David Ramsay

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’m going to utilize my Member’s statement today to comment on the financial reality that the Government of the Northwest Territories finds itself in. Mr. Speaker, let’s go back five short years ago to a time when the NWT included the territory of Nunavut. The territorial budget at that time was approximately $1 billion. April 1st, 1999, brought us the creation of the territory of Nunavut. The NWT budget, five short years later for 2004-2005, is just shy of $1 billion. To me, this sets off many alarm bells, Mr. Speaker. Five years later and the budget is...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wasn't going to ask this one additional question, but I'll rise and ask one more question. How many apprenticeship officers does this government have to service the residents of the Northwest Territories? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thanks to the Minister for the response. The first thing I'd like to say is that folks who are in the trades program have to leave the North and go to school. Maybe sometimes it's Fort Smith and other times it's Edmonton or Calgary. When they leave the North, they're on their own for the two months while they're away. They don't get paid for the two months while they're away.

Mr. Speaker, I'm wondering why the trades are different. Why can't apprentices in the Northwest Territories access our student financial assistance program to make sure that they have the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I guess the final supplementary that I have is can I get a commitment from the Minister that he will look at putting trades on par with other post-secondary pursuits of individuals in the Northwest Territories so that everybody is on an equal footing in terms of access to financial resources? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to today ask the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment some questions around a comment that he made in an article that appeared in the Yellowknifer on Wednesday, February 4, 2004. The Minister comments on how the opportunity for all people in the North is at an unprecedented high rate with the demands for qualified, skilled trades people increasing here and throughout Canada. During that first week of February, Mr. Speaker, I had the honour of attending the Apprenticeship and Certification Week Awards ceremony here in the Great Hall of the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thanks for that, Mr. Minister. I'm wondering if the Department of Justice recognizes this as an area of great concern and perhaps the Minister can address that question. I know it's an area of concern. I've heard from a number of constituents and a number of individuals that it is a concern, and I'd like to hear from the Minister that it's a concern of this government: the instances of extended periods of leave at YCC in particular. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions today are going to be directed at the Minister of Justice and they centre around the issue of staff morale at the Yellowknife Correctional Centre. It's something the Minister is aware of; I spoke with him before about this issue. I know yesterday, my colleague, the Member for Range Lake, had questioned the government action towards the arbitration decision that was handed down last week, and I echo her sentiments exactly, that I think the government should do the right thing. Whether or not that improves the morale at the Correctional...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my written questions today are for the Minister of Justice who has left us, but I will put them on record anyway.

1.

Have exit interviews been granted for employees leaving the Yellowknife Correctional Centre over the past 17 months? If so, what percentage does this represent?

2.

How do the instances of extended leaves of absences at the Yellowknife Correctional Centre compare with other sections of the Department of Justice?

3.

Can the Minister provide the raw data on extended leave for the Department of Justice? How does this compare to other government...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A supplementary question to the Minister of Justice, and I can understand where the government is coming from with this, but I find it hard to believe that the raw data can't be provided. If it can't be provided for YCC, perhaps raw data from department to department. I find in today's day and age of PeopleSoft that the Minister and the government can't come up with some raw figures at the very least, and I question the Minister again whether or not I could get access to raw data, figures of extended periods of leave for the Department of Justice as compared to the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to use my Member’s statement today to recognize the appointment of Mr. Jackson Lafferty and Dr. Yacub Adam to the Aurora College Board of Governors.

Mr. Lafferty is a constituent of mine. He’s a member of the Dogrib Nation and has played a number of leadership roles in the Dogrib region. Mr. Lafferty has long had an interest in advancing the NWT post-secondary education system’s ability to prepare people for new economic opportunities, something this government must pay strict attention to. I would like to wish both men well in their roles with the Aurora...