ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE JOINT MEETING SENATE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON WORLD TRADE AND STATE/FEDERAL RELATIONS AND HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, TRADE AND TOURISM March 27, 2001 8:43 a.m. COMMITTEE CALENDAR PRESENTATION BY THE NORTHWEST TERRITORIES DELEGATION ON PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TAPE 01-1, SIDES A & B CALL TO ORDER REPRESENTATIVE LESIL MCGUIRE, Chair of the House Special Committee on Economic Development, Trade and Tourism, called the meeting with the Senate World Trade and State/Federal Relations Committee to order at 8:43 a.m. PRESENT House Committee members present were Representatives McGuire, Green, Morgan and Dyson. Senate committee members present were Senators Cowdery, Lincoln, Olson and Leman. SUMMARY OF INFORMATION THE HONORABLE ROGER T. ALLEN, Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Government of Northwest Territories Housing Corporation, told legislators his group would like to continue to develop a relationship with its counterpart in Alaska. MR. DENNIS MARCHIORI, Manager or Policy and Planning, Municipal and Community Affairs, Northwest Territories, gave a power point presentation on the 33 communities in the Northwest Territories. He described housing projects underway and the drinking water and wastewater systems for those projects. He answered questions related to prevention of water pollution from oil and gas development. MR. TOM BEAULIEU, President of the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation and MR. ROSS BOWRING, manager of Business Development for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation, answered questions about the design and cost of housing and water and sewer systems in the communities. MR. BOWRING explained that the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation tries to assist communities to build homes by offering mortgage assistance and training and explained how that program works. A similar approach was used in Stebbins; that project received the "Simply the Best Award" from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. MR. CARL BRACKMAN, Senior Resource Economist, Minerals, Oil and Gas for the Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development Department, informed committee members of oil and gas drilling efforts underway in the Northwest Territories and how the fiscal regime works for those fields. He discussed how combining Alaska and Northwest gas production efforts by using one pipeline would maximize resource development in both areas. REPRESENTATIVE JAMES felt the two governments could benefit by sharing information on many issues. She then moved to adopt a statement of intent, which reads: Both governments agree to establish a joint coordinating committee to participate in future timely and meaningful consultations with the goal of signing a Memorandum of Understanding within the period ending July 1, 2001 or when Speaker Anthony J. Whitford and Minister Joseph Handley are able to come to Alaska to sign this joint document. The statement of intent also directs Ronda Thompson, Special Assistant on International Trade Policy for the Alaska Legislature, and Doug Schuarte, Deputy Clerk of the Northwest Territories Assembly, to present draft language to both governments for discussion and mutual agreement at the next joint meeting of both governments. CO-CHAIR MCGUIRE announced that with no opposition, the statement of intent was adopted. She then adjourned the meeting at 10:14 a.m.