This is page numbers 127 - 164 of the Hansard for the 18th Assembly, 3rd 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 work.

Topics

Caroline Cochrane

Caroline Cochrane Range Lake

No, I cannot. I would have to actually talk with the department and see. I want a complete plan, not a plan that is rushed to meet political viewpoints, so I will make sure that the plan is done properly before we release that plan. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

Question 47-18(3): Legislative Progress
Oral Questions

October 19th, 2017

Julie Green

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Mr. Speaker, earlier today the Premier said that the Cabinet had heard clearly from Members about their frustrations and concerns. Mr. Speaker, I have brought up a legitimate, fact-based problem with the speed of legislation being introduced in this Legislative Assembly. What I got in return was a denial that there is a problem and no offer to take up my offer to discuss this with the other Members of this House, so I want to ask the Premier again: will he work with Caucus to look at convening a short sitting in December so that additional bills can be introduced for review prior to the budget session? Mahsi.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. The Honourable Premier.

Bob McLeod

Bob McLeod Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my response, I made sure that all options were open, and I said that I would review the legislative agenda and we would take whatever actions would be required to make sure that we fulfilled our agenda, our very ambitious agenda. That did not preclude meeting with Caucus to review. We all know the process. The only one who can call or reconvene the Legislative Assembly would be the call of the Speaker.

Julie Green

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

I am aware of the process, but it would start with the Caucus. So how is the Premier going to consult with Regular Members on the issue of speeding up the process of introducing new legislation?

Bob McLeod

Bob McLeod Yellowknife South

First of all, I would review our legislative agenda. I would review every proposal. I would review every timeline, and I would review the resources that we have available, and we would review that with Caucus.

Julie Green

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Mr. Speaker, the next Caucus meeting is February 7, 2018, so at what point will this review involve the Regular Members?

Bob McLeod

Bob McLeod Yellowknife South

We would undertake a government review, and, as soon as that is completed, we are, MLAs are, meeting on a regular basis, so we would try to fit into that agenda and timetable.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

Julie Green

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Could the Premier tell us when the results of this review will be available and whether he will make them available to Regular Members?

Bob McLeod

Bob McLeod Yellowknife South

As soon as our government and our officials have been able to review the legislative agenda and as soon as we can determine the timelines and the proposed schedules, we would develop a critical path. I expect that we will be able to meet with Caucus at that point. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Colleagues, I would like to draw your attention to visitors in the gallery. We have with us Language Commissioner Shannon Gullberg. Welcome to our Assembly. Also with us we have council members with a chief here today, Paul Betsina and Bobby Drygeese. Masi for joining us. Oral questions. Member for Hay River North.

R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this is our last sitting day, so I would like to get some more information out to the public on the progress on the Commercial Fisheries Revitalization Strategy. I will go back to the fish plant. We have got the money in the budget now. The Minister said that Infrastructure is taking the lead on this, so when can we expect the ground to break on this project? Even better, when can we expect this to be operational, this new fish plant? Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment.

Wally Schumann

Wally Schumann Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I said, we are in the planning stage right now, figuring this out. The department is the lead. Hopefully, we will be able to break ground in the spring.

As I said, I think we have some property identified moving forward and working with the Town of Hay River. I suspect construction will probably take at least a year for a facility that size.

R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

So it looks like it will be operational summer 2019, from what the Minister has stated. Will we be able to do both primary and secondary processing in the new fish plant?

Wally Schumann

Wally Schumann Hay River South

Mr. Speaker, as we move forward working with the fishing federation, primarily right now we will be doing exactly what Freshwater did, was to be able to do the primary sourcing of fish, cutting up round, and filleting. As far as doing secondary processing, that is going to be entirely up to what Freshwater wants to do moving forward.

R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

I hope the Minister did not mean it when he said we are going to do exactly what Freshwater was doing. Another element of the revitalization strategy is the training program.

I know there have been talks with different organizations about training, not just for fishermen, but for people in the marine industry, as well, so where are we in terms of creating a training program to revitalize the fishery?

Wally Schumann

Wally Schumann Hay River South

We are working with a number of people on moving this forward. The first part of it is what do we need to have the existing fishermen trained up to participate in fishing on the lake and have all the qualifications needed to do that.

We are also looking at a second part of how do we bring new, younger fishermen into the process, what type of training they need to be able to access the lake and do it in a safe manner. We are looking at a different approach, as well, with a number of other proponents about how we can bring training to the fishing industry in the Northwest Territories.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Hay River North.

R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Still just a lot of looking at things, it sounds like, so, while the department is looking at things, I know the fishermen have been fishing, so can the Minister give us an update about how much production has been on the lake, what percentage of the quota or how many pounds have been taken off the lake this year?

Wally Schumann

Wally Schumann Hay River South

I don't think we have the full details on the catch, but from everything I have heard to date, it sounds like it is very similar to last year's quota. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Time for oral questions has expired. Item 8, written questions. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

Julie Green

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation.

In announcing the decision to Concept Energy Services to supply modular housing units, the Minister indicated that the units could be provided at a cost 25 to 48 per cent lower than by stick-built construction. Contracts are now being let to complete construction of modular units at additional costs. Can the Minister tell this House what the additional costs for completion of the units delivered unfinished to communities will be, and:

1. whether modular construction will in fact be cheaper than community-based stick built construction, given the need to pay contractors to complete the buildings;

2. whether the original calculation of construction cost savings included the payment of a cash advance to Concept Energy Services;

3. the amount of any advance and the contract conditions to be met in return for the advance; and;

4. given that providing cash advances to contractors is not the normal practice of the Housing Corporation, why it was included in this contract.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.