This is page numbers 15 - 30 of the Hansard for the 17th Assembly, 1st 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 premier.

Topics

Bob McLeod

Bob McLeod Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When I met with Mayor Van Tighem from Yellowknife, we talked about the Northland issue and the fact that the estimated cost to fix the problem at Northland was somewhere in the neighbourhood of $18 million. The Northland condominium group had indicated to the city that they didn’t need to have paving and so on that had been planned for the area, so that would shave $2 million to $3 million off the project. Also, if a loan guarantee was provided so that the city could make a low rate, they would save a further $3 million to $4 million. That would reduce the cost by half. That was what was proposed by the mayor in a letter to me as the sole Minister on Cabinet in the 16th Assembly.

If I recall correctly, and I guess I’ll have to confirm in Hansard, but I indicated that I was prepared to have it brought forward to Cabinet once we had reviewed our fiscal situation and we would deal with it on that basis. I would also have to check into what the process is for this government to provide a loan guarantee, because I understood that we have to come to the Legislative Assembly to get a loan

guarantee approved. That’s something I’ll have to confirm.

Wendy Bisaro

Wendy Bisaro Frame Lake

I thank the Premier for his remarks. He had stated that the project cost was $8 million and I took a little bit of exception to that. I’m pleased that he’s changed his number to $18 million, because that is much closer to the project cost. If I add up the numbers that the Premier just mentioned, I don’t get it being reduced. He said half the cost; I don’t get it being reduced to $9 million. I think there still is, even with the reduced paving, even with the loan guarantee, I think the cost of the project is out of the reach of most members that live in Northland.

I’d like to know from the Premier, I guess I need to understand whether or not we’re talking about the same proposal, because the proposal that I have seen asks for a no-interest loan. I would like to ask the Premier if this government will seriously consider not a loan guarantee but a no-interest loan to the City of Yellowknife.

Bob McLeod

Bob McLeod Yellowknife South

The way I look at it is we’ll have to confirm the numbers, finalize a proposal. Whether it be a loan guarantee or a no-interest loan proposal will have to be brought forward. We’d have to discuss it at Cabinet, and if we have a positive response, then we would go forward on that basis.

Wendy Bisaro

Wendy Bisaro Frame Lake

Thanks to the Premier. I appreciate that commitment and I’m really pleased to hear that the option of a no-interest loan will be considered. My usual last answer – I’m only asking three questions today, Mr. Speaker – is when can we, I, the city, expect a response from government regarding their proposal? Thank you.

Bob McLeod

Bob McLeod Yellowknife South

My understanding is the condominium association had finalized the proposal. I haven’t seen it myself, but if there is a final proposal that has been brought to the city, then I expect that as soon as we assign portfolios and Ministers have been briefed up, that we could look at that, probably within the next few months.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Blake.

Question 3-17(1): Housing Rental Scale Review
Oral Questions

October 27th, 2011

Frederick Blake Jr.

Frederick Blake Jr. Mackenzie Delta

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. My question for Cabinet and our Premier is: I do realize that in March we are planning to change our rent scale for housing and I’m hoping that we can implement that sooner, if possible. I know portfolios aren’t designated yet, but I’d like to make that a priority. Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Blake. Mr. McLeod.

Bob McLeod

Bob McLeod Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I know there is a rental scale review. We’re expecting the results fairly soon and we’ll take whatever steps we can to do it on a timely basis, recognizing that it’s a big issue for all of the communities in the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Blake. Member for Deh Cho, Mr. Nadli.

Michael Nadli

Michael Nadli Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to congratulate the Premier and the Cabinet for being selected our leaders.

At the 17th Assembly, as we start defining our

course, pathing out our approach and trying to determine the best trail to take our people forward into the next four years, I’ve heard the Premier speak of working together, collaboration, all key fundamental aspects of ensuring that we uphold the principles of consensus. I’d like to ask the Premier if he has confirmed a forum or a date to follow up on the historic October 21st meeting with the Aboriginal

groups. Mahsi.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Nadli. The honourable Premier, Mr. McLeod.

Bob McLeod

Bob McLeod Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We’ve only had two meetings, one before we were sworn in and one since we’ve been sworn in, so we haven’t had an opportunity to discuss it yet, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

The Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.

Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My line of questioning is with the Aboriginal government that we had this historic meeting last Friday, and also that the biggest issue, I guess, on the people’s minds is the working relationship and the Devolution and Resource Revenue Sharing Agreement that was signed in the 16th , and the time

frame to conclude that agreement with the federal government.

This territorial government indicated that Members had talked about the amount of dollars that are leaving the North. They talked about the control being yet in Ottawa, with some still staying in the Northwest Territories.

I want to ask the Premier, with the time frames that we signed a deal, we have not had a good response from the Aboriginal governments, except the Inuvialuit and the NWT Metis Nation at the table signing, and shows a very weak sign of support for this deal. The major other five Aboriginal governments are not all there together. I want to ask the Premier his relationship with the federal government and John Duncan. This is the guy that would not meet with the Aboriginal governments when he came to the Northwest Territories, yet he is supposed to be the man to represent the Aboriginal people.

Can the Premier indicate, in his phone call with Duncan, that things have changed or it’s different versions of how the North is going to be strong, free and wealthy and what’s a good potential? Can the Premier tell me what type of discussion he had, that maybe we’ve got a chance with Duncan to maybe consider meeting with the chiefs when he gets to the North again?

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The honourable Premier, Mr. McLeod.

Bob McLeod

Bob McLeod Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I had a very good discussion with Minister Duncan and I told him about how we, as a Caucus, had met with the Aboriginal governments, and that I had been on the phone talking to the majority of the Aboriginal government leaders and it was my intention to talk to all of them either by today or early next week. He indicated that he was prepared to come north and to meet with the Aboriginal leaders at some appropriate time in the future, so I believe that it is his intention to do so. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu

Hopefully, somewhere between now and whenever Minister Duncan comes north and meets with all the Aboriginal leaders to discuss this important issue, being a former chief negotiator of the land claim and self-government, that the federal government tag the amount of money to conclude a deal with the benefits if we go ahead to sign or not to sign.

With the devolution we have an 18-month time frame. I want to ask the Premier, in his discussions so far with the Aboriginal governments, the federal government, if that 18-month time frame is something that we’re working towards or something that could be maybe stretched or could be something that would give us enough time to get a deal signed with the Aboriginal governments, all of them, to make this a deal that’s worthwhile to stand up and say, yes, it’s a maiden deal or something that Minister Duncan is going to show again by demonstrating his actions at the take-it-or-leave-it deal, and that is the way that he seems to be operating. Is the Premier willing to consider those options?

Bob McLeod

Bob McLeod Yellowknife South

My understanding of the dates or timelines that you’re quoting is that those are just guidelines. In our discussions with the Aboriginal governments, we are not talking about those kinds of specific details at this time. We’ve been talking about how to try to find ways to find some common ground and to start working together, and we’re hoping to be able to start to do that and to follow up on the meeting in Dettah by getting together again soon, hopefully before Christmas.

Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu

Certainly, I hope that the Cabinet or the Premier is looking at some guidelines, because that’s how the system works.

I know when I was the chief negotiator, again, that the Treasury Board gave us a guideline and this is the amount, this is the agreement, you reach it and when you get there, you go to your people and ask if you want to accept the deal or not. The other part of it goes into implementation.

Would the Premier look at, with the Aboriginal governments, a timeline. I heard it from your other Cabinet Ministers that the amount of money that’s leaving the Northwest Territories, there’s a deal signed.

The federal government is a majority government. They have the ability to say take it or leave it. Can the Premier look with his team to see how they could get the Aboriginal government onside, on common ground within the guidelines of 18 months or they can do it within two or three years and take it to the people so that the people can all vote and say this is what we want, rather than keep it with a select few in the House here?

Bob McLeod

Bob McLeod Yellowknife South

It is our intention to work with the Aboriginal leaders to find some common ground and at that point they’ll look at timelines. Thank you.

Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu

Can the Premier tell us how he’s going to involve this Assembly? How do we staff the right person? Are we going to have some staff in Ottawa that would help us bridge the link between us and the Minister’s office to strengthen the agreement with our Aboriginal partners on this important issue and other issues in the North such as the Mackenzie Valley Highway? How are we going to evolve and determine the staffing if we are going to have a staff in Ottawa to help us get our financial, political, economic situation here in the Northwest Territories, and most importantly, our relationship with the federal government?

Bob McLeod

Bob McLeod Yellowknife South

Thank you. Normally staff from Ottawa don’t really become involved until such time as we get fairly close, because we need staff from Ottawa to write the Cabinet decision papers and also when we get closer to the actual transition to have federal staff to help with implementation. So I’m not sure what the Member is leading to when

he’s asking for having federal staff involved, because normally they’re involved at the negotiating table and we have our negotiating people as well. So if you’re suggesting to use federal people to reach common ground with Aboriginal governments, then we could do that as well. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Short supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just for clarification, I’m asking about our own staffing, I’m not asking about the federal staffing. That is the post-evolution and post-impact agreement. I’m asking about our people, how we’re going to get our people here working with us as an independent office, or an office that we could use in Ottawa.