This is page numbers 2329 - 2354 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 program.

Topics

Wally Schumann

Wally Schumann Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last year, ITI was up there to help to facilitate, to get the best economic impact from the arrival of cruise ship Serenity. We worked with all the communities and we were involved with the landing of all the ships within the community, and even our announcement yesterday how we can work with the IRC around the seal products of the fur, to be able to sell that to the European markets, so hopefully we have some European people on the cruise ships in this coming year, but we will continue to work with the people in the Members' riding to leverage the best economic benefits from this Crystal Serenity. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Herbert Nakimayak

Herbert Nakimayak Nunakput

I appreciate the response. Mr. Speaker, it appears that we may not have time to make seal and ivory sales happen for this season unless things happen very quickly. Is the Minister willing to direct the department to work with communities to seek ways to maximize the benefits from summer tourism and in the interim that do not necessarily involve animal products that can develop and diversity the local economy?

Wally Schumann

Wally Schumann Hay River South

As we have tabled in the House, Tourism 2020, there are a number of initiatives there that we can work with all the communities in the Northwest Territories and Aboriginal peoples that want to go into the tourism industry, and I would be glad to sit down with the Member to work with his communities on how they can leverage some of that programming.

Herbert Nakimayak

Herbert Nakimayak Nunakput

That answered pretty much all of my questions. My final question to the Minister is: will the Minister be willing to accompany myself to Ulukhaktok during the Crystal Serenity visit?

Wally Schumann

Wally Schumann Hay River South

I would have to look at my schedule, but I would be very interested in going up there and seeing the impact of the Crystal Serenity docking in these communities, and the economic benefits it brings to the communities.

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. Further to my statement today, and my questions and statement yesterday, I have more questions for the Minister of Justice about the A New Day program. As I mentioned, the RFP is quite sparse on details, and that is raising all the concerns and questions, so I am just trying to get at this, and get some more information out there.

My first question is that, the Coalition Against Family Violence was integral in developing the original A New Day Program, and it is a network with considerable corporate knowledge and experience. My question is: how will the new program integrate the coalition and tap into these resources? Thank you, Mr. Speaker?

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Minister of Justice.

Louis Sebert

Louis Sebert Thebacha

Mr. Speaker, a careful evaluation was made of the program which was referenced by the Member opposite in his statement earlier. Naturally, they will be going out, and have gone out to all parties who were interested in the program seeking advice. Hopefully, that good advice is reflected in the request for proposals that is presently out. Thank you.

R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

I believe the Minister said that they went out seeking advice from the coalition which went into this RFP. I have heard otherwise, but that still does not answer the question. Will there be a role for the coalition in the formal program that roles out from this RFP?

Louis Sebert

Louis Sebert Thebacha

I am not certain, Mr. Speaker, whether there will be a formal role. I have not examined the RFP in detail. I do know that those interested in bidding, there will be a meeting put on so that those interested in making a submission will be able to meet with the Department of Justice. That meeting will be held on the 14th. If there is additional information required by possible bidders, they could perhaps obtain it at that time.

R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

The RFP indicates that all clients must self-refer to the program. When I asked the Minister yesterday if the program would accept referrals from outside organizations like probation services, he said it was his impression that it would but he would get back to me with that information. I would like to find out if the Minister has found out that information and would like to share it with me?

Louis Sebert

Louis Sebert Thebacha

A New Day is a voluntary program based largely on self-referrals. Men have never needed a referral from an outside agency to access the program. During the pilot, which has taken place over a period of I think five years, community agencies such as probation would often make recommendations to their clients to take the program.

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. I am aware of what has happened in the past. That is why I am asking questions about the future. Going back again, I asked the Minister yesterday if he would make the details of the new program public because, as I mentioned, the RFP is quite vague. Even the appendix referred to was a blank page in the RFP. It has since been updated, and it contains -- actually, the PowerPoint presentation was given to the standing committee. It does not even make sense in the context of the RFP because -- it is going to take me all day to discuss, so I will just cut it short here. There are just too many problems here.

The Minister responded that he had not had an opportunity to view the RFP, but he was confident that it contained what is required of potential contractors. I would ask the Minister again if he will release the program detail, not so that the potential contractors know what they are applying for, but for the sake of the Members of this Assembly who have spent countless hours discussing this program and fighting for this program, and for the members of the public who deserve at least one successful and efficient men's healing program? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Louis Sebert

Louis Sebert Thebacha

Mr. Speaker, there was a very comprehensive report prepared on the New Day Program. Building on that, an RFP has been issued. Those that are interested in bidding on that can go to the meeting on Tuesday and obtain additional information should they require.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Kam Lake.

Kieron Testart

Kieron Testart Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday, I asked a question about procurement reform, and the Minister responsible said that he is not aware of any complaints. Today, I have a complaint for him. Some of my constituents are concerned about the 50 per cent plus one ownership requirements of BIP, saying, it is extremely frustrating for us to stay here year round, pay property taxes on several properties, pay extremely high living costs, and watch all the work go to divisions of southern companies who have a majority of equipment and employees in the South come up on a seasonal basis. There is a complaint.

Will the Minister now commit to actually reaching out to the business community and soliciting their input on how we can make our procurement policies such as BIP, the Business Incentive Program, and other procurement policies better? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Minister of Industry, Tourism, and Investment.

Wally Schumann

Wally Schumann Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the Member to be a little bit more specific. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Kieron Testart

Kieron Testart Kam Lake

Will the Minister commit to raising the 50 per cent requirement to 100 per cent northern-owned?

Wally Schumann

Wally Schumann Hay River South

No, I will not.

Kieron Testart

Kieron Testart Kam Lake

Again, I might not have all the answers. Clearly, the Minister does not have many answers that I will like today, but I think there are people out there in our business community who are very concerned about these issues and want to be heard. I would like the Minister to hear from them directly. Will the Minister commit to engaging them in a comprehensive conversation around procurement?

Wally Schumann

Wally Schumann Hay River South

As I said yesterday, I haven't heard any of this. This is the first I have heard of it from the Member. If he has people who would like to talk to me, we will sit down and have a conversation.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Kam Lake.