Kam Lake

Statements in Debates

Debates of , (day 15)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I find it hard to believe that we're even considering potential locations for the new entity of BDIC. I think it belongs in one place, and that's in the city of Yellowknife. I'm just wondering --and I know my colleague, Mr. Braden, was speaking to this earlier in terms of getting information from the BCC and the current legislation making it impossible for an MLA to find out where the funds are being invested -- who is getting what money, under what terms and conditions. I'm wondering if the Minister believes that we can get some movement or a shift from this...

Debates of , (day 15)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, also the Minister responsible for the BCC and the Dev Corp. During the life of the last government, the issue and initiative concerning the amalgamation of these two arms of this government was front and centre. In the last six months, much talk took place in the House with regard to the development and the BDIC initiative. I'm just wondering, Mr. Speaker, why there has been a delay in the department giving this legislature an update on where this initiative is at. In the last...

Debates of , (day 15)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm just wondering when might the regular Members and the Governance and Economic Development committee, in particular, be able to receive a full and updated information package from the Minister with regard to the BDIC initiative. Thank you.

Debates of , (day 14)

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Minister is well aware of my stand on tax initiatives. Being a new Member and only being here for six months, I don’t think I have been given the opportunity, and I mentioned it during committee, that going through the draft main estimates, for all intents and purposes, was a waste of time. I don’t think this government in six moths has made any clear indication to me that it’s intent on cutting spending. I think that’s the crux of our problem, Mr. Chairman, is our spending habits. I certainly am looking forward to the business planning process and going through...

Debates of , (day 14)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I was wondering when the last operational review was done at the Yellowknife Correctional Centre. Given the trouble with the health services unit and indications of many other concerns and issues with the centre, I wonder if the Minister will commit to a full operational review of this facility. Thank you.

Debates of , (day 14)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s fine and good to say that the department has a good track record in terms of aboriginal employees, but given the fact that the YCC has an inmate population of about 90 percent aboriginal -- and that’s unfortunate in and of itself, Mr. Speaker -- it would make sense that we try to advance aboriginal employees into management positions. How many aboriginal employees are currently in permanent supervisory roles at the Yellowknife Correctional Centre? Thank you.

Debates of , (day 14)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I understand it, the audit was conduced solely by Ms. Shannon Weatherhead-McCoy, the chief of health services from Drumheller Institution in Alberta. Why wasn’t the Department of Justice corrections investigator involved in this audit, as was set out in the conveyance order? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , (day 14)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In reference to my statement earlier today, I would like to ask the Minister if he knows or if he is aware, as the Minister of Justice, of the fact that guards at the Yellowknife Correctional Centre currently administer medications, narcotics and other medicine to inmates. This happens daily, even though none of the guards have formal training on handling these medications, and I am wondering if this causes the Minister any concern, and what this practice does to the GNWT’s liability. Thank you.

Debates of , (day 14)

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I do appreciate the Minister’s comments. I know it’s a tough balancing act that he finds himself in and it’s not an enviable position. I know he was on this side of the House in the last government and he does know what it’s like, so I do appreciate the time he’s spending on this. I mentioned this before but the government really has to learn how to say no, no to some of these groups that come forward. During the last sitting of this House, we were discussing the early childhood funding and that was almost $1 million. I remember the Minister standing up saying we...

Debates of , (day 14)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Premier and it is in regard to the statement that was issued by Minister Zoe earlier in today’s proceedings. This prefaced my question, being of Maritime decent I did take quite an issue with the statements that were supposedly made that night at the Legion. It causes me a great deal of concern. Mr. Zoe, to his credit, came to see me. We had a good discussion. What I am hearing from the Premier today, Mr. Speaker, is he is confident in Mr. Zoe’s ability to not let this type of incident take place again. Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the...