Floyd Roland

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I understand this did go out yesterday. It may be on the Legislative Assembly website. Is the question it didn’t go out through the Messenger which goes to every employee’s e-mail? Is that the question? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as the lead Minister on the Building Canada Fund has prepared the information for Members and had discussions with them, we’re going to work with our existing arrangement that we have in place. For example, right now the federal government is looking for an announcement, an assignment of a framework that would highlight the first project or two that we’d be prepared to move on, meeting their criteria. We would then, because the money is a seven-year funding agreement, sit down with Members and, as highlighted, we’re intending to go forward with an...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Member is referencing leveraged areas. Is that debt that we would have on our books through a number of other corporations? We put all of our information together that would impact our fiscal framework. We will put all of the pieces together and be prepared to share that with Members. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I don’t have a musical note in my body. I don’t know if it will sound like music, but, as I said in the sessional statement, the environment will play a huge role in the Northwest Territories in how we proceed, whether it is the environment in this Assembly, our people, our children, the land, the water. Like I said in my speech when I sought this position, my father walked this land; he lived on this land; it provided for him and he is now part of this land. I intend to be a part of this land as well as raising my family, so we do need a healthy environment to do...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I wasn’t intending to respond to comments. I’ll give all Members opportunity to speak towards this sessional statement, then maybe I can also speak at the end of that process. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I thank the Members for making their comments on this. A number of comments saying they would liked to have seen more to this. Purposely it was as it was because we have yet to complete the work of the 16th Assembly and in the spirit of working together, I felt, and my Cabinet colleagues felt, it wouldn’t be appropriate if we started to say this is where we think we need to go. We do realize there are 11 votes on the other side of the floor that has a significant impact on us in the decision-making we make. We are 19 Members of the 16th Legislative...

No, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I committed to working with the Member, and Members of this Assembly, and organizations, we can also use the work that’s been done through Municipal and Community Affairs with communities across the Northwest Territories. So I’m prepared to sit down and look at what options are available to us. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the fact is, across the North and in many of our communities, it is an ongoing challenge to have staff in all of our positions that are available. We do look for opportunities and options that may be available to us. So I would be prepared to work with Members of this Assembly to see what avenues we may be able to look at to try to lighten that area or relieve the workload or put people in places. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Pursuant to section 32.1(2) of the Financial Administration Act, I wish to table the following document entitled Interactivity Transfers Exceeding $250,000 for the Period April 1st, 2007, to September 30th, 2007. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.