Great Slave

Statements in Debates

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 30)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I’d like to talk a little bit about the environment and the consumer. There’s little to no question that global warming is a reality. Permafrost is melting, carbon emissions are up, greenhouse gases are all over the place. There’s a lot we’re doing in this government to help, but more can be done. I’d like to applaud ENR for their support of the Arctic Energy Alliance rebates for vehicles and other high-energy-use equipment and machines. But it’s time for us to think about other areas where we can really be working on reducing emissions.

I’ve been doing a little...

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 30)

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Mr. Ramsay.

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 24)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Once again that all sounds great. Unfortunately, it also sounds like you're going to be doing to the voluntary sector what you're occasionally doing to us, which is telling them what you're going to do, rather than working with them.

Volunteer NWT is a central organization, a champion for all these groups, and would be a great group to engage and involve in conversation to help set a direction that's going to be acceptable to all the groups that are out there.

If you're not going to give them money, will you at least meet with Volunteer NWT and find some way to engage the...

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 24)

Where that is actually true, in the past, is the feds had provided money. The feds, in their wisdom, had actually cut the money last year, and the GNWT stood up and helped support the voluntary sector through the Volunteer NWT. Regardless of whether the feds are doing it or not, they play an incredibly important role in the Northwest Territories, which has clearly been acknowledged through our strategic plan.

I'd like to ask the Minister to commit to meeting with Volunteer NWT and working out some form of financial arrangement that will help them sustain their existence and continue to do the...

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 24)

Today is a sad day for the voluntary sector and non-governmental organizations in the Northwest Territories. As of yesterday, due to lack of GNWT funding and support, Volunteer NWT had to close their doors.

Volunteer NWT has been a champion for the voluntary sector, which includes volunteer organizations as well as NGOs, by promoting and supporting this sector. They have worked towards increasing the number of Northerners helping out, providing communities and organizations with the tools to increase volunteerism, and setting up a formal network to support the long-term goals and work of...

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 24)

Mr. Chair, I’m now slightly confused. I thought the revenue summary, the grant-in-kind mentioned on page 5-10…. I thought the Minister said that that was the Rockhill grant, whereas on 5-18, the $260,000 is the Rockhill grant. So I’m just a little confused. The number you mentioned before — that $510,000 that disappeared — doesn’t seem consistent with this $260,000. So if you can help me understand that, that’d be great.

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 24)

Thank you for that information, Mr. Minister. I’m curious, given that…. I may have misunderstood, so just bear with me. With these additional tables, if you’re going to be going for a forced growth in ’09–10, and we’re already…. April, May, June — three months into this fiscal year, and by the time we give the employees their notice, we’ll be halfway through the fiscal year. So they’ll be gone after halfway through the fiscal year is up, and then we’ll be looking at bringing back people to do similar jobs at the beginning of ’09–10. Does laying off the individuals now make much sense if we...

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 24)

I’m good.

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 24)

I'm quite happy to hear that the department is willing to work with the sector. I think that's great. It's great that they understand the value and hope to work with, but on the other side, they turn around and say, “But we're not giving you any money.”

The sector actually has gone out and has found some money. I indicated it in my Member's statement. They also have a great relationship with Sport North, which helps them with some infrastructure and whatnot. So they still do require some operating funds from time to time. As an example, the board consists of members from all over the Northwest...

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 24)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are in follow-up to my Member's statement on the end of operations of Volunteer NWT.

Given that the voluntary sector is a key player in helping us develop and maintain healthy communities, I was sad to hear that Volunteer NWT, which is a champion for the sector, is shutting down operations due to limited and/or no funding from the GNWT. In the past the GNWT has supported them and has provided some funding. Now it appears that they've cut them completely off.

My question is to the Minister responsible for Municipal and Community Affairs. I'm curious...