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

Wally Schumann Hay River South

I think I got this right. Actually, I am going to defer it to the director.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Ms. Mujcin.

Mujcin

Thank you, Mr. Chair. In 2017-18, there is $100,000 for the film rebate program along with $160,000 in SEED allocated to film. The rebate program sunsets after 2017-18, at which time it will be $160,000 from SEED still allocated on an ongoing basis for film. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Ms. Mujcin. Mr. O'Reilly.

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thank you. I appreciate the clarification from the departmental staff. Does this represent good value for money? Are we going to just rely on SEED to do this, or are we going to invest some of our own money in this as well? More directly, Mr. Chair, can the Minister answer that? Thank you.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Minister.

Wally Schumann Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Chair. If I read this correct, amount rebate approved that was spent was $94,000, and the film rebate program resulted in $344,000 in spending in the NWT, so it would be good value for money. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Minister. Mr. O'Reilly.

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am glad to hear that, because that is my understanding as well. What is the plan moving forward? We are just going to have $160K, then, in SEED that is available for support for the film industry? What is the feature of this effort on this sector of the economy? Are we just going to let this die, or are we going to continue to invest in it. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Minister.

Wally Schumann Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Chair. From my understanding, the $160,000 is going to be hard to spend, the way things are looking right now. As we move forward, as the industry grows and picks up and diversifies the economy and brings bigger production films to the Northwest Territories, just like anything else, we will have to review it and see if we need to put more money into it. Right now, we are comfortable with that amount. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Minister. Mr. O'Reilly.

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I appreciate the comments from the Minister, but if we do not continue to provide support for the industry, I do not think it will continue to grow. I do want to move on, if I could. I think it is 204, the active positions page. Is that something I can do at this point, Mr. Chair? Yes.

As I understand it, there are two positions that are going to be lost in the department as a result of this budget. The only two positions seem to be in economic diversification and business support. Can the Minister explain to me how this supports our mandate of economic diversification, when the only two staff positions that are being lost are in economic diversification of business support? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Minister.

Wally Schumann Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Chair. There is a reduction of three regional petroleum advisors on this page. These positions are located in the Beaufort Delta, Sahtu, and Deh Cho region. Oil and gas activities are very low, so that's one of the reasons for that, is we know that's -- we don't believe that thing is going to happen there for at least another 10 years. These reductions were offset partly by the addition of investment in an immigration officer position which is located in Yellowknife. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Minister. Mr. O'Reilly.

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I just want a second here to review my notes, if I could. I don't think I have any other questions on this. Actually, I do, sorry.

The agricultural strategy, it's going to get tabled in the House. The only funding, then, that we're going to have available for this is whatever we might be able to negotiate with the federal government for Growing Forward 3; is that what's going to happen, Mr. Chair? Thank you.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Minister.

Wally Schumann Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, we said we were going to try to look after this internally, this initiative, but we also have the growing forward money going forward with that and we also have the Northern Food Development, which I believe has $550,000 in it, too, as well, to try to this move this initiative forward. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Minister. Mr. O'Reilly.

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Mr. Chair. So as I understand it then there's no new money in this budget for anything that might come out of the agricultural policy; is that the case? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Minister.

Wally Schumann Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Chair. No, there is no new money, but one of the things that we did when you look at this budget moving forward, we have created a new division to help prop up the agriculture strategy, and we believe this is early days in this initiative and that's a good investment moving forward. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Minister. Mr. O'Reilly.

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Mr. Chair. Can the Minister tell us where this new agricultural division is going to be located, and how many staff, and so on? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Debates of Feb. 15th, 2017

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