Bill Braden

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm encouraged to hear that the board is taking some steps to open the process up. I guess I would hold any further comment until I get some more detail. A public meeting, if it is as the Minister has said, I think falls far short of what I would call adequate public access. I'd like to ask the Minister, for the representatives that we do have in this process -- and it is a closed door process, from my understanding of it -- is there any requirement for those representatives to report back to the Minister, and then consequently to the public? Do we have any access...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I feel compelled to press my case here because the circumstances of going through with this review and the potential consequences are of some significance. What actions are we taking, Mr. Premier, to expedite the approval and construction of a bridge project? Thank you.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. My question this afternoon is for the Premier with respect to his position for the Deh Cho Bridge portfolio. In my statement, I outlined a situation where the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board is considering taking this project to a full environmental assessment. The GNWT is a major player in this project; the major player in this project, Mr. Speaker. What is the GNWT’s position on the move to go to a full environmental assessment for this project? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to deal with the motion I gave notice of earlier today. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, in the Premier's response, he indicated that it is the intention to be inclusive, to promote partnership and I certainly support that. But the question I would like to ask is, in his response he said it's the intention of Cabinet to take all major decisions to committees and partners. This is very much the point, Mr. Speaker, of what we have a problem with: whether decisions are brought to committees or Members, not the question of whether there is an issue to be discussed or to be negotiated. So I would like to ask the Premier again, would he care to clarify that statement?...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I too would like to recognize Karen Hamre, my opponent from the most recent territorial election, and also Mr. Pierre LeBlanc, formerly of the Canadian Armed Forces, one of the commanders and now a very valued member of the business community in the resource section. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

WHEREAS Rule 85 requires that Members be appointed to the Standing Committee on Governance and Economic Development;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, that the following Members be appointed to the Standing Committee on Governance and Economic Development: Mr. Allen, Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes; Mr. Delorey, Member for Hay River North; Mrs. Groenewegen, Member for Hay River South; Mr. Menicoche, Member for Nahendeh; Mr. Ramsay, Member for Kam Lake; Mr. Villeneuve, Member for Tu Nedhe.

AND FURTHER that the following Members be...

Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Thursday, January 22, 2004, I will move the following motion: NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, that the following Members be appointed to the Standing Committee on Governance and Economic Development: Mr. Allen, Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes; Mr. Delorey, Member for Hay River North; Mrs. Groenewegen, Member for Hay River South; Mr. Menicoche, Member for Nahendeh; Mr. Ramsay, Member for Kam Lake; Mr. Villeneuve, Member for Tu Nedhe.

AND FURTHER that the following Members be named alternates to the Standing...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question this afternoon is for the Premier and it regards the issue that I made my statement on, as did Mrs. Groenewegen: the operation of consensus government. I would like to ask the Premier what are Cabinet's procedures when it comes to major government initiatives, and the expectations that are on Ministers when it comes to consulting with Members in committees? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to start by complimenting Mr. Handley on his sessional address and the messages that he has again sent to the Assembly and to the people of the NWT about the desires that we have to really be an Assembly that demonstrates how consensus can work, and how we can get on and really prove by our actions that we can and will do a good job.

This morning, as my colleague Mrs. Groenewegen indicated in her statement, we heard on CBC news that Minister Michael Miltenberger was suggesting that sweeping changes to health, social services and education boards and...