This is page numbers 4521 - 4570 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

Bob McLeod

Bob McLeod Yellowknife South

The Government of the Northwest Territories is aware that some of these untenured structures may be associated with an asserted right in areas with unsettled claims or Aboriginal and/or treaty rights as established through a settled claim. In all instances, the Government of the Northwest Territories is respectful of Aboriginal treaty rights and wishes to develop a respectful approach to managing rights-based cabins in order to distinguish those cabins from untenured cabins.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nahendeh.

Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, I thank the Premier for his answer. Mr. Speaker, can the Premier tell us what recommendation EIA has made about effective communications with people who have traditional cabins, and how is EIA making sure these guidelines are followed? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Bob McLeod

Bob McLeod Yellowknife South

The Department of Lands participates actively in an interdepartmental Aboriginal consultation working group that is led by the Department of EIA and assists departments to implement best practices for engagement and consultation. The Government of the Northwest Territories' consultation approaches are intended to support respectful government-to-government consultation and engagement and to carry out effective communications with Indigenous governments.

The Government of the Northwest Territories values its relationships with Indigenous governments. Our doors are open. If an Indigenous government has concerns over this process or any other, they are welcome to come to us and identify those, either as a specific concern or during our bilateral government-to-government meetings. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife North.

Cory Vanthuyne

Cory Vanthuyne Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister of Infrastructure, and it is regarding the possibility of a hotel at the Yellowknife Airport.

I would just like to ask the Minister if he can advise whether the department has spoken with representatives of the hospitality industry as part of the airport hotel study. I understood that that didn't take place in advance of this, call it, undertaking coming out. Has he spoken with the industry since? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Minister of Infrastructure.

Wally Schumann

Wally Schumann Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I couldn't tell you if the department has or not, but myself, personally, I have received letters from one of the operators about laying out their concerns. We have had an exchange of a couple of letters going forward. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Cory Vanthuyne

Cory Vanthuyne Yellowknife North

I guess, as part of that communication and for the interest of the public, as part of the study, has any land at the airport been set aside for an airport hotel?

Wally Schumann

Wally Schumann Hay River South

The short answer is no. The work that we are doing is to inform the development of the renewed airport 20-year business plan. That is what we are looking at doing.

Cory Vanthuyne

Cory Vanthuyne Yellowknife North

Thank you to the Minister for that reply. Does the department have a private-sector partner in mind for any potential airport hotel? Or have they been pitched by a developer about building a hotel at the Yellowknife Airport?

Wally Schumann

Wally Schumann Hay River South

No, we have not been approached or I, personally, have not been approached about developing a hotel at the airport. What we are trying to do is come up with the long-term objectives that we need to do with this airport. Part of this planning process, this takes some serious technical review, so we have put out a separate RFP. That is the reason that has caused such a ruckus in the community over this issue.

What we are trying to do is just get a 20-year business plan and have a look at what needs to be done. If this is the long-term planning efforts to help us achieve a development plan for the next 20 years and this is going to provide information around that, that is what we need to do to come up with our plan.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife North.

Cory Vanthuyne

Cory Vanthuyne Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, with respect, I think the reason why there is a ruckus is because there has been a breakdown in communication. The department met with the City of Yellowknife and their council and did a presentation to them. The committee which I chair has not even had any such presentation presented to them. I am going to ask the Minister: will the Minister at least bring the results of this study to the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment before it goes to anybody else? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Wally Schumann

Wally Schumann Hay River South

I can commit to doing that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

Julie Green

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister of Justice. The Rental Office has made some positive changes in getting clients to the hearing stage, but the wait for written decisions often adds up to three months. The Rental Officer, in her most recent report, says, "Amending the Act to be consistent with Alberta's legislation would immediately reduce wait times for both hearing dates and issuance of orders. By releasing the time spent writing reasons for decision that have already been given orally at hearing, more time would be available to complete other duties." My question is: does the Minister agree with this assessment? Mahsi.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Minister of Justice.

Louis Sebert

Louis Sebert Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I did have an opportunity to read that portion of the report. Clearly, we need to speed up the process. We are looking seriously at that recommendation. I note that, in many provinces, in fact, six, there is no requirement for written reasons for a decision. That would certainly speed up the process. We are looking seriously at that. It does seem to be a sensible suggestion. Thank you.

Julie Green

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

The Minister, of course, knows that the legislative calendar is now very full for the remainder of this Assembly. Work could be begun now, if not completed, by the end of this Assembly to move this issue forward. Will the Minister begin work to bring forward legislation to make the change suggested, specifically that written orders are discretionary?

Louis Sebert

Louis Sebert Thebacha

Of course, there are a lot of other legislative initiatives facing us. We are reviewing this report and will be working on it and hope to bring forth something before the end of this Assembly, at least start that work.

Julie Green

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

I am pulling out my wish list. I got a yes, so I am going for it. There is hope. In the meantime, prior to the legislative change, can the Minister commit to providing more staff at the rental office so that the written orders can be made available sooner?

Louis Sebert

Louis Sebert Thebacha

We went out for an RFP for a deputy rental officer. That contract is being finalized. Hopefully, that will speed up the process.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

Julie Green

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Another yes. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Thank you to the Minister for that. My final question is: my constituent also had issues with the forms. Basically, she had to take a template from the office and recreate it on her computer. Can the Minister tell us what he is doing to bring forms for the rental office into this century? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.