Mackenzie Delta

Statements in Debates

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 4)

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment in regard to industry, trade and investment. In regard to my Member’s statement, I mentioned a company out of Calgary that was recruiting individuals in the Mackenzie Delta and trying to find people to work in the oil and gas industry in Alberta, preferably Fort McMurray. Again, we also have other industries in the N.W.T. that seem to be lacking in that type of endeavour. So I’d like to ask the Minister: would he pass on a message to the N.W.T. Mining Association that they can try a similar arrangement by...

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 4)

Mr. Chair, in regard to the Sessional Statement, I believe there’s a lot of good direction that’s in there. But I think it’s also how you interpret the direction to ensure that we’re all on the same wavelength.

I think it’s important that we, as government, realize that where we’re at today, we went through the same process in the 13th Assembly. And I think from having gone through that time frame, being here today 12 years later, we haven’t really got down to making any tough decisions yet.

I think it’s important to realize that we are going to have to make some tough decisions. There are...

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 4)

General comments, Member for Great Slave, Mr. Abernethy.

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 4)

Are we agreed?

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 3)

Mr. Speaker, I’d like to ask the Premier if he has a system in place to notify affected MLAs if there are going to be any vacancies in their ridings by way of positions. Then we can be informed ahead of time, and we will be able to react to our constituents when they find out there are notices given or that positions are going to be removed from our constituencies.

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 3)

In light of the area where I believe we do have to cut, I also recall that coming into the 13th Assembly, we had some 4,500 employees in the Government of the Northwest Territories, which included Nunavut. Now we have almost 6,000 employees in the Government of the Northwest Territories, which is almost double the number of people in the public service, yet there are 3,000 employees here in Yellowknife.

I would just like to make it clear to the Premier that we are still suffering in the communities because of what happened in the 13th Assembly. We’ve never been able to catch up with the number...

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 3)

Mr. Speaker, my question is in response to the Premier’s answers to questions asked by Mr. Hawkins in regard to the reductions that are coming forward, and also reductions in positions, programs and services. I’d like to make it clear to the Premier, as a Member who represents small aboriginal communities that are lacking basic programs and services from this government because of vacant positions that haven’t been filled for years in and years out….Yet we are again going through the cuts when these communities haven’t recovered from the cuts of the 13th Assembly.

I think it’s important as a...

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 3)

So, Mr. Speaker, I’d like to ask the Premier if maybe he could bring forward the legislation that was drafted, I believe, in the 13th Assembly. I don’t recall the tax, but there was legislation put forth, developed, that was ready to come forward — by way of looking at this alternative in the 13th Assembly.

So I’d like to ask the Premier: would you consider bringing that back to the table and allowing the Members of this House to take a look at that as an option?

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 3)

From everything that's been said and what we're hearing in the media, I'd just like to ask the Premier: it seems like we're focussing on trying to reduce our costs, but is there any way we're trying to increase our revenues by looking at areas such as taxation?

We had a debate in the 13th Assembly on developing such a thing as a resource tax, and I believe if we'd put the tax in place then, we probably wouldn't have the financial problems we're facing today. With the reductions that we're looking at now, we're looking at the possibility of future generations and ensuring that we're able to...

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 3)

I’d like to ask the Premier if there have been commitments made by Ministers to particular communities on issues. I was with the Minister of Health in Tsiigehtchic. They’re trying to get a nurse as the community hasn’t had one for four years, and they’re also looking at a mental health physician for that community.

I’d like to get some assurance from the Premier that if there are any commitments made by Ministers to communities, to try to ensure they fill those vacant positions, that they don’t come back now and say, “Sorry, we’re not committed to that.” I’d like to get some assurance that...