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Crucial Fact

  • Her favourite word was hay.
Historical Information Jane Groenewegen is no longer a member of the Legislative Assembly.

Last in the Legislative Assembly November 2015, as MLA for Hay River South

Lost her last election, in 2015, with 35% of the vote.

Statements in the House

Community Empowerment May 5th, 1996

I seek unanimous consent to continue with my statement. Thank you.

Community Empowerment May 5th, 1996

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My Member's statement today is about community empowerment. This is a phrase which is used repeatedly by this government and I know it raises questions in the minds of some people.

First of all, I will explain, according to my understanding, what community empowerment is not. It is not the colonial approach to government that has existed for so long in the North. Colonial, by definition, means control by one power over a dependent area of people. This conjures up an image of an out-of-touch, top-heavy bureaucracy which dictates the choices, priorities and agenda of communities; communities which may be vastly different in terms of size, demographics and culture.

Community empowerment is not a central government which sets global policies which apply across the board regardless of these vast differences. Community empowerment is and encompasses such things as multi-year block funding, community transfer of programs and services, training, ownership of infrastructure and assets, community justice and wellness. This major change in focus in the way the government does business raises many questions in the minds of the people who know how the government works now. Even with the shortfalls of the present system, some may find it more comfortable to maintain the status quo. Questions about community empowerment; big answers. I will only raise a couple of these questions today as they relate to things that are being asked in my riding.

For example, in communities where a local government may consist of a hamlet council and a band council, which is the recognized body for transfer purposes? In my particular riding, I have a First Nations Dene council, I have a town council and I also have a Metis Nation council. As another example, a well-established shed business community, primarily centralized in larger communities has been built on the premise of the policies now in place. These businesses service and supply surrounding communities. With capital and O and M dollars in the hands of communities, are the current policies of purchasing and tendering applicable anymore? Who pays when the money runs out before the project does?

Minister Todd, in his Budget Address, indicates that he wants the private sector to take up the challenge of creating jobs. It's a statistical fact that 70 per cent of investment for economic expansion in the small business sector comes from within...

Visit By Hon. Kelvin Ng To Hay River May 1st, 1996

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My statement today is with respect to Mr. Ng's attendance in my community on April 20th and 21 st. It was my pleasure to host Mr. Ng. We had a very busy schedule we kept. I will outline a few of the things we did.

We started out with a luncheon with the Hay River hospital board, followed by a tour of the hospital facilities. After that, we had a meeting with the medical doctors in Hay River and discussed the challenges of medical doctor recruitment in the North. Many positive suggestions were made in that regard.

Then we went and had a tour of the medical surgical supply business in Hay River. I might also add that they have since been the recipient of the NWT Business of the Year Award. We then visited with the two chiropractors in Hay River who have valid concerns regarding the chiropractic services being uninsured health services in the Northwest Territories.

Following that, we attended a banquet for Dr. Earle Covert who is retiring from medical practice in Hay River after 32 years. I appreciate the fact that Kelvin didn't know Dr. Covert very well, but sat through a five-hour presentation at the head table and spoke most eloquently at the benefit; we really appreciated that.

On Sunday morning, we met with the mayor and the town manager with respect to the hospital transfer to the town of Hay River. Then he had a tour of Hay River, including the Women's Resource Centre, Woodland Manor Seniors' Home, South Mackenzie Correctional Institution, the young offenders' facility and following that, attended a brunch at my home with the Hay River Seniors' Society with approximately 30 people in attendance. So we had a busy time but, again, I was very pleased that a Minister would take the time to come to my community and in this case, particularly, honour Doctor Covert. Thank you.

--- Applause

Item 10: Petitions April 30th, 1996

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My petition reads: "We, the undersigned business people of Hay River, wish to bring to your attention some of our concerns regarding the new business incentive policy. The proposed reduction of the base incentive from 15 per cent to 5.8 per cent is not acceptable. The low percentage will not provide the protection needed for northern companies to operate on a level playing field with the South. The 5.8 per cent incentive will allow southern companies to bid competitively with the following direct advantages over northern companies: no investment in the NWT; no northern employment costs; no contributions to the northern or

municipal tax base; and, no local northern economic contributions to the North or northern people. I believe that the NWT government is paying a 15 per cent premium for goods and services is simply false. The present and every growing competition between northern companies ensures the NWT government a fair marketplace. In closing, we recognize the fact that it is not the desire of the GNWT to finance the success of northern companies by means of the business incentive policy, however, we strongly feel that it should not be made the mandate of the GNWT to introduce a policy that unfairly handicaps the ability of northern companies to bid competitively against the South." Petition No. 12-13(3) is signed by 40 prominent business people in Hay River. Thank you.

Question 107-13(3): Status Of New Business Incentive Policy April 30th, 1996

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question today is for the Minister of Public Works and Services relating to the business incentive policy. There has been a review under way for several months and there was going to be a presentation made to Cabinet during this last break on what the results of the consultant's findings were. I would like to know what the current status is of the proposed new business incentive policy.

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery April 30th, 1996

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to personally recognize and thank Roxanne Tucker for coming up here today to sing and introduce her as yet another talented person from Hay River. Thank you.

--- Applause

The Business Incentive Policy April 30th, 1996

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Over the last few months since we were elected to this Assembly, the subject of the business incentive policy has been discussed. Many questions have been raised and many opinions expressed. The policy was designed to give northern businesses a fair chance to receive government contracts by recognizing the higher cost of doing business in the North. In many ways, the policy has done just that, to the point now where a large percentage of government contracts for the purchase of goods and services go to northern firms.

The business sector in the North has developed to the point where it is indicated that, from a random sample of 87 purchases made between April 1993 and February 1994 almost half of all purchases were less expensive in the Northwest Territories than they would have been in the South. On the average, a premium of 5.67 per cent was paid on northern purchases.

Northern businesses work on very tight margins, even with the policy's preference figures. The 15 or 20 per cent is a cushion or insurance to ensure that northern businesses with a higher cost of operating and overhead are at least on a level playing field with southern competitors. I believe that the present preference percentages of 15 to 20 per cent, which translates into a 5.67 per cent premium, is an acceptable cost of keeping our government dollars and the benefits of those dollars in the North.

It is the feeling of my constituents that the current policy should be retained and the money currently being spent on supposedly new-and-improved BIP should be channelled to address the issue of storefront operators. I will be tabling a petition on the subject later today in the House. Thank you.

--- Applause

Revert To Item 20: Report Of Committee Of The Whole March 27th, 1996

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Your committee has been considering Bill 9, and would like to report progress and, Mr. Speaker, I move that the report of Committee of the Whole be concurred with. Thank you.

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery March 27th, 1996

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize one of my Hay River constituents, Miss Pat Thomas, president-elect of the Northwest Territories Teachers' Association.

--- Applause

Question 72-13(3): Business Incentive Policy Review Process March 26th, 1996

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. What provision is there, or is there any provision in the process, for Members in this House to be involved before the new percentages of preference are implemented?