Jane Groenewegen

We are, I’m sure, aware of the challenges faced by these companies, as well, in attracting and recruiting people to work for them, regardless of whether they live in the North or the South, just getting the manpower or the labour force that they need to operate their mines. But I’d like to ask the Minister, in his discussions with the three diamond mines, is it his sense that they are aware of our plight in the need to see more benefit from these resources that we are extracting from our territory and the absolute advantages of having these folks live in the North. Thank you.

Department of Environment and Natural Resources, operations expenditures, activity, corporate management, not previously authorized, negative $104,000.

Thank you. Mr. Miltenberger. Mr. Kalgutkar.

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. No comment from the Minister? Mr. Ramsay.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The NWT population is declining. Mr. Speaker, the Northwest Territories has been good to me. I chose the Northwest Territories as a high school student sitting in a classroom in southwestern Ontario. I picked it off the map. I came here. I didn’t come here with my family, I didn’t transfer here with a job, I didn’t come here as somebody’s spouse. I chose the Northwest Territories. The Northwest Territories has been good to me. I should be the poster person for the Northwest Territories.

---Applause

But, Mr. Speaker, might I also say that I found a man here that wanted to...

Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment, operations expenditures, activity, economic diversification and business support, not previously authorized, $63,000.

Community justice and corrections, not previously authorized. Ms. Bisaro.

Thank you, Minister Ramsay. Next on the list I have Ms. Bisaro.

Moving on to the Department of Transportation. Activity, airports, not previously authorized, $280,000.

I’ll ask the Sergeant-at-Arms to please escort the witnesses into the Chamber.

Mr. Miltenberger, for the record, please.