Glen Abernethy

Thank you. Those are the 2008-2009 numbers, I believe. Are the numbers fairly consistent for the 2009-10 fiscal year and do we have some sort of projections on where enrolments are going to be going over the next, say, four or five years? Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, this will require individuals to ask hard and, occasionally, controversial questions. For the sake of the children and their quality of education, I’m willing to ask these hard questions so that the relevant information can be collected and help decision-makers make informed and responsible decisions. Mr. Speaker, I will continue to encourage this government to think outside the box and challenge the status quo. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Wednesday, June 3, 2009, I will move the following motion: Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, that this Legislative Assembly hereby establish a special committee to conduct a review of the Child and Family Services Act; and further, that the following Members be named to the special committee: the Member for Great Slave, Mr. Abernethy; the Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Beaulieu; and the Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko; and further, that notwithstanding Rule 88(2), the following Members be...

I’d like to thank the Premier for that and I look forward to working with the Premier and Cabinet as they move forward on this particular topic. In relation to that, I’m curious who will make the final decision to merge with ATCO or not merge with ATCO to run the Power Corporation and when does the Premier anticipate a decision will be made? Will it be made by Cabinet, the decision itself, or will it be done by the Legislature as a whole? If it is done by the Legislature as a whole, how will that be determined or how will that direction be set? Will it be by way of a vote in this Legislature...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the Minister responsible for the NWT Power Corporation. Possibly with the exception of employees of the Power Corporation, as outlined by my colleague Mrs. Groenewegen, many residents of the Northwest Territories are still curious about the content of the unsolicited ATCO proposal. Specifically, what are the details? The people really want to know. When will the Premier be sharing the details of the proposal with the people of the Northwest Territories, who are ultimately the owners of the Power Corporation? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and once again, thanks to the Premier to that. I know it’s a long way off, but once a tentative decision is made, regardless of what that decision is, whether we merge or we don’t merge, will there be public meetings to discuss the GNWT’s position and obtain input and recommendations from all the owners of the Power Corporation, all the people of the Northwest Territories, prior to any irreversible decision being made? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I’d like to thank the Premier for that. He kind of went into some aspects of the second question I want to ask, which is although there has been some information out there and there’s been a lot of press coverage on this topic, people are still confused about the review itself and the timelines that we’ll be moving forward with. Could the Premier tell me when will a more comprehensive outline and a timeline of the review of the unsolicited ATCO proposal be made public? Thank you, Mr. Speaker

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, last Friday the Union of Northern Workers and the Public Service Alliance of Canada held a demonstration outside of this Legislature in opposition of the sale of the NWT Power Corporation to ATCO. They are very clear: The NWT Power Corporation is owned by all residents of the Northwest Territories. It’s our asset and it must remain a public asset. I agree with them.

History has shown that selling public power corporations to private interest has not resulted in lower power rates for residents over the long term. Just look at the results of the sale of the...

I think it’s fair to reference the 107 days. It has been four months since the motion passed and nothing has been brought to committee. I think it’s very important that it does come to committee because, as the Minister said, she wanted to get input from the standing committee. I’m happy to hear that a letter has been sent, but still it sounds like the Minister is moving ahead with some of these things and no information has been shared and no input has been gathered. So before the Minister moves forward with these committees and whatnot that she’s making reference to, will she commit to...

Regardless of the direction this government is taking, the people of the NWT deserve to know what that direction will be. The Minister must live up to her commitment to provide a framework. The Minister must remove the uncertainty that the people are currently experiencing. Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time, I will be asking the Minister of Health and Social Services questions on this topic. Thank you.