Kam Lake

Statements in Debates

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 4th Session (day 26)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wanted to follow up with some more questions to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. I wasn’t really satisfied with the responses that I got from the Minister on the fact that we are treating folks who go out for training for apprenticeship training differently than we are treating college students. I’m just wondering, according to the Minister’s logic, why the Government of the Northwest Territories, because we have infrastructure on the ground for post-secondary studies here and programs running in the Northwest Territories, why do we fund students to...

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 4th Session (day 26)

Mr. Speaker, again, I think we should be encouraging people to attend our post-secondary institutes here in the Northwest Territories. However, we should not be forcing people to attend post-secondary studies or apprenticeship programs here in the Northwest Territories. The program the Minister talks of in Fort Smith starts on April 7th. As I mentioned in my Member’s statement, this young man would already be concluded his third year studies at NAIT, back here working in Yellowknife as a third-year apprentice earning more money. Mr. Speaker, I think the Minister should at least take a look at...

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 4th Session (day 26)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I bear questions today for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. It gets back to my Member’s statement where I was talking about a young apprentice doing his electrical apprenticeship. He is currently at NAIT wrapping up a second year studies there at NAIT. There is a seat that is opened right now that he could go into to begin his third year. He has enough hours. I find it completely and utterly unbelievable that the government would tell this young man to pack his things, come back to Yellowknife, earn less money and then go to Fort Smith in April. That...

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 4th Session (day 26)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I want to speak today about a situation that has arisen with a constituent in his efforts to get schooling to fulfill his apprenticeship program. He is currently attending NAIT to finish his second year electrical apprenticeship. He has set himself up with accommodation, transportation and other logistics in Edmonton to conduct his schooling. An opportunity has come for him to start his third year schooling almost immediately upon the completion of his second year. He is comfortable being there and familiar with his surroundings, which is conducive to him...

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 4th Session (day 25)

Mr. Speaker, it’s been two and a half years since this government was elected and I find it hard to believe that they haven’t had any discussion with the federal government on the area of taxation, specifically on the application of the GST north of 60, on a possible tax credit for interest paid on mortgages and for removal of GST on essential goods and services. I’d like to ask the Premier why is it that these discussions haven’t taken place, when people continue to suffer in all of our communities with the high cost of living? Thank you.

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 4th Session (day 25)

Like I said, we can’t afford to wait any longer. I think the time has come. We can’t wait for a Cabinet committee to deliver on this. I think the time has come for this government to form a joint committee with Regular Members of this House, to finally get a cost of living special committee off the ground and try to find a way and means in which we can help people out here in this Territory and this city.

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 4th Session (day 25)

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The committee would like to continue with Tabled Document 62-16(4), NWT Main Estimates, and specifically Education, Culture and Employment. If that is concluded, to also get into the NWT Housing Corporation.

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 4th Session (day 25)

Mr. Speaker, I guess one of the fears I have is the government will get so far into negotiations and discussing partnership opportunities or arrangements with any company. I just want some assurances that before any decision is made on a partnership or venturing too far down that road, Cabinet and the Premier will come back to the Legislative Assembly and we can at least have a good debate and discussion on the merits of any such partnerships.

Mr. Speaker, I would be the first to say, again, no stone should be left unturned. We need to be looking at everything. We need to put everything on the...

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 4th Session (day 25)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Keeping on the same theme, I guess, it is so important that we leave no stone unturned when it comes to looking at power rates in the Northwest Territories and the future of those rates. I wanted to maybe shift gears a little bit and ask the Premier some questions as it relates to discussions with ATCO. I am of the understanding that while the Premier and the Finance Minister were in Copenhagen, some discussions took place with Nancy Southern of ATCO. They were lengthy discussions. I am sure they weren’t just talking about the weather, Mr. Speaker. I want to ask the...

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 4th Session (day 25)

I guess for folks out there paying the bills, it’s hard for them to relate to a lot of what the Premier has said. I mean, for most people, they just relate to what they have to pay every month. In fact, Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned earlier today, people are paying more for everything. I think the onus is on the government to come forward with a comprehensive, meaningful consultation with the public on what exactly you are doing to help address the high cost of living.

You can talk about all of the electricity rate reviews you want and everything else that you’re doing, but there are some things...