Debates of Feb. 23rd, 2015

This is page numbers 5727 – 5768 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 know.

Topics

Oral Questions
Prayer
Anti-Poverty Round Table And Territorial Action Plan
Update On The Implementation Of The Economic Opportunities Strategy
Hay River Economic Opportunities
Income Support Policy
Senior Cager Basketball Tournament
Gameti Hand Games Tournament
Student Medical Escort Travel Policy
Dene Language Community Name Changes
Yellowknife Gathering Of Sahtu Beneficiaries
Decentralization Of GNWT Positions
Paul Stipdonk Soccer Tournament
2015 RCMP/firefighters Memorial Hockey Challenge
GNWT Position Vacancies In Mackenzie Delta
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Income Support Policy
Yellowknife Diesel Generation
Student Medical Escort Travel Policy
Decentralization Of GNWT Positions
Skills For Success Initiative
Deline Palliative Care Study
Mackenzie Delta Position Vacancies
Tlicho Region All-Season Highway
Deline Access Road
Skills For Success Initiative
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery (Reversion)
Bill 12: Northern Employee Benefits Services Pension Plan Act Bill 43: An Act To Amend The Borrowing Authorization Act
Tabled Document 102-17(5): Sharing, Love And Respect: Report On The Deliberations Of The 2014 NWT Anti-Poverty Round Table
Workplace Safety At Stanton Territorial Hospital
Recorded Vote
Bill 46: Deline Final Self-Government Agreement Act
Recorded Vote
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
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

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 Robert Bouchard

Page 129, Executive, active position summary. Questions?

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 Robert Bouchard

Page 131, Cabinet support, operations expenditure summary, $1.743 million. 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 Robert Bouchard

Page 132, Cabinet support, active positions. Questions?

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 Robert Bouchard

Page 135, directorate, operations expenditure summary, $6.121 million.

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 Robert Bouchard

Mr. Bromley.

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

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Chair. That was page 135. Am I correct? I just wondered, and I’m sure there’s an explanation probably associated with devolution, but the big jump in the current fiscal year from about $6 million to about $17 million, a $10 million jump, if I can get an explanation for that.

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 Robert Bouchard

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Premier McLeod.

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

Bob McLeod

Bob McLeod Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The Member is correct. That was the leftover federal money for implementation.

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 Robert Bouchard

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Next on my list I have 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, Mr. Chair. I just have a question here. As the Minister said in his opening remarks, we are separating the functions of Cabinet

and corporate communications. I would presume that by setting up two separate communication shops, so to speak, that there is going to be some expense incurred. I realize that it’s over two activities. It’s in the directorate and I think it’s under Cabinet support as well. How are we funding the establishment of these two separate Cabinet and corporate communications functions?

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 Robert Bouchard

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. Premier McLeod.

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

Bob McLeod

Bob McLeod Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Chair. We are funding it through internal reallocations. There is an increase cost of $5,000 related to French language communications and services.

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

To the Minister: I guess, is there no intention, then, to increase the number of communications personnel straight across government? I’m gathering, then, that there is no increase of personnel within the Department of Executive. But with this change in communications strategy and staffing, will there be an increase in the number of PYs required for communications?

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

Bob McLeod

Bob McLeod Yellowknife South

The complete review and dealing with the communications review that was undertaken wasn’t completed in time for the business planning process, so if there will be further increase requirements it would be done through the supplementary process.

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 the Minister. When can we expect to know, I guess, the results of the review, first of all, and then following on the results of the review, when would we know whether or not there’s going to be a supp appropriation coming forward?

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

Bob McLeod

Bob McLeod Yellowknife South

I don’t have the details of the supp review. When that information is made available to committee, we’ll know at the same time.

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

The Minister said supp review. Now I’m a little confused. I guess I’m wanting to know when the evaluation of the communications review will be done and when the government will know whether or not we’re going to increase our communications personnel which would then require an additional supp. Is this weeks or months or years that we’re talking?

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

February 22nd, 2015

Bob McLeod

Bob McLeod Yellowknife South

I expect it will be probably a week or so, or weeks, I guess, to be specific to your question.

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 Robert Bouchard

Mr. Bromley.

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

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The Minister mentioned the transfer of the NGO Stabilization Fund being proposed. Is that relevant to the directorate, or perhaps I could have some advice on what page that would appear.