Masi. Minister of Finance.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as the Member said in his Member's statement that this is a privately-owned company and they were paying into a pension plan. To this point, we haven't had much contact with any of the parties involved. I think we play a very limited exposure that we have to NTCL and we don’t really have a standing in the bankruptcy proceedings. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I think I know how my second question will be answered. In 1999, the GNWT supported an application to the courts in the Royal Oak bankruptcy proceedings taking place in Ontario, relating to the termination of federally-regulated Giant Mine employees. Our Government argued on behalf of the employees that the NWT Labour Standards Act had to be complied with to the benefit of the employees despite the fact that it is federal jurisdiction. Despite the fact this took place in a different jurisdiction, they did this to support our residents. So is the GNWT willing to put in the same effort to support the affected NTCL pensioners and terminate employees in terms of engaging any sort of legal proceedings?

Mr. Speaker, my understanding is that the GNWT had a standing in the Royal Oak proceeding so it was easier to intervene and make representation. I said before, we have limited exposure with NTCL. We don’t have a standing in the bankruptcy proceedings, so it would be difficult for us to do so, and it's also assumed that the pensioners and affected employees are suitably represented in the proceedings.

This is federally regulated. It always comes back to that. So on the federal level what is the GNWT doing to engage the federal Minister? Are they writing the federal Minister in support of the pensioners? Are they talking to the MP at least? Is there anything going on a federal level to support these residents of our territory?

Mr. Speaker, at this point, no, I haven't had the opportunity to speak with our MP; however, I will commit to having a conversation with Mr. McLeod, and as far as writing to the appropriate federal Minister, no, that hasn't been done yet.

Masi. Oral Questions. Member for Hay River North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

These answers are, I guess, what I expected. We see that there's not much happening on part of the Government to support, you know, the affected employees of NTCL. In general, these type of things can be avoided in the future. I know that in Ontario they have a system where they have regulations to protect pensions, and there was an article a couple days ago in the Financial Post talking about how even public sector pensions, the investments are becoming riskier. They're not as stringently regulated as things like banks, and so there's a risk that, you know, a lot of people, a lot of organizations can face these pension shortfalls. So is the Government aware of this and doing anything to prevent these types of issues in the territory in the future? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I'm not personally aware of it; maybe the Department is, but what I will ask them to do is to do some research into the issue that the Member speaks of. I mean it's unfortunate that we have to be having this discussion on the pension of those employees in Hay River for -- or all the employees of NTCL. But I will commit to the Member that I'll do further research. I'll ask the Department to maybe have a conversation with Ontario, see exactly what it is that they do there.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Sahtu.

Masi. Minister of Finance.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the P3 partner is actually the contractor on this particular project and they have deals worked out with the subcontractors, and we have no role to play, it's not our contract. So there's really not much we can do. Any issues that might be happening would be between the contractor and subcontractors. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I thank the Minister for his prudent project management, and looking back into the statements made by the Minister on March 3 saying that, as per the project agreement, no deficiencies or holdbacks and unpaid bills would be left as part of this project come transfer day. Having said that and although it's not ours yet, but it will be, we want to get a clean bill of health that this project is met by standards and the technical issuance of the original contract are of P recognition. So I want to ask the Minister if a certificate will be coming that this government has supported a contractor and its subcontractors that enjoy working for this government knowing the fact that they will be paid a recognition or a certification of all bills paid come takeover day?

Mr. Speaker, the contractor has made great efforts in the Sahtu to make good on many of the outstanding invoices. There might have been a few that fell through the cracks. Apparently there was a meeting in Fort Good Hope and nothing was really raised during the meeting. As a matter of fact, it was quite positive and they were appreciative of the work they have this upcoming winter. I can say that of the $32 million in local spending, employment as long as 2016 the Sahtu has enjoyed the benefits of $21 million in project spending. I can assure the Member and all Members of this House and the general public that, as the Government of the Northwest Territories, we will ensure that we have a quality project when it's turned over to us and the lights are turned on.

Going back to a clean bill of health for all the subcontractors providing services in and outside of the Sahtu Region for the project, whether that service is coming from Fort Simpson, or other parts of Canada for that matter, it's a project that was initiated by this government and we want to ensure that we get the product that was initiated by this government as per the specifications, and a clean bill of health that all subcontractors are paid. If the Minister would provide a briefing, prior to the takeover date, that everybody is paid?

Mr. Speaker, this is a project that this government has been quite excited about, and the benefits it'll bring to technology down the valley, and of course I will keep committee apprised as to going forward. I know there's a winter bill season, that's when they are hoping to have it completed, and we are hoping to have it lit up by I believe it's this spring. So there's a short little stretch to go, but the plan is to try to have that completed this spring. But I will keep Committee apprised as to the work going forward.

Oral questions. Member for Sahtu.

Mr. Speaker, my last question. I'm glad to hear that the lights are going to be turned on and hopefully it'll shed some light to unpaid bills. In the briefing or information supplied I know of certain companies that are in the neighbourhood of at least 17 per cent of the overall project, and the overall project is $82 million, so 17 per cent of that, approximately, is in the form of unpaid bills. So if that could be researched and confirmed by the Minister that it's going to be paid? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, as I said before, we are not the contractor, however we can encourage all the groups that are involved to try and resolve any outstanding issues, because we want this to be a project that's had a lot of positive effect and will have a lot of positive effect. So we'll encourage them to try and resolve their issues and then again, as I said before, I will keep committee apprised as to the proceedings.

Oral questions. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Marci cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to ask the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment questions on the minimum wage. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to just as a refresher ask the Minister what the minimum wage is today in the NWT? Thank you.

Masi. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Currently, our minimum wage in the Northwest Territories is $12.50 an hour. Back in the 17th Assembly, 2014, the Minimum Wage Committee was setup of government officials, the business sector, non-governmental organizations, as well as some representatives from our most northern communities that sat down also with the NWT Chamber of Commerce and NWT Federation of Labour. They had their discussions and recommendation made to the government was that we increase our minimum wage from $10.00 an hour to $12.50 an hour, and I believe on June 1, 2015 it took effect. Thank you, Mr Speaker.