Statements in Debates
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. Many NWT residents spend time in our larger population centre from time to time and, in fact, of course, the Minister spends a great deal of time in Yellowknife each year. I’ve got a challenging question for him. I know from time to time he’s here with his family members and so on. Can the Minister, perhaps even with the help of his colleagues, tell us what numbers you’d call in Yellowknife to contact the police, to contact the fire department and to call an ambulance? Thank you.
I would ask why the Minister isn’t on top of the details, but I’m sure we would hear nothing and use up a lot of time in response. I would like to know, Mr. Speaker -- the increase in the budget for the centre that has happened over the years is pitiful compared to the forced growth increases in this government over the last five years alone -- what is the Minister doing to address this shortfall and to start providing real support in terms of real costs that are being dealt with in dealing with real human lives? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Every night up to 23 women find shelter from violent and abusive homes. If there were no Centre for Northern Families, these victims would have nowhere to go. We can imagine the financial and human cost of their being trapped in dangerous situations.
Just putting these people in a $100 per night hotel room would cost the GNWT more than twice the $409,000 in annual funding provided by the GNWT. I would like to ask the Minister of Health and Social Services if she can tell me what contingency plan and at what cost is being put in place to replace the programs and services...
Thank you, colleagues. This also raises the larger issue of the current child and family services review. Informed input from the Centre for Northern Families and other advocacy groups are critical to the success of that review. If we want good new law, we need the best experienced advice we can get. I will be asking the Minister what resources she intends to make available to the Centre for Northern Families and others to help them prepare a detailed, well researched input on the basis of the terms of reference just adopted by the House. Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I was sort of with the Minister for awhile there, but once again he put it onto the small communities versus large communities. I think it’s a most unfortunate argument when we are talking about the safety of people and what’s achievable and where our responsibilities lie. So I guess I’d like clarifications from the Minister on that question, the banning of use of cell phones while driving and other devices, for example, simply because it only protects people in the larger centres. Does this Minister agree with his own reported reasoning that because there is no...
The Minister did indeed do very well. Recent polls show that the majority of Yellowknifers, and in fact in the Territories, could not do nearly so well. In fact, to this day I couldn’t have done it myself. However, knowing this, that the majority of people do not know those numbers offhand, that delays, of course, result in injuries and possibly more serious concerns. Knowing that 911 is technically feasible throughout much if not all of the NWT, why is the Minister stubbornly denying -- stubbornly denying -- the 911 service? Mahsi.
That’s good to know about. Given that the electricity review report, when it comes out, and the one on the ATCO proposal will all be relevant, will there be a stage planned where we take a comprehensive look at all these before we act on any one individual part and put all this together? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Premier and it’s with regard to the NTPC review report. The last update I recall is there had been a delay from August to September, but we are now going into November. I am wondering when will we see the report. There is a lot of fundamental issues to be dealt with that will take a lot of effort, so what date can we expect this report?
Again, I appreciate those comments and the update. Mr. Speaker, I feel strongly that this is the same issue. The other aspect of regulatory reform was the appropriate level of funding provided to our regulatory agencies. It was acknowledged that that was insufficient. What progress is being made on that front? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Environment and Natural Resources Minister about the environmental regulatory reform issues that I raised in the previous session. The point was that we could improve the regulatory processes by ensuring that board appointments are not allowed to lapse. The Minister replied to my request for information on which of our appointed seats were vacant and his information shows we have been diligent. I then asked what efforts are being made to see that our federal and First Nations partners are keeping their appointments up to date. Part of my previous...