David Ramsay

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Work does continue in that area. We have an application into CanNor, seeking some funding to allow us to continue to look at the best possible way to rebate or provide grants. Tax incentives obviously aren’t going to work here, are deemed not to be the best option. So we need to look at other options to attract more of the film industry and filming to take place here in the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’ve been Justice Minister now for just over a week and I have yet to be fully briefed by the RCMP on the situation of detachments around the Northwest Territories. But with the community of Tsiigehtchic, I know that the RCMP is working with the community on the idea of getting accommodations in the community for RCMP members that are travelling in from Fort McPherson, which could have RCMP members staying in the community for up to eight days a month, which certainly improves the situation currently.

We’re also looking at RCMP community officers in Tsiigehtchic, as well...

Thank you. Like I mentioned, it’s an area that we don’t cover off currently. It was highlighted in the Economic Opportunities Strategy as well. Again, by working with Justice, Health and Social Services and ITI, and also perhaps ENR, we can look at a way to address that segment of the population the Member speaks of and get some programming for those individuals as well. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following two documents, entitled 2012-2013 Grants and Contributions Results Report, and Government of the Northwest Territories Contracts Over $5,000 Report for the Fiscal Year Ending March 31, 2013. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Maybe just a sentence at the end saying we would refer whether or not the 18th Legislative Assembly could propose changes or this Assembly could propose changes to the EBC Act to have the next government, which would be the 18th Legislative Assembly strike an Electoral Boundaries Commission as opposed to the 19th Legislative Assembly. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Again, I just wanted to mention one item and that is that some Members believe that the commission did not take into consideration language, culture, history, land claim and self-government agreements. Under all scenarios, the commission did just that. Again, for the public’s perspective, I just want the public to know that that was taken into consideration. Some Members believe it wasn’t. It was, Madam Chair. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. It’s a privilege to have the opportunity to provide some comments in relation to the Electoral Boundaries Commission. I just wanted to start off by saying, first and foremost, I don’t think we need any more politicians to represent the people in the Northwest Territories. I think 19 is very good. I’ve been here for almost a decade and the scenario that we have today is a workable one, it’s a manageable one.

Some Members are talking about the cost and that certainly is a factor in all of this, but I want to make one other thing clear. That is that I wouldn’t...

Thank you, Madam Chair. I move that Committee Motion 3-17(5) be amended by adding the following after the words “to make the final recommendations of electoral boundaries commissions binding”:

“; and to require the establishment of an Electoral Boundaries Commission during the 18th Legislative Assembly.”

Thank you, Madam Chair. I certainly will be supporting the motion that is before us here today. I agree with Minister Abernethy on this and others that have spoken about taking the politics out of this. I think we really need to do that and find a way and process that will enable that to happen. This motion certainly does that.

We had a very close vote today on the findings of the Electoral Boundaries Commission. I think if I could, I’d like to make an amendment to the motion. It’s just something that I think has to happen. I think eight years is too long for the House to wait for another...

Thank you, Madam Chair. I just wanted to comment on the motion. As a member of the Board of Management, I don’t want the public out there thinking that the government sent the Electoral Boundaries Commission out without giving it some guiding principles. I think, first and foremost, the commission subscribed to some general principles. Voter parity was obviously the goal, where possible. Where voter parity wasn’t practicable, and there were significant community of interest considerations present, deviations from voter parity could be justified provided that effective representation wouldn’t...