Yellowknife Centre

Statements in Debates

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 23)

Mr. Speaker, now that the Minister has had some time to reflect on how this contract kind of went awry, what are the lessons that she is taking away from this experience?

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 23)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, all four of the treatment centres that we visited operated on the 12-step model, and as you may know, peer support is critical to the success of the 12-step program.

What I have heard since I came back is that, in even the regional centres, let alone the small communities, people are reluctant to create AA groups, which would be the natural follow-up, because of privacy concerns, which I stated earlier. There really isn't a level of anonymity in a place that has 1,000 people, and not everyone is comfortable sharing the details of their addiction and recovery in...

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 23)

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation. In the last session, you may recall a number of my colleagues and I talked about modular homes, specifically about the contractor's failure to deliver all of the units by last summer, as the contract specified. Last we heard, the Minister was making alternative arrangements to complete and deliver these units. Can she please provide an update, and I will break this down into pieces, first on the three units that were partially complete when they were delivered to Ulukhaktok? Mahsi.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 23)

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, one of the commitments that the department made in its response to the Office of the Auditor General was to update the Fire Protection Act. Could the Minister tell us about the progress on updating that act? Thank you.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 23)

I appreciate that response. Can the Minister tell us in how many communities this assessment tool has been completed and whether that list includes Norman Wells?

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 23)

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it's good news that the fire marshal is travelling the communities of the NWT to assess their needs. Could the Minister tell us when his report will be ready and whether the needs will be funded in the next business plan? Thank you.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 23)

I'm talking more about fire departments. As I think we're all aware, firefighting is a dangerous undertaking. I appreciate the Minister's response that community members are willing to pitch in. I think that having trained firefighters is a better solution.

It's my understanding there aren't trained firefighters in every Northwest Territories community, so I'm wondering whether the Minister is considering making changes to ensure that there are fire departments and trained firefighters up and running in every community?

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 22)

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to also knowledge my constituent Dawn Moses, who works with MACA as the Youth and Volunteer Program Manager. Mahsi.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 22)

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on International Women's Day, we pause to celebrate the advances we have made as a society in advancing women's equality, and it is the day we take stock of the inequality that persists and rededicate our resolve for improvement.

A lot of improvement still needs to be made. A quick glance at employment occupation and income figures for the NWT shows that the rate of employment for women and men are about the same, but the rewards of pay, the inclusion in higher-paying occupation, and the proportion of sexes in senior positions are anything but equal.

Mr. Speaker...

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 22)

I rise to express my support to my colleagues on both sides of the House for supporting this motion. I think it represents a milestone that we can all be proud of in moving our territory towards gender equality. Mr. Speaker, I request a recorded vote. Mahsi.