Statements in Debates
I can suggest that while we are looking at creating a fair fiscal environment and a good balanced fiscal environment, we’re also looking at resource revenue sharing.
Mr. Speaker, I have to say that Mr. Braden’s implication in his statement earlier on that somehow creating this instability would somehow help us to make a better deal on resources revenue sharing at a time when the federal government is in an election, I just don’t quite understand his reasoning there. I want to take this opportunity to assure all businesses, whether it’s a big pipeline business, a diamond business, the mom-and...
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have not had opportunity to speak with all the aboriginal leaders. I will have a meeting with the regional leaders on February 9th, but I have talked to many of them and all the people that I have talked to recognize that Canada has voted in a new party as a government. The North has voted in a new Member of Parliament, and everybody is going to work positively to achieve what we can. We have many common agenda items right now and I have no doubt, as we discuss this further with aboriginal leaders, that they’re going to approach this very positively, in spite of...
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Let me say, first of all, it will be different because we now have our Member of Parliament who represents one of the opposition parties. Our working relationship with the Member of Parliament will be somewhat different. Mr. Speaker, I am encouraged, though, by the Prime Minister’s statements. In fact, on election night, accepting his victory, he did make the statement that he would work with us to realize our dreams in the North. In letters to me, he has been very clear in terms of his position on a number of major issues to us.
So, Mr. Speaker, I have written a letter...
Mr. Speaker, no. This is a letter of comfort. This is not a contract or something that is binding on a future government. We make it very clear in the letter that there is nothing in this letter that should be construed to somehow fetter the discretion of future governments, nor does it fetter the discretion of aboriginal governments. It’s a letter of comfort saying here is what the government of today’s position is with regard to a stable fiscal environment. That’s as far as it goes. It’s not fettering this one. It is certainly subject to any legislation that we may pass here. That was clear...
Mr. Speaker, again I have to remind the Member that the Aboriginal Summit has been in existence for years. There are ongoing discussions with them on resource revenue sharing. There are bilateral discussions between them and us. There are trilateral discussions between them, us and the federal government. They are involved. They know our positions. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I wish to advise Members that the Honourable Michael Miltenberger will be absent from the House today to attend a federal/provincial/territorial Ministers of Health meeting in Toronto. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize a long-term community resident and leader, and now a resident of Weledeh, Ruth Spence.
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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The individuals who are doing the work on our behalf -- and at this point it is not formal negotiations, but more looking at the detail, the complexities of it, the issues, and, of course, trying to arrive at a bottom line of the viability -- is made up of a number of senior officials, including the deputy minister of ITI, the president of the Power Corporation, a representative of the Energy Corporation, which is a subsidiary of the Power Corporation, and Lew Voytilla, who is with our Financial Management Board Secretariat. Mr. Don Balsillie was also at the meeting...
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think any of the Legislative Assembly Members who want to take up this issue should take it up with the chairman and the board for the Workers' Compensation Board, as well as the City. It is my understanding that this land that the Workers' Compensation Board is interested in would have to be rezoned. That’s an issue that the city council will have to deal with, and certainly you have every right and responsibility to speak to the mayor and council on this issue if you wish. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, first of all, let me clarify that the Housing Corporation is an entity that is a corporate…Oh, sorry. I’m sorry.
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I apologize, Mr. Speaker. The Workers' Compensation Board is a corporate entity that is separate from government. They operate on a basis of collecting premiums and then paying out compensation for workers who are injured from that premium. The Minister responsible is the Minister responsible for the act, and he manages the overall legislative direction to the Workers' Compensation Board. The Workers' Compensation Board would have advised the Minister of this...