Brendan Bell

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’ll send a copy of the letter to the Member that I sent to the Governance and Economic Development committee about that reorganization. Mr. Speaker, my concern is the suggestion that we’ve abandoned the National Diamond Strategy and a characterization that this was something that was supported by the secondary industry. In my consultations with all of the factory operators, they suggested to me that we needed to move on, move past this and refocus our efforts. In fact, when the issue came up in the House the last time around, I met with them again to ask if...

Mr. Speaker, I think I have a very close working relationship with the Governance and Economic Development committee. We meet quite frequently to discuss issues formally and informally. I am more than wiling to do that with Members as it relates to constituents who have specific concerns. Yes, I do rely on the advocacy of Members to bring those issues forward. In terms of communication on major initiatives, that is my job to come forward to committee and present them with those things. Of course, we had that discussion when we decided to move away from the National Diamond Strategy. I did...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I have, and I appreciate the support of the Member. I think Members know that I have written to the Minister of Public Safety, Stockwell Day, asked and pleaded with his folks to help us put some new detachments into some of the communities that don’t have them; Sachs, obviously, Gameti, Wrigley, Mr. Speaker. I then also sat down and had the time to brief his chief-of-staff on another trip, sat down with Assistant Commissioner Bill Sweeney, Chief Superintendent Pat McCloskey and we are making progress, Mr. Speaker. We are looking and the RCMP has identified...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’ll send a copy of the letter to the Member that I sent to the Governance and Economic Development committee about that reorganization. Mr. Speaker, my concern is the suggestion that we’ve abandoned the National Diamond Strategy and a characterization that this was something that was supported by the secondary industry. In my consultations with all of the factory operators, they suggested to me that we needed to move on, move past this and refocus our efforts. In fact, when the issue came up in the House the last time around, I met with them again to ask if...

Mr. Speaker, I think if there’s any threat to the secondary industry, any real, credible threat, it’s probably that we won’t find new mines in future. What do we do in 15 years when the pipes that we know about are gone? Really, that’s the threat to the secondary industry. I think we need to focus a lot of our efforts and departmental resources on finding new mines. We continue to support the secondary industry. That’s critical. These arrangements that we’re hearing today, we hear that Arslanian Cutting Works and the Polar Bear factory are very much happy with the new arrangement and new...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I have, and I appreciate the support of the Member. I think Members know that I have written to the Minister of Public Safety, Stockwell Day, asked and pleaded with his folks to help us put some new detachments into some of the communities that don’t have them; Sachs, obviously, Gameti, Wrigley, Mr. Speaker. I then also sat down and had the time to brief his chief-of-staff on another trip, sat down with Assistant Commissioner Bill Sweeney, Chief Superintendent Pat McCloskey and we are making progress, Mr. Speaker. We are looking and the RCMP has identified...

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Deh Cho, that Bill 5, An Act to Amend the Territorial Parks Act, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Absolutely, Mr. Speaker, and I’m proud of the work that this government has done in this area.

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I think it was the foresight of past government to establish this, recognize that this was a trade that was worthwhile and worth pursuing. We spent a lot of effort, a lot of time, a lot of money to set the up the programs at Aurora College and if you look at the factories today, whether its Polar Bear or Arslanian, you see the recent press announcements and we have the benefit of seeing some of the financials and know that they’re financially stronger than they have been in the past. The...

Mr. Speaker, I think if there’s any threat to the secondary industry, any real, credible threat, it’s probably that we won’t find new mines in future. What do we do in 15 years when the pipes that we know about are gone? Really, that’s the threat to the secondary industry. I think we need to focus a lot of our efforts and departmental resources on finding new mines. We continue to support the secondary industry. That’s critical. These arrangements that we’re hearing today, we hear that Arslanian Cutting Works and the Polar Bear factory are very much happy with the new arrangement and new...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. 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 first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.