Roger Allen

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight report on the review of the draft mains, 2005-2005.

The standing committees of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories met from February 16 to February 28, 2004, to review the 2004-2005 draft main estimates for each of the departments of the Government of the Northwest Territories.

The mandate of the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight includes the overview of the government-wide budget and fiscal framework, as well as the budgets of the Executive offices, Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs...

Thank you, Madam Chair. Briefly, yes. The committee met with the Finance Minister on February 18, 2004, to review the draft 2004-05 main estimates for the Department of Finance.

The department is proposing a $3.167 million decrease in operations expenses from the 2003-04 main estimates. This is primarily due to savings realized from its new self-insurance program and an anticipated reduction in interest expenses for short-term borrowing.

4. Regulating the insurance industry and liquor sales, distribution and consumption to contribute to the well-being of communities and residents.

Members...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

WHEREAS there is requirement for the naming of two Members to hold the positions of deputy chairpersons of Committee of the Whole;

AND WHEREAS it is desirable to appoint two Members;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Frame Lake, the honourable Member for Nunakput, Mr. Calvin Pokiak, and the honourable Member for Kam Lake, Mr. David Ramsay, be appointed as deputy chairpersons of the Committee of the Whole.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m very pleased to hear that the Minister is prepared to work with us in trying to address some of the key questions that are raised consistently by our constituents. Again, it goes back to my statement yesterday about how we want to put people back on the land to become resourceful again. So I’m going to ask the Minister if he’s prepared to work with the Minister of ECE to develop an initiative that would influence people to move back on the land and not only develop land skills, but also to help in the recovery process of many of their social problems that are...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question today is to the Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation. It is in regard to a proposal submitted last year in regard to flat rent scale rates for public housing tenants of the Northwest Territories. The intent of that proposal is to increase this from pro forma from $2.7 million rent recoveries to $5.4 million, which would be reinvested back into economic housing strategies. I will ask the Minister then, would he provide this housing update of that proposal? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That concludes the introductory portion of the report of the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, that Committee 1-15(3) be received by the Assembly and moved into Committee of the Whole. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Since the beginning of the Third Session of this 15th Assembly I’ve raised, through a Member’s statement, oral questions and the reply to the opening address, the wishes of my people in the riding of Inuvik Twin Lakes and their vision for change. Mr. Speaker, today my Member’s statement is about listening to the people. Members of my community have articulated their frustration upon us simply because they say we are poor listeners. For example, people from the small communities consistently say that the government employees interpret our government policy as a personal...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is the first opportunity I've had to reply to the opening address and I think it's important I do it at this point in the early term of our session here.

Mr. Speaker, it is not often that a small riding such as my electoral district of Inuvik Twin Lakes sets a new standard by having a turnout of electors that exceeds 153 percent during a general election. In my review of recent history, this seems to be the first of its kind in the history of Canada.

My Speaker, my riding of Inuvik Twin Lakes did not only come out in support of its four candidates, the electoral...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today is a day for the Irish population worldwide as they celebrate St. Patrick's Day. Big cities and small towns alike celebrate with parades, wearing of the green, music and songs, Irish food and drink and other activities. So why is it celebrated on March 17th? One theory is that that's the day St. Patrick died. Since the holiday began in Ireland, it is believed that as the Irish spread out around the world they took with them their history and celebrations.

Mr. Speaker, this reminds me that we have in the constituency of Inuvik Twin Lakes a small percentage of...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I addressed several pertinent points to the Premier during the question period of March 16th, that was yesterday, with very little confirmation on whether he was willing to introduce a bill of intent to seek provincial status for the Northwest Territories. In review of the unedited Hansard, I feel it requires further clarification of the rights of aboriginal peoples of Canada, part II of schedule B in the Constitution Act of 1982 as it applies to aboriginal peoples in the NWT Act. So, Mr. Speaker, I’m going to ask the Justice Minister, who is the legal advisor to the...