Charles Dent

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’d like to recognize a constituent who is often here with us in the House, Ms. Barb Wyness with the UNW, and a couple of folks that it’s really nice to see, Bishop John Sperry and Ed Jeske. I’d like to welcome them back.

---Applause

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I wish to table the following document entitled Workers’ Compensation Board 2004 Annual Report. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The income support officer is given the authority to determine which of their clients should be payrolled. As I outlined, it is typically for those clients where the expectation is that the circumstances are not likely to change in the immediate future, but it is clearly expressed to the client that there is an obligation to the client to come back and report that change.

In terms of why the report cards weren't being followed up on, I'm afraid that I can't answer that question. It does indicate an issue that there is some concern about and we have certainly worked...

Thank you, Madam Speaker. We have to work in concert with the other departments. Health and Social Services is also involved in this process. We have to come to some agreement about the renovations, because Public Works and Services tell us that renovations are critical to the continued occupation of that building in the not-too-distant future. They don't have to happen this year or next year, but we shouldn't be signing a subsequent 10-year lease for the building if there aren't some important renovations done.

The issue of the renovations and whether or not we should do them or look for...

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Good afternoon. I am very pleased to announce to the Members of this House that Mr. Chris Fournier, our NWT representative at the World Skills Competition, has won a gold medal.

Yesterday, we received word that Mr. Fournier received the gold medal for web design at the World Skills Competition in Helsinki, Finland. Chris has been competing in the territorial skills competitions since he was a Grade 9 student at Sir John Franklin High School. Over the years, he competed in four territorial skills competitions, winning gold medals in each event. As well, during this...

Madam Speaker, for those people who should fill in the report cards, no. If the report card is not returned, that should raise a flag in the system to stop the cheques from being distributed. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I thank the Member for bringing this issue to my attention earlier. I have had the department check into this situation and this is the only example of this type of circumstance happening that we can find. I can also assure the Member that we don't believe the rent was paid after the individual moved out. However, the individual never gave notice to the landlord that they were leaving and so the landlord claims that there is more rent owing than what the individual believes.

It is a situation too, where we offer a number of clients on income support the opportunity...

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The lease, in fact, doesn’t come up for another three years, May of 2008. So there is a considerable amount of time for us to work at determining whether or not to renew that lease. The more salient issue is the requirement for repairs to the building. That is something that is currently under discussion by Public Works, ECE, the Housing Corporation and the other players who were involved in setting up the lease in the first place. It’s an issue where we are going to have to examine what the best approach is and try to find the best solution. Thank you, Madam Speaker...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. In accordance with Rule 6(2), I move that we continue sitting beyond the hour of daily adjournment to continue consideration of Bill 1, Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 1, 2005-2006.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The curriculum focuses on helping young people understand how to make healthy choices. Healthy choices include how to make choices around issues of alcohol, drugs and tobacco. Yes, there is a discussion included around where to get assistance and how to get assistance if that is needed. Many of our schools have incorporated counselling, not just career counselling, but counselling within the schools to help young people so they have a resource, a person they can talk to about making those healthy choices. For instance, in Norman Wells they have brought a regular...