Glen Abernethy

I have a suggestion for the Minister responsible for Industry, Tourism and Investment. I recognize that red tape is not the creation of the Northwest Territories and that local, community and city governments, as well as the federal government, also contribute to the load. However, as the territorial government, we have the ability to contribute to solutions to help reduce the overall red-tape load. During question period today I will be asking the Minister to consider working with organizations such as the NWT Chamber of Commerce and NABA to conduct research on red-tape burns on our local...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In early October I attended the Prospects North Conference organized by the NWT Chamber of Commerce here in Yellowknife. It was a great opportunity to meet with and talk to businesses in the North and organizations interested in doing business here in the North. There was a lot of talk during the conference about resource extraction projects in the Northwest Territories.

Big projects are important, as they bring new money into the Northwest Territories, and I welcome them on the right environmental and social terms. These opportunities continue to be important and must...

I move that we report progress.

---Carried

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just for the record, this Liquor Act came into force on October 30, 2008. Prior to this act coming into place, did peace officers who obtain a warrant have the ability to seize prior to that point under the old legislation?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to thank my colleague Mr. Hawkins.

The Standing Committee on Government Operations recommends that the Department of Education, Culture and Employment review both the aboriginal language and culture-based education directive and the inclusive schooling directive in order to identify the strengths and weaknesses of both initiatives.

The Standing Committee on Government Operations recommends that the Department of Education, Culture and Employment report performance according to major categories such as education council, ethnicity and gender, with a recognition...

Mr. Speaker, I am really happy to hear that. I would like to go back to the Minister’s first response, where he was talking about reducing some of the red tape. I appreciate everything he was saying, but we are in that reality today. The red tape exists today and every day that it continues to exist, businesses continue to struggle. Frankly, I want small and medium-sized businesses to succeed in Yellowknife. I want them in small communities. I want them to offer employment in small communities. Every second counts. When can we expect to see some progress on this? When can the Minister commit...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment and follow along with my Member’s statement today. I talked about red tape and the existence of red tape. We know we can’t eliminate red tape and I’m not talking about the red tape as a result of legislative requirements, but there is lots of extra red tape that comes out of policies and procedures. It is not all GNWT, but I think we have an opportunity here to work with NABA and the NWT Chamber of Commerce to identify what the real burden is. I am asking the Minister today if he can work with...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

Okay, so following along my colleague’s line there, so what the department is proposing, and I support, is first insurance, then if you still have some costs, then our existing Supplementary Health Program, which includes costs for catastrophic costs if you have a catastrophic condition. You can still access that program today; we’re just asking you to help us help you by utilizing your insurance first. Is that correct? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just to the Minister’s last comment with the supplementary or extended health benefits, “there’s no need for a Catastrophic Drug Program.” I’m not sure if I understand what the Minister means by that. Can she explain that to me? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.