Sandy Lee
Statements in Debates
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. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation.
Please provide an independent analysis of the comparison between the cost (per unit and per square foot) of the average Novel housing as proposed by the government with brand new manufactured/mobile homes of similar size and quality, taking into consideration the possible volume discount advantages that could be had by ordering 830 mobile homes from any company in the industry.
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. Mr. Speaker, I wish to speak in regards to the WCB’s policy toward those with chronic pain syndrome and the implication of the Valic decision.
Mr. Speaker, from my reading, this is a groundbreaking decision that requires substantial changes to the WCB policy and its failure to allow for permanent and partial disability to those with chronic pain syndrome at all levels of adjudication. It is not a good thing in administrative law, Mr. Speaker, to be told that a decision body was patently unreasonable, violated natural justice, it's fettered its discretion and it has...
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. If I may just squeeze in another question on that, could the Minister provide information on what in the Territorial Parks Act…I am understanding that this amendment will allow the parks officers to issue tickets, but I am understanding that they are going to do that on the basis of what’s already written or are we writing regulations that would state what the offending acts are; for too much partying for all hours or going to the next camp. I don’t know. Perhaps unruly or drunken behaviour, violence, either graded system of behaviours that would fall under these...