Kevin A. Menicoche

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. It gives me great pleasure to recognize a student and teacher from Fort Liard who is here in Yellowknife to build leadership skills in the community. I’ve got Mr. Ross Duntra, Mr. James Duntra, Mr. Derek Kotchea, Ms. Kali Norn and she was just here serving as a Page, Mr. Speaker, and I think she’s after my job.

---Applause

I encourage her to continue. There’s Ms. Precious Hope and the Fort Liard teacher, Mr. Olly Williams. I will be happy to speak with you on our break here. Thanks for coming.

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. I move that we report progress.

---Carried

Thank you, Madam Chair. I move that this committee resume consideration of the Department of Health and Social Services department summary, 8-7. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. Committee wishes to consider Tabled Document 9-17(4), NWT Main Estimates, 2013-14, and we’d like to consider Justice, Executive, Aboriginal and Intergovernmental Relations, Finance and the Legislative Assembly. Thank you.

I’m glad that he raised those issues. I’m just wondering, I think one of the particular files in the Northwest Territories, of course, is working with the Dehcho First Nations. I wonder if the Premier had the opportunity to raise that file as well.

The final proposal for 19 ridings is similarly flawed and so is the one for 21 ridings. The latter actually includes nine ridings with constituents living in Yellowknife. That is beyond belief. I cannot support more MLAs for the capital, let alone two more.

In short, each proposal of the Electoral Boundaries Commission is a recipe for disaster. Adopting any one of them will compromise, not improve, representation of NWT residents. Adopting any one of them will erode or even destroy our consensus system. Until boundaries are proposed that are actually improved representation, I cannot support...

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. I move that we report progress.

---Carried

I’m glad that he did raise those issues. I’m just wondering if there’s any timing for the Minister paying a visit to the Northwest Territories.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Earlier this week Mr. Premier had an opportunity to meet with the new federal Minister Bernard Valcourt. I’d just like to ask the Premier a couple of questions. Firstly, I thought it was important to continue the momentum of NWT Days, especially with the new Minister of Northern Affairs and Northern Development Canada. Can I ask the Premier what topics were discussed at his meeting?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Electoral Boundaries Commission is touring the Northwest Territories to hear feedback on its proposals to change the number of MLAs in this Assembly and who they represent. I fear that most people do not know how important this is. It goes to the core of how NWT residents are represented and whether consensus government can work.

I have carefully reviewed the proposed electoral boundaries and they are very troubling. All would increase the very powerful influence on our government to an unacceptable level. It is so obvious that Yellowknife is already represented...