Bob McLeod

If we feel that fiduciary obligations are not being followed, we are not worried, we don’t take our time in asking questions about it. As far as if we were asked about specific reduction of six people from the MVEIRB office, we were not consulted about it.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Member recognizes that we are the responsible government. We are all elected to represent the people of the Northwest Territories, and we’re doing that to the best of our ability. We’re not the official opposition to the Government of Canada or we’re not going to be out picketing about cuts to different areas. We are doing our job. We are writing letters to the Government of Canada, asking them questions about the activities that the government undertakes. Right now the Government of Canada is responsible for the funding of the MVRMA boards.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The 18 are the ones that have been identified as decentralization. There are other positions that will be identified through devolution. But for the 18, I can confirm it looks like there are five positions that will be decentralized to Hay River. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As we indicated many times in this House, decentralization is a priority for this government. We’re approaching it in three phases. We’re just very close to completing the first phase, which was to review all our programs and services to see what programs could be developed. We also undertook an inventory of available housing and available office space and made the commitment that we would start decentralization right away as part of a 2013-2014 business plan.

Of the 18 positions, 14 are new positions that have been created through reallocations and those will be going...

Mr. Speaker, last week I was honoured to represent the people and the potential of the Northwest Territories on the national stage at NWT Days. Since becoming Premier I have often said wouldn’t it be great if we could all go to Ottawa together and, Mr. Speaker, I can say with complete confidence, it was great.

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The Government of the Northwest Territories strengthened our presence in the nation’s capital and provided an opportunity to focus Canada’s attention on our priorities, potential and vision for the future.

The Government of the Northwest Territories Cabinet, eight Members of...

There is one position with liquor licensing and enforcement and four would be the Business Incentive Policy office. Thank you.

I will be able to confirm that hopefully in the next few days, but it’s less than what the Member has raised.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to advise Members that the Honourable Michael Miltenberger will be absent from the House today to attend to a personal matter. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize Mr. Sonny Lenoir and Lee Mandeville from the Dene Nation. I also see John Hazenberg, who is here working on the sports-plex for Behchoko.

If the Member wants to point fingers, I’d say he’s incorrect with regard to inspections of the diamond mines in the Northwest Territories. All three of the mines have environmental monitoring agencies that are tasked specifically to make sure the mines are operated in an environmental way so that all the environment is protected. Those environmental monitoring arrangements have been in place for over 10 years.