Floyd Roland

As I’ve stated, with that briefing to committee, the information that we’ll be able to share on timelines, if that is one of the things we need to nail down is that process and information available to share at that time, I’m sure the Ministers will be prepared to do that.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It gives me pleasure to introduce in our gallery Ms. Rose McConville, office manager of the Department of Aboriginal Affairs and Intergovernmental Relations from our Ottawa office. Welcome.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, under Mr. Miltenberger’s point of order, he stood here and he used Rule 23(h) and 23(k). As we’ve heard some discussion on this point of order, things are said at times in this House, whether it’s in the heat of the moment that things are said and upon reflection, as Member Bromley has done, has accepted that he provided information in a form that has caused this point of order.

Mr. Speaker, the issue is -- and I believe Member Groenewegen has touched on this a bit -- at times things are said in this House and if we all decided to use points of order, we...

Again, the Food Mail Program is a federal program that we’ve become involved in in the sense of trying to come up with a coordinated approach from our side to the federal government. They have their hand on this. We’ll continue to pursue that from our side for any changes and so on. Again, we would have to work with those that have presented their case as well, to see what or how we can influence the federal government in making the necessary changes.

It’s always been a challenge for the Government of the Northwest Territories to have a competitive environment when it comes to our employees in our more remote communities as well as in our larger centres when the economy is heated. For us, as we go forward, it is something that is taken into consideration when the negotiation cycles come into place and that is something that we have discussions on with unions as well as we go forward. I’ll commit to getting the information from the Minister to the Member on how the northern allowance process works and the ranges that are in place for our...

Indeed we know that any changes to our electrical structure rates and regulations will have an impact on the people we represent. We must have that discussion in this forum so that we know they are all aware of what the plan is and how we plan to move forward. There is a commitment that we will have that debate here. The Minister responsible will be providing further information on timelines. As I stated, if everything goes as we’ve anticipated, and the discussions and final plans are put in place, we could see changes going forward as soon as the next winter cycle.

The response that we’re working on will have to come forward here. Any structural change to the way the rates are set up will have to come through this Assembly. There will have to be a debate. As I stated, the timing right now is looking at probably our spring session as an opportunity, but we’re hoping that if all goes well, that we could be looking at changes, if this Assembly agrees to them, before the next winter season hits us.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to advise Members that the Honourable Bob McLeod will be absent from the House today to attend promotional events related to the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Members for bringing this forward as we dealt with some questions in the House yesterday around the anti-poverty issue in the Northwest Territories. The Members have followed up with this motion. We as the Government of the Northwest Territories are doing what we can in the way we have been and realize there is room for improvement in building and working with our partners across the North. There are significant areas that we do invest in as the Government of the Northwest Territories, and Member Bromley pointed out that while we do expend a significant...

We are involved in that review to a certain extent. It is a federal program but we have our commitment to stay involved and track it. We have offered suggestions and worked with the leaders that see this program and are involved and have requested changes. We’re staying committed to following it through to see what changes the federal government may bring forward.