Debates of Feb. 15th, 2017

This is page numbers 1655 – 1698 of the Hansard for the 18th 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

Pan-Territorial On-The-Land Summit

Basic 911 Implementation

Addressing Social Challenges In Downtown Yellowknife

Youth Sexual Health Workshops In The Deh Cho Region

Developing Tourism Opportunities In The Deh Cho Region

Long-Term Care Programs

Aurora College Teacher Education Program

Programs For Sahtu Youth

Northern-Based Addictions Treatment Centre

Prescription Drug Monitoring Program

Public Housing Rent Assessments

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Acknowledgment 17-18(2): Male Soccer Players On U16 North American Indigenous Games Soccer Team

Acknowledgment 18-18(2): Passing Of Jean Piro

Acknowledgment 19-18(2): Passing Of Albert Bohnet

Social Service Facilities In Downtown Yellowknife

Aurora College Teacher Education Program

Mental And Sexual Health Programs For Youth

Northern-Based Addictions Treatment Centre

Public Housing Rent Assessments

Prescription Drug Monitoring Program

Deline Self-Government Agreement

Developing Tourism Opportunities In The Deh Cho Region

Long-Term Care Funding

Public Housing Rent Assessments

Aurora College Teacher Education Program

Tabled Document 279-18(2): Follow-Up Letter For Oral Question 484-18(2): Kam Lake Environmental Assessment

Tabled Document 280-18(2): 'the Hill Times' Article - Divide And Conquer: How The Feds Split The Provinces In Health Talks

Tabled Document 284-18(2): Minister Of Families, Children And Social Development Mandate Letter To Minister Duclos

Bill 17: An Act To Amend The Income Tax Act

Bill 18: An Act To Amend The Social Services Profession Act

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Tabled Document 261-18(2): Main Estimates 2017-2018, Health And Social Services, Deferral Of Further Consideration Of The Estimates For The Department Of Health And Social Services

Tabled Document 261-28(2): Main Estimates 2017-2018, Industry, Tourism And Investment, Deferral Of Economic Diversification And Business Support Activity

Report of Committee of the Whole

Orders of the Day

Committee Motion 49-18(2): Tabled Document 261-18(2): Main Estimates 2017-2018, Health And Social Services, Deferral Of Further Consideration Of The Estimates For The Department Of Health And Social Services, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Next I have Mr. O'Reilly, I believe.

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Mr. Chair. Since the previous speaker opened the door to consideration of policy matters under corporate management, can I ask the Minister: is this where funding is found for drafting of the work that's going to get under way soon for a Mineral Resources Act, or is it found further on into the departmental budget? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Is this the appropriate place to discuss this or would it be better suited in minerals and petroleum resources? Thank you, Minister Schumann.

Wally Schumann Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Chair. My understanding is part of it is here and part of it is under MPR, so it's in both sections. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Minister. It sounds like the Member can speak to it here if he wishes. Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Do we have anything further on corporate management? Mr. Thompson.

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Is this the area where the farm strategy is in or is it on page 202, Growing Forward 2? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Minister.

Wally Schumann Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Chair. It's under the economic diversification business support page.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Minister. I'll just remind all Members to indicate when you are done speaking so our tech team knows when to change the mics. Mr. Thompson.

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'll ask the questions on that page. Thank you.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Do we have anything further? I'm seeing nothing. I will call the section on page 198, Industry, Tourism and Investment, corporate management, operations expenditure summary, total activity, $8,078,000. Does committee agree?

February 14th, 2017

Some Hon. Members

Agreed

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, committee. We will continue on to economic diversification and business support. It begins at page 200 and continues on to page 204. When discussing this activity, please indicate which page you are on so we can all follow along. Do we have comments or questions? Mr. Beaulieu.

Tom Beaulieu Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I just have a couple of questions for the Minister. I attended something with the Minister or the Minister was making a speech about Community Futures. There was an indication there that Community Futures was a program that had tremendous leveraging abilities. I'm wondering why the budget has dropped? As slight as it is, if it has great leveraging possibilities, why is this budget going down slightly? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Minister.

Wally Schumann Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Chair. First of all, this is the second year of the reduction from before and one of the community future development corporations had lower volumes of activity, therefore sustainable part-time level. So that's part of the reason for reductions. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Minister. Mr. Beaulieu.

Tom Beaulieu Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I notice that Business Development Investment Corporation is dropping by almost a half a million dollars. I was wondering if the Minister could just explain that decrease. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Minister.

Wally Schumann Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Chair. BDIC is aware of this reduction, of course, and it's a reflection of their corporate plan that's coming out. First of all, we don’t think that's going to have an impact on any of their programs and services, and the reason that we've done this is just part of our reduction exercise across the board. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Minister. Mr. Beaulieu.

Tom Beaulieu Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, during my travels into my riding, there have been many occasions when individuals have asked for support to get into some sort of economic development. I have the program SEED, Support Entrepreneurial and Economic Development. The budget hasn't grown, in fact, compared the last fiscal year that that has been closed off. It's gone down a bit. Not a whole lot, but 70-some-thousand dollars. I'm wondering if this program is fully subscribed or if there's money left after the SEED Program is delivered. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Minister.

Wally Schumann Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Chair. SEED is usually fully subscribed right across the Northwest Territories. The one thing that I've looked at since I became the Minister of ITI is how are we using SEED and how effective is the SEED Program being implemented for economic development in the Northwest Territories. I could speak of this program because, before I got elected, I used this program to start off my business and I imagine there are a couple other people in this building who have done as such. It's a great program; but once I became the Minister of ITI and had to look at SEED, how it's being implemented in the regions, I believe that we need to have a little better look at how we're using the money for this program. Is it actually going to create economic development and diversify our economy in the small communities? That's one of the things that, as a Minister, I'm having the department have a good hard look at. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Minister. Mr. Beaulieu.

Debates of Feb. 15th, 2017

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