Yellowknife South

Statements in Debates

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 6th Session (day 16)

I know that there are some transition requirements due to our energy priorities plan, so we would take that into consideration there. I don’t know if we can incorporate it into the Greenhouse Gas Strategy because I think that’s pretty well close to completion and release. We’ll certainly endeavour to put it through the transition plan.

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 6th Session (day 16)

With the recent developments in new technologies in renewable and alternative forms of energy, I think it would be appropriate for us to do so. Our only consideration is we’ve been working mainly at the behest of the communities and we would want to go back to the communities and indicate that we want to take another look at... I guess to me I think the best course would be to find a way to use all forms of energy. I know we talked to different provinces and they’re using alternative and renewable energy to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels. There are certainly new capacities in storage of...

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 6th Session (day 16)

Thank you. I guess the reason summer students are hired in January and February is we ask summer students to put in their applications by the end of December of every year. So for 2012 we ask the summer students to put in, those interested in getting summer employment, to put in their applications by December of 2011. So we’re quite prepared to look at the process. If it means that we should wait until April for summer students to put in their applications and have everybody compete for every job and if we think that works out in the best interests, we’ll be prepared to look at that and see...

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 6th Session (day 16)

As I’ve said many times, our staffing in the Government of the Northwest Territories is based on merit. If the Member has any incidences where he’s seen hiring done because of who you know, well, we certainly want to be made aware of it so that we can investigate.

In every instance we try to follow the merit principle. As far as hiring of summer students, if he wants to hire only the most experienced summer students, only summer students that are in the fourth year of their programs... We try to make sure that we have a mix of summer students and we try to make sure that we hire as many summer...

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 6th Session (day 15)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Our incident rates have been increasing for sure, but a large part of those costs are due to the fact that we’ve been paying compensation instead of focusing on medical rehabilitation and pension for injured workers. As a government, we’ve been working with other departments to develop occupational health and safety programs that will be government-wide, that all government departments will be represented on. We’ve been working very closely with the WSCC to have a blueprint or something so that we can continue to improve on our record. Through worksite assessments and...

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 6th Session (day 15)

In the Safe Advantage program there are three categories that one can fall under. One is where your performance is so good that you get a refund. The second category is where you are middle of the pack, so you have a neutral assessment. Third is if you’re in the category where over a three-year period you’re exceeding the average of $40,000, that you pay a penalty. So we’re in the third category where we have paid a penalty of approximately $243,000.

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 6th Session (day 15)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the Member noted, the Department of Human Resources has been working very closely with all of the departments and the government to develop an Occupational Health and Safety Program. It’s taken a couple of years to do so. We now have a program that we’re implementing. It will be fully implemented by 2011-2012.

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 6th Session (day 15)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. To my left I have Alan Cash, deputy secretary to Cabinet; on my left, I have Mark Aitken, the director of legislation with the Department of Justice.

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 6th Session (day 15)

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am pleased to introduce Bill 18, An Act to Amend the Public Utilities Act.

Members will recall last year’s release of Creating a Brighter Future, a comprehensive response to almost two years of extensive consultations held with communities, key stakeholders, the general public, and Regular Members. Creating a Brighter Future detailed this government’s public commitment to a number of specific actions with respect to the Northwest Territories’ electricity system, including commitments to introduce amendments to the Public Utilities Act.

These legislative amendments have...

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 6th Session (day 15)

Yes, I would, Mr. Chairman.