Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So, Mr. Speaker, I think I can determine from the Premier’s response that any reference I heard in a media interview that would suggest that anything other than a trilateral negotiation is not anything that he would consider or would even be possible. Could he please confirm that for me? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in light of how important this is in terms of the timing of some of the resource development and things which are emerging, when will the Premier be meeting with Mr. Mitchell and Mr. Martin on the subject? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, just in view of how much education and health services do impact people's lives, I wonder if the Minister would commit to this House and to the public to defer any further discussion and work on this until perhaps we could put it on the agenda of the Circle of Northern Leaders meeting that we anticipate we'll be having, so that a broad direction could be set in reference to this as a governance issue. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am following up on my Member's statement today and being the very fair person that I am I wanted to give Mr. Miltenberger a chance to perhaps clear up any misconceptions, apprehensions, fears that may be out there in the public with respect to the direction that his department may be going with the health board. I would like to ask the Minister if he could tell what perhaps precipitated this report that appeared in the media today and is there anything going on in the department right now, specifically and recently in this direction? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we have just gathered as the 15th Assembly for the second time and there has been much reference at the outset to the merits and principles of consensus government. Premier Handley’s remarks after being acclaimed as Premier included, “I think we have to work together, working together toward common goals.” In his sessional statement today, the Premier referred to working together, trust and translating our good intentions into concrete actions.

As Mr. Handley said, later today there will be a press conference. An idea that actually emerged with the 14th...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I’d like to thank the Premier for those answers. I’d also like to, again for the benefit of the people, of our constituents who follow our proceedings and listen to what’s going on, I’d like to ask the Premier if he could outline for us the significance of seeing progress on this front in light of some of the development that we are anticipating. I think sometimes people talk a lot about devolution and resource revenue sharing, but perhaps don’t fully comprehend the absolute importance and significance of it in terms of our wellbeing as a territory. Could the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Premier and they are with respect to the issue of devolution, which I referred to in my Member’s statement, and some comments that he had made.

Mr. Speaker, we have a new Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development. We have a new Prime Minister. Everyone, I think, in the territory agrees that devolution and discussions with Ottawa and with our aboriginal governments and partner governments is a very critical thing. I’d like to ask Mr. Handley for an update on the status of the work of the Intergovernmental Forum and the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you for that answer. I would like to, without getting into debating the merits of health boards versus community service boards, just ask the Minister to outline for us what process would be undertaken if this were to become a topic of discussion. What kind of consultation would take place, and would it take into account the direction and aspirations of some of the self-government negotiations currently underway? Thank you.

Of course, the Members of this House, including myself, want to work together in a cooperative and constructive way, but hearing news as we did today is not going to serve that purpose. So let’s get the line drawn right now, up front, that we’re here to have meaningful input on this side of the House, on behalf of our constituents and we will not tolerate anything less. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

WHEREAS Rule 85 requires that Members be appointed to the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Kam Lake, that the following Members be appointed to the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight: Mr. Roger Allen, Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes; Mr. Bill Braden, Member for Great Slave; Mr. Paul Delorey, Member for Hay River North; Mr. Robert Hawkins, Member for Yellowknife Centre; Mrs. Jane Groenewegen, Member for Hay River South; Ms. Sandy Lee, Member for Range Lake; Mr. Kevin Menicoche...