Glen Abernethy

Mr. Speaker, the 2008 Arctic Winter Games are rapidly approaching. We have roughly three weeks before athletes begin to descend upon Yellowknife and the N.W.T. By all accounts these games are going to be huge and will be good for the city of Yellowknife and the N.W.T. as a whole.

To make these games a success, it’s going to take a significant amount of time and effort from all parties: the Arctic Winter Games staff, the city of Yellowknife, the G.N.W.T., the many sponsors and, most importantly, the volunteers. In fact, to run the games approximately 2,500 volunteers will be required.

To ensure...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just wanted to sort of identify one thing that I thought I was missing. I agree with pretty much everything that Bob and Dave have been saying. I thought the statement was good.

But to me, in listening to it and reading through it again, the one thing that was missing to me was reference and/or conversation around the voluntary sector. You’ve heard me talking about it before; you’ll hear me talking about it again. The voluntary sector, in my opinion, is clearly one area where we can add a significant amount of value to the residents of the Northwest Territories. It...

I recently received a list of concerns from a constituent on the Energy Efficiency Incentive Program with a specific focus on the rebates available for hybrid vehicles. In principle, the program delivered by the Energy Alliance on behalf of the G.N.W.T. is a really good program.

The primary intent of the program is to help residents of the N.W.T. reduce their energy costs; however, with any new program there are some hurdles that become obvious during its implementation. In the case of this program, one of the difficulties, in my opinion, is that it limits choice. For example, the program is...

My questions today are directed to the Minister Responsible for Environment and Natural Resources.

As discussed in my Member’s statement, I was talking about the Energy Efficiency Incentive Program, with specific reference to the rebate available for hybrid vehicles.

In my opinion, the intent is good. The intent of the program is to help residents reduce their energy costs and, at the same time, reduce greenhouse gases. Unfortunately, it’s a new program, and there are some limitations. It does limit our residents’ choices. In order to get the rebate, they have to buy a vehicle that's available...

In my Member’s statement I talked about morale and the $135 million in budget reductions. Since the announcement has come out from the Premier that there will be $135 million in reductions and staff cuts, we have all had staff come to us and ask us, “Is my job going to be gone tomorrow? Do I need to start looking for another job?” As indicated in my statement, I think cutting jobs is the last thing we should be doing. It should be the last course of action with respect to bringing our spending in line.

I'd like to ask the Premier to commit to work with staff and to assure them that if any job...

I’m glad to hear that. I'd still like to hear that job cuts will be a last resort and that this government will make every reasonable effort to find creative ways of reducing our spending — such as items mentioned yesterday about energy efficiency and those types of things — before job cuts.

On October 17 I asked the Premier “How will he work toward strengthening the public service and improving the morale of staff within the G.N.W.T.?” According to the unedited Hansard from October 17, the Premier indicated that “we must treat all employees — it doesn't matter at what level — with respect as...

On several occasions since I was elected, I have gone on record talking about morale in the public service. The staff of the G.N.W.T. are our most valuable resource. They’re the people who provide the essential services to all the residents in the Northwest Territories. Without a happy and motivated public service, we fail in the delivery of these essential services we are expected to deliver as a government.

Now, with this Premier’s announcement of $135 million in reductions over two years, there are waves of terror running through the public service. The continued reference from the Premier...

Once again, to the Premier, it’s great that the Deh Cho Bridge Corporation is planning to do some of those information releases, but the government is still on the dime for this to a tune of $160 million. I think we have a responsibility as a government to share some of the information with the public, because they are asking us as well.

So once again, I’d like to get the Premier to commit to developing some sort of communications plan about our role in the bridge and the costs to the residents of the Northwest Territories and Yellowknife.

I too want to recognize Todd Parsons, president of the Union of Northern Workers, and a resident of the Great Slave riding; as well as Vivian Squires, a resident of the Great Slave riding; and Lydia Bardak from city council.

I have written questions here on the G.N.W.T. public service and the N.W.T. Power Corp salaries and bonuses. My questions are for the Minister of Human Resources.

What is the average current salary of deputy ministers in the G.N.W.T. public service?

What is the average current salary of senior managers in the G.N.W.T. public service?

What is the total amount of bonuses paid to deputy ministers, senior managers and excluded employees in each of the last three fiscal years?

What is the average current salary of senior managers in the NWT Power Corporation?

What was the total amount of bonuses paid...