Kevin A. Menicoche

Earlier in the week, in my inbox, I saw an invitation from the Union of Northern Workers to the Premier, inviting him to speak at a round-table discussion. I'd like to know what his response was to that invitation. Mahsi.

With respect to the assessments that are going on out there, I know that government is doing the work. The Premier said all the departments and all their analysts are doing as much work as they can.

But I’m an MLA, and people are contacting me. They're saying this is happening, and that's happening. We are the front line to our constituents.

There appears to be a disconnect. Things are happening in the regions, and they're moving forward in terms of reductions. But the government is not letting the MLAs and our committee systems know. There seems to be a gap there.

I'd like to ask the Premier:...

Mr. Speaker, I’d like to recognize three people from Fort Simpson that are in the gallery today: Mr. Sean Whelly, who acted as my official agent, his son Brendan Whelly, and Alex Scharf, who is teaching at our Thomas Simpson Secondary School. Welcome here, and see how we do our work. Mahsi cho.

Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Monday, February 18, 2008, I will move the following motion: I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, that the Legislative Assembly strongly recommends that the responsibility for the administration of social housing be once again placed under the control of the NWT Housing Corporation; and further, in keeping with the concept of centralizing subsidy programs, that responsibility for determining the methodology of calculating social housing subsidies be retained by the Department of Education, Culture and Employment; and furthermore, that this...

In terms of all government-wide essential services such as health care, nurses, and emergency services, how will those be affected? Have assessments been done on those?

I’d like to ask my questions to the Premier with regard to job cuts and the wave of terror, as we read in the headlines this morning. My honourable colleague from Great Slave was quoted on that. But that’s exactly what’s going on, not only in the capital but throughout the regions as well. The people are fearing for their jobs.

What I’d like to know is…. Yes, the bottom line is important to the Finance Minister, and yes, cuts are necessary. But there’s got to be due diligence and due process when they’re assessing job cuts. I’d like to know what kind of processes are in place or what kinds of...

Mr. Speaker, many constituents have asked me to make their concerns about the proposed cuts known to the government. They have asked me to stand up for them and prevent the government taking the simplistic approach to cost-cutting by laying off employees, as announced by the Premier to the media.

Mr. Speaker, this is a fear that’s out there in the public, a fear that is founded on previous experience with spending cuts. Until this government proves to us that their cost savings are not simply achieved by layoffs, I must speak for my constituents and urge the government to make wise decisions.

M...

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Mr. Speaker, for the residents of Fort Liard to have meaningful input on the housing decisions that affect so many of them in their daily lives, as it stands now, there’s no elected board for housing or a local housing authority. Currently they have one individual in the community who is tasked with determining who gets housing and trying to initiate eviction proceedings.

I personally do not think this places a fair burden on one individual. As well, just the perception of a bias in allocating social housing can be very divisive in a small community. Many...

It just doesn’t make sense why this rule’s being applied to this student in this case where it didn’t really work out. It happens to many, many students over the course time, where they go down for the course, but it doesn’t work out, so they come home immediately. But she was gone, like, two weeks. We have had employees who take longer holidays down there. Are they non-residents down there as well, Mr. Speaker?

I would like to urge the Minister’s office to review this case carefully and allow this young student, this young adult, to act as their programming and policy intends. Mahsi.

Mr. Speaker, I’d like to ask the Minister Responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation a couple of questions on our residency guidelines.

I’m dealing with an issue back in my riding where a young student went down south, and for whatever reason that student returned to Fort Simpson within two weeks. When she applied for the housing program, they said she was ineligible because she was a non-resident because she moved away. There is something fundamentally wrong with that assessment there, Mr. Speaker.

I’d like to ask the Minister about the guidelines and policies with respect to accessing...