Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just in closing, I have a few comments on this motion. I want to thank my colleagues for their comments and support on this motion. Mr. Speaker, I sense a strong willingness on the part of industry to take part in this process of dealing with the business incentive policy.

Mr. Speaker it’s not a secret that a lot of businesses look to government for a portion of their business and a lot of businesses have built some capacity to supply a niche in the market that is created by government and to meet the requirements that government needs. For those businesses who have...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

WHEREAS the intent of the business incentive policy, as stated by the Premier in a return to written question on March 25, 2004, is to support the development and growth of NWT businesses;

AND WHEREAS northern businesses support the NWT economy by purchasing local goods and services, providing jobs and training, and reinvesting their earnings;

AND WHEREAS, due to the higher costs of operating a business and developing new products in the NWT, northern businesses may need preference adjustments to compete successfully with southern firms for government contracts and tenders...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Friday, April 2, 2004, I will move the following motion: I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, that the Government of the Northwest Territories use the spirit and intent of the business incentive policy to its fullest advantage in promoting and growing NWT-based businesses;

And further, that the government undertake to conduct a comprehensive cost and benefit analysis of the business incentive policy and table it in the House during the fall 2004 sitting of the Legislative Assembly.

Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to deliver a good news story today on the successes of the trades program currently being offered at Diamond Jenness Secondary School in Hay River. Mr. Speaker, there are a number of valuable trades orientated programs currently being offered to Diamond Jenness students. There is a mechanics program, a welding program, a housing construction program, and the schools north apprenticeship program.

Mr. Speaker, the mechanics program is a new program that exposes students to auto mechanics. Local mechanic, Mr. Norm Gour, has for the past seven...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I stated in my Member’s statement, there are some concerns from my area with the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board and the round of consultations that they’re doing. I would like to ask the Minister of RWED if he is aware of the concerns that Hay River has with that board not coming to Hay River to do some reviews. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to draw attention to an issue which is both important to myself and the community which I represent and one that speaks to the ambivalence of public government to listen to the people of the North.

Mr. Speaker, this government has repeatedly stated that its actions will be governed by the will of the people. To this end, it has repeatedly shown an effort to meet with the people by means of a public consultation process. I believe that public consultation should be at the forefront of all of our actions.

Mr. Speaker, I get concerned when...

I do hate taxes, but it has been mentioned a couple of times, some Members have mentioned coming together in this government and what we’ve adopted from the last government. It always amazes me when I think back to when we came together as a 14th Legislative Assembly if we look back at the recordings, I think we were talking about exactly the same things. About when we were going to hit the debt wall in four or five years and where we were going and how we were going to find the solutions to our problems. I guess we did get lucky in the last government with some major windfalls and it was all...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m glad to hear that the Minister has confidence that the concerns will be addressed in phase two. But, Mr. Speaker, in the work plan for the environmental assessment of the Mackenzie Valley gas project it states very clearly that phase one of the review board will hold a series of public hearings in the Mackenzie Valley to gather evidence of any public concerns and determine which issues will be examined in detail during phase two. So if communities haven’t got a chance to voice their concerns during phase one, how are they going to get in on phase two when it’s...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, could the Minister inform this House if this board has a fiduciary responsibility to consult with all affected parties when a review is undertaken? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That being said, I am mystified why the board declined to grant the Town of Hay River the request to hold public meetings in Hay River to listen to the concerns of the community. At the appropriate time, Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for the Minister responsible. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause