Michael Miltenberger

Mr. Speaker, as the Minister charged with the WCB by the Premier, I was aware of the circumstances surrounding the appointment process that the Member for Mackenzie Delta refers to.

Late in the 15th Assembly, the process was initiated. I know, from being at the table, there were significant concerns by the Regular Members that the government in the dying days would make an appointment of this nature without allowing sufficient input from the Regular Members’ side. There was a request to government to delay the appointment of the chair. The government of the day agreed to do that.

There were a...

Mr. Speaker, as I understand our rules of debate, it says under section 23, “In a debate a Member will be called to order by the Speaker if the Member . . . (j) charges another Member with uttering a deliberate falsehood.” My understanding is that the terms “You are deliberately misleading the House” constitute accusing the Member of uttering a falsehood. I would suggest that the rule is clear: that is inappropriate and unparliamentary. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, right now, as Minister, I communicate to this House and to the Member that I did a very steady stream of housing issues. They tend to go to MLAs; they tend to go to other elected officials. One of the areas that we think we can take a page from is income support. There’s a local appeal process as well as a Territorial one, so we don’t have to break new ground or reinvent the wheel here. It’s just a matter of making sure that we have all the checks and balances.

Mr. Speaker, I’d like to point out, as well, that Mr. Rodgers, who is eminently qualified, in my opinion, and a good representative in that capacity and a Northerner, was in fact one of the applicants.

I will commit to find out or get the information that the Member has requested.

Mr. Speaker, I reviewed all those files personally. I had my own opinions as Minister of what the appropriate action should be, and I made the ministerial decision, a choice which I took to cabinet — the information item to reappoint Mr. Rodgers. And that is, in fact, what has been done.

Mr. Speaker, I want to go back to the issue of the point of order. We’re not arguing now, at this point, about the bridge. We’re arguing about what’s happened in this House in terms of twice now, the Premier has been accused of uttering falsehoods or lying.

Our rules are very clear. Clause 23: “In debate, a Member will be called to order by the Speaker if the Member…charges another Member with uttering a deliberate falsehood.”

It has happened twice, Mr. Speaker. That is the issue. What is acceptable? That is what the ruling has to be. I think we should focus on that issue. We’re not here to...

We would anticipate something that we could come forward with and share with the committee. We know that once we conclude the May–June session, we’re going to be moving quickly into business plans. So this is one of the items on the to-do agenda, and I’d like to get to that in time for that secondary process.

Mr. Speaker, I am aware of this concern, and I have had discussions with the president. As we pull together the LHO chairs, the managers and district staff, as well as headquarters, and reorganize that there are a number of issues that are on our plate, to try to look at improvement, that concern is one of them.

I rise as an MLA. I would like to table a letter from Mayor Martselos from Fort Smith to Mr. Hawkins, indicating his negative comments have offended the people of Fort Smith and asking him for an apology and inviting him to Fort Smith to meet with the town council.

Document 32-16(2), Letter from Mayor Martselos of Fort Smith to Robert Hawkins, Regarding Aurora College, Thebacha Campus, tabled.

Mr. Speaker, as I indicated, the term of the current chair will not exceed the six years that he’s eligible to sit under the current legislation.