Brendan Bell

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Deh Cho, that Bill 3, An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, be read for the second time.

Mr. Speaker, this bill amends the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act to implement recommendations of the Independent Commission to Review Members’ Compensation and Benefits and to make other adjustments related to Members’ compensation and benefits. This bill comes into force on the polling day for the general election that follows the dissolution of the 15th Legislative Assembly. Thank you, Mr...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That’s exactly why the committee has been set up and structured the way it has and certainly as they move forward, it’s critical to have that regional perspective. We know that they will bring forward the perspective of their people, including elders. We expect that they will consult with them. If the Member is asking about the tour this summer, he knows we are committed to that. There still are details to be finalized and worked out. Obviously if youth are going to participate in this, we have to ensure that we deal with every aspect and issue of safety. We are doing...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the Member knows, this is certainly a priority for our department. We have had and been proposing to do some work and had budgeted amounts of money for a number of years. We are now at the point where we have a working committee to move forward. We have nominees as put forward by the region. We are going to work with them to ensure that there is a viable plan for enhancing the project. I expect there will also be a bit of a tour this summer. If the Member is interested in participating with the Premier and others, I believe, as well as Members of the committee, I...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the information from the Member and his support and advocacy for having us look at new and innovative ways to ensure community safety. This is something that we’ve been pursuing for quite some time. We have looked at other jurisdictions, looked at similar models. There are about four Canadian provinces, three Canadian provinces and one territory right now, with similar legislation and we have been in discussion with these provinces and territories to understand how effective this legislation and the enforcement of it has been. So we are analyzing...

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to waive Rule 69(2) and have Bill 5, An Act to Amend the Territorial Parks Act, moved into Committee of the Whole. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to waive Rule 69(2) and have Bill 4, An Act to Amend the Supplementary Retiring Allowances Act, moved into Committee of the Whole. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to waive Rule 69(2) and have Bill 3, An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, moved into Committee of the Whole. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am currently in the process of trying to finalize my summer schedule, my summer and family plans. Of course, I have someone at home who I have to consult with as well, but I will make every effort to be on the ground for at least part of the tour and I also hope, prior to that, potentially to get out. I know the Member was instrumental in providing a helicopter tour for some Members of the House of the area, of the region. That’s something I also look forward to. I think this is a beautiful part of our territory. It’s one that needs more exposure. It’s one that needs...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the Member knows, we are committed to this project. Work is ongoing. In terms of when that can be finalized, the park plan finally implemented, that will depend on some of the consultation that is ongoing and some of the work that we need to do. We are committed to expediting this. I have indicated before that we needed to have moved faster on this project in the past and I think certainly we have failed to do that but are certainly prepared and committed to moving this ahead now with all of our partners and look forward to being able to do that. Thank you, Mr...

Mr. Speaker, I’ll certainly come forward in that time frame for a discussion with committee. I think we need to understand what the best options for us are. In other jurisdictions I think there are new offices that are created that are really outside the work that the RCMP are doing and we have to have a discussion around what the best model for the Northwest Territories would be. I think this community safety approach is something that I’m supportive of, but I want to understand the cost benefit. You have to ask yourself if we’d be better served to put the resources into the RCMP to help...