Brendan Bell

Mr. Speaker, again, I will provide that letter to GED. The last few days, I have talked to the chair of Governance and Economic Development committee about pulling together a focus group that would do some gap analysis of a number of sectors. We talked to specifically about the mining sector, the need to make sure we understand where all of the opportunities are. I am more than prepared to sit down with any of the constituents that the Member has that potentially have been displaced at the Canada Dene factory failing. I can sit down and meet with them, as well with the Minister of Education...

Mr. Speaker, I’ll certainly endeavour to do that and I’ll see what the RCMP has. New assets on the ground by 2008, we are striving for that, Mr. Speaker, that doesn’t mean that we couldn’t have an RCMP presence, permanent presence in the community earlier than that, potentially next summer. We’ll have to see. Accommodations we think we can deal with. I appreciate the Member’s help in that regard. So it really is a matter of sitting down now through our business planning process, talking to committees, talking to my Cabinet colleagues, talking about what it would cost to have that presence...

Mr. Speaker, I’ll certainly endeavour to do that and I’ll see what the RCMP has. New assets on the ground by 2008, we are striving for that, Mr. Speaker, that doesn’t mean that we couldn’t have an RCMP presence, permanent presence in the community earlier than that, potentially next summer. We’ll have to see. Accommodations we think we can deal with. I appreciate the Member’s help in that regard. So it really is a matter of sitting down now through our business planning process, talking to committees, talking to my Cabinet colleagues, talking about what it would cost to have that presence...

Mr. Speaker, we consulted with the local industry about the National Diamond Strategy and about where we should focus our efforts. The local cutting and polishing industry said to us, you know, national efforts are fine and they may make sense in future; right now, work on supporting our efforts and our brands, this is fledgling locally, never mind about Ontario and Saskatchewan, the time will come. At the same time, they were confused that Members in the House would be concerned about the National Diamond Strategy abandonment, as the Member has said, when they were lobbying for that. Mr...

Mr. Speaker, we consulted with the local industry about the National Diamond Strategy and about where we should focus our efforts. The local cutting and polishing industry said to us, you know, national efforts are fine and they may make sense in future; right now, work on supporting our efforts and our brands, this is fledgling locally, never mind about Ontario and Saskatchewan, the time will come. At the same time, they were confused that Members in the House would be concerned about the National Diamond Strategy abandonment, as the Member has said, when they were lobbying for that. Mr...

Well, Mr. Speaker, we’re working successfully with our industry partners. Our industry partners said to us, quite clearly, we’re not interested in you putting a lot of effort into the National Diamond Strategy. We recognize that and we’ve moved away from that. They asked us to look for a public relations firm that was professional and capable as compared to trying to do these things in house. That meant spending some money with an outside contractor, but we’re doing that. We’re working with industry, we’re recognizing what they need, we’re helping them build brands, we’re fully committed...

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Deh Cho, that Bill 4, An Act to Amend the Supplementary Retiring Allowances Act, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Well, Mr. Speaker, we’re working successfully with our industry partners. Our industry partners said to us, quite clearly, we’re not interested in you putting a lot of effort into the National Diamond Strategy. We recognize that and we’ve moved away from that. They asked us to look for a public relations firm that was professional and capable as compared to trying to do these things in house. That meant spending some money with an outside contractor, but we’re doing that. We’re working with industry, we’re recognizing what they need, we’re helping them build brands, we’re fully committed...

Mr. Speaker, I am certainly willing to sit down with the Minister of Health, but I think we all recognize and acknowledge and take the Member’s point. We certainly provide people a disservice if we do not provide them with the treatment and help they need. Obviously, there are personal choices to be made here. But we also have to live up to our end of the bargain, which is to make sure there are resources available, Mr. Speaker. It is a last resort to lock people up. We are certainly not trying to do that. We are not trying to unnecessarily lock people up when there are other options. I...

Mr. Speaker, it is very difficult for me to comment on actual sentencing because that is under the purview of the courts, but I would agree that we need to have support and resources in our communities for those who need treatment. There is a lot of discussion currently around the use of conditional sentencing. I know the Members are all aware of the federal proposal to hold conditional sentencing and use it only for less serious crimes and not allow it in situations where violent crimes have been committed, sex crimes, crimes against children. It is certainly something that I support that...