David Ramsay

Specific to the previous question was whether or not the YCJA was being applied the same here in the Northwest Territories as in other Canadian provinces or territories. Does the Minister have any evidence or anything related to statistics on length of sentences, what young offenders are getting for comparable crimes in Alberta, Saskatchewan that they are getting in the Northwest Territories? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to just end by asking the Minister, again, I think we’re trying to get as many northern people involved in the health care field here in the Northwest Territories and opportunities to advance themselves through training. The LPN Program is one of these areas I think we could expand upon. I’d like to ask the Minister if he would commit to getting back to me on whether or not Aurora College will offer the LPN Program in Yellowknife for residents here in Yellowknife who want to take that course.

I think it’s great news that the LPN Program is going to be offered in Inuvik. I congratulate the department and Aurora College on doing that. I’d like to ask the Minister if there’s any thought that sometime down the road this course could be offered at Aurora College here in Yellowknife, given the success of the Northern Nursing Program here in Yellowknife.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to return to item 8, oral questions.

---Unanimous consent granted

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On October 3rd residents of the Northwest Territories will be going back to the polls to elect the 17th Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories. As an Assembly we only have seven sitting days remaining for us, which will come in mid-August just prior to dissolution of the 16th Legislative Assembly, scheduled for September 5th. I’d like to formally announce today my intention to seek re-election in the riding of Kam Lake, of which I’ve had the opportunity, honour and privilege to represent since 2003 when I was first elected MLA for Kam Lake.

I enjoy working for...

I’d like to ask the Minister if Aurora College does any research into potential students for programs like the LPN Program and, if so, have they done any of that market research in Inuvik and Yellowknife, or Fort Smith for that matter, to gauge the interest of having that program run in those communities.

I thank Members for allowing me to return to item 8. Just a few questions I have regarding the Licenced Practical Nursing Program. It’s currently scheduled to be offered in Inuvik this fall. I’d like to ask the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment when the last time the Licenced Practical Nurse Program, the LPN course, was held anywhere in the Northwest Territories.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Like my colleague from Great Slave, I’d like to recognize the work of all of the Pages that served the House during this sitting. Specifically, I’ve got a constituent, Miss Caleigh Matheson, who I would like to point out the work that Caleigh’s done. Appreciate that.

I’d also like to recognize the members of the Jacobson family who are in the gallery and my favourite little girl from Tuktoyaktuk, Mikayla Jacobson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the Minister of Public Works and Services and it gets back to my Member’s statement earlier where I spoke of the government spending an inordinate amount of capital dollars over the past three and a half years. It totals close to $450 million. I think it came at a good time for our economy, but people are left asking questions.

We’ve had, in the past, issues with carry-overs. We, in fact, changed our capital planning process to approve the capital plan in the fall of the year as opposed to the budget session in February/March. We’ve taken...

Why is it, then, that there is so much concern out there amongst the small to midsized construction companies who indicate they are not getting the work or benefit of this spending?

We need to ensure as a government that we are spending as much of our capital dollars fairly and that there is a balance between large, medium and smaller capital projects around our territory to benefit our economy the most and the companies that depend upon it.