David Ramsay

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have spoken in this House numerous times about the secondary diamond industry in the Northwest Territories and the fact that it is floundering right now. It is dormant. There is not much happening in the cut and polish industry here. I think a lot of that stems from the government’s inability to deliver a policy so that people know what the rules of engagement are, if they are going to invest in the Northwest Territories and if this government is going to back this industry up. I think it can work, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister, I know we had gotten...

Mr. Speaker, the Minister says these things are negative. Mr. Speaker, I disagree with him. It’s reality. He might call them negative. I think it’s reality. And the reality is, Mr. Speaker, this government and every government for the next 35 years is going to have to figure out a way to pay for this Deh Cho Bridge Project. That’s the reality; stark reality, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister, when the Government of the Northwest Territories makes the decision to remove itself from the concession agreement, what exactly does that entail and at what cost to the government? Thank you.

In her handling of the issue, the Health Minister has shown a propensity to be narrow minded and not listen to the arguments put forward by Members on this side of the House, and I want to go on record today as saying she has got to improve her listening skills. Thankfully some of her Cabinet colleagues understand what consensus government means and what it means to listen to the Regular Members of this House and the public of the Northwest Territories. I want to thank them for that.

Mr. Speaker, I think that is good news. The department is taking an active role in this situation. Does the Minister have any idea of how long the department’s involvement with the community government there in Behchoko is going to take place or is it an indefinite period of time or is it until the community is back on its feet? What is the time frame like? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. I wanted to ask some questions about how the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs deals with communities in the Northwest Territories that find themselves in difficult situations. I want to ask the Minister, if a community is located in a settled land claim area where they have a community government act such as the Tlicho Community Government Act, does the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs treat that community any differently than they would a community outside a settled...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to speak today about the proposed changes to the supplementary health benefits. I’ll begin by stating that I am encouraged that Premier Roland and Cabinet Ministers actually were listening to what Regular Members and the public were saying about the proposed changes.

We’re looking now at a joint working group formed between Cabinet and Regular Members to come up with a plan to move this forward and I appreciate Cabinet wanting to work through the issues with Regular Members. I’m hoping for positive results from this effort. In the spirit of consensus government we...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In such circumstances, does the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs second somebody to the community government in Behchoko? How does that work? I just want to have a better understanding if there is going to be departmental staff on the ground in the community. Are they going to be downtown Yellowknife trying to help the community? I think they should be on the ground. If I can ask the Minister that question. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, judging by the Minister’s response to that, all community governments across the Northwest Territories, whether they are in settled land claim areas or not, have an obligation to follow Government of the Northwest Territories legislations through municipal statute and if that is the case, Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister what the role and function of MACA is when it comes to the situation currently at play in Behchoko. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. To my right is Gay Kennedy, acting Chief Electoral Officer for the Northwest Territories; and, to my left is Mr Mark Aitken, director, legislation division, Department of Justice. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. I am pleased to be here to represent this bill. This bill proposes various amendments to the Elections and Plebiscites Act.

These amendments are the result of considerable discussion. We started with a review of the CEO’s report on the administration of the general election of 2007. That report was reviewed by the Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures. During that review, all the candidates, their official agents and the returning officers were asked for their views and concerns about changes for the next general election. In addition to their consideration...