Robert C. McLeod

I am going to have to apologize to Mr. O'Reilly. I didn't quite hear the question. I apologize for that.

Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, we are looking at the two acts and if there's any amendments to either act which would strengthen our position then we'll be looking at making some amendments and in the longer term going towards legislation, but I think that's going to be an enormous piece of work. So if we can make any amendments to strengthen the acts to our benefit then we will do that in the short-term with a longer term goal of eventually amalgamating both acts. I'm not sure we'll see the amalgamation in the life of this Assembly but I'm sure we'll start some preliminary work. Thank...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I think the total reduction was $636,000 if I am not mistaken. It was for utilities, fuel costs for inspections program, restricted base funding for inspection response to spills. We withdrew a couple of positions. Then these Commissioner’s senior lands officers function in headquarters, we have reduced it from five to three positions. I think that is the total of the $636,000. Then we have one sunset of $80,000. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, the Member's referring to page 299 under purchased services. It's gone from $327,000 in 2015-16 in the revised estimates to $227,000 in 2016-17 main estimates, so it's actually gone down by $100,000, but for a breakout, I mean if the Member still wants a breakout then we can provide that. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, the less work that they have to do, the better, I think. And we don't have to pay for it. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Mr. Speaker, as the Member noted, the current lease is in an over-holding tenancy and production is not allowed on this lease. Under the NWT Lands Act, the company will need to negotiate a new surface lease that allows for production and at that time, we’ll negotiate updated securities in the context of the most up-to-date reclamation plan. The Member is correct that there is some liability that’s held there and he mentioned the figure $2 million and out of that, $250,000 was for the surface lease.

Mr. Speaker, as far as the waterways go, that would still be a federal responsibility, so it seems that in this case, it could be, you know, the town has some interest in it, the GNWT may have some interest in it and the Government of Canada may have some interest. I think it would be wise for the three organizations to get together and decide a plan to do some remediation if the company goes, I mean, the company is in receivership, so we’ll have to come up with a plan going forward. But I do know on the government side of it though, we do have our committee that would do an assessment on any...

The Member is correct. The company does own a large number of properties in Hay River. As for the actual number of which ones are, if any are GNWT owned, I would have to follow-up and get that more detailed information and how much is owned by the town. I’ll commit to the Member that I’ll try, I’ll work to get a breakdown of exactly where these properties are from, if they’re leased, they’re owned and I will provide that information to the Member.

Mr. Speaker, there’s a number of reasons why business is not as lively across the Northwest Territories as it usually is. Part of it is because of lack of investment, and what we’re trying to do going through the exercise that we’re going through now is to have more money that we can invest into more opportunities for our businesses to take advantage of some of the money that we will make available. Again, it is an issue that needs further discussion, and I have committed to being a part of those discussions with the Members across the floor, and with my Cabinet colleagues as well. Thank you...

Mr. Speaker, I can’t make that commitment here as to what’s going to be in the next budget without going through the budget planning process, and as part of that process is the business planning process in September, which we take part in along with the Regular Members. I’m sure the issue will be raised at the time, and it’s something that we can determine then, if it’s financially viable to include into next year’s budget cycle.