Robert Bouchard

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I will discuss some of these issues as well. It is a big concern to me the amount of $105 million in carry-overs from previous year. That is a large amount of money to be not putting out into the territory, especially when the economy of the Northwest Territories has been slow.

I understand that the infrastructure projects have been quite large over the last few years. This year has been a smaller one, so I am really looking forward to seeing those dollars hit the ground in the Northwest Territories and go to helping the economy of the Northwest Territories. I hope that...

WHEREAS Section 16(2) of the Human Rights Act provides that the Northwest Territories Human Rights Commission is composed of such members, between three and five in number, as may be appointed by the Commissioner on the recommendation of the Legislative Assembly;

AND WHEREAS there will be four vacancies on the Northwest Territories Human Rights Commission as of June 30, 2012;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Monfwi, that the Legislative Assembly recommend the appointment of the following individuals to the Northwest Territories Human Rights Commission:

Ms. Marion Berls...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to take this opportunity to recognize my two Pages from Hay River North: Tassie Lockhart-Drygeese and Chantelle LaFleur. I’d also like to recognize their chaperone, Kathleen Lockhart-Drygeese. Thank you very much, ladies.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will be voting in favour of this motion. As a new Member, it’s something that I’m learning about, the ombudsman and the potential that it has. Several different jurisdictions have different responsibilities, whether it’s the rental office, whether it’s housing issues, hospital issues, police abuse, police issues, so I believe that there’s a group of people in the Northwest Territories that are falling through the cracks in the system that don’t have an appeal system. Ultimately we have one option to go through the courts, and those court costs and court delays are...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Monday, June 11, 2012, I will move the following motion: Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Kam Lake, that Ms. Deborah McLeod of Yellowknife be appointed as the director of human rights during good behaviour for a term of four years by the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories as recommended by the Legislative Assembly;

And further, that the Speaker be authorized to communicate the effective date of appointment to the Commissioner.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don’t have much of a statement today, so I thought I’d make it quick.

Well, I’ll start off today about the 2012-2013 operational budget.

Executive for 25 million, now 50 million for ITI, 65 million for ENR, 120 for Transportation, now 300 to Education, 300, 300, 350, 350. Sold to Health to Minister Beaulieu and the Department of Health and Social Services.

Mr. Speaker, the past five years the budget has gone from 600 million, 600 million, now 7, 7, now 8, 8, now 9, 9, now 1 billion, 1 billion, now 1.2, 1.2, 1.2, now 1.3, 1.3, now 1.4, 1.4, now 1.4 is now 1.5, 1.5. Sold...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’ll ask my question again. As I indicated, I was concerned with the high costs of the bridge, but my next concern was the items that have been removed from the bridge, from the original design. What items have been removed?

My next question is concerning the tolls on the bridge and what effect those tolls will have on the repayment of that debt service.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to use my Member’s statement today to encourage the 1,189 youth participating in the NWT track meet going in the next couple of days in Hay River.

My colleague Mrs. Groenewegen and myself would like to thank some of the Members from the Legislative Assembly that travelled down to Hay River to see the exciting grand opening of the NWT track meet this year: Premier Bob McLeod, Minister Robert C. McLeod, Mr. Daryl Dolynny, Mr. Alfred Moses. Thank you for coming to Hay River.

The NWT track and field event is organized by over 300 volunteers. It has a great economic...

My next question is: What are we expecting in the future years? Have we leveled off the base now? Do we understand where the calculations will be? Is it an annual thing, a negotiation with the federal government as we go along? These numbers fluctuate up and down. Do we have an agreement that is going to give us a base to go forward?