Inuvik Boot Lake

Statements in Debates

Debates of , (day 2)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as Members are aware, the contracts that are being signed are not from the Government of the Northwest Territories; they are through the Deh Cho Bridge Corporation group as well as potential constructors of the bridge. There has been, from the work that was done previously, we know that there's a commitment to start some of the early earthwork process. But ultimately, no contracts or, from our government side, no liability is being held until we know, for example, they get the permits from the federal government as well as get an agreement on the final...

Debates of , (day 2)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have committed that once the assignment of portfolios is done, the appropriate Ministers will get up to speed on the particulars within their departments and be prepared to sit down with Members to come up with where things are and answer those questions. When we come back for our next sitting, we will have that information available as to where things are today. More importantly, we need to sit down together as 19 Members to come up with where we think we should be as the 16th Legislative Assembly and that work needs to be done, as well. Thank you.

Debates of , (day 2)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as we talk about accountability and transparency for the government, we're going to set high standards. But those high standards also have to be met with organizations that receive funding. When they know budgets are planned at the beginning of the year, they're going to have to work within that environment as well as we have to work within ours. I commit, as Premier of the Northwest Territories of the 16th Assembly, as your Premier, I will work with you to make sure we come up with the best possible solution to ensure that those most in need in the...

Debates of , (day 2)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as well, I would like to thank the Members for bringing this forward. I believe it’s something we all have to live by and as we heard already, it’s not only saying the words, but it’s going to be living the words in the example we set to those who watch us and have given us the privilege of serving them in this institution. So I want to say I support this and I expect that as Members of the 16th Legislative Assembly, we are going to be showing people and walking the talk, so to speak, that we are going to live by what we said and that means there are times...

Debates of , (day 2)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the challenge will be -- and I fully expect we are going to be held accountable on the information we share with Members -- if it’s seen as only high level or it’s seen as a lot of information but really of no worth. So I am committing to work with Members and provide absolutely the best information we can. Of course, we have parameters around how we can operate. I am going to commit to you and Members of this Assembly to share the information that is necessary to make sure we make good decisions for residents of the Northwest Territories. The parameter...

Debates of , (day 2)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the fact is, the GNWT, as we have contracts and contribution agreements with every organization out there, there's annual funding put in place. Nobody is stopping that flow of funding to happen with the agreements that we do have in place, so we're going to continue to meet that commitment that is put in place. But as we establish, as I go through this work of establishing the portfolios with the different Ministers, those tasks will be looked at and working with Members of this House to come up with the appropriate balance.

The problem is, I've found in...

Debates of , (day 2)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in any design we move forward on, looking at the development of the Northwest Territories and environmental impact and footprint is considered as we proceed. Right now, the bridge design that’s been put in place does not have a train trestle as part of it. That would definitely increase the cost and bring back the question of affordability of the project. Thank you.

Debates of , (day 2)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, first and foremost, I must apologize to the seniors of the Northwest Territories. I use the term old folks and that is one I grew up with in the community of Inuvik, so I must apologize. Properly, it is seniors of the Northwest Territories. So with that, the question about the discrimination or the balance, I believe we do have to look at where we are. Ultimately, throughout the Northwest Territories and, in fact, it is quite a coincidental question because the alignment of income support and Housing Program was trying to make a level playing field for...

Debates of , (day 2)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, all Members on this side of the House will have a large workload. I have to take into consideration the skill level, the interest in particular areas and how they can work together to ensure we are delivering it and doing it in an efficient way. So that’s going to be taken into the equation. As well, I will look at the seniority of Members, their experience and what they can bring to the table. But every Member on this side of the House will have some heavy lifting to do over the next four years. Thank you.

---Applause

Debates of , (day 2)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the fact is, that is another good question that we are going to have to look at as a new Government of the Northwest Territories. The challenge is how do we come up with the right balance? The Member is right in saying that anybody in public housing, a senior has no rent to pay but a senior who is in an old folks’ home, for example, pays rent, pays a significant amount of rent as well as anybody who is in a level of care that requires other supports from the Government of the Northwest Territories. So somebody who is in a long-term care home, for...