Jackie Jacobson

Good morning, colleagues. Colleagues, I’d like to draw your attention to the presence of the Honourary Clerk, former Clerk of the Legislative Assembly, Mr. David Hamilton.

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For over two decades he guided the Assembly through many of its most important changes including division of the territory in 1999. He was the Clerk who oversaw the building of the House where we are sitting here today. I don’t know if any of us can imagine what a huge task it would have been. It’s very fitting that he’s here to celebrate our 20th anniversary. We welcome you back to the Chamber, Mr. Hamilton. Thank...

Good afternoon, colleagues. I would like to draw your attention to the presence at the table of our Honourary Clerk, Mr. Anthony W.J. Whitford. He’s celebrating the 25th anniversary of his election in this House. On behalf of all Members, thank you for joining us here today, Tony.

Good afternoon, colleagues. I wish to give my ruling on the point of order raised by Mr. Miltenberger on October 24, 2013, with respect to comments made by Mr. Hawkins on the previous day. I would like to thank all Members who spoke to the point of order.

Mr. Miltenberger’s point of order was on the content, volume and tone of Mr. Hawkins’ comments in his oral questions to Mr. Beaulieu on October 23rd violated Rule 23(k) as insulting and abusive language, and 23(l) as speaking disrespectfully of any Member.

Mrs. Groenewegen, in speaking to the point of order, said, at page 3 of unedited Hansard...

Yes, I do, Mr. Chair. I am pleased to present the 2014-2015 Capital Estimates of the Legislative Assembly. I want to thank the Board of Management of the Assembly for assisting me to develop the budget.

The Legislative Assembly is seeking funding this year of $329,000 for two projects. The first is a replacement of our telephone system, which is about 15 years old and starting to have more issues as time goes on. We can keep it going for a short term, but it does need to be replaced as soon as possible.

The second project is some signage on our roadway. Every year we have a lot of tourists that...

I do, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. We have been having some issues with the phone lines being crossed through individuals, Members talking with constituents and somebody picking up the phone and somebody able to listen to conversations. So we have really been having issues with that. We’ve put a notice out to the Members that we are going to change the phone lines as soon as possible. As for a timeline, maybe I’ll get Mr. Ouellette to answer that.

Mr. Chair, to my left I have Mr. Ouellette. To my right I have the Clerk of the House, Ms. Colette Langlois.

Good afternoon, colleagues. Colleagues, I will now provide my ruling on the point of privilege raised by Ms. Bisaro on October 21, 2013, with respect to comments made by Mr. Menicoche on Friday, October 18th, on the capital plan. The Speaker’s role when a point of privilege has been raised is to determine whether the matter was raised at the earliest opportunity, and whether on the face of it a breach of privilege has occurred.

I do find that the point was raised at the earliest opportunity.

A breach of privilege occurs when individual Members are obstructed in the performance of their duties...

Good afternoon, colleagues. Today, before we get started, I’d like to pay tribute to my wife’s grandmother, who passed away this past summer. I’m reading her eulogy.

Delia Bourke, nee Cardinal, was born outside Fort Chipewyan in the area known as Ambarass Portage in the winter of 1926. Her parents, Jean-Baptiste and Mary Adelle Cardinal, resided in Ambarass Portage in the spring and winter months while working on their trapline. The remainder of the time was spent living in Fort Chipewyan, where they raised 14 kids while they fished and lived a traditional way of life on the land.

Delia was the...

Good afternoon, colleagues. Before we start today I’d really like to wish a happy birthday to one of my elders back in my home community of Tuktoyaktuk, Persis Gruben. Her birthday is on Sunday, the 20th, and she’s 95 years old.

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I was speaking with her daughter-in-law last night, and in this day and age for our elders to live this long is a blessing to us. I’m sure she’s seen many changes in her lifetime from dog team to trucks to planes, from telephones to cell phones and computers. Just yesterday she was on FaceTime with her daughter-in-law and she couldn’t believe the technology.

H...