Robert Villeneuve

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have an issue I would like to bring forward to the Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development. The issue has probably been roaming in the minds of many northern drivers and will soon be roaming in the minds of many NWT golfers and probably residents of Yellowknife if not addressed soon. This is concerning the Mackenzie Bison Sanctuary herd. As everybody is aware, the new road system has had some major developments and improvements in the last few years which has allowed drivers to reach their destinations a little quicker, which means they’re going a...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you to the Minister for his answer. I just want to know if the Minister is willing to commit his department to developing a strategy which will address the growing number of bison in all the sanctuaries of the NWT, which include five, I believe. Also, outside the community of Deninu Kue where the Hook Lake herd has basically developed into a herd in itself, I guess, by government standards. I’m just curious as to what initiatives the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development is going to undertake to help these communities to develop some kind of...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’d like to speak a little about an ongoing issue that this government has been working toward for the last few sessions. Mr. Speaker, this government has had many initiatives and policies in place to address the issues of a low number of aboriginals within the GNWT workforce. Mr. Speaker, although the intent of these initiatives and policies are honourable and have realized some degree of success, I believe that the government still does not put their whole heart into achieving the desired results it says it is committed to and continues to make aboriginal...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am grateful once again to be here with my fellow MLAs and look forward to the work that we will be carrying out in this Third Session. I would also like to recognize four Grade 8 students from Tu Nedhe who will be working as Pages in the session for the remainder of the week. They are Nakita Enzoe and Jared Marlowe of Lutselk’e, and Robyn Balsille and Tyler Delorme of Deninu K’ue.

I would also like to recognize the following Tu Nedhe students who also attended the 2004 Arctic Winter Games in Fort McMurray. They are Vanessa Sanderson, Glen Collins and...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just a quick statement today. I just want to express my sincere condolences and the condolences of the 15th Legislative Assembly to the Delorme family and Deninu Kue, who have lost three family members in the past three years. The last member that they lost was just over the last Christmas holidays. Mr. Speaker, I just want to let the family know, and their many friends and relatives, that we are aware of the loss that they’re suffering and that our thoughts and our prayers go out to them. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Finance, Mr. Roland. I know everybody has been hearing a little bit more back room grumblings about the growing inequities in the employment within the mining industry of aboriginals and northerners; that the mining industry is reaching a point where they’re just barely meeting their quota for northern employment. With the growing number of mines that are going to be opening in the future, I think this gap is going to keep growing. My question, Mr. Speaker, is that I’ve been hearing some concerns from some employees of these mining...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I know that the payroll tax is something of an unknown for this government in making any real change in it because of this harmonization policy. What I'm getting at, Mr. Speaker, is I'm just wondering how the Minister intends on making some positive policy changes that would curb the practice of employees in the mine, like you would get 10 or 20 employees with the same address. They're all living in the NWT but they all have the same address. It basically just goes to show they've found a loophole in our taxation policies, and I'm just wondering how the Minister...

Sorry, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to deal with the motion I gave notice of earlier today.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Thursday, January 22nd, 2004, I will move the following motion: NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Kam Lake, that the rules of the Legislative Assembly be amended by rescinding Rule 85(2) and substituting the following:

(2)

The Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight shall;

Review issues which have government-wide implications, including the overview of the budget and fiscal framework;

Review multi-year business plans, budgets and those of the department of the Executive, including the Executive...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to extend my best wishes for the new year to all the Members of this House, my constituents, the people of the NWT and especially my family. Mr. Speaker, as the honourable Member for Weledeh, our Premier indicated earlier that trust is a key component to making this government a productive partner in building a strong working relationship with other northern and aboriginal governments. As this government embarks on developing these new agreements with other governments, I can assure all the Members of this 15th Assembly that I will be at the forefront...