Inuvik Boot Lake

Statements in Debates

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 20)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On May 28, 29 and 30 I attended the 2008 Western Premiers’ Conference in Prince Albert Saskatchewan. As I stated in my Budget Address, I intended to focus my attention on delivering the message of our territory and our people to those that need to hear it. The Northwest Territories had the full attention of western Premiers and succeeded in getting their support for issues important to us.

The Premiers from British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Nunavut and the NWT, along with the Deputy Premier from the Yukon, talked about the strength of the western economy...

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 20)

We are a part of that. The Premier of British Columbia, Mr. Campbell, has initiated that work. It started off in January with the conference on climate change. Again, other jurisdictions are working with their leaders and coming up with initiatives and sharing some of the work that’s been done. For ourselves, from a territorial point of view working with other northern Premiers, coming up with our piece of that work, we are plugged into that process.

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 20)

There was much discussion amongst Premiers about the initiatives of other jurisdictions. Of course, the media was very interested in what was happening in B.C. as well as in Quebec and Alberta. I was asked as well about our stance on it, and I did inform them that we were preparing to go out to the public on a tax initiative process for review and then see what initiatives would come back to this House.

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 20)

We haven’t changed the convention or rule of the Legislative Assembly. From time to time Members have, when it’s a motion in the House that affects their constituencies, spoken to it. It’s not been a very common occurrence, but there is no convention or rule that says that won’t be done. If there’s a need for further clarification, we’re prepared to sit down and have that discussion.

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 20)

We know for a fact that Members that become Ministers are somewhat tied down to a process — what they can do — in trying to work on behalf of their constituency. But there’s still an avenue for Members to address issues in the House, whether it’s through Members’ statements or speaking to motions that may come up from time to time. We generally vet that to see where that may go and would reflect on that as we come out in the discussion.

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 20)

I’d be more than prepared to have a look at their work and what it entails. Just for the record, I don’t believe every manager gets performance pay in the Northwest Territories. I understand there’s a process, and it’s limited. We’re undertaking that review to have a look at how it’s been done in the past, and we’ll be prepared to take a look at what the federal government is doing going forward as well.

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 20)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The issue of bonuses or performance pay is under review right now. We are looking at it. I don’t believe any departments have paid any out, and there hasn’t been any paid out at this point to deputies.

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 20)

Whether I agree or disagree with the Member on the World Wildlife Fund and about who makes up that body, who gets appointed from time to time or who gets put on a contract, the fact is they made a request of the federal government that has a direct impact. In fact, if you look at what the Inuvialuit did, a part of the Arctic Council as well.... They’re dissatisfied with that result. You heard another Member in this House say something similar. The fact is we need to make those decisions in the North, not have lobby groups ask another government to make decisions that impact our lives.

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 20)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m aware they do work in a number of initiatives with the government. The simple fact is we also disagree with some of what they say in the Territories, this one being the case.

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 20)

Mr. Speaker, we are invited to be a part of that group that goes down there. Right now I believe it is only the western Premiers from southern Canada that are going down there. I’m not aware of the northern Premiers attending. For myself, I’ve had to look at the dates that would conflict with that. At this point the calendar hasn’t changed, so I would not be attending that, though the option was there for me to be there.