Bob Bromley

Thanks for the comments from the Minister. These are questions being raised by the public. I’m not making any accusations. I think it would be great for the Minister to do what he can to clarify the situation and get some answers to the public.

I guess I would ask what consumer affairs, the Minister’s department, can do to help people answer this question and make sure they’re getting fair treatment from the gas distributors in Yellowknife compared to elsewhere in the Northwest Territories.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d just like to follow up with my colleague. The information I have is that gas prices are dropping in many parts of the Northwest Territories, and inexplicably they’re not dropping in Yellowknife to parallel those drops. There’s no explanation for that. This is clearly unfair to the consumer and raises questions.

Will the Minister find out and explain to us why that’s happening? I don’t think we should need a motion on this or anything like that. Constituents are bringing this to our attention. We’re bringing it to the Minister and saying, yo, what will you do to get...

The Premier is actually incorrect there. In fact, the report refers to the Northwest Territories extensively. We, of course, have some of the most globally featured dire environmental disasters from our mines currently ongoing. The report says that in 2011, 70 percent of site inspections required under operating permits were not done in the Northwest Territories, in fact. This is obviously of great concern and leaves these projects that are developing disasters that we know nothing about as we stand to inherit them. Uninspected and unregulated, we have no idea if these current operations aren...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise to acknowledge and congratulate my constituent Michael Gilday on his January 20th first place victory at the Canadian Open Short-track Speed Skating Championships in Montreal. Advancing steadily from his 2011 fifth place and 2012 third place finishes in this event, Michael Gilday is now the national champion in this world-class competition. Michael edged out defending champion Charles Hamelin and also placed fourth in both the 1,000 and 3,000 metre races.

I invite all Members to join me once again in offering hearty congratulations to Michael, and wish him great...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I open this winter session very happily by reporting on the tremendous achievement of Weledeh speed skating marvel Michael Gilday, Canadian National Men’s Short-track Speed Skating Champion.

On January 20th Michael edged out the reigning Canadian champion to take the championship title. With that win, he qualifies to compete in his third World Championships competition later this year.

Given time constraints, I will mention just some of the spectacular accomplishments racked up by Michael since his first Gold ulu as a juvenile at the Arctic Winter Games in 1998. He is...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to table excerpts from the fall 2012 Report of the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development to the Office of the Auditor General of Canada, Chapter 2, Financial Assurances for Environmental Risks, Sections 2.23 to 2.31. Mahsi.

I didn’t hear that commitment before. I heard that we’re going to take a long time to look at this and so on. So I’d like some specifics.

Will the Minister find out if there’s some sort of collusion or price-fixing amongst businesses that are selling in Yellowknife that explains why the price is not adjusting with the price elsewhere in Canada and the Northwest Territories? Thank you.

The Premier again avoided the question and did not answer the question. The facts are clear that 70 percent of the inspections in the Northwest Territories, the commissioner has said, were not done in 2011 when our diamond mines were operating. All I can do is quote the commissioner.

My last question is: Additional issues were identified such as security shortfalls, lack of good and timely environmental information to our management boards and our First Nations who have responsibilities for environmental review process, concerned about impacts on fisheries and oceans offshore and so on, at the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to ask questions about the recent report of the Commissioner of Environment and Sustainable Development on Financial Insurances for Environmental Concerns. The commissioner reviewed Aboriginal and Northern Affairs Development Canada, Natural Resources Canada, Fisheries and Oceans, and others, and reviewed their protection of public finances. Unfortunately, they found major shortcomings. Costs have now accelerated to over $8 billion of public liability. That’s taxpayer dollars.

The number one factor was intra-northern resource development projects. We’re standing...

I would also like to recognize a former colleague, David Krutko, and the work that he is doing in the biomass industry. I think he is bringing that back home to us and sharing that with us. Very exciting stuff. Mahsi.