Thank you, Madam Chair. I move that this committee recommends that this Legislative Assembly approve the implementation of an ongoing electronic petitions service to operate in conjunction with traditional petitions, and that the electronic site be operational for the fall 2012 sitting of the Legislative Assembly. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I also will support this motion and appreciate the committee bringing this forward. I certainly agree on the inspection side of things. The law calls for an inspection every 12 months. As my colleague mentioned, we seem to be in the order of 14 to 20 months.

The findings are very straightforward to correct: clearing a fire exit, storing chemicals properly, plugging something into the electrical socket so it can’t be accessed by small children. Those are very easily done sorts of things. I am not convinced that it is a manpower issue as much as just making sure direction...

WHEREAS rates of mental illness in the Northwest Territories are disproportionately high in comparison with other Canadian jurisdictions and a high proportion of persons involved in police incidents suffer from mental illnesses;

AND WHEREAS implementation of the federal Safe Streets and Communities Act will dramatically increase the costs of policing, courts and corrections services;

AND WHEREAS introduction in other Canadian jurisdictions of mental health courts as diversion programs from the criminal justice system are proving successful in improving illness treatment success rates and...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also would like to recognize the Status of Women folks here today, Lorraine Phaneuf, Annemieke Mulders; Jean Basil, Lydia Bardak and Gail Cyr, a resident of Weledeh.

Also, Mr. Speaker, I’d particularly like to recognize Majors Jo and Dale Sobool of the Salvation Army. Both of them will be leaving Yellowknife on Sunday to take their new posting with the Salvation Army in Penticton, BC. In addition to their ministerial responsibilities, the Sobools have, through the Salvation Army, managed the Bailey House, the men’s transition home, withdrawal management services, the...

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...

Mr. Speaker, thanks for that commitment by the Minister. There is very little evidence of planning or clear thinking on creation of a perpetual care plan for this site today. Concerns include a lack of plan to preserve current records, document remediation, long-term care activities, continuing consideration of remediation options and fulsome public reporting and information disclosure. However, options to meet these needs have been creatively examined through the work of the YKDFN, Yellowknives Dene First Nations, Alternatives North and the Pembina Institute, and are contained in documents to...

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...