Jackson Lafferty

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker and colleagues. Mr. Speaker, requests forwarded to headquarters go through multiple levels of bureaucracy. Their message may change in this process. They are either delayed or sometimes lost in the system. This is not necessary and causes undue hardship, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this government should give the Tlicho region with Behchoko the same acknowledgment that it did with the Sahtu and the transfer of North Slave regional office function serving the Tlicho from Yellowknife to Behchoko.

As the Government of the Northwest Territories chooses to represent the Tlicho...

Mr. Chair, I move to report progress.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it's been an issue of the gravel road to the community of Behchoko and there was a huge concern and safety issue for the departments, I guess the executive or the senior staff to be in Behchoko, to be allocated. Anyway, I would like to ask the Premier, because that's not an excuse anymore, but if he's willing to work with us, that's good, I appreciate that. Can the Premier make a commitment in this House to add these changes, whether it be capital plans '07 or business planning, to transfer these North Slave staff to Behchoko as a regional headquarter for...

Mahsi, Chair. At this time, I wish to report progress.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. (Translation) Mr. Speaker, I’d like to question on my Member’s statement regarding revenue sharing. (Translation ends)

…stress to finalizing this important deal that we’re faced with, resource revenue sharing. It is essential we unite as one voice in the North.

Mr. Speaker, my first question was already asked by my colleague Mr. Hawkins. I will just continue with my next question. Mr. Speaker, to date, over the past 20 years how much have we spent approximately to date, just a rough figure on these negotiations with the federal government? I think the public needs to be...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. (Translation) Mr. Speaker, the issue of hearing negotiating resource revenue sharing and devolution talks between the GNWT and federal government, we're beginning to tune out the phrase. Mr. Speaker, for the past 20-plus years this government is still in negotiations, but no light yet at the end of the tunnel. We cannot wait any longer, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, with the recent cuts of $1 billion from the federal government, are we waiting patiently for another drastic cut, this time in health, education or even justice, that is high importance in our regions and NWT?

Mr...

Move the motion? Sorry. I move that we report progress.

Mahsi, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, Members wish to consider Bill 6, Engineering and Geoscience Professions Act. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize a student from St. Pat’s, my best friend and my son, Jay Lafferty.

---Applause

Mahsi, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I move that Bill 14 be amended by striking out item 12 of the appendix and substituting items 11.1 and 12 as set out in the schedule to this motion.

Madam Chair, I seek unanimous consent to have the schedule to this motion deemed read and printed in Hansard in its entirety. Mahsi.