Kevin A. Menicoche

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures recommends that the Chief Electoral Officer provide the committee with a review of approaches to campaign finance in other jurisdictions, and that the committee develop a set of proposed principles to guide the development of new campaign finance provisions and report those back to this Assembly.

The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures recommends that the Elections and Plebiscites Act be amended to make threatening a candidate and impersonating an elections officer offences.

The Standing Committee on Rules and...

A lot of these jobs, of course, are in lands and resources. I imagine most of them are technical and specialized positions. We haven’t seen the list. We’re still working, of course, with our Cabinet colleagues to pay attention to this.

What is the current strategy to look at these positions? Is there a plan B for those positions that people don’t want to transfer north? What is the plan B for our government to fill those positions? Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to ask Mr. Premier some questions about the devolution consensus agreement that we have signed. Devolution is mostly known for decision-making and control of resources. However, Chapter 7 has a big human resources component, more specifically with regard to transfer of jobs. I’d like to ask the Minister… Well, just quoting from Chapter 7, it says, “We want to have a knowledgeable, experienced and stable workforce as of April 1, 2014.” I know there are roughly 150 jobs in Ottawa. I just want to know how our government is working towards that. Thank you...

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. The committee wishes to consider Bill 1, Bill 2, Committee Report 1-17(4) and Committee Report 2-17(4). Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I think that’s my concern, is we don’t want to be missing a beat on April 1, 2014. What is the strategy for our government to ensure that these positions are filled from anybody from Ottawa who doesn’t want to come over? I know it’s the Northwest Territories; in fact, I would encourage them to come over. But in the event that does not happen, I know a lot of them have families and they’re entrenched in Ottawa. So what is that plan B? What is our strategy and is there a team set up to review this and come up with a good plan to fill those positions here in the...

I’m a little concerned about the human resource plan to fill these positions. I know that the agreement speaks about offering the current federal incumbents and in Ottawa, six months prior to April 1, 2014. I’m concerned that I’m hearing that not many of them will actually come here. So how are we planning to fill these positions?

Also, I’d like to hear the Premier’s experience when Arctic Airports transferred in 1995 and, as well, when Forest Management was transferred to us in 1987. What was the experience there of transferring federal employees north? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Firstly, I just wanted to say a big congratulation to the Catholics of this world and their new pope. However, locally my constituents continue to await the symbolic puff of white smoke which will signal new investment into Highway No. 7 and my highways.

Seriously, though, if we imagine NWT highways as a videogame, what would the Department of Transportation be in relation to all the other players? Would it be with the leaders out ahead of the pack or would it be like a car that constantly gets out-maneuvered, stuck in the mud and ruts, and shoved off the road?

One of my...

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I know that the Aboriginal groups that have signed on will get some money to help them to do that same kind of consultation work. What will be available to the Dehcho and/or Akaitcho to help them understand devolution as well?

I’m sure part of that consultation process will be approaching the Dehcho and Akaitcho First Nations. What does the Premier see in laying out the assurances that devolution won’t abrogate or derogate any Aboriginal rights that they might be negotiating currently at this point?

I encourage my respective colleagues in this Assembly and all residents of the NWT to consider the opportunities devolution provides. Within my own constituency of Nahendeh, I encourage the Dehcho First Nations to carefully consider the merits of devolution. Devolution offers an important opportunity for the public government and Aboriginal governments to work more closely in land and resource management. Devolution also means that important decisions around land and resources will be made closer to home with the priorities of the people of the NWT in mind.

Devolution will also provide resource...