David Ramsay

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The sum of $2.2 million; what period of time does that represent? Does that represent an entire calendar year or a portion of a calendar year? How does that work, Mr. Chairman?

Thank you, Madam Chair. I, too, would like to offer a few brief comments. I am in support of Bill 17, Modernization of Benefits and Obligations Act, that is before us today. I just wanted to start off by saying that I really do respect and appreciate the views that other Members have on this. Sometimes we are always not going to agree on things. We all have different religious and spiritual beliefs. Those are to be respected. It is a really touchy issue for many people. But for me, when I got elected in 1997, one of the first tests as a new city councillor was to add a proclamation for...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Again, I am in support of Bill 17, but I wanted to ask what seems to me to be an obvious question. Maybe it was asked during the lead up to the bill coming to the House today, but I’m not on the Social Programs committee, so I didn’t get a chance to ask this previously. Why are we proceeding with the Modernization of Benefits and Obligations Act prior to the Civil Marriage Act being passed in the House of Commons?

---Applause

I just wondered, that’s just an obvious question. I support Bill 17, don’t get me wrong, but I’m asking that obvious question. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Actually, I’ll just wait until we get to page 13. That’s where my question is at. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Given the fact that the inmates at North Slave Correctional Centre have come forward with a petition identifying the need for addiction treatment centres, I’m wondering if the Minister can give us some kind of indication today whether or not he’ll look at a survey or a study of the inmate population here in the Northwest Territories that we can look at trying to find out why they’re in prison, finding common themes and asking them what we might be able to do as a government to help keep them out of jail. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. I was just told that he is adding another clause under clause 5, Mr. Menicoche. To the motion.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Can the Minister of MACA state unequivocally that the subdivision is in fact in Ndilo proper? Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m just wondering, the Minister didn’t mention whether or not there’s any dialogue that happens between his department, the Department of Justice, and Health and Social Services, in terms of trying to find out why inmates are in jail and what we can do as a government to try to keep them out of there. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.