, but can be accessed by schools based on eligibility.

4. Provide the criteria which determines who is

eligible for funding under each of these programs.

Later today, at the appropriate time, I will table the Eligibility Criteria for Nutrition, Healthy Eating and Healthy Foods Programs.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I have a return to written question asked by Mr. Yakeleya on March 7, 2011, regarding negotiated contracts in the Sahtu region.

1. Please provide the number of negotiated

contracts and the amount of each one for the communities of Fort Good Hope, Colville Lake, Deline, Norman Wells and Tulita, issued to local contractors over the past three fiscal years.

2. Please provide the number of negotiated

contracts and the amounts for each one in the Sahtu issued to contractors based outside of each community over the past three years.

I would like to advise that the Negotiated Contracts Policy (11.25) requires the Premier to prepare and make publicly available an annual report on all negotiated contracts awarded in accordance with that policy. Three reports have been published since the policy’s establishment, and later today, at the appropriate time, I will be tabling those reports.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I have a return to written question asked by Mr. David Ramsay, MLA, Kam Lake, on Tuesday, March 8, 2011, regarding the Opportunities Fund loan to Discovery Air Inc.

I am pleased to inform you that the Discovery Air Inc. (DA) has consented to the release of the following information in response to your questions. The loan is currently up to date, all payments have been made in full, and all covenants have been fulfilled.

1. Would the Minister provide a breakdown of all

payments made by Discovery Air Inc. on its Opportunities Fund loan and the balance owing on the loan as of January 1, 2011?

As of January 1, 2011, the loan balance was $34 million and interest payments made to the Northwest Territories Opportunities Fund (NWTOF) totalled $6.45 million. The $6.45 million was comprised of 23 monthly interest payments, at the rate of 10 percent (calculated semi-annually, not in advance), paid on the first day of each month from March 1, 2009, to January 1, 2011.

2. Would the Minister provide details of any

amendments to the Discovery Air Inc. Opportunities Fund loan agreement since the original loan agreement was entered into?

In regards to amendments made to the loan agreement, I can advise that there have been six amendments made to the loan agreement as of January 1, 2011. Each amendment involved the disposition of a secured asset by DA. The amendments are as follows:

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two fleet assets, marked for replacement, were sold and proceeds used to provide capital for the purchase of comparable assets; the NWTOF then registered security on the purchased assets;

•

three fleet assets, marketed as surplus to

business needs, were sold and proceeds used to pay down the debt owed General Electric Canada Equipment Financing G.P.; the debt reductions served to improve the overall security position of NWTOF; and

•

one fleet asset, marked as non-operating, was sold and proceeds used to supplement general working capital.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I have a return to written question asked by Mr. David Krutko on March 8, 2011, regarding negotiated contracts for housing.

1. The number of negotiated contracts issued to

local contractors and the amount of each over the last five fiscal years:

There were three negotiated contracts awarded to local contractors: A.C. Contracting ($298,000 in fiscal year 2007-2008 and $343,000 in fiscal year 2009-2010), and Ehdiitat Gwich’in Council ($235,000 in fiscal year 2007-2008), totalling $876,000.

2. The number of contracts issued during the past

five years to contractors based outside these communities and the amount for each one:

There were 91 contracts awarded to contractors outside of these communities, amounting to $9,607,957.

3. A list of all contracts issued during the past five

years and the amounts of each one:

There were 121 contracts issued for work in these communities over the past five years, amounting to $12,731,228.

Later today, at the appropriate time, I will table All Contracts for NWT Housing Corporation 2006-2011.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I have a return to written question asked by Mr. Krutko on March 10, 2011, regarding the cost of devolution public campaign.

The Government of the Northwest Territories has spent a total of $40,440.24 on print, radio and on-line advertising explaining the devolution negotiations process and the contents of the Devolution Agreement-in-Principle (AIP) since it was signed in January 2011. This includes:

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plain language devolution householder -

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newspaper advertising - $16,608.75

•

radio advertising - $15,952.00

•

on-line advertising - $725.00

Public communications are intended to ensure that all residents of the NWT have a clear understanding of the potential benefits of devolution, what it will and will not include, and how the AIP was negotiated.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.