David Ramsay

Thank you. Work continues, again, in this area. It’s something we feel very strongly about. Obviously, it was highlighted, as well, in the Economic Opportunities Strategy. Last year we provided $114,000 to 12 recipients to help with film projects here in the NWT through our SEED program.

As we move forward, it is very important that we ensure that we get this right. We can’t just automatically create a program. We need to find where we fit in the scheme of things in providing rebates or incentives to get filming taking place here in the Northwest Territories. We’ve had some great success. We...

Thank you. As I highlighted in my previous response, that is something that the Department of Justice and the RCMP are currently working on to help address the needs in Tsiigehtchic. Thank you.

Thank you. Time will be very tight and I don’t want to get expectations up, but certainly I will discuss this idea, this option with folks at ITI and at Justice. I know the Ministers are listening, as well, to the Member’s concerns. Whether or not we can actually get something up and running for the business plans that are coming up, that remains to be seen. I don’t want to make any promises I can’t keep, but I’ll certainly take the idea and try to do something with it. 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. 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...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Thursday, November 7, 2013, I will move the following motion: Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, that pursuant to Section 15 of the Official Languages Act of the Northwest Territories, Snookie Henrietta Catholique of Yellowknife be appointed as Languages Commissioner;

And further, that the appointment be effective December 1, 2013.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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.