Sandy Lee

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Yesterday we had the pleasure of having students from Hay River, and today we have a class from Yellowknife who has been patiently waiting to be recognized. Madam Speaker, it’s always good to have them here and it’s my pleasure. I would like to do this in French, but if I did nobody would understand it. I know they speak better English than I speak French. So it is my great pleasure to recognize the grade 3 and 4 class, Madam Isabelle Cormier’s class, from Ecole Allain St-Cyr. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

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Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, as you are well aware, between the February and March budget session until we reconvened this week, all Members in this House had a chance to travel widely to many communities in the North. I have particularly appreciated traveling to Tuktoyaktuk, Inuvik, Fort McPherson, and just yesterday to Fort Liard with the Premier and some of the Members to meet and talk to the Deh Cho leaders.

Madam Speaker, in these gatherings, I always learn a lot. As I was reflecting on this last night, I noticed an obvious common theme. I would like today to advocate this...

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Given the situation we are dealing with here and there seems to be numerous situations here of similar cases that obviously these goals are not being met, and the case I am talking about is a person who has studied his program in 2004 and he is expected to finish this year but he cannot register until next year. I can understand cancellations happening and such, but would the Minister look into guaranteeing that whoever is registered for an apprenticeship program, even if there are three or four students, that the courses continue? You cannot hold back people’s...

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, my questions are also for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment and it’s regarding the same issue as the Member for Kam Lake has raised. When I was listening to Mr. Ramsay’s statement, I thought maybe he was reading the correspondence that I received from my constituent because the stories are exactly the same. I think the Minister is aware of this issue because I have been copied a letter that was sent to him. It has to do with some young person who wants to get into an apprenticeship program to get his plumbing certificate and he’s...

…for people to gather and meet, like granny from Nahanni.

Madam Speaker, I know there are a lot more things that we could add to this list, but for me I would like to just make it clear that it is absolutely unacceptable that in the year of 2005, in one of the most prosperous countries in the world and in an area with one of the most heated economies within this county of Canada, our residents lack these most basic services.

Madam Speaker, it is absolutely unjustifiable in a budget of over $1 billion where any given Minister can sign a cheque for $200,000 to $300,000 for a conference here and a...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would just like to conclude by saying that none of us should have a monopoly on basic human rights and Charter rights we hold so dear. Whenever we see someone do that, especially an elected body, good people and especially the leader should stand up and say that should not be tolerated. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to express my disappointment in how my beloved city of Yellowknife is being advertised around the country as a city so insecure in its identity as to feel the need to celebrate a heterosexual day.

---Laughter

Mr. Speaker, as one council member put it so succinctly, I find this to be extremely frivolous and vexatious and a real mockery of the day of celebration hard fought and won by one of the most marginalized and victimized people in our society. Mr. Speaker, I believe no matter where people stand on the issue of gay...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. May I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think one of the things the affected employees are indicating is the fact that they do a very difficult job that they need to do to deliver this program, with a very low wage in comparison to government employees. Most of them have to supplement their income with a second income in their family in order to live in Yellowknife, and it may be that that is what they will have to do in Hay River, and there is a lot of speculation as to whether or not this will be a suitable replacement for those who have lost government jobs in Hay River. So what is the Minister doing...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I beg the indulgence of the House if I keep on repeating the same things that are maybe asked already, but I’m just trying to get some information here. Mr. Speaker, I’m wondering if the Minister could indicate whether or not there will be…I understand the existing contractor of the Territorial Treatment Centre has been given an extension for another year to help with this transfer. Is there a plan to tender this contract, or does the Minister have somebody in mind or a company in mind or a business in mind that is going to run this program in Hay River...