Robert Bouchard

Thank you, Madam Chair. My colleagues have a lot of good comments here and I’d like to add a few general comments on the concept of our budget and this department. I guess it represents just about 25 percent of our budget. Another 4 percent increase this year. I understand the process of the fact that we want more money to go into health and I think the demands are always there. Being able to attend the Minister of Finance’s budget process and some of the general comments we got in Hay River were, do more with the same amount of money. They see a lot of wastage. I think that some of our...

Thank you, Madam Chair. I will be abstaining from this vote on this motion. The difficulty I have with this process is we’re talking about the 2013-2014 budget and this is an initiative they want implemented into the 2014-2015 budget. We have a process in place. We have a business plan process that, as a new Member, I think we have a way to put these initiatives into it. Every one of these Members here have initiatives that are good, strong initiatives. I can sit here and probably make 10 motions of things that I want in the 2014-2015 budget, a year from now, two years from now. Where are we...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Since this week is Education Week I would like to speak about the education system. Obviously, one of the most vital things that I think is part of the education system is our educators. We have some 800 educators in the Northwest Territories, and I think we need to take our time this week to recognize them and the hard efforts they put into our communities.

Yesterday we had the opportunity to meet with the NWT Teachers’ Association. They were able to provide us with information. It makes you think when you see the listing, in all 33 communities there’s at least one...

Thank you, Madam Chair. I would like to thank Mr. Dolynny for bringing this motion forward and I support both my colleagues’ comments about the importance of tourism. In the South Slave we’ve seen a great deal of interest recently in tourism and we support any marketing of the Northwest Territories. I think the department has been doing a great job on the marketing side. I think these dollars will go a long ways to promoting and improving the Northwest Territories.

We started this process and this ask for additional funds in marketing some six months ago. We’ve been in the budget process, and...

The Minister indicated the special economic zone for industrial areas set up for the old Pine Point site. I’m just wondering if the Minister can elaborate on when the department will be able to formalize the industrial area to take advantage of the potentially lower power in that area.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I indicated, I’m making a presentation to Avalon public hearings today. My questions today are for the Minister of ITI related to that project. Has the Department of ITI begun to create a socio-economic agreement for this project and this company? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. What is the department doing to maximize the economic benefit impact for Northerners, workers and northern companies to take advantage of this project?

Thank you. As I indicated in my Member’s statement, we’re excited to see this project in the South Slave and I’m just wondering what the Department of ITI is doing to support Avalon in their ventures to complete this project.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This week Avalon Rare Minerals is having hearings on their project, both in Yellowknife and in Fort Resolution, and I have an opportunity this evening to make a presentation at the hearing in support of the project at Thor Lake.

Hay River is looking forward to the opportunity that this project represents. There’s a great deal of optimism for employment as well as the small business opportunities in Hay River, and all the Hay River entrepreneurs are looking forward to this project and the opportunities it brings.

The Avalon project will create a hydromat facility in the...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I’m hoping to start with a few general comments. Mine are in no specific order, either, I guess.

Obviously the first one that I would like to get some more details on the implementation of the decentralization by the department is the transfer of the positions over to Hay River and when the department expects that to happen. We’re obviously very pleased and excited to hear about that in the Hay River area. Just to see when that implementation will happen. I guess, when would we see those positions actually on the ground in Hay River? It would be nice to have a game plan...