Bill Braden

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize Ms. Barb Hood, the executive director of the NWT Seniors' Society, a frequent visitor to the gallery. I would like to welcome her again. Thank you.

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Mr. Speaker, thank you. This summer has, as the Premier has reflected in his sessional statement, seen a level of activity that can only guarantee that the NWT’s future as one of Canada’s most vibrant and vigorous economies will continue. The overall economic growth for 2003 here in the NWT was 10.6 percent; six times that of Canada. Over the next three years or so we will see two new diamond mines constructed: Snap Lake in the NWT and the nearby Jericho project in Nunavut. We will see the continuing acceleration of production at the other diamond mines. Mr. Speaker, both Diavik and BHP earn...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have spent most of my life so far in the Northwest Territories. Mining is very much a part of my life and my family. I like to think I am a friend of the mining industry, but when these kinds of statements come out that are critical of the attempts that our government is making to establish a new industry here in Canada and show some leadership, I am disappointed. I just wanted to put that on the record that I think the mining industry still has some tuning up to do on its own front to consider its role in the long-term development of not only the diamond industry in...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last week, the Northwest Territories, through the Minister of RWED, played host to the national diamond strategy, a round table discussion, Mr. Speaker, that was co-chaired by a Minister from Quebec. The discussion was to see what kind of policy and developmental strategy could be undertaken to advance the diamond industry on a national scale. I am very supportive of the moves taken by this government to show leadership in that area. The NWT, of course, is the third biggest producer now. We are also leading the country in establishing secondary industries with sorting...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate Mr. Allen and Mr. Yakeleya bringing this topic to the floor of this assembly. I think they’ve done a service for us in the 15th Assembly at this fairly early stage. There are some points that I would like to make, but I should preface first of all by saying that as much as I see this as a necessary and a fascinating part of our work here, I will not be speaking in favour of this particular motion. But I’m certainly interested in the topic and I’d like to address some parts of that.

Mr. Allen in his motion really hit the nail on the head when he indicated...

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the outline of those issues. The Premier mentioned that fair decision making is part of the role of governance, and I would be one of the first to agree that this is something we should all strive for. But I would remind the Premier of a message that came through, at least pretty clearly to me when I was listening to the discussion yesterday morning and in previous years from Sport North meetings, that there’s a large body of sport volunteers that feel they have not been included in the decision making regarding the creation of this new sports council. Can the...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. This past weekend, about 60 dedicated sports volunteers from many communities gathered in Yellowknife for the annual meeting of the Sport North Federation and its partner organizations from various regions and sectors in the territory. They represent some 25 sporting organizations that bring the views and interests of thousands of northerners to the table, Mr. Speaker. These people range from youngsters just getting started in organized competitive sport, to elite athletes who could be carrying Canada’s flag in the future world Olympics.

Sport North is also the body that...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Sport North Federation yesterday afternoon, after the presentation that the Premier gave, passed a resolution. It is a six-point resolution and it very clearly indicates that they still have yet to really come on side with this process. In fact, the first of their six recommendations is that MACA halt the current sport and recreation council process immediately. Would the Premier respond to this? Is the Premier prepared to respond to this today, even as the interim Minister? Is this something that he will ask the Minister? I take it that there will be a new...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions this afternoon are for the Premier, Mr. Handley, as he has taken on, at least on an interim basis, the duties and responsibility for MACA. It follows on my Member’s statement regarding the Sport North organization and the creation of the proposed sport and recreation council. I want to compliment the Premier for being there. He heard the message quite clearly and, I think, bluntly from this organization that as they want to participate in the improvement of the sport organization and they need to know what the circumstance is.

Could Mr. Handley, the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It might be a bit early yet, but from my experience in the tourism industry, now is when the sales teams should be out there filling the order books for the coming season. Given the trends in world tourism, in local tourism and the situation at hand, Mr. Speaker, what information could the Minister provide on the viability and strength of this industry going into the winter of 2004-05? Thank you.