Seamus Henry

Roles

In the Legislative Assembly

Elsewhere

Historical Information Seamus Henry is no longer a member of the Legislative Assembly.

Last in the Legislative Assembly December 1999, as MLA for Yellowknife South

Won his last election, in 1995, with 42% of the vote.

Statements in the House

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters April 28th, 1999

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would be pleased to do so. The mandate of the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development is to promote economic self-sufficiency through the sustainable development of natural resources and to enhance the creation of sustainable opportunities in the traditional and wage economies.

The Standing Committee on Resource Management and Infrastructure reviewed the 1999-2002 business plan for the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development on November 20, 1998. The department identified challenges and possible solutions such as promoting long-term employment and economic development opportunities by targeting public and private sector investment in the northern economy.

Secondly, the department noted the migration of skills from smaller to larger communities as another challenge, and added that it will support the strengths of both large and small communities by administering flexibility in the distribution of grants and contributions to the regions.

Thirdly, the department discussed the uncertain regulatory structure in the western territory. The committee has identified this as a concern throughout its term and has strongly supported the devolution of provincial-like powers to the Government of the Northwest Territories and aboriginal governments. Further challenges identified by the department are the development of standards for sustainable development and environmental protection, and reduced resources.

The committee reviewed the 1999-2000 Main Estimates presented by the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development on March 20, 1999. The committee noted an overall decrease of $976,000 from the figures presented in the 1999-2000 departmental business plan. The department focused on each major program area with the goals set out in the business plan as a framework.

The Northern Accord is an economic agreement that will allow the Government of the Northwest Territories and, pending future agreements between aboriginal groups and Canada, aboriginal claimant groups and future aboriginal governments the ability to raise revenues from oil, gas and mineral development. However, due to uncertainties surrounding self-government, unsettled land claims and unresolved aboriginal and treaty rights, the Government of the Northwest Territories has been unable to table a GNWT Northern Accord proposal. The committee Members would like this government to resurrect and prioritize this proposal before the new millennium. Members note that the uncertainties listed above have clouded previous negotiations and suggest that the government examine developments in other jurisdictions, such as the Yukon, and the experience of First Nations governments that have procured oil and gas rights.

The Government of the Northwest Territories has been seeking the transfer of provincial-type powers for land, water and non-renewable resources from the federal government since the mid-1980's. During the business plan review, the committee expressed concern over the unresponsive role of the GNWT in promoting the fiscal benefits from resource development in the North to their federal counterparts. The department provided updated briefings on the status of the Northern Accord during the draft Main Estimates review and the committee Members expressed concern about the Northern Accord issue remaining stagnant. The department noted that until there is an agreement in place with the aboriginal organizations, there will be no movement on this initiative. Mr. Chairman, the committee recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories resurrect and priorize the Northern Accord proposal before the new millennium.

The Liard/Alaska Highway junction development. Following the business plan review, the committee recommended that the Liard/Alaska Highway junction development project for the year 2000-2001 be removed from the 1999-2002 business plans. Members felt that this capital could be better spent in areas such as the completion of Highway 3. The department agreed with this recommendation and the item has been removed from the Main Estimates.

Business Credit Corporation and the NWT Development Corporation. During the business plan review, Members had requested background information on the current status of the Business Credit Corporation and also the number of people who have received loans within the last two fiscal years. The committee is concerned that the BCC may be providing certain regions in the Western Territory with more funding than others and would like to ensure fairness and equality is being practised. Members had asked repeatedly for a briefing on the status of each of these corporations. In January 1999, the department held a workshop for committee Members to get feedback from the committee on the general direction to operate these corporations after division. The committee appreciates the efforts of the Minister and his officials and the opportunity to provide input.

During the workshop, the committee questioned when the auditor general's report for the last two fiscal years for the NWT Development Corporation will be made available to the public. The department gave no specific timeline, suggesting that it would be approximately May or June, 1999, before a final report is completed. During the draft main estimates review, the department noted that the NWT Development Corporation has not completed their corporate business plan. Therefore, once the consultant they hired to examine the NWT Development Corporation's fiscal situation completes his work, the budget allocation of $4.1 million may be changed. Members assume that any changes will be reflected in the final main estimates. Committee Members would like a copy of the consultant's report, once completed, and a meeting with the consultant for a more detailed analysis of the NWT Development Corporation.

Forest Management. The forest management division comprises the largest allocation of the department's operations and maintenance funding with a budget allocation of $28.3 million. The committee asked the department to provide a specific breakdown of how these funds are allocated in each of the four program areas. Committee Members would like a specific breakdown of the proposed budget allocation of $16.7 million for operations and maintenance under the program management area in forest management.

Work done on behalf of others. Committee Members note concern about two agreements under the details of work done on behalf of others. Committee Members would like to see copies of the contracts of services provided to Nunavut by the department and a cost breakdown of the $2.8 million allocation for Inuvialuit participation costs. Members have also requested a breakdown of funding provided by the federal government for implementation of land claim agreements with detail as to how this allocation is spent.

Under the Canada/NWT Economic Development Agreement, during the business plan review, the department discussed the proposed implementation of the new Economic Development Agreement that will coincide with the sunsetting of the Northern Employment Strategy. According to the department, the new EDA can therefore be carried out within the department with a minimum of additional resources.

There have been delays in talks between the federal and the territorial government regarding the program proposal the GNWT put forward for the negotiation of the new Economic Development Agreement. Committee Members feel this delay is due, for the most part, to the work on the Economic Development Strategy. Members note the department stated that talks with their federal counterparts regarding the EDA were put on hold until the Economic Development Strategy was completed. However, the committee understands that talks have resumed with the federal government.

Following the review of the business plans, the committee reported concerns regarding the Economic Development Strategy to the Department. The work to develop an economic strategy for the new Western Territory had been placed under the direction of Cabinet, and Members were concerned that it should have been under the direction of this department. Since the business plan review, responsibility for the strategy has been transferred to the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development.

The draft Economic Development Strategy report was to be completed by early fall and has been delayed until later in the spring of 1999. Members feel this strategy may have been more appropriately handled if it had been under the direction of the department from conception. The committee feels that this government has a history of promoting many economic strategies and studies outside of the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development. In the committee's view, the funding for these strategies could be better administered using existing manpower and resources within the department. Mr. Chairman, that concludes the report on the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development by the committee. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Question 160-13(7): Development Corporation Expenditure Guidelines April 28th, 1999

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I believe the Minister did tell this House that the Financial Management Board guidelines were exceeded and what I am looking for, is that statement correct that the Financial Management Board guidelines were exceeded in funds that were distributed through the NWT Development Corporation? If that is so, I would like to know how much it was, who authorized it, and who received the funds? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 160-13(7): Development Corporation Expenditure Guidelines April 28th, 1999

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It seems that this side of the House is after money savings and I am going to continue along that line, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister responsible for RWED, Mr. Kakfwi. Mr. Speaker, we all know the importance of setting rules and policies and ensuring that those are enforced and my honourable Member for Yellowknife North quizzed the Minister the past couple of days about the fact of and the importance of following rules. A couple of days ago, in answer to questions that I posed, the Minister told me that, in fact, there were some amounts of money that were distributed through the Development Corporation which exceeded the FMB guidelines. I wonder, Mr. Speaker, if the Minister could confirm that statement is accurate, that some funds that are distributed through the NWT Development Corporation do exceed the Financial Management Board guidelines? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 159-13(7): GNWT Purchasing Power April 28th, 1999

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is an interesting subject for us to be able to ask questions on. We have to remember that this government controls, in the coming year, $750 million, and, as such, we have tremendous purchasing power. That needs to be taken into consideration. We have a lot of southern suppliers coming into the north, a lot of southern-owned businesses doing business in the north, we purchase from. There is no reason why we cannot hardball and be tough with these people and say, if you want our business, you give us a better deal. Sharpen your pencils.

I know that we as a government are probably saying what does it cost, pay the bill. I think it is time we said we can do that. I have every confidence in our Cabinet here, and Cabinet Members. They are very capable, very sharp, have a lot of experience behind them, and some of the Members. I think we can put our heads together and say, we can probably, out of $750 million, come up with $10 to $15 million by sharpening other people's pencils and I believe that is possible in terms of freight supplies, in terms of telephone service....

--Hear! Hear!

we have to be the biggest purchasers. So my question is, will the Premier look at this particular end, of purchasing power in the Territory, and can we improve that? Thank you.

Question 157-13(7): Funds Spent On Travel By The Government April 28th, 1999

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have no doubt that the Premier, if he has some calculations done on each department in the past years and the amount the budget that was used for travel and the portion that could be saved -- I wonder if the Minister would bring that information back to the House each year, how much travel took place for the last couple of years and how many fares were full fare and how many were excursion, and let us try and get a difference on what this government could save. Will the Premier commit to bringing that

information back to the House? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 157-13(7): Funds Spent On Travel By The Government April 28th, 1999

Mr. Speaker, on the question of travel, I recognize that is extremely important for the government and is extremely important for the bureaucracy that they meet their counterparts, go to conferences, bring back new ideas and different ways of doing things. I think that is very important, and I am not looking at trying to curb that. I personally, and I am sure each one of us have paid full fair tickets on occasion, Mr. Speaker, and this is the type of money that I am trying to propose that the government look at saving. My question to the Premier is, would he consider initiating a policy where travel can only be done on excursion rates? In other words, you have to plan seven days ahead before you would take a trip. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 157-13(7): Funds Spent On Travel By The Government April 28th, 1999

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Minister for part of that answer, and I appreciate that he may not have the information available. What I was talking about, Mr. Speaker, is travel that takes place by the bureaucracy, by politicians, that amount of money. Would he agree that, that is probably in excess of $10 million a year? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 157-13(7): Funds Spent On Travel By The Government April 28th, 1999

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Premier again. I am following up on questions that were asked by Mrs. Groenewegen and Mr. Ootes. Unlike them, they are looking for long term funds and I think that is important, but I think within the next year we are going to need additional funds to provide proper health care and teacher education in our communities. I am looking for funds in the short term, Mr. Speaker. Sometimes I sit on this side of the House and get very frustrated when Ordinary Members ask questions of the Ministers along the lines of when are you going to put more funds into education, or when are you going to put more funds into the health care, and the Ministers respond there is no more money and then they ask the question, where do you want us to take it from?

Mr. Speaker, I find that very frustrating with the very competent and capable bureaucracy that these Ministers have at their disposal, and they are asking Ordinary Members over on this side of the House, who have limited resources in research staff, to provide those answers. Mr. Speaker, I fully intend to answer the question that is put by some of the Ministers sometimes when they ask where are we going to find the funds?

Mr. Speaker, we all know that there are large amounts of money spent by this government in the area of travel. I am wondering if the Premier would agree with me that the amount that is spent in travel, and I do not anticipate that the Premier would have that type of information available to him, but would he agree with me that there is probably at least $10 million a year spent on travel within the government? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 154-13(7): Graduation Rate Increases April 28th, 1999

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On the Minister same paragraph, he talks about adult basic education classes are full. Can the Minister tell me approximately what portion of his budget would be dedicated to adult basic education? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 154-13(7): Graduation Rate Increases April 28th, 1999

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Could the Minister tell us in his statement that more students than ever are staying at home, in their home community. Could the Minister tell us the number of communities that have high school education programs available to their residents? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.