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 Daniel McNeely

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Mr. O'Reilly.

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I appreciate the response from the Minister, but I'm just not sure how he can commit to bringing forward legislation while he's cutting the budget for it. I will just leave it at that for that one.

I have a further question under the expenditure category. I see where contract services is once again, last year, not all of the money was spent, and this year, there's a reduction in that. Can the Minister or his staff explain what's going on with the money allocated for contract services? Now, I presume that some of this might be used to help bring forward some of the legislation that's been promised. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair Daniel McNeely

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Mr. Minister, the first portion was a comment to the question.

Wally Schumann Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I will turn that over to the director of finance. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair Daniel McNeely

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Director of finance.

Mujcin

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The decrease from 2016-17 to 2017-18 is a result of a reallocation, an internal transfer we did to reinstate the Tourism Product Diversification Budget. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair Daniel McNeely

Thank you. Mr. O'Reilly.

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I appreciate the answer, thank you. Can the Minister or his staff explain the decrease in purchased services from 2016-17 to what is in the current estimates for 2017-18? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair Daniel McNeely

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Mr. Minister.

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I will direct that to the director of finance as well.

The Chair Daniel McNeely

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Ms. Director.

Mujcin

Thank you, Mr. Chair. It is an internal reallocation to compensation and benefits. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair Daniel McNeely

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly.

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I think that is all the questions I have for corporate management. I just am scrolling through. Once again, I want to go on record in saying that I find it difficult to understand how the department is going to continue with a very ambitious legislative agenda while it is cutting its policy legislation and communications budget at the same time. We have already seen delays, and I am afraid we are going to see more delays from this department, and I think evidence, the request for qualifications for the Mineral Resources Act, we may not see that until 2018 now.

Once again, I urge the department and the Minister to bring forward this important legislation as timely as he can, recognizing he's got less money to do the work. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair Daniel McNeely

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Your comment is noted. Mr. Simpson.

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

This section deals with strategic planning policy. My colleague touched on much of it. Our mandate states that ITI will develop a manufacturing strategy. In the 2016-17 business plan, there is mention that it is planning to develop an NWT manufacturing strategy. The 2017-18 business plan, there's a partial sentence that says, a future NWT manufacturing strategy. I was wondering, what's the status of this manufacturing strategy? Is it on the radar? I know that, in Hay River alone, there have been, in the past year, 50 jobs created in manufacturing. I'm not sure what else, what other industries are growing like that, so I'm not sure why the department isn't putting a premium on this. What's the status of this manufacturing strategy? When can we expect it? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair Daniel McNeely

Thank you, Mr. Simpson. Mr. Minister.

Wally Schumann Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Chair. As the Member knows, this was something that I was working on before I got elected, and it is definitely not something I am going to drop the ball on as the Minister of ITI. We continued to work with the manufacturing strategy as recently as when I was home lately. I brought up the conversation with some of the Members who are on the Manufacturers' Association, and when are they going to try to pull together another meeting and get things moving on their side of things. We are supporting a development of marketing and promoting of them. That is what the department has worked on. I have seen a draft of some of the literature that is going to be sent out to all departments in the Government of Northwest Territories to help promote and ensure that people are aware of who is developing what, or who manufactures what, and what's available to all departments in the Northwest Territories. We will continue to work with the Manufacturers' Association to try to improve manufacturing in the Northwest Territories. Like I said, reassure the Member, and he knows well full that I was a big part of this before I got elected, and we will continue to work on it moving forward. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair Daniel McNeely

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Mr. Simpson.

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you to the Minister for that answer. I was well aware that you were a big part of the Manufacturers' Association. It does not mean I am going to let up on this for the next two-and-a-half years. I will have some comments about the marketing sheets that the department has produced in the next section.

Does the Minister say that he is waiting for the association to get together and have a meeting? Is the department being proactive, or is it just sitting back and waiting for this association to have a meeting and bring forth some sort of proposal to the department? Has that been communicated to the association formally, that they need to bring something to the department in order to get this started? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair Daniel McNeely

Thank you, Mr. Simpson. Mr. Minister.

Wally Schumann Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Chair. It's funny that he has asked that question because, as of lately, I have asked the ADM to reach out to the Manufacturers' Association because they haven't been in much contact with us with their association since last year, and I've asked her to reach out to see what we can do about facilitating at least an annual meeting and see what kind of a discussion we can have them then. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

February 14th, 2017

The Chair Daniel McNeely

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Mr. Simpson.

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I imagine the Members are quite busy because it's a growing, thriving industry and so I can't wait to get some additional support in the form of this strategy. No more questions. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair Daniel McNeely

Thank you, Mr. Simpson.

Debates of Feb. 15th, 2017

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