David Krutko

Mr. Speaker, in regard to the extent of the appointment, I understand that the way it was advertised, the term of the appointment was supposedly for a three-year term, as it was advertised in the newspapers. So by making an appointment which exceeds the six years — which is basically 2009, which is a year from now — it would have exceeded that appointment. So what’s the term limit of the appointment, knowing it will exceed the six years?

Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Minister Responsible for the Workers’ Compensation Board.

There was a process that was advertised in the paper last summer. It was in the papers for about three months. It advertised to find an appropriate applicant for the chairman position of the Workers’ Compensation Board.

I believe there were several applications that were filed: one from Nunavut, six from the Northwest Territories, and, I believe, three of them were former deputy ministers of this government.

Yet, Mr. Speaker, it seems to me that due process was not followed. Also, the Minister, in making...

Mr. Speaker, the health of the people of Aklavik is at risk here. There are high cases of stomach cancer in that community. It’s been diagnosed through having to send a medical team in there to diagnose every resident of the community. And it’s fully directed towards the water problem. I think, as this government realizes, that should be a top priority of this government. For someone in this House to stand up and say, “Delay, evaluate, assess the program and then come back with reasons,” we can’t afford that.

So I’d like to ask the Premier, along with the Minister, that this project be put on...

Minister’s Statement 116(2) and Minister’s Statement 9-16(2) are concluded. Therefore, what’s the wish of the committee?

Mr. Speaker, I’d like to respond to comments in regard to water treatment contracts that are out there, because personally, I’ve been waiting two years to get a water treatment plant in Aklavik. We have health hazards in that community by way of high numbers of stomach cancer in that community. I think, as a government, we’re responsible to ensure the public health and well-being of our people are taken care of.

Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Minister of MACA in regard to water treatment for Aklavik. It’s been well over two years. We were promised two years ago that we were going to get...

At this time I’d like to ask what is the wish of the committee?

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker, the 10th anniversary of the Chief Johnny Charlie Memorial Ski-doo Trek is coming up on March 26–31, 2008. The family of the late Johnny D. Charlie would like to invite everyone to participate in the final run of the ski-doo trip, which is now in its tenth year, from Fort McPherson to Old Crow in the Yukon, some 300 miles.

Throughout his life Johnny D. Charlie made this trip a priority, first by dog team in his early days and later with snowmobiles. After his death in 1998, his family decided to continue making the trip in memory of their father. His family feels that it’s important...

I would like to thank my colleagues for their comments in regard to the motion. I’d like to thank the Minister for making us aware of what is happening in regard to the Minister’s energy coordinating committee.

But I think we also have to realize that I read a decision that was made by the Public Utilities Board in 1995. It is 12 years later, and we are still talking about this issue. So I think it is important that we act now. By the Minister’s direction and the committee work on this motion, I believe it will get us to where we want to go. Hopefully, we will have it completed before our four...

Mr. Speaker:

WHEREAS electric power is an essential service;

AND WHEREAS power rates across the Northwest Territories are presently established on a community-by-community basis in accordance with Public Utilities Board direction set in the mid-1990s;

AND WHEREAS the current structure results in small communities that depend on diesel-generated power paying exorbitant and unstable rates;

AND WHEREAS power rates are one of the main drivers for the high cost of living in small communities, and discourage local economic development;

AND WHEREAS residents of these communities are doubly burdened...

Mr. Speaker, the department has had the full support of myself as the MLA, has full support from the hamlet of Aklavik and the people of Aklavik to get on with this. We’ve continued to support this project on the understanding of where this project is at, but if there is going to be any delay, or basically any innuendoes of cancelling this project or redoing the whole project, we’re not in support of that.

I’d like to, again, ask the Minister that every effort be made to fast-track this project, get that water treatment in place. The community needs this piece of infrastructure. We’ve been...