Floyd Roland

Mr. Speaker, I don’t know if splitting hairs on definition of what the working group versus advisory group. We do agree that is one of the first pieces of work that needs to happen. Once we have that, then we can set about to doing the rest of the work that is required to pull this together and present something to Members of the Assembly. The advisory group, as we established it, would be able to look at that initially and then we could put the rest of the resources and pull in the work together. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, there are quite a number of programs that we have in place that assist families in remaining in their communities; for those that are employed, our wage package as well as our northern allowance to help people stay in those communities. As well for those that our housing packages and our support under Income Support is another area. The fact is we have enhanced our capital plan over the last number of years to try to get as much infrastructure into our communities and throughout the Northwest Territories. We have invested significant amounts of money as the Government of the...

Mr. Speaker, as I stated earlier, we need to come up with a paper that this Assembly could look at and direct as to what could be implemented as we go forward, looking at this initiative and what then could be undertaken for implementation and then get down to work in that area once the Assembly has agreed that it would be wise to move in these areas. There have been times before in previous Assemblies, as well, where a working group was established and some great work done, but when it comes back to this Assembly, there aren’t the resources to do the implementation. It is important that we...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We could probably take up the rest of the question period if I were to go into a lot of detail in that area. A number of things that we are highlighting, Mr. Speaker, a number of things that we are doing and one of the areas that we have been working on with Members of the Assembly is the electricity rate review and implementing our recommendations that will affect the commercial cost of doing business in our communities. The fact that within the Department of ITI, we have put more focus on small businesses in our smaller communities as well as traditional activities in...

My understanding is an offer is made to a newly elected chief and council or a newly elected municipal council as well. In the area of band councils, we work under their direction in the sense of when they’re ready to make the request or accept an offer that’s been made. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, there are a number of areas where we could provide assistance and support when it comes to a new council coming into place. For example, financial advice could be provided to them. We also have board training available to newly elected leaders. As well, as I had stated earlier, about the contract municipal services. As well, through the School of Community Government, opportunities there to go and have staff training of that new council. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I know the Member is very good for raising a lot of rhetoric in this House and continues to do so. On the serious side of the equation, there are roles we play in this Assembly, there are directives that are given, and there are initiatives that can be taken. If we feel that the authority has mismanaged in its business, then we would have to take a more serious look not just at one particular case but the overall authority management and decide what needs to be done. If it is a continuance or a reoccurrence, was there oversight on this?

It was, in fact, as we heard earlier today...

Mr. Speaker, the strategic initiatives committees meet on a regular basis and, in fact, I believe last week every one of those initiatives committees had a meeting to discuss plans for the upcoming year. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, not only do the strategic initiatives committees meet on a regular basis to discuss… And those strategic initiatives committees will be going towards more policy orientation as we fine tune the work they do. But we also have deputy minister committees who meet on a regular basis throughout the government. Those have been in place for some time. Of course, our challenge has always been and the reason we got these strategic initiatives committees in place was to break down those silos. I must say that at times it is a slow process. It’s frustrating at times. And I must say that some...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The strategic initiatives committees are still used by all departments. The formats and the memberships have not changed. Thank you.