Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, would like to just make a few comments today on the subject of devolution and the agreement, the signing ceremony that took place here on the floor of this Chamber yesterday.

Devolution, we all know, has taken many, many years to get to the point to where it is today. As we have gone through different Ministers of Indian Affairs and Aboriginal Affairs over the years, the game has changed. We have come close to having agreements in the past, but these agreements were able to be vetoed by a minority of participants and they were taken off the table.

When the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the Premier knows, Hay River has a very long-established business community, the private sector. We have many multi-generational businesses in Hay River. I’m sure that if the government put out a call for expressions of interest well enough in advance of some of these moves being made, I can assure the Premier that he would get a very favourable response. The government would get a very favourable response to that, with some lead time. I’d like to ask the Premier if that’s an opportunity that could be employed by this government, to give people lead time to create...

Mr. Speaker, would the Premier concur that when we are setting up jobs or activities that are now conducted by the federal government and we are setting up for the Northwest Territories, that it may be simpler to hire people to where they are going, as opposed to trying to move people from where they’re already established and have their children schooled? Is this a window of opportunity now that when we are recruiting people, to have them actually go to where those jobs will be? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d also like to welcome the Avalon team here today. They are very involved in Mr. Bromley’s riding. They’re also very involved and going to be very involved in my riding.

I’d also like to recognize my constituency assistant, Ms. Wendy Morgan.

Mr. Speaker, we seem to have tens of millions of dollars as a government to put into big projects. This is a small project. Pardon the pun, but this is a grassroots project, which is very hinged on the proponents who have a passion for sustainable work, and jobs, and endeavours that are completely doable and renewable within our territory. I appreciate the ADM taking the time to meet with the proponents from Hay River recently. I appreciate the Minister’s support, but I don’t want this to get weighed down in the bureaucracy, and I’d like the Minister’s support that he will steer this proposal...

Thank you, Mr. Moses. Just before I go back to Mr. Blake, speaking of who is cool and who isn’t cool, I will recognize my husband in the gallery here today.

---Applause

He’s cool. Next I’ll have Mr. Bromley.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Minister Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Dolynny. Minister Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d also like to welcome Melody McLeod because she is much more than Mrs. Premier, Mrs. McLeod has been involved in Metis politics, she’s very involved in the Catholic Church as a lay leader and has contributed much to the Northwest Territories in and of her own right. Thank you.

I’m sorry. I hope my comments didn’t discourage you from continuing. I have Mr. Moses next.