Sandy Lee

It’s scandalous for any government to go with a project that big and not do any analysis. So I ask the Minister again, why would he not do an independent analysis, hire somebody and do a real comparison? Because if he wants help, I can tell you, Mr. Speaker, that the best number he has shown us in committee is that Novel housing will cost about $117 per square foot and I think he owes it to the people of the Territories and the potential owners of these homes that he asked industry what could they come up with, something close to that number with mobile homes. I’m not talking stick built...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would certainly expect that when he has created an ADM position -- and I know he’s got people working a lot on this project -- then I would expect better comparison and better analysis and better numbers than going by anecdotal evidence. Mr. Speaker, what evidence, what has he done to compare the advantage and I want to be shown the advantage? I’m prepared to support this as long as there’s an advantage that he says there is. So I would like to know is he prepared. When would he do a comparison between this Novel housing with what’s in the market in...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s wonderful to see a gallery almost full today and I am sure they will all be recognized in due course, but I just want to say a special congratulations to the grads of community health representatives work.

---Applause

I admire and congratulate all women, but I just want to read a note that was sent to me by a husband of one of the graduates who asked me to read this, but I didn’t get to read it in time and I just want to say it’s for Anita Pokiak from Ernest Pokiak. “Tell her I love her and she’s a wonderful wife and the greatest cook. Even when she’s away there’s...

Thank you. Just a few short comments to add to this, Mr. Chairman. I think Mr. McLeod is right when he said that around here we lose the concept of money. We throw around $100,000 here, $200,000 here, $200 million like it's just numbers, you know, and $330,000 is at least $100,000 more than my house is worth. Three hundred twenty thousand would get us at least three teachers, or at least five special education assistants. It would get us at least three Novel housing, according to the Minister of Housing's math. It really is a lot of money. On the basis of what we're hearing, that is not...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The things that I’m afraid of is that we’re the guinea pig in the front line of this massive project that would only, as far as I could see it, benefit the company. They’re doing a fine job, but the Minister has other obligations and that I don’t want to see $200 million desperately needed housing money going down the drain because this Minister and this government refuses to do the necessary due diligence. So I’d like to ask the Minister, Mr. Speaker, and I’d like to know if he’s so confident about this project and if he’s so committed to the needs of people who...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to thank the Minister for that non-answer and if he wishes, I’d be happy to make all the information that we’re getting, we have been getting in the committee for public consumption, because, as far as I’m concerned, there’s nothing in there that is anything other than a big song and dance on behalf of the project. The Housing Corporation is so enamoured with this project they are failing to do the due diligence on a project as big as $200 million.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions today are for the Minister of Housing Corporation. It’s in regards to the number of questions that I have been raising about Novel housing. Mr. Speaker, I know that the questions and the statements I’m making on this issue are working to improve this project if anything, and anything I can do to improve this project, if this is going to happen, I’d be prepared to take full credit when this is done. So I’m going to continue to ask these questions also, because I’m motivated by lots of calls and e-mails I’m receiving from communities who are...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to speak today about the situations surrounding the overcrowded conditions at Catholic schools in Yellowknife. As you might recall, Mr. Speaker, at the end of the February session we agreed, very reluctantly on my part, to give the Yellowknife Education Facilities Review Committee a chance to conclude its work, as long as the Minister agreed to make some decisions before the June session. With two days of session left to go, we are not any further ahead than we were. As I expected, and any reasonable person looking at the situation should have...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I would just like to put a brief comment about some of the provisions in this bill for the record, as I am fully aware that this bill will not be going through normal committee hearing process as it has been in the convention and practice. I just want to speak on not just the provisions in this legislation but the policy changes that will come about in the next Legislature that will help, I think, the work of the Members.

I made a presentation to the commission when it was consulting and taking input from the public. I had the occasion to meet with the commission...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m pleased to add, also, my support for this motion and say a few words. Mr. Speaker, I have to tell you the first time I heard this idea from my colleague Mr. Menicoche, I got really excited about it. I think it’s one of the most boldest, maybe quite not new because we are borrowing it from Alaska, but why not borrow something when you see it and you like it? I just think that this is one of the most meaningful things that I’m going to leave behind as a Member of this Legislature. I see this as a start of great things. It’s not only creating physical space, and...