Debates of Feb. 28th, 2017

This is page numbers 1991 - 2054 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 community.

Topics

Oral Questions

Prayer

Minister’s Statement 145-18(2): Progress In Negotiating Land, Resources And Self-Government Agreements

Western Canada Lottery And Sutcliffe Report

Department Of Justice Progress Report On Governance Access And Privacy

New Behchoko Sports And Recreation Complex

Fortieth Anniversary Of Northern United Place

Unified Vision And Strategy For The Northern Territories

Small Business Incentives

Hockey Tournaments In Nahendeh

Supports For Priority Hiring Candidates Under The Affirmative Action Policy

Benefits Of Sport And Traditional Games For Indigenous Athletes

Aklavik Road Repairs

Federal Review Of Laws And Policies Related To Indigenous Peoples

Strategy For Revitalization Of The Great Slave Lake Fishery

Committee Report 7-18(2): You Are Standing For Your People: Report On The Review Of The Members’ Conduct Guidelines

Motion To Receive Committee Report 7-18(2) And Move Into Committee Of The Whole

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Federal Review Of Laws And Policies Related To Indigenous People

Unified Vision And Strategy For The Northern Territories

Critical Incident Investigation Recommendations

Process For Filling Unfunded Positions

Supports For Priority Hiring Candidates Under The Affirmative Action Policy

Arsenic Levels In Kam Lake

Earnscliffe Strategy Group Contract

Western Canada Lottery And The Sutcliffe Report

Aklavik Road Repairs

Housing Engagement Survey

Lobbyist Registry Proposal

Junior Kindergarten Funding And Implementation

Tabled Document 303-18(2): Government Of The Northwest Territories Response To Committee Report 3-18(2): Report On The Review Of The 2014-2015 Northwest Territories Human Rights Commission Annual Report

Tabled Document 304-18(2): Follow-Up Letter For Oral Question 477-18(2): Housing Engagement Strategy

Tabled Document 305-18(2): Federal Lobbyist Registration For Earnscliffe Strategy Group

Tabled Document 306-18(2): White Paper On The Independence And Accountability Of Election Administration In The Northwest Territories

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

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

Tabled Document 261-18(2): Main Estimates 2017-2018, Department Of Municipal And Community Affairs, Deferral Of Regional Operations Activity

Tabled Document 261-18(2): Main Estimates 2017-2018, Department Of Municipal And Community Affairs, Deferral Of Sport, Recreation And Youth Activity

Tabled Document 261-18(2): Main Estimates 2017-2018, Department Of Municipal And Community Affairs, Deferral Of Further Consideration Of The Estimates For Municipal And Community Affairs

Report of Committee of the Whole

Orders of the Day

Committee Motion 66-18(2): Tabled Document 261-18(2): Main Estimates 2017-2018, Department Of Justice, Deferral Of Further Consideration Of The Estimates For Justice, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Tom Beaulieu Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. That is all I have.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Anything further? Mr. O'Reilly.

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am looking at page 326. I'm at the top, program details. Consumer affairs is listed at $150,000. Last week, I raised in the House concerns around our weak Consumer Protection Act, and I was pleased to hear the Minister say that there was supposed to be some sort of a plain language brochure that goes out soon to help consumers understand what their rights are under the existing legislation.

When was the last time there was any change or increase to the consumer affairs line in the MACA budget? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Minister.

February 28th, 2017

Caroline Cochrane Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. At this point, we do not know when the last time an increase was made to the consumer affairs portion of the department. 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 don't know how far back that goes. It looks like we haven't actually even tried to keep pace with the cost of living or Consumer Price Index in terms of bolstering resources for that, so there has been an erosion over time.

Is the Minister committed to looking at the work that we do in consumer affairs with regard to possibly increasing the budget for next year's main estimates? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Minister.

Caroline Cochrane Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. When we are developing the next year's budget, we can take a look at the consumer affairs; however, I do have to point out that over three years we've had less than two dozen cases that we've had to deal with. So unless our numbers pick up dramatically I can't see that there would be an increase at this point. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Minister. Mr. O'Reilly. Nothing further from Mr. O'Reilly. Mr. Thompson.

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'd like the first question to clarify when we're talking about the six communities, tax-based communities, sitting around the table, are we including all the six tax-based or is it specifically for ground ambulance and highway rescue? In other words, communities that have highway rescue and ground ambulance, or is it all six tax-based communities? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Minister.

Caroline Cochrane Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes. So it will be the six tax-based communities. I'm going to run them off: Yellowknife, Hay River, Fort Simpson, Fort Smith, Norman Wells, and Inuvik. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Minister. Mr. Thompson.

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

I just wanted to clarify that. In regard to program management, it's $660,000 and then on page 327 it has $365,000. This is for 911, correct? This is where the money is and $365,000 is the furniture and stuff like that, building it, and then the other remaining is for the implementation for 911? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Minister.

Caroline Cochrane Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, if you look at page 326 you'll see that the total for 911 implementation is $616,000. That is broken down with the $132,000 for a 911 emergency coordinator; the $365,000, as the Member stated, is implementing furniture, office space, et cetera; and then the last $119,000 is for the contract services for the implementation of 911. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Minister. Mr. Thompson. Nothing further from Mr. Thompson. Having no further comments or questions, I will call this activity. Municipal and Community Affairs, public safety, operations expenditure summary, activity total, $2,142,000. Does committee agree?

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, committee. Moving on to the next activity, regional operations, pages 329 to 333. Mr. Thompson.

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The first question would be on 331, and we talk about recreation funding of $825,000. Can the Minister inform if this funding has been totally allocated? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Minister.

Caroline Cochrane Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, this money is allocated to each community, so all of the communities have actually got their allocations. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Minister. Mr. Thompson.

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I thank the Minister for the clarification. In regard to the other contributions, has all this allocation of this money been spoken for and utilized this fiscal year? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Debates of Feb. 28th, 2017

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