This is page numbers 3683 – 3722 of the Hansard for the 17th Assembly, 5th 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 housing.

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the opportunity. I wanted to follow up with my questions for the Premier on the liability and of very grave concern, obviously, if not managed properly. Again, I cite our final agreement where Appendix 7, Part E lists our operating sites that we will become responsible for, and as both the Premier and I mentioned, there’s the opportunity to modify that list, but it’s over 200 sites, so it’s a very substantial list. We’ve mentioned the Norman Wells pipeline and the diamond mines and so on, we are taking those over as per our agreement.

All we have is this list of 200-plus. So I’m asking, will the Premier provide us with the updated list as of March 1st , recognizing that these are still possibly

being modified? I can hardly believe that these are confidential. The list was fully revealed in the agreement; it’s been made public, so I’m looking for an update on that list. Will the Premier commit to providing that? Mahsi.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

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

Question 131-17(5): Financial Security For Operating Mines
Oral Questions (Reversion)

Yellowknife South

Bob McLeod

Bob McLeod Premier

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I indicated in the previous questionings, this was information that was made public, and as soon as we have an updated list from the Government of Canada, we’ll follow the same procedure. Thank you.

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

Thanks to the Premier for that. As soon as possible will be great.

I will take the high road here. Will the Premier also be adding transparency – I’m not sure he and I have the same definition here – on what our liabilities are in relation to the securities that we hold to cover those as soon as he can on this list of operating sites that we are taking over as per Appendix 7, Part E? Mahsi.

Question 131-17(5): Financial Security For Operating Mines
Oral Questions (Reversion)

Yellowknife South

Bob McLeod

Bob McLeod Premier

Our government has financial procedures for identifying environmental liabilities and I also know that the mining legislation

also has some provisions for confidentiality. We share information with the Regular Members, so we’ll continue to do so, recognizing there’s some confidentiality involved. Thank you.

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

You wouldn’t happen to have a crowbar I could use, would you? Sorry, Mr. Speaker.

What I’m looking for maybe is a commitment from the Premier to provide to the public everything that is not confidential as it was provided in the final agreement, and will the Premier also assure the public at this time in this House that we will not be assuming substantial new liabilities without holding securities to cover them? Mahsi.

Question 131-17(5): Financial Security For Operating Mines
Oral Questions (Reversion)

Yellowknife South

Bob McLeod

Bob McLeod Premier

Thank you. I don’t know how many times the Member wants me to assure him. I’ve already told him in a previous line of questioning that we would provide that information, subject to confidentiality requirements. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Bromley.

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

I’m not asking for information here or details or any prior commitments. I’m asking the Premier to state unequivocally here in the House to our public and to this Assembly that we will not assume substantial new liabilities in this process without assuring that we have the financial securities to cover those liabilities. Thank you.

Question 131-17(5): Financial Security For Operating Mines
Oral Questions (Reversion)

Yellowknife South

Bob McLeod

Bob McLeod Premier

I can assure the Member that that’s what we’re negotiating for and that’s our ultimate objective. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to use this opportunity to ask some questions to the Minister of Health. Now, he may not be specifically aware of the typical issue, but I want to find out what his authorities are within his purview of being Minister.

Recently a constituent has approached me on the fact that they’re applying on this medevac contract that’s out right now for bids and tenders and the packages are just coming together. My understanding was their BIP was pulled with no discussion with that particular business. It was just a random hey, you no longer qualify for BIP. They had to step in, ask me, I talked to the Minister, the Minister talked to the constituent and it seemed to work out. Then they further did an audit on this business, wanting taxation and other things to still qualify for BIP. Finally, now that that’s worked out, fortunately, from my understanding I should say. Now, apparently, they have an anonymous random

audit through the Nursing Association for their qualification, now again all linked to this medevac contract that they’re trying to bid on, and I believe it closes in a few days. So, this all ties down to one focus.

What authority does the Minister of Health and Social Services have in working with the fairness commissioner on a type of contract bid like this to find out and investigate this type of problem, and what authority lies before them in dealing with this type of problem? Do they have the authority to dismiss this particular proponent? Do they have any types of understandings like that? That’s the type of information I want to know, because this constituent is tired of being put through the ringer. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Abernethy.

Glen Abernethy

Glen Abernethy Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. An RFP is currently out for air ambulance services in the Northwest Territories. It is being overseen by a fairness commissioner. As a result, I will not speak publicly about this tender at this time. Thank you.

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

There must be some authority that the Minister can answer in the House today that the fairness commissioner can do and investigate. It’s not about deciding about the contract. I’m just saying when we’ve got corporate espionage in some form or fashion, if that really is the case, I don’t know, and I want to give them the chance to review it properly because they are the experts.

What type of remedies and options lie before this person providing this? What’s the point of having a fairness commissioner if they won’t review the situation? I don’t know; I’m trying to bring it to the Minister so we can get a solution, provide direction to this type of constituent who, in my opinion, is being taken to task. Why, I don’t know.

Glen Abernethy

Glen Abernethy Great Slave

The air ambulance contract is currently out for a request for proposal. It is being overseen by a fairness commissioner. That fairness commissioner has an obligation to make sure that all aspects of this process are fair, transparent and equal for all. As a result, I will not talk about this contract or this proposal at this time. Thank you.

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

So the Minister is unwilling to provide a solution in the public here. What use is having a fairness commissioner if we have no solution for a particular proponent who wants to bid on this potential contract and is being sandbagged behind the scenes?

Is the government willing to sit by and allow this without providing any options or remedies or just say let it play out? Are we going to hear the same answer, and you might as well just table the answer

if that’s what he’s going to do over there. Thank you.

Glen Abernethy

Glen Abernethy Great Slave

The services for air ambulance in the Northwest Territories are currently up for a request for proposal. It is being overseen by a fairness commissioner. The fairness commissioner will ensure that all aspects of this process are fair, transparent and equal to all. As a result, I will not talk about this contract or this proposal at this time. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. Your final, short supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Clearly, justice isn’t being served.

What options lie before this particular proponent who wants to bid on this contract and yet they have people who go out there and sandbag their potential credibility on this, which could cause them not to be in a position to qualify as they bid for this.

You know, we can only hide behind the fairness commissioner answer so long. The fact is, what options lie before them, what authorities fall under the ability of the fairness commissioner, and again, why have a fairness commissioner if the Minister is just going to keep saying over and over again the same answer? Give us some answers and give us some options. That’s what the public wants.

Glen Abernethy

Glen Abernethy Great Slave

The air ambulance services for the Northwest Territories are currently out for RFP. They are being overseen by a fairness commissioner, who if individuals have concerns with the process can file complaints with. As this is being overseen by a fairness commissioner, I will not be talking about the current RFP. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. Item 8, written questions. 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. Mr. Lafferty.

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following three documents, entitled “Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Motion 26-17(4), Universal Affordable Daycare;” “Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Motion 1-17(5), Sahtu Institute of Technology Planning Study;” and “GNWT Response to Motion 5-17(5), Education Renewal and Innovation.”

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Item 15, notices of motion. Mr. Bromley.

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Thursday, February 20, 2014, I will move the following motion: Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Deh Cho, that the Government of the Northwest Territories work with our regional Aboriginal government partners to determine the desirability and feasibility of establishing and staffing regional offices as a basis for ensuring meaningful input into land and water management structures;

And further, that the Government of the Northwest Territories work with the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board to seek support and resources towards this initiative;

And further, that the Government of the Northwest Territories make a public commitment to work with future federal governments to delay the elimination of or reinstitute the regional land and water boards;

And furthermore, that the Government of the Northwest Territories report to the House on the results of such collaborative discussions with our Aboriginal partners and provide the results of

feasibility studies to implement actions resulting from this process within 120 days.