David Ramsay

Clause 2.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned in my Member’s statement, it has been over 20 years since the issue of dealing with legislation governing locksmithing was first brought to the attention of the then-Justice Minister. As I mentioned, it has perhaps been brought to every Justice Minister since then. I am wondering, the first question I would have for the present-day Justice Minister is, locksmithing regulations and legislation, where does it fit in the government’s agenda? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. General comments, Bill 16. If there are no further general comments, clause by clause?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to speak today about how the Government of the Northwest Territories is dragging its heels on legislation that directly impacts the lives and the livelihood of northerners. Mr. Speaker, I would equate the government’s history on developing legislation is as slow as molasses going uphill. Examples are the Wildlife Act, the Species at Risk Act and the long-awaited Liquor Act. With large pieces of legislation taking as long as they do, I am left wondering where, oh where, on the government’s radar is legislation on locksmithing and massage therapy.

Most other...

Thank you, Minister Bell. Any further general comments to Bill 16? Mr. Braden.

Agreed, thanks, committee. General comments on Bill 16. Mr. Pokiak.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. I'm wondering now if you'd like to bring in witnesses.

One of the general themes stemming from the NWT Alcohol and Drug Program’s discussion paper from last fall was that there needs to be more attention paid to health promotion and prevention programs. Investments need to be made and programs aimed at promoting healthy lifestyles and preventing the onset of addictions. These would be required in order to effectively combat alcohol and drug issues. The more children in the NWT that we can get into sports and recreational type activities, the better the chance they will have to choose healthy living. We need to get more physical activity into our...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just to wrap this up, again, I know we talked about this at length now, but, to me, if we don’t send the message out there that it is not okay to run up huge deficits and come back to the Legislative Assembly to have us rubberstamp basically saying it is okay. You can run up a $7 million deficit. It is okay. We are just going to rubberstamp it and approve it anyway. I don’t think that is the message that I want to get out there. I think these health operations in the regions have to be run effectively and they have to be managed effectively. They have to be funded...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I have had this discussion with the Minister before in committee regarding the deficit situation at some of our health boards at Stanton and the Beaufort-Delta. Am I to understand too that there is some deficit accruing in the Sahtu as well? I would like the Minister to elaborate a little bit on what the plan is to better manage these facilities and these boards if they are allowed to run up what amounts in the last few years here over $10 million in deficit and then come back to supplementary appropriation to, in effect, wipe out their deficit. That is not a very...