David Ramsay

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document, entitled “Take a Kid Trapping and Harvesting Report 2013-2014.”

The Oil and Gas Strategy would, of course, incorporate the work that has been done to date. We would be taking a look at all of that work. We don’t need to go out and reinvent the wheel if we have done work in that regard. That’s something that we will look at incorporating into an Oil and Gas Strategy. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have heard that companies are coming back to the Sahtu to have meetings in the Sahtu. As to whether or not that would see a return to activity in the region next winter remains to be seen, but I think it’s a good sign that companies are coming back to have meetings in the Sahtu. I understand that there’s a number of them that have meetings lined up this coming week in the communities in the Member’s riding. So that’s, I think, an important step forward. Thank you.

There’s ongoing training and support for our victim services workers across the NWT. I understand they will be in Yellowknife next week. I believe I’ll be speaking to the group next week here in Yellowknife. If the Member is available – I know MLA Moses came to the coroners’ event last week – and certainly if he has some time and he’s in town, I’d encourage him to attend that, as well, to learn more about victim services and the support that we provide through the Department of Justice.

I think having the group get together to share experiences and touch base with each other about issues and...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have some full-time workers in the area of victim service. We also have a number of part-time persons who deliver this much needed responsibility to our residents. I’d have to get the Member the exact figure, and I can get him the figure by community on who’s where and what positions are full time and what are part time. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is always a pleasure to see one of our northern residents succeed in their career and showcase their talents in competition. Today I’d like to recognize a Yellowknife resident who has excelled to a level of award-winning performance.

Nadya Debogorski is an exceptional young actress who was born and raised here in Yellowknife. She was recently presented the 2014 Phrike Filmfest Award for best female actress in a competition of short screen plays.

The Phrike Filmfest competition was conceived and put together by New Image Entertainment and New Image College of Fine Arts...

Mr. Speaker, as it relates to the activity and the Canol formation, we haven’t had a discussion with the federal government on an impact fund. The $500 million the Member speaks of is still there. Of course, the Mackenzie Gas Project is in a hiatus right now, but that’s not to say that if the area does get into commercial production of some type, if there are further pipelines discussed or constructed, the federal government might, in fact, look at an impact fund similar to the one that they had put in place for the Mackenzie Gas Project. Thank you.

We’re in the initial phase today. We want to ensure that we get the best strategy that we can and, much like the Mineral Development Strategy, the Economic Opportunities Strategy, an Oil and Gas Strategy has to be done in collaboration with industry, communities, Aboriginal governments, and we are going to set that up. My hope is that the Oil and Gas Strategy will be complete by the end of the life of the 17th Assembly. Thank you.

Thank you. I hadn’t been requested to do that, but by all regards, I’d be happy to do that if they wanted to have a bit of a roundtable with me. What I normally do, if I speak to the group, I stay and answer questions if people have questions.

Yes, we can look at having something like that happen when they’re here in town next week, an opportunity for them to ask me questions and a bit of a dialogue with them. That sounds like a very good idea. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, like coroners – I know we talked about coroners earlier in this session – victim services workers do have a very tough job. They’re dealing with some very stressful situations, and it’s important, from the Department of Justice perspective, that we provide them with the support that they need.

On a case-by-case basis if there’s a workload there that would warrant a full-time position, that certainly is something that the department would entertain and we’d take a look at that. Thank you.