Sandy Lee

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have questions about absolute homelessness. Could I ask the Minister if this absolute homelessness covers situations like the ones that Centre for Northern Families are experiencing or situations that the centre has been advocating about, which is that the families on low-cost housing or in public housing could get evicted for whatever reason and then they have debt or outstanding balance or something and then they can’t…so they get evicted out of public housing and then they’re not funded for any more than $32 to get into the private market, which effectively makes...

Excuse me, I get to speak, I believe. Anyway, they are not related. So in my view, they are not related. I am not saying that other people have no right to their views.

The second thing is I think to say that if the parliamentary session prorogues, I’m not sure if we had and precedence in setting our rules that way. We don’t know when that is, and when is the last time we really tied our legislation with what was happening there anyway. So I think we can do our own work. I don’t think this is related and for that reason I’m not going to support this motion. Thank you.

That is fine, Mr. Chair. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chairperson. I just want to offer a few comments for the record. I understand and appreciate the complexities and the conflicting views on this and I realize this bill might touch on a subject that is of discussion wider than this Assembly. As the Minister stated in his opening remarks, I think it is important to note that this bill is not in any way defining or redefining marriage.

As the Minister indicated, we, as a territorial legislature, do not have the power to define or redefine marriage. That is the responsibility of the federal government. That is where the power...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m sure if he brings that proposal to this side of the House we’ll be happy to do the public hearing for him. Anyway, Mr. Speaker, I have another question that he might be able to look into while he’s considering the changes that I’ve mentioned already. That has to do with the limit on small claims court. Mr. Speaker, small claims are set up so that people can go and get their issues of dispute resolved without having to hire a lawyer and go to the bigger court. Right now you can only go there if you’re case is less than $10,000. Many courts across the country have...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize a friend that I made over the last two days, a retired teacher who is visiting from Vancouver, British Columbia. She is here with family who is attending the 50th anniversary of the Supreme Court of the Northwest Territories. Her name is Mrs. Bev Wong. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. One of the things that the people in this profession are saying is safer working conditions and probably a better compensation package. It doesn’t help that the government writes job descriptions in a way that seems to attract southern educated social workers, eliminating the chance for people up here to get a job. Will the Minister look into that as well, while he is studying -- yes, another study -- with a deadline, though, for June? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am still not getting the answer as to, Mr. Speaker, whether the Minister and government are interested in doing a review of the program at Aurora College. I can see that he is talking to various players, but I am not hearing that there will be any kind of formal process to really get to the bottom of what is going on. I believe, Mr. Speaker, that you can’t solve the problem unless you know what the problem is. I am not getting the indication that the government has a clear idea of what has happened. Can I get more solid information from him as to exactly how he...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in honour of International Women’s Day, I would like to take this opportunity to speak about the Canadian Women’s March 2005 Coalition. This is a group made up of 10 national women’s and social justice groups committed to the elimination of poverty and violence in Canada and making the links between local and global actions.

Mr. Speaker, they are launching their international campaign today on International Women’s Day and it will go on to October 17, 2005, which is the International Day for the Elimination of Poverty. In particular, Mr. Speaker, the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I still think, far be it from me to call for a study, but this is a real problem. I would like to see the government do something solid and concrete by this fall; way before that so that the college and we are ready to get more students in. I would like to see the Minister do more than just having meetings with the stakeholders; not that there is anything wrong with that. Could I get the Minister to commit to reporting the results of all of his conversations and consultations to us by the June session, so that we can take part in it as well? Thank you.