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Roles

In the Legislative Assembly

Elsewhere

Historical Information Vince Steen is no longer a member of the Legislative Assembly.

Last in the Legislative Assembly November 2003, as MLA for Nunakput

Lost his last election, in 2003, with 48% of the vote.

Statements in the House

Question 297-14(6): Fuel Shortage In Lutselk'e June 9th, 2003

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. No, it won't be.

Question 295-14(6): Reorganizing Sport And Recreation Boards June 9th, 2003

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I believe the plan is that the interim team would be reporting to me as the Minister on the results of that particular meeting on June 25th, and I would be happy to make that information available to the Members. Thank you.

Question 295-14(6): Reorganizing Sport And Recreation Boards June 9th, 2003

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, maybe I failed here a little bit, but the Aboriginal Sports Circle is part of the interim team that would be meeting on the 25th with Sport North and the other recreation groups. Thank you.

Question 295-14(6): Reorganizing Sport And Recreation Boards June 9th, 2003

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I notice the representative here for the Aboriginal Sports Circle and I am willing to state again that I am open to a meeting with him, but I have no intention here to play one against the other. The intention is that they will all sit down together again on June 25th and come up with whether or not they will continue with this plan for a form of board that will address the concerns of the small communities and the participation by small communities, as well as the concerns of the existing sports organizations. I was told by the president of Sport North this morning that hopefully he and I can get together again sometime in early July and he will give me the results of this particular meeting. Meanwhile, of course, this department will be informing me as well. Thank you.

Question 295-14(6): Reorganizing Sport And Recreation Boards June 9th, 2003

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to meet with the Aboriginal Sports Circle representatives, especially if it can be done within the next three or four days while session is still on. In regards to meeting with all the representatives from Sport North, and recreation groups, that would take quite a while, especially since the most effective way would have been to call some kind of assembly to bring them all in. However, I did have a meeting with Sport North this morning, and Sport North is willing to take part in the June 25th meetings with the rest of the interim committee that was established to put together a plan for the operation of the new board. Sport North would not do that before. It appears after discussions with Sport North this morning, that this whole thing will come to a conclusion whereby everybody is back on track again. I am not saying it is going to be exactly the way it has been suggested up to now, but there may be some changes made or whatever. Whatever changes are proposed will be coming from the partners, not from the department. So that is where we are planning to go right now. I am hoping that the Member is not suggesting that I have to have a meeting with all these people in order to get this thing back on track. Thank you.

Question 294-14(6): Fuel Shortage In Lutselk'e June 9th, 2003

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, Mr. Speaker, that is part of the plan. Public Works and Services is going to be reviewing whether we are going to relocate the tanks and where to. At the same time, there might be some plan in place that we are going to put towards expansion of the capacity in the community as well. Thank you.

Question 294-14(6): Fuel Shortage In Lutselk'e June 9th, 2003

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have already discussed this with the department. They have advised me that if the tanks were filled to capacity they expect that they would be able to service the community for the year. However, they are prepared to bring in an extra 10,000 gallon tank if that's necessary. A self-supporting tank with, I forget what it is called, but its own skirting. Thank you.

Question 294-14(6): Fuel Shortage In Lutselk'e June 9th, 2003

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned, in the past there was never that much consumption that we had to use the full capacity of the tanks. Because of the price related to whether you buy last year or whether you buy this year, it makes quite a difference, particularly if the price drops, then you do not have to have so much in the fuel tank that is rated at last year's cost. Of course, it would reflect the overall price of fuel for the community. That is why Public Works and Services had not been filling the tanks to capacity.

Question 294-14(6): Fuel Shortage In Lutselk'e June 9th, 2003

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the department is aware of the situation and they were not expecting as much consumption. In particular there has been a lot of aircraft traffic into the community that has been using that type of fuel. It has put a strain on the capacity that was in the community for the year. The department did not fill the tanks to full capacity because in the past it never had to do that. They never had that much consumption. So the department is aware of the situation and right now we are evaluating the best way to bring the fuel in, whether we have to fly it in. We are also working with NTCL to see if we can get them to come in a little bit earlier. Thank you.

Question 287-14(6): Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund June 9th, 2003

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my department has been working and I think we are cooperating with the Minister of Finance on that. He has been basically working with the federal government as to whether or not we will be receiving any of that funding. Thank you.