David Ramsay

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I’d also like to ask the Minister why this office wouldn’t better coordinate the trades training with a partner school down south so that if classes are full here or they are cancelled for no apparent reason that students can be routed down south so that they can continue their education. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Picking up on my Member’s statement from earlier today, I’d like to say that the Minister and the government are saying all the right things about apprenticeship and the need to develop a skilled workforce here in the Northwest Territories. Madam Speaker, the reality is that’s not the case for all the apprentices, and where there is smoke there is fire. I know the Minister received an e-mail yesterday outlining some difficulties a constituent of one of my colleagues was having, and the scenario that I outlined for him earlier today is not one that I haven’t heard...

Thank you, Madam Speaker. It’s pretty ironic listening to the Minister of Education’s statement today. I will start off today saying I would like to speak about my concerns with Education, Culture and Employment’s Apprenticeship Training Program. A constituent of mine has been trying to get their journeyman certificate in plumbing but, unfortunately, all their attempts have been thwarted and not aided by this program at all.

Madam Speaker, the Minister has said, and I quote, "For our people to get the most out of the diamond mines, oil and gas development and other projects, they need to have...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions today are for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment and it goes back to my Member’s statement from earlier today. From a tourism standpoint, I find it very disturbing that the renovations are taking so long at the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre. One of the things the North oftentimes gets criticized for is the lack of product here in the Northwest Territories for tourists to take in and have what I feel is the cornerstone of the tourism products here unavailable for public viewing for the length of time it’s been...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to speak today about a vital piece of our tourism product here in the Northwest Territories. Built in 1979 and named after the Prince of Wales, our Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre is an absolute cornerstone of the tourism products that we have to offer. On the eve of what is looking like a very busy summer season, I am very concerned and alarmed that the centre sits in the state that it sits today.

As a young man I used to work at the centre and I have always held the centre in the highest regard. I have a great deal of respect and admiration...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to thank the Minister for his response. I do look forward to the report, the file coming forward, so that we can have a look at it and can better understand how the decision was arrived at.

One of the things that I would like to see included in that -- I know we have been going through and it is no slight against Hay River -- we have been having a tremendously difficult time staffing up a pipeline office in Hay River. These are specialized professional people that work at treatment centres like this. I am wondering can we get the employees to work at the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the question I have for the Minister is when we might expect to see something like this, because it is certainly a big issue with many families here in Yellowknife, folks that work there, parents who have children there. I would like to ask the Minister when we might expect that report or that file. I still have trouble understanding why a department that would make a decision like this wouldn’t have a file readily available for Members. I wanted it yesterday. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m glad to hear the Minister say that some of the renovation work is going to get done and some of the galleries are going to open this summer, because, as I mentioned in my Member’s statement, we are going to get a great deal of traffic through the capital city here in the summer months with the AFN being here and the increase in road traffic. So I’m glad to hear the Minister is paying attention to that. I’m wondering if the Minister could let us know when he expects all the renovations to be completed at the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre. Like I mentioned...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a few people I’d like to recognize; first is Richard Edjericon. Richard is a former chief of the Yellowknives Dene and candidate-elect for the Conservative Party in the Western Arctic riding. Welcome, Richard.

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With Richard is Mr. Gerry Cheezie. Gerry is the manager of the Yellowknives Dene housing. Welcome, Gerry.

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Also, Mr. Speaker, I’d like to recognize Ms. Amanda Mallon who is the president of the Northwest Territories Teachers’ Association. Welcome.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am wondering if the Minister could let us know if that report or file is going to be comprehensive in its scope. Is it going to look at the educational needs of the clients, what the impacts of the program are going to be on moving it, the professional side of things, and the availability of services in Hay River? Is it going to be a comprehensive report, or are we going to be able to poke holes in this thing? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.