Another MLA has backed out of a high-profile mining conference taking place in Vancouver later this month thatSA国际影视传媒檚 expected to cost the GNWT well over $200,000 to attend.
Kieron Testart, who represents Kam Lake, announced his decision not to travel to B.C. through social media on Wednesday.
He said the absence of two other MLAs from the standing committee on economic development and environment SA国际影视传媒� which originally planned to attend the conference SA国际影视传媒� factored into his decision.
SA国际影视传媒淲e didnSA国际影视传媒檛 have a sufficient amount of committee members to organize for the event, so the meetings were cancelled,SA国际影视传媒� said Testart. SA国际影视传媒淚 felt that without the standing committee having a formal role in the Roundup, that it wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 the best use of my time.SA国际影视传媒�
Testart said heSA国际影视传媒檇 hoped to scrutinize the governmentSA国际影视传媒檚 spending of public dollars on the event and SA国际影视传媒渕ake sure itSA国际影视传媒檚 good value for money.SA国际影视传媒�
The committee also hoped to learn from industry experts about generating investment in NWT mining and planned to produce a report on the trip that would be tabled in the legislative assembly, he said.
SA国际影视传媒淣ow individual members of the committee may choose to go and I look forward to hearing back from them,SA国际影视传媒� said Testart. SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 possible that we can still get the gist of the Roundup conference and bring that back to committee, but I was really hoping that weSA国际影视传媒檇 be able to go and produce a report.SA国际影视传媒�
Yellowknife MLAs Kevin OSA国际影视传媒橰eilly and Cory Vanthuyne will not be attending the event either.
OSA国际影视传媒橰eilly told Yellowknifer earlier this month he felt he didnSA国际影视传媒檛 need to go to the Vancouver conference because heSA国际影视传媒檚 learned enough about the NWT mining industry from the Yellowknife Geoscience Forum.
SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 also concerned about SA国际影视传媒� cabinet and a number of staff going and the value of that sort of trip,SA国际影视传媒� said OSA国际影视传媒橰eilly. SA国际影视传媒淚 think our cabinet needs to focus more efforts on other forms of economic development and helping to diversify our economy.SA国际影视传媒�
Vanthuyne, who chairs the standing committee, said earlier this week he would no longer be able to attend the conference.
SA国际影视传媒淲e have committee meetings starting next week,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e probably just going to have a talk about what the expectations might be of the remaining committee members that are going to go, now that it appears that three of our committee (members) arenSA国际影视传媒檛 going and our committee staff now is not going.SA国际影视传媒�
Herb Nakimayak, MLA for Nunakput, said Thursday he was undecided about whether to attend the event. Sahtu MLA Daniel McNeely and Hay River North MLA R.J. Simpson did not return requests for comment by press time.
SA国际影视传媒淚t would have been a really great opportunity for us, as a committee, to be able to go there for the right reasons and be able to do work on behalf of committee instead of, say, under the banner of government,SA国际影视传媒� said Vanthuyne.
If they choose to go now, it will be an opportunity to show support, teach people about the NWT and network, he said.
ItSA国际影视传媒檚 expected to cost $7,301.68 to send the remaining three MLAs from the standing committee to AME Roundup 2018, if they choose to go, said Danielle Mager, public affairs manager at the legislative assembly.
GWNT departments have confirmed six cabinet ministers, four staff from the Department of Lands, 16 staff from the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment and 14 Indigenous representatives will be attending the conference.
The Department of Infrastructure is expected to attend, but was unable to provide estimates before press time.
If only three MLAs participate, the estimated cost of the trip would be at least $227,401.68.
The GNWT spent $195,684.56 to send all seven ministers, 24 staff, 14 Indigenous representatives, Vanthuyne and the NWT Chamber of Mines to the conference in 2017.
This yearSA国际影视传媒檚 final costs will be determined after the conference, which runs from Jan. 22 to 25.
