Bob Bromley

Mr. Speaker, thanks to my colleague for filling in as my voice gave out there.

In a jurisdiction so large and geographically remote, the standing committee believes there is value in providing residents with greater opportunities to interact with their government. The public appeared to appreciate and utilize the pilot site as one place to go to view or sign various petitions, offering greater accessibility and transparency to citizens of the Northwest Territories. No insurmountable concerns arose during the pilot project. The committee, therefore, considers that this Assembly should offer an...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m pleased to dedicate my last statement today to recognizing the great achievements of Weledeh constituents competing at the 22nd NWT Track and Field Championships held June 6th to 8th in Hay River.

I’ll start with Hannah Clarke, who was named first overall in the junior female category and took the gold in the 400, 800 and 1,500 metres, and a bronze in the triple jump. Hannah was also nominated as this year’s Sport North Junior Female Athlete of the Year in speed skating, so she’s an all-season all-rounder.

Congratulations to Greg Littlefair’s new record in the Master...

Thank you, Madam Chair. I move that this committee recommends that any necessary amendments to the rules of the Legislative Assembly to permit the use of electronic petitions be drafted and presented for the approval of the Legislative Assembly during the fall 2012 session. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Madam Chair. The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures submitted its report 5-17(3) on the introduction of electronic petitions in the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories. The report, which includes two recommendations, was read into the House earlier today, and with the kind consent of the Assembly, a motion was passed that moved the report into Committee of the Whole.

Madam Chair, this report responds to the Assembly’s request for an evaluation of the Electronic Petition Pilot Project conducted October 1, 2010, to June 30, 2010, and recommends that this...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think it’s clear that everybody knows that we have a disproportionally high rate of mental illness in the NWT. The terrible history of our residential school abuses and abrupt removal from homes and cultures has contributed, obviously, and resulted in multi-generational impacts. There’s been some good work done, especially recently with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission playing an important role, but it’s also recognized that the need for diagnoses and healing remains high.

The unaddressed mental health issues are resulting in some tragic consequences, as...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to table three documents. The first one is from Despair to Wisdom: Perpetual Care and the Future of the Giant Mine - A Report on the Community Workshop by Alternatives North held September 26-27, 2011, at Chief Drygeese Centre in Detah.

Also, Building Trust and Confidence: A Report of a Workshop on Oversight of the Giant Mine, March 6-7, 2012.

Finally, Giant Mine Perpetual Care Funding Options by Amy Taylor and Duncan Kenyon submitted to the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board by the Pembina Institute. Thank you.

I seek unanimous consent to waive Rule 93(4) and move Committee Report 5-17(3) into Committee of the Whole for today. Mahsi.

---Unanimous consent granted

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Your Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures is pleased to provide its report on the introduction of electronic petitions in the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories and commends it to the House.

Petitions are formal requests submitted to a Legislature. They are a vehicle for the public to influence policy-making and legislation and to bring their concerns to the attention of the Assembly. The act of petitioning has been described as the oldest of parliamentary forums. Citizens have used them for hundreds of years in the western parliamentary tradition...

Mr. Speaker, thanks to the Minister for those comments. I know his presence at that workshop was greatly appreciated. The government has said that the Devolution Agreement will ensure cleaning up of contaminated sites, and Giant is the epitome of such sites, but to date the federal government has made no commitment to ensure funding of perpetual care and maintenance or to fund continuing research into alternative technologies that could ultimately eliminate the environmental threat.

Will the Minister commit to ensuring that the Devolution Agreement contains provisions committing the federal...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the Minister’s perspective again. I spoke today about the creation of an independent oversight body, but that is still down the road. As public reaction in March demonstrated, people are not satisfied with thecurrent flow of information from the project team. A meeting to explain major demolition already underway at the site was given on three days’ notice and was poorly advertised. There was no proactive exposure last year of information on a dam failure and later a sinkhole. As a co-proponent of this project, this government has a responsibility and can...