David Ramsay

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

WHEREAS a letter of complaint, dated February 16, 2009, and signed by six Members of the Legislative Assembly, was addressed to the Conflict of Interest Commissioner, and requested that the Commissioner carry out a formal investigation regarding certain conduct of Mr. Floyd Roland, Premier of the Northwest Territories and MLA for Inuvik Boot Lake;

AND WHEREAS section 101 of the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act directs the Conflict of Interest Commissioner to conduct an investigation into such a complaint;

AND WHEREAS the Conflict of Interest Commissioner...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Wednesday, November 4, 2009, I will move the following motion: now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Nahendeh, that the report of the sole adjudicator be accepted.

Again, the reason this is becoming important, we’re talking recently about changes to the diamond policy area and the fact that the Government of the Northwest Territories really doesn’t have a leg to stand on when it comes to trying to ensure that the producing mines here in the Territory offer up the value-added industry that we’re trying to support as a government. So, again, I’d like to ask the Premier, will the Premier put that item on the agenda when the regional leaders meet again in November? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the Premier and it gets back to some of the questions that I had last week when it comes to devolution and resource revenue sharing. I just wanted to follow up a little bit on that, if I could. I’ve spoken in the past about the approach the Government of the Northwest Territories is taking to devolution and I’m wondering why the Government of the Northwest Territories wouldn’t look at an incremental approach to devolution, specifically in the area of minerals, oil and gas. I’d like to ask the Premier that question. 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.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the mover of the motion, I want to be the first to rise in this House and express my unconditional support for the disposition report of Mr. Ted Hughes. Mr. Hughes has served this House with great distinction and I want to thank him for guiding us through this difficult process. Mr. Speaker, I and the other MLAs who made this complaint said from the start that we wanted an independent view of the appropriateness of the relationship that developed with the Premier and the Committee Clerk of this House. We also stated that we would accept the final result, whatever it...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to deal with the motion I gave notice of earlier today.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, my questions last week and questions again today are based on the fact that I just don’t see us making any progress. I’d like to ask the Premier, how are we going to ensure that in the next two years we see some progress on these files, specifically on minerals, oil and gas and the devolution of those responsibilities to the Government of the Northwest Territories? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Yes, with health and transportation, those are areas of our operation that cost us money. When I talk about minerals, oil and gas, those are areas of our operation where, if done properly and we get control over those areas, we could actually benefit, fiscally benefit from the federal government devolving those responsibilities to the Government of the Northwest Territories.

Last week I also mentioned the fact that it’s close to $300 million that the federal government is currently taking in resource revenue from the Northwest Territories. So I’d like to ask the Premier, if it does take us...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I’d like to speak about protecting your property from thieves. I’ve lived in Yellowknife for almost 30 years. There was a time when I remember that most people thought nothing of not locking their homes when they went out shopping or to visit friends, and locking your vehicle was certainly not your first instinct when you arrived at your destination.

Times have changed, Mr. Speaker. Like many Yellowknifers, I have been hit by these roaming bands of thieves who target vehicles that are left unlocked. It didn’t happen at the store. It didn’t happen at work. It...