Bob Bromley

I think the Minister was actually turning it over to the Minister of Human Resources, but I do want to acknowledge that I recognize that we have a lot of negotiations going on right now and I think this is the sort of time when we have this coincidental overlap of all these re-negotiations of contracts with personnel that we do want to bring on extra members. But I think that’s why they have not been in as permanent a position in the past, so I stand on my points made and my assessment, but I welcome the Minister’s insights, if he’d like to share those as well. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I move that this committee recommends that tablet computers or other similar electronic devices be considered as type of laptop computer/handheld device, subject to the existing conventions in the House regarding electronic communications devices. Mahsi.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize my mother, Barbara Bromley, in the gallery, and also welcome my brother Peter Stuart Bromley. Thank you.

I very much appreciate the Minister’s commitment there. That shows a real willingness. I think everybody has learned, and I say the responsibility is shared amongst the various parties here. I think this helps quite a bit. Obviously, we hope this won’t happen again, but a good approach to that would be the transfer of all remaining unencumbered Commissioner’s land within the city boundaries to city control. Is that something that the Minister is considering or a transfer that he would support?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to follow up on my statement regarding the Municipal and Community Affairs land swap deal with the City of Yellowknife and the developer. As I mentioned, MACA played a highly unusual role here setting up a deal directly with a developer, without city involvement. Typically the land is conveyed to the city and then the city sells the land and uses their income or revenue from that to manage the development. The city’s interest in this deal should have been obvious from the first moment swap negotiations began.

My first question is: Why did MACA not insist that...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize Barb Hood, executive director of the NWT Seniors and a resident of Weledeh. Also a tip of the hat to Ed and Vivian. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Very briefly, again I appreciate that commitment from the Minister. I appreciate his offer to see what can be done, because it’s taken two years and obviously under current economic conditions, costs have changed quite a bit. The city has been forced, really, to a more rigorous application of their cost recovery policies and so on, so that when we enter deals like this and the complexities that are involved, costs go up for all parties. I would appreciate it if the Minister could look into that situation, as well, that aspect of it, and see what might be done from our...

I want to say that very strictly speaking the Minister was correct; but, as I mentioned, the Minister did this deal and forced the city to accept it. They even passed legislation to try and frustrate it and had to eventually pass additional legislation to reverse that. The main concern here, other than the irregularity and the kafuffles that this has caused, is we have 0.6 percent vacancy in the city of Yellowknife. If you’re a young person trying to get a start, you need access to housing, and reasonably cost housing as a start. It’s the residents who suffer the consequences of such irregular...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise to acknowledge and congratulate six Weledeh constituents to be honoured today as recipients of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. Being honoured at the presentation ceremony here in Yellowknife are Weledeh constituents Anthony Whitford, Bobby Drygeese, Barbara Bromley – hi, Mom – Patricia O’Connor and Arlene Hache. Gail Cyr is receiving her medal today at a ceremony in Ottawa. Please join me in celebrating these distinguished citizens and their richly deserved recognition. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A highly unusual Municipal and Community Affairs land swap deal has left the City of Yellowknife and the developer a legacy of problems to sort out and contributed to an unnecessary rise in the cost of new housing in Yellowknife.

Recently, MACA took over the former church property on 49th Street and transferred the Lot 501 block of Commissioner’s land adjacent to the North Slave Correction Centre to Homes North via the city. This without MACA seeking a buyer leave from the City of Yellowknife. The developer took on the property in the expectation of creating a...