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 67-18(2): Tabled Document 261-18(2): Main Estimates 2017-2018, Department Of Municipal And Community Affairs, Deferral Of Regional Operations Activity, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I thank the Minister for taking me down memory lane. I understand that. I was looking for this fiscal year coming up, but she did answer that. Can the Minister explain why they are not looking at the North American Indigenous Games in Toronto as an opportunity for the youth, as well? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Minister.

Caroline Cochrane Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. We are going to the Indigenous Games. We are just not taking the Youth Ambassador Program there. Different programs will be utilized for that event. 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 that answer. Will the Minister then provide us with what the department is doing for the youth at the North American Indigenous Games? Besides the team going, what other opportunities the youth ambassadors are able to go? I am not talking about Team NWT. I am asking about the youth ambassadors. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Minister.

Caroline Cochrane Range Lake

At this point, Mr. Chair, we don't have that level of detail. We can get back to the Member on specifically what supports for youth will be provided through that event. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Minister. Mr. Thompson.

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

I thank the Minister for that commitment. I am looking forward to that information -- which brings us to the multisport games. Can the Minister please provide us with the rationale of why they are cutting $150,000 from NWT Games? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Ms. Young.

Young

Thank you, Mr. Chair. As we have noted earlier, part of the exercise that the department went through over the preparation of the main estimates was looking at where we had opportunities to seek some efficiencies and be able to operate our programs and contribute to the overall financial stability of the GNWT. As part of that exercise, each of our units was challenged with taking a look at their operations and taking a look at the proposed needs over the next couple of years to see where opportunities may exist.

In looking at what is planned for the next couple of years in multisport games, it was felt that this was an area that we could contribute to the overall financial stability but also that we have demonstrated experiences in the past where, if resources are required above and beyond what is budgeted, that the department can meet the call and that that would be the manner in which we would manage this, that we would identify this as an area that we can operate with less but also be aware that, if the situation changes and our "crystal-balling" is not accurate, that we will rise to the challenge and be able to address that concern.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Ms. Young. Mr. Thompson.

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Chair. So, if I understand this correctly, the next games, we have the North American Indigenous Games in Toronto, the Canada Summer Games in Winnipeg, and the Arctic Winter Games in Hay River Fort Smith to which Team NWT is supposed to be going. So you are saying that, this $500,000, they can do that with these three games coming into place. Is this correct? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Mr. Schauerte.

Schauerte

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The way we approach the multisport games program, including all of the events that the Member has identified, part of the funding includes the money that is provided in our main estimates. There is also a component of lottery dollars that has historically funded multisport games, as well. Up until the time that this line item in our budget was identified about 10 years or so back, the lotteries exclusively fund our multisport games commitment. At that point, we identified that it was inadequate to do so over the long term, and our government made the investment into the multisport games contribution budget that we have there.

So, as we look at our commitments in the coming years and we budget it, based on historical levels of funding, both from our main estimates and from the lottery, we are able to make our commitments in this area. As the deputy minister suggested, if our budgeting is in accurate, the department's full intention is to fund this from within our main estimate envelope and not to take this from the lottery thereby compromising contributions to other organizations. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Schauerte. Mr. Thompson.

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I thank Mr. Schauerte for his answer. Just to understand this correctly, I am looking at the Western Canada Lottery program funding framework they are looking at, and they are saying that anything after over $5.1 million, 80 per cent of this is going to multisport games. So is this the way the government is going to use the lottery dollars now, after it's over the $5.1 million, to fund multisport games? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Mr. Schauerte.

Schauerte

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I don't have the details of the lottery expenditures in front of me at this time. Our lotteries right now are a program that is outside of the main estimate budgeting process. Eventually, when the Western Canada Lottery becomes part of our operations formally within government and we re-describe them in our main estimates, we will be able to provide those kind of actual details over the long term.

It is the department's intention to bring a presentation to standing committee during the term of this sitting to give more detail about the Sutcliffe Report, the Western Canada Lottery legislative initiative, and where our investment through the lottery fund is going to go towards stakeholders that currently receive funding. I am hesitant to comment on specific numbers as it relates to investment through the lottery fund without having those details in front of me. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Schauerte. Mr. Thompson.

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am very concerned that this government is looking at the lottery funding as an opportunity to get away from our commitment through the money from the $650,000. It is a concern. The money that is in lotteries presently, for the last five years, has been going to the five partners' organizations, which is the grassroots. The other people on the other side can shake their heads and say, no, this is not what we are doing, but this is how I am looking at it.

This is how I am feeling this government is utilizing lotteries, once it comes in the system, that it becomes part of this, that the department can use that money to pay for games. I am hugely concerned, and I wish the government and the department would stop looking at utilizing lotteries as a way to fund our games. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Ms. Green.

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, during the business plan, the department said that, in this activity area, they were going to provide opportunities for residents to improve health and fitness. I have not been able to find exactly where that is laid out, so I am wondering if the Minister could provide some detail with that. Thank you.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Ms. Green. Minister.

Caroline Cochrane Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. It is within our mandate and it is part of the Sutcliffe Report that, actually, we are to provide a physical activity strategy. We are meeting with the five sports and recreation organizations in April. At that point, we are going to be looking at developing a territorial-wide physical activity strategy to address the issues that the Member has brought up. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Debates of Feb. 28th, 2017

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