Floyd Roland

Yes, Mr. Chairman. The 2011-2012 main estimates for the Department of Executive. The goals for the Department of Executive are centred on our role in ensuring effective coordination of government activities, supporting informed decision-making related to policies and programming, and coordinating implementation of strategic initiatives that advance priorities of the 16th Legislative Assembly.

The overall proposed budget for the department is $15.07 million for 2011-2012, which is an increase of $764,000, or 5.3 percent, from the 2010-2011 main estimates. The overall increase since the last...

Thank you. My understanding is the Victim Services Program is delivered in the Nunakput region tied to the Inuvik office. There are three positions; two out of Inuvik and one part-time out of Paulatuk. The work that’s ongoing to renew the funding at this point, the victims can access a support through the Inuvik office in the interim. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m informed that the victims services work that was done was in conjunction with federal funding that is due to lapse, but the Department of Justice and the Minister have been working with the agencies to seek a renewal of that funding. Thank you.

Thank you. Again, the current services available are still there in the interim until we find out the funding and the funding levels that will flow out of the federal budget. Again, in the interim, the victims services are available out of the Inuvik office. Thank you.

Thank you. The review that’s ongoing and the funds that flowed affected a number of communities around the Northwest Territories, and again, the work that’s been going on to seek a renewal from the federal government, we’re expecting a decision on that in the near future and I believe it’s tied to the federal budget process. Thank you.

Again, the work that we’ve done has been more about the training, getting it through to our staff with the help of other departments like the Department of Human Resources to help us in the training and getting the knowledge out there. I’d have to get back to the department to see if in fact I will be able to have a policy to bring back to the Members.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to advise Members that the Honourable Jackson Lafferty will be absent from the House today, tomorrow and Wednesday to attend the federal/provincial/territorial Education Ministers meeting in Toronto. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

When we put the facts on the table, for example Mackenzie Valley Construction in the region, in the Department of Transportation it accounts for almost 70 percent of the contract values both negotiated, public tenders, the whole process. So that comparison is difficult to do. On top of that, when we have large construction projects, that requires a certain level of commitment by the contractors to be able to build on that. We follow the policies there as well. I think the comparison of the Inuvik constituency versus the Aklavik or Mackenzie Delta constituency, the Member well knows that the...

We do have a policy within the Government of the Northwest Territories on consultation. All departments have that and we ensure that we work with departments in fulfilling our commitments. As well, this Assembly has a process of doing that. Once legislation is introduced, there is a whole different forum for public consultation on that and bringing the bills back to this Assembly. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Government of the Northwest Territories does have a consultation package in place. We worked through in Intergovernmental Affairs and the intergovernmental group as well as Aboriginal Affairs and Executive and Justice to look at a number of agreements around the country to inform all departments of our consultation requirements for our policies and legislation. Thank you.