Kevin A. Menicoche

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I understand that some of the expenditures that they’re looking for in 2005-06 is to do a full engineering study and the budgeted amount is around $41 million. I’m just wondering, at what point will the government put the brakes on this project if it exceeds the $41 million bill?

Than you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the Minister of Justice, with respect to the courthouse that is being planned. I understand that this initiative was being brought forward by this government. Constituents of my riding are concerned; they want to know why we need to spend so much on such infrastructure. They want to know why we are building another courthouse in Yellowknife when we already have one there, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Once again we have another department with no written targets or goals and I’ll maintain again that they’re not goals or targets if they’re not written down. We need something written that we can measure against. It will help the department. So that’s what I’d like to see when it comes to the Legislative Assembly, I want to see it written down there. We spoke about it several times this week and last week that we should have a reflective northern workforce, especially when we do have tourists coming through those doors. They should see a workforce reflective...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just with respect to Mr. Zoe’s comments and translators for us, I believe that as well. Far before we hire any translators for people from outside our country, we should be hiring translators for ourselves. I would just like the Speaker to keep that in mind. I know that the one time they hired a translator on my behalf, I was able to use them and it helped me stimulate the use of my own language, and written-wise, too. I just wanted to make that comment in support of Mr. Zoe’s efforts. You have to remember, too, that Mr. Zoe brought our Legislative Assembly to a...

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. I have a quick comment with regard to the Page program. It’s a huge opportunity for our students from the regions to come to the capital for probably a week at a time, maybe two weeks at a time, to get involved in the Legislative Assembly. But I had an experience where I ended up paying for some of the costs like places for them to stay. It’s coming out of my budget, then there’s always that inequity where Yellowknife MLAs have Pages but they are not paying anything. So I would just like the Speaker to comment on that.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am happy to speak on this topic. It’s regarding the parking facility. Perhaps I can ask the Speaker what the long-term plans are for the improvement of parking. There seems to be some solution in the long term for that. As well, I have been using the facilities after hours and it’s always a pain for security to come and unlock the door. I believe, at one point, the previous Assembly was looking at a magnetic door opener. I just want to bring it up again and see if that is still in the plans or if that’s something that’s doable.

Actually, I think it is doable...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. With respect to Aboriginal Affairs as it applies to the whole of the NWT and particularly my riding where we have the Deh Cho First Nations engaged in their process of, they call it the Deh Cho process, are the efforts similar to what is going on with the NWT of wanting to maintain control over their resources. I am glad to see that our government is supportive of this and, for the most part, is trying to keep their hands away from it and let the process unfold, particularly in the last year or so, where it has been particularly tense in the court cases launched by...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The committee wishes to consider Bill 19, Appropriation Act 2005-2006, with Aboriginal Affairs, Executive and the Legislative Assembly, as well as Bill 21. We wish to consider Bill 21 first. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. That’s what I’m looking for. I just want the government to assure us that they’re not going to run into a situation where they get half a building done for $40 million and then are going to ask for another $40 million to complete it. That’s been our history and I’d like to know what the government is going to do for this project that’s going to prevent that.

---Applause

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I understand a little bit about the reasoning behind that and perhaps the Minister can tell me what is the estimated cost of this new courthouse. Is this like a Class 'D' estimate and how old is this estimate for the new courthouse, Mr. Speaker? Thank you.