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Roles

In the Legislative Assembly

Elsewhere

Historical Information Bill Braden is no longer a member of the Legislative Assembly.

Last in the Legislative Assembly September 2007, as MLA for Great Slave

Won his last election, in 2003, with 65% of the vote.

Statements in the House

Inuvik Hospital March 21st, 2000

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. That answers my question. Has the department been able and made any attempt at re-profiling shifting the balance, even of internal resources, to at least start to put some more emphasis in early childhood development?

I think the answer basically is no, not yet. I was very impressed with the evidence and the information that the department has provided on early childhood development as a way, at least through government, to really make a difference in the health and the future success of the population. So I would certainly encourage the department to continue to emphasize that. I think it is one of those long term things that if we are able to make those investments now, the returns will be many. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. With 22 seconds to go I give you the floor.

Inuvik Hospital March 21st, 2000

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. That is encouraging. I look forward to those progress reports and to the inclusion and the involvement of the NGOs that we have up here and hope they have some ownership in the plan and can help be part of that success. I would like to ask about the area of early childhood development. There may be some other terminology applied to this, Mr. Chairman, but taking from some briefings that the department has provided us, and there has been a very strong emphasis in those briefings for a shift toward more attention in the earliest years of our people.

Right from birth or even prenatal attention up to the age of five or six, the impression that I get is the habits and the lifestyles and the general health of the child is really going to be built in those years. My question relates to, again, I was not on the committee so I do not have the benefit of more detailed information, but can the Minister say in the budget and allocations that are put forward here, are we seeing a shift in the department's approach that would reflect the importance of early childhood development? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Inuvik Hospital March 21st, 2000

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. You know, Mr. Chairman, a few months ago I thought my hearing was really good and my eyesight was fine, but since then I find myself wearing all these cheaters here and maybe it is because we are talking to the Minister for Health and Social Services. Something that is going to be coming down the pipe is the aging population and what the department is doing about that, however I will not concentrate on that right now.

I am a little more interested, Mr. Chairman, in a couple of remarks that Ms. Ballantyne had about what seems to be a fairly dramatic shift in the way we might be able to see funding going to non-government organizations by way of pooling federal and territorial and perhaps aboriginal resources as a way of getting more efficiency and streamlining funding.

By the way, I applaud that. I think it is great to see that finally happening, but I have a couple of questions. Does the Minister know if this is exclusive to the Health and Social Services area, or are other initiatives underway in other areas, perhaps in Education or Justice, which also have a number of NGOs going along with them?

Related to that, Mr. Chairman, could the Minister give some assurance of just how committed the federal government is to this? Are we really looking at something that could be a substantive change in the way funding mechanisms are handled, or are we looking at something that may be an experiment? Is it going to be short lived? Is it not going to have all that much political horsepower behind it? I will stop there, Mr. Chairman. Thank you.

Oral Question 104-14(2): Contract For Family Counselling Services March 21st, 2000

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am pleased the department will look into building a better process along with the Financial Management Board Secretariat.

Given the Northwest Territories Family Services is within days of losing this contract, and given that there is a recognition that the process needs improvement, will the Minister undertake to review the award of this contract, for the Northwest Territories Family Assistance Program and include the Northwest Territories Family Services in a further review of this particular RFP?

Oral Question 104-14(2): Contract For Family Counselling Services March 21st, 2000

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the Minister's answer and I too, agree that getting into the details about specific competitive proposals is not in the interest of the House. My supplementary would lead into what the Minister suggested, a way of handling these kinds of discrepancies. In the RFP process, there seems to be something lacking that would allow a structured appeal process that would help build accountability and transparency which this government wants to seek.

My question is, will the Minister look into the RFP process and see if a structured appeal process can be built in? Thank you.

Oral Question 104-14(2): Contract For Family Counselling Services March 21st, 2000

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question this afternoon for the Minister of the Executive, the Honourable Mr. Kakfwi. Earlier this year the Department of the Executive issued a request for proposals in supplying counselling services to GNWT employees.

This contract is currently carried out by NWT Family Services, an NWT society. The group has been active in the NWT since 1979 and was recently awarded national accreditation. The request for proposals awarded the contract to another northern-based group for a three-year period commencing April 1, 2000.

One issue is the difference in costs, Mr. Speaker. My understanding is that NWT Family Services met the criteria required but the successful bidder was 258 percent higher in cost, a total of half a million dollars more over the life of the contract.

Mr. Speaker, in view of the fact that this government is facing fiscal restraint, would the Minister justify this considerable discrepancy? Thank you.

Prospectors And Developers Association Of Canada Conference March 21st, 2000

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On March 5, 2000 I attended the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada Conference (PDAC) in Toronto along with the Deputy Premier, the Honourable Jane Groenewegen, the Honourable Joe Handley, other MLAs, City of Yellowknife and northern mining representatives. This is a world class event at which more than 10,000 participants attended this year.

The Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada is the national organization representing the interests of the Canadian mineral exploration and development industry. The PDAC recognizes excellence and achievement in the mineral industry through its program of annual awards.

The Bill Dennis Prospector of the Year Award is presented to the person or persons who have made a significant mineral discovery, or offered some significant service to the PDAC or been involved in some important technological invention or innovation with respect to improving Canadian prospecting and/or exploration techniques. This year's award was presented to D. Grenville Thomas, in recognition of his outstanding prospecting achievements in the Northwest Territories over the past 30 years and, in particular, his role in organizing and managing the exploration program that led to Diavik Diamond Mines, the Thor Lake rare earth project, and the Sunrise Lake discovery.

For the past 34 years, Gren Thomas' prospecting activity has generated substantial economic benefits for this country, culminating in the development of what will be Canada's second diamond mine. His early recognition of and unswerving faith in the mineral potential of the Northwest Territories have resulted in substantial exploration activity which has brought major economic benefits to the region. His work has also contributed to the region's geological database.

In 1981, he founded Aber Resources to continue his gold exploration efforts and, subsequently, his exploration for diamonds. The first kimberlites were discovered on the Diavik property in 1992. These pipes are high grade and rank among the richest in the world with reserves of 37 million tonnes containing 133 million carats.

Gren Thomas demonstrates all of the qualities of the prospector-- geological expertise, foresight, perseverance, and curiosity. I am pleased to acknowledge in this House his success and the national recognition which he so richly deserves for his splendid contribution to the Northwest Territories and to Canada's mining industry.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters March 20th, 2000

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. My thanks to the Minister for that answer. I would like to explore a bit of the communications side of the additional positions. If I had my information correct, and this is from some briefings we have had over the course of the last few weeks, Mr. Chairman, I understand there are now four existing positions attached to the Executive with a purely communication job description or mandate. There is one that is attached to the Legislative Assembly.

The budget would indicate that two or more communication positions are going to be taken on. If I have my information correct, Mr. Chairman, from the point of view of the residents of the Northwest Territories, that amounts to seven communication people attached largely, if not exclusively, to political and legislative information and communication.

Quite frankly, if I have my information correct and I stand to be corrected, this seems to be quite excessive for the size and scope of what we have got going, as broad and exciting as we may perceive it to be.

I think we are going overboard in an area and I would challenge the department's requirements for this number of positions at this time. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters March 20th, 2000

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. With a couple of the specific initiatives that the Executive has launched on here, I must indicate my support for the intergovernmental forum. It has been my experience, in watching and participating in Northwest Territories political development, the most positive and encouraging signals that I have ever seen at one time are happening right now. I fully support the initiatives that the department is taking to prepare and build capacity for that.

There is one aspect of the plan though, or of the budget, that I would like to pursue. My colleagues have already gone down this path. I would like to follow down it as well. On regional community affairs, Mr. Chairman, what I am a bit concerned about is duplication, or crossover, with other existing mandates or responsibilities. In the paper that was just circulated, which gives us a bit of a job description here, is the director of regional co-ordination. I get the sense preparing for transition to self-government will be one of the mandates of this job. I think it is a very good one, capacity building.

I do see a lot of overlap here with some existing roles, like the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs is now playing and the Department of Aboriginal Affairs has in negotiating land claims and self-government, perhaps in the role of the intergovernmental forum itself and in areas where it is going to be involved in this.

From my perception, Mr. Chairman, there may even be a fourth area that would be mandated in some fashion or other to deal with transition from this government to self-government. Is it necessary at this time? That is my question, Mr. Chairman.

Yellowknife Members' Constituency Meeting March 20th, 2000

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, that ends my statement.