Bob Bromley

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to table a letter with the express permission from the author of the letter, Itai Katz in Tsiigehtchic, NWT. It lists all the reasons that he’s concerned and leaving the Northwest Territories. I think something we all want to be aware of and respond to. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment (ECE):

What is current ECE policy regarding income support clients who fail to comply with ECE guidelines? Specifically, what is the policy around “cutting off” income support to clients as a way to enforce compliance?

In the last three years, how many income support clients have been cut off from income support, for how long and for what reasons?

In the last three years, how many income support clients who were cut off had children in their care?

In the last three years, how many single parents were...

I’ll go with Mr. Fulford’s word and interpretation there. However, unfortunately, Section 64 allows the regulator to accept any form of security. Obviously, I think with the Deh Cho Bridge and so on, we should be wiser and smarter now and know that that’s not good enough to protect the public. The security, obviously, needs to be totally liquid and guaranteed by the bank for insurance. I’m hoping that that will be dealt with in regulations. I’m open to any comments on that, or assurances there.

Section 19 does not require the regulator to hold public hearings on any matter. There should be a...

Thank you, Madam Chair. Just on this and the subsequent bills here today, has the GNWT consulted with the Aboriginal governments regarding the contents of these bills?

I just want to express my appreciation of the Premier again. Thank you, Mr. Chair. That’s all I had.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I believe Ms. Bisaro does have more, but I’ll ask a few here, if I may. The first comment, Section 9 allows contracting to assist with the administration of the act, but obviously there should be some requirement for disclosure of that information. I’m wondering if there is any provision for that in regulations. Obviously, many of these will have to go for discussion after April 1st, but is that provided for in regulations, that there will be some transparency here? Thank you.

Thanks to the Premier for that. I think the fundamental change, as I said, was from a publicly accountable institution to behind closed doors. We are looking for transparency whenever we can find it here and particularly given that committee’s being kept absolutely in the dark. So I would appreciate that information.

I guess related to that is a concern that decisions being made will be made by politicians instead of by objective, independent board members who are identified for that purpose. Again, it goes against certainly what the Premier’s been saying, that we are bringing decisions closer...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. That would go a long ways, I think. I don’t expect I’ll be getting an invitation myself. Why would I, as an elected representative of my people? But I wonder if the Premier would attend and make that request and develop it as one of the rules of the council referred to in the clause made mention of here.

Alternatives North raised a question about Section 53(2) where it gives Cabinet the power to prescribe fees for access to public registry. I have to agree that it sounds like a real oddity and I think that’s the way they phrased it. Essentially, public access should always be free and not requiring payments or fees. Why in the world was this in there? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will be supporting the motion and I appreciate my colleague bringing this forward.

There are, indeed, commercial opportunities out there. I myself have picked mushrooms commercially in the Northwest Territories and sold them here. There is a market out there. There are a number of species of mushrooms, several types of morels and pine mushrooms of note, matsutakes, which are very well known to the Japanese tourists that we have and are highly valued. Even to have one of those at Thanksgiving, or the equivalent of Thanksgiving, is a big deal and worth a lot. There are...