Debates of Feb. 14th, 2012

This is page numbers 391 - 436 of the Hansard for the 17th Assembly, 2nd 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 going.

Topics

Oral Questions
Prayer
Minister’s Statement 15-17(2): Completing A New Wildlife Act
Minister’s Statement 16-17(2): Aboriginal Languages Revitalization Work
Minister’s Statement 17-17(2): Importance Of The Mining And Mineral Exploration Sectors
Federal Proposal For Single Land And Water Board Structure
Abuse Of Prescription Narcotics
GNWT Budget Process
Ekali Lake Fish Advisory
Health Care System Reform
Cultural Insensitivity Of Federal Bill C-19
Cardiovascular Disease
Regional Water Monitoring Station For The Sahtu
Population Decline In The Northwest Territories
Betty House Funding Announcement
Condolences On Passing Of Tu Nedhe Residents
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Betty House Funding Announcement
Health Care System Reform
Federal Proposal For Single Land And Water Board Structure
Water Quality Monitoring In The Sahtu
Incentives And Inducements For Population Growth
Abuse Of Prescription Narcotics
GNWT Position On Federal Bill C-19 To Abolish Long-Gun Registry
Update On Meeting With Beaufort-Delta Leadership
Public Advisory Regarding Fish Consumption
GNWT Budget Process
Funding For Staff Housing Programs
Joint Replacement Surgeries
Joint Monitoring Process For Alberta Oil Sands
GNWT Budget Process And Consultation
Whistle-Blower Legislation
Caribou Hunting Tags
Health Care System Reform
Amount Of Money The NWT Loses Each Day
Written Question 2-17(2): Public Advisories On Consumption Of Fish From Nahendeh Lakes
Written Question 3-17(2): Infrastructure Available For Alcohol And Drug Treatment Centres
Tabled Document 12-17(2): Status Report Of The Auditor General Of Canada To The Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Committee Motion 6-17(2) Concurrence Of Td 3-17(2), Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 3, 2011-2012
Motion To Extend Sitting Hours
Deletion Of $2.5 Million From Department Of Transportation Highways Activity
Recorded Vote
Concurrence Of Td 2-17(2), Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2011-2012
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

Kevin A. Menicoche

Kevin A. Menicoche Nahendeh

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. The committee would like to consider Tabled Document 3-17(2) and Tabled Document 2-17(2).

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 Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Is committee agreed?

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 Jane Groenewegen

Thank you. We’ll take a break and then we will resume with that.

---SHORT RECESS

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 Jane Groenewegen

I’d like to call Committee of the Whole back to order. Where we left off yesterday on Tabled Document 3-17(2), Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 3, 2011-2012, we left off on page 10. We had concluded Health and we’re ready to move on to the Department of Justice now. I’ll ask the Minister if he would like to bring witnesses into the Chamber.

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

Yes, Madam Chair.

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 Jane Groenewegen

Thank you. 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 Jane Groenewegen

I’ll ask the Sergeant-at-Arms to please escort the witnesses into the Chamber.

Mr. Miltenberger, for the record, please.

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, Madam Chair. I have with me Deputy Minister Mike Aumond and deputy secretary of the FMB, Sandy Kalgutkar.

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 Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Department of Justice, operations expenditures, activity, law enforcement, not previously authorized, $840,000.

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 Jane Groenewegen

Community justice and corrections, not previously authorized. Ms. Bisaro.

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

Wendy Bisaro

Wendy Bisaro Frame Lake

Thank you, Madam Chair. I’m sorry; I’d like to go back to the first item, law enforcement. I did have a question with regard to the expenditure, the third expenditure for $206,000 to provide funding for our share of increased costs with regard to the new RCMP allowance policy, I guess, or backup policy.

I know that this policy has been in place for I think maybe two years now, perhaps a little longer, but I’d like to know whether or not this policy is going to have an impact on us in the future. We’ve got an expenditure here which is beyond our budgeted amount in this particular year. Is this something which is going to have an impact on our budget ongoing or forever, or are we liable to get more funding from the federal government to help us deal with their backup policy which requires us to spend more money on our policing?

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 Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. Is committee agreed to go back to law enforcement?

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 Jane Groenewegen

Thank you. Mr. Miltenberger. Mr. Kalgutkar.

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

Kalgutkar

Thank you, Madam Chair. This funding will be an ongoing requirement and in fact we have provided for some funding to be included in the 2012-2013 Main Estimates when they are considered by the standing committees.

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

Wendy Bisaro

Wendy Bisaro Frame Lake

Thanks to Mr. Kalgutkar. I guess I just would like an explanation then. Is this our share of the extra costs because of the backup policy, or are we bearing more of a cost than the federal government is in this? Or is this the same 70/30 percent share that we have with all of our other RCMP expenses? 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 Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. 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

Thank you, Madam Chair. It’s part of our share of the cost-sharing arrangement, which is 70/30. 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 Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Law enforcement, not previously authorized, $840,000.

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 Jane Groenewegen

Community justice and corrections, not previously authorized. Mr. Dolynny.

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

Daryl Dolynny

Daryl Dolynny Range Lake

Thank you, Madam Chair. My question will be with respect to the HALT amount for $100,000 here, and understanding full well that this is a flow-through program. It looks like this has been a frontload on behalf of the government here for $100,000, but what’s more troubling is that this is in phase four of, obviously, a phase one, two, three and now a phase four project. We’re talking about supplementals here. Can the Minister give us some idea why this is not included in the base funding?