David Ramsay

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to ask the Minister, I know he talked about not having the support here and I talked earlier in my Member’s statement about a motion that I’d like to bring forward at some point in time, but what does the Minister feel that we can do as a government, as a people here in the Northwest Territories, to get that message through to the federal government that we need this project here in the NWT? Thank you.

I thank the Minister for that and it’s interesting that he cites the American experience, because there has been a reluctance here in Canada for the federal government to state that it will create a fiscal environment that would allow the project to be built. I’d like to ask the Minister how is our government lobbying the federal Cabinet to get the Mackenzie Gas Project directly on the front page of their briefing binders on the first thing they look at when they go to Cabinet meetings, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

It will address the federal government’s commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, to seeing Canada’s North reach its full potential, and a clear expression of Canada’s commitment to Arctic sovereignty. These are lasting legacies that the federal government cannot continue to overlook.

Mr. Speaker, so I guess what I am hearing the Minister say is the size of community does matter, the ability to pay does matter. I don’t agree with that premise. I guess the next question I have to ask the Minister is: can the Minister tell me which communities in the Northwest Territories today have the ability to pay for a 911 service themselves? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have questions today for the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. R.C. McLeod. I guess I should apologize to Mr. Michael McLeod. I know the Hay River Reserve is in his riding, which would also benefit from the implementation of a 911 service here in the Northwest Territories, Mr. Speaker. So if you look at the entire Cabinet, every one of them touches a community that would benefit greatly from the implementation of a 911 service here in the Northwest Territories. I would like to ask the Minister of MACA if he could provide me with an explanation on why...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to speak today to voice my displeasure in this government’s inaction as it pertains to implementing a 911 system here in the Northwest Territories.

This is not the first time I have spoken about 911 in this Assembly and today I find myself leading the weigh-in again, because of the absolute absurdity of the argument not to take action by this government.

During debate on October 15th, Minister Robert C. McLeod said: “we have to also ensure that this service or any basic service is available to a lot of remote communities we have out there.” What the government is...

Mr. Speaker, my final question to the Minister would be -- and it sounds like the government has already made a decision on this -- are they not going to help communities across the Northwest Territories implement the 911 service in the seven communities that are identified in the report? The government is washing its hands of that and letting the communities do it themselves. Is that what I’m hearing? Thank you.

I appreciate the response from the Minister, but does the government not have an obligation to all residents across the Northwest Territories to come up with an implementation plan on a 911 service that is workable across the entire Territory? If it has to be started by being phased in in some of the larger communities, so be it. I would like to ask the Minister, why is the government not working towards a phased-in approach of a 911 service here in the Northwest Territories for communities that are ready, willing and able to participate with the government to let that happen? Thank you.

This is a very passionate issue here and I want to know why aren’t the Yellowknife Members on Cabinet supporting a phased-in approach to 911, which would make their constituents safer?

Mr. Speaker, six out of the seven Cabinet Ministers represent constituents that would be included in the beginning phases of a 911 service. Why, then, if you have six out of seven Cabinet Ministers who, one would think, support 911 service in their communities, is this hitting a brick wall, Mr. Speaker? I will have questions for the Minister of MACA at the appropriate time. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m sorry, I failed to request a recorded vote. I’d like to request a recorded vote on the motion. Thank you.