Brendan Bell

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Again, it is our preference as a government to support the companies that are leaving tangible benefits behind. Of course, it is very difficult to wade into the corporate structures of companies to determine exactly what the ownership structure looks like, unless we’re conducting something other than a competitive process and we need to go in and negotiate a contract. Then, as I’ve said, there are a couple of tests and filters; support from the MLA in the region. It’s difficult when development arms of bands are involved in joint ventures that may be less than...

Thank you, Madam Speaker. As a government, we follow a very well defined set of procurement policies. When it comes to preferential treatment for companies, negotiated contracts, those types of things, obviously we rely on political support from the MLA in the region who generally, I think, is very aware of which companies are providing meaningful benefit to the region. That is certainly a filter or one test for us, Madam Speaker, to make sure that in fact we are doing business with the right companies. We can't prevent anybody from bidding on work. It is a competitive process and...

Madam Speaker, I would like to update the House on the implementation of the Protection Against Family Violence Act.

This new law came into effect on April 1, 2005. It gives people new choices to deal with family violence. Any time of the day or night, a person can call the RCMP or a toll-free crisis line to talk to a family violence counsellor. They have several different choices and in emergencies, the police or counsellor can help them apply for an emergency protection order. A justice of the peace considers the history of family violence in the relationship and can make orders that will...

Thank you again, Madam Speaker. I wish to table the following document entitled Northwest Territories Mental Disorder Review Board Report, Minister of Justice, February 2005.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The answer is no. We don’t do it anywhere else in the territory. We aren’t going to start doing it at this beach. We aren’t going to go out and decide we are in the life guarding business. It isn’t our jurisdiction. The city can do it if they choose. I believe the cost is $20,000. They have lifeguards available that they use at the pool. They are set up to be able to do this. They are insured to be able to do this. Obviously it would cost them some money and I respect their decision to not staff lifeguards at the beach because that would mean having to reduce...

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I don't believe the city intends to provide life guarding services this summer at the beach. It's been a couple of seasons now without lifeguards at the beach. I think the Member knows the history. We provided, in past, a contribution that the city turned around and used to provide life guarding services. Obviously we are not in that business and don't do that, but we had provided a contribution in the past. The city felt that it wasn’t significant enough. We entered into a negotiation which eventually failed. The city left that negotiation feeling that if we...

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Many, probably all, of our NGOs are fiscally challenged and could use more funding. I think that’s certainly a good discussion for us to have as a government with committee. I would certainly be prepared to do that. We are going into the business planning process and I am sure many other Ministers, as well the Minister of Health, would be prepared to have those kinds of discussions. We do rely on our NGOs to provide very valuable service right across the Northwest Territories and it is important to ensure that they have adequate funding. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The 1-800 number does go directly to Alison McAteer House. I am aware of that. Many of the NGOs are better able to lever their resources by working together. There is much interconnectivity among NGOs, not just in Yellowknife but across the territory. I think we would find that if we looked at any number of programs being offered and delivered because oftentimes they are forced to deliver very good service, but on a shoestring budget. That certainly has been the case with the Y over a number of years. So am I aware that the Alison McAteer number is staffing the 1-800...

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Without getting into any specifics, it is difficult for me to give the Member a concrete example. I would say generally that when I do meet with companies doing business in regions, oil companies, mining companies, I continue to encourage them to take advantage and make use of local companies and local labour, because obviously grassroots support by these companies is critical and if that support is not there or is waning, I think it generally impacts on the success that companies will have.

Companies that are not used to doing business in the North may not...

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I am going to need a little more clarification on the question. Talking about a level playing field, I am unsure exactly what the Member is referring to. I know from his statement, he was, I believe, discussing joint ventures, referring to some joint ventures and I think making the suggestion that not all joint ventures are created equally. We agree with that and are looking for companies who want to do business in the North and leave something behind. We want to make sure that where there are joint ventures that we are looking to support, that there is actually...