Jane Groenewegen

Thank you. On page 6-5, infrastructure acquisition plan, services to government, tangible capital assets, total tangible capital assets, $55,000. Total activity, $55,000.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to speak to the Yellowknife courthouse for just a minute too, since most of the Members have touched on that. I think there is a business case and an argument to be made for the fact that Yellowknife may need a new courthouse and that we've been in leased space and there are issues of security and there are issues of access and interview rooms and accommodating people. I haven't read the report in-depth. I think there's an argument to be made for owing a standalone court services building in Yellowknife, as opposed to leasing something and spending a...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Standing Committee on Governance and Economic Development met with the Minister of Public Works and Services, PWS, and his staff on January 17, 2005, to review the department’s draft main estimates for 2005-2006.

The mandate of PWS is to design, construct, acquire, operate and maintain, buildings, works and equipment. Its mandate also includes implementing energy-efficient projects in Government of the Northwest Territories’ buildings and works required for the Government of the Northwest Territories to deliver its programs and services. PWS also provides a...

Agreed. Then we will do that after a short break.

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Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to speak in favour of the motion.

---Laughter

Mr. Chairman, I would like to take a moment to thank all the Members who have taken an interest in this subject and who have spoken to this. I really appreciate it. I know there are a lot of issues on everybody’s agenda. This remand unit at the South Slave Correctional Centre, Mr. Chairman, is something that has been there for awhile. It has provided a good and sound service. I just hope that the government will hear our voice on this motion and will respect the will of the House on this and that the Minister...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, what would it take to get the remand services in Hay River reinstated? Thank you.

The Member is indicating that we will proceed with the opening comments for the Department of Public Works and Services. Is the committee agreed?

I call Committee of the Whole to order. What is the wish of the committee? Mr. Menicoche.

Mr. Chair, the members of the standing committees went to some great lengths to go over the business plans and put their ideas out there on the table. If the Minister doesn’t support the remand, that is quite another thing. Then he needs to say that he doesn’t support the remand expenditure because he can’t say that the Members here don’t. We have been pretty clear and concise about that. I am really glad that the Minister brought up the issue of all-day kindergarten because, when I started questioning the Minister in the House about this whole issue of reinstating the remand, he wanted to...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just wanted to, for the record, indicate that of the 10 casuals that worked at Dene K'onia, these are the lengths of services for the 10: two months; four years and two months; one year and two months; three years and seven months; seven years and two months; seven years and six months; four months; three years eleven months; four years eleven months; and five months.

That is the length of service for the casual employees at Dene K'onia. I think the record indicates here that several of these employees -- at least more than half of them -- that had been there for...