Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of Finance today in follow-up to his budget address. Mr. Speaker, whenever we talk about the fiscal situation in our government, whenever we talk about resource revenue sharing, we talk about royalties and devolution. As a territorial government, this can never be done in the absence of talking about the aspirations and the cooperation of aboriginal governments in the Northwest Territories, as well. I know that the budget address was somewhat abbreviated today, but I noticed almost right away -- and I actually mentioned to my...

Point of order, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To the end that we want to see progress on this file, can we do more? Is there something new or different? Is there anything new we can add to the process that will assure success on this area? Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, then, to the assumption that somehow we were giving away the farm with this letter of comfort, I sort of fail to see what we have actually given them. I think the letter has integrity and it has intention attached to it, but I don’t think it’s like a province that sold their power to the U.S. -- a certain province we know -- for years to come. They are going to be stuck with an agreement forever. I don’t think it’s anything like that. So in an effort, then, to clarify how this letter was interpreted or responded to by the Producers Group, I just wish the Premier could put it in...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in follow-up to Mr. Braden’s questions today, I would like to ask the Premier some questions about this letter of comfort that he provided just so that there is clarity about it, because I don’t think the public knows too much about it. As the Premier indicated, it was brought to our attention prior to it going out. My reaction to it at the time was Imperial Oil and the producers were asking about certainty and comfort on taxation, royalties about the future and going ahead with their project. I would like to ask the Premier, do we set the royalties that...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It was actually a constituent of mine who recommended that. Normal people just flash their lights for oncoming traffic if there is an RMCP radar set up, but I think we should do it for buffalo. I think it would be more important. The other question I have is along the highway, there are signs. When you come by every community, it says…or even not by a community, it can be out in the middle of nowhere. It says, if you are in an emergency, phone this number: 669-1111. I was just curious of all the expense that we went to to put those signs up along the highway, how...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today my questions are for the Honourable Michael McLeod, the Minister of Transportation. I often embark on a drive between Hay River and Yellowknife and vice versa. It is always an adventure. It won’t be such an adventure when the bridge goes in, but it is always interesting now. The Minister, in the past, and his department have been very responsive to suggestions that might keep the travelling public on the highways more informed of the condition of the roads and the status of the ferry crossing and so on. Just over the past couple of months with...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to report to the Assembly that the Standing Committee on Governance and Economic Development has reviewed Bill 14, Public Airports Act, and wishes to report that Bill 14 is ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s nice to know that the industry has such confidence that we are going to actually get devolution in our lifetime.

---Applause

I want to ask the Premier also, the letter that he wrote and signed, I would like to know if it’s binding on future governments. Is it binding on aboriginal governments? Is it binding on the federal government? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, if we are going to have signs kind of out in the hinterland, perhaps something easier to remember would be 911. Can the Minister please tell me what the status is of integrating our highway emergency system with that universally recognized number 911? Thank you.