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 TAPES  TAPE 01-1, SIDE(S) A & B [Senate WTR tape] CALL TO ORDER  REPRESENTATIVE LESIL McGUIRE, Chair, House Special Committee on Economic Development, Trade and Tourism, called the joint meeting with the Senate Special Committee on World Trade and State/Federal Relations 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 of Policy and Planning, Municipal and Community Affairs, Northwest Territories, gave a PowerPoint 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, Northwest Territories Housing Corporation, answered questions about the design and cost of housing and of water and sewer systems in the communities. MR. ROSS BOWRING, Manager of Business Development, Northwest Territories Housing Corporation, answered questions about the design and cost of housing and of water and sewer systems in the communities. He explained that the 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 said she felt the two governments could benefit by sharing information on many issues. ANNOUNCEMENTS There were no announcements. COMMITTEE ACTION  REPRESENTATIVE JAMES of the House Special Committee on Economic Development, Trade and Tourism moved to adopt a statement of intent, which read: 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 directed Ronda Thompson, Special Assistant on International Trade Policy for the Alaska State 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. CHAIR McGUIRE announced that with no opposition, the statement of intent was adopted. ADJOURNMENT CHAIR McGUIRE adjourned the joint meeting of the Senate Special Committee on World Trade and State/Federal Relations and the House Special Committee on Economic Development, Trade and Tourism at 10:14 a.m. NOTE: The meeting was recorded. A copy of the tape(s) may be obtained by contacting the Senate Records Office at State Capitol, Room 3, Juneau, Alaska 99801 (mailing address), (907) 465-2870, and after adjournment of the second session of the Twenty-Second Alaska State Legislature this information may be obtained by contacting the Legislative Reference Library at (907) 465-3808.