Range Lake

Statements in Debates

Debates of , (day 47)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Should I take that as the Minister saying that he will use his good office to let his department officials know that creating a shelter or making it possible…Not the government doing 100 percent, but making this happen is his priority. Could I take that as his answer? Thank you.

Debates of , (day 44)

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the Standing Committee on Social Programs conducted its public review of Bill 15, Tlicho Community Services Agency Act, on December 10th, 2004. The committee would like to thank the Minister and his staff for presenting the bill. Bill 15 is the last of three pieces of NWT legislation needed to implement the Tlicho agreement. The bill will create a new agency which will replace the Dogrib Community Services Board and assume the responsibility for delivering education, health and social services to residents of the Tlicho region. Bill 15 is based on both...

Debates of , (day 44)

Would the Minister revisit this issue? Thank you.

Debates of , (day 44)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I stated in my Member’s statement, this department, before a split, runs with an $80 million budget. That’s a lot of money. Everybody here knows there are always vacancies in any department. There is a lot of room for the Minister to manoeuvre; 20 or 30 percent vacancies. Mr. Speaker, the Minister is already aware and he has already stated that there will be hardly any funding for individuals or small NGOs to take part in the Mackenzie Valley review process. Most of the government funding goes to other levels of governments and huge organizations. How can he justify...

Debates of , (day 44)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’d like to once again register my concern with the fact that the division of RWED will result in the creation of 28 new jobs at a cost of $2.8 million every year. Mr. Speaker, I understand that the department needed to streamline and separate their mandates between exploring resources to protecting the environment. But that didn’t give the government the right to reproduce themselves 28 more little positions in offices. Mr. Speaker, I don’t accept the Minister’s position that this had to be done in order to better respond to the work of preparing for the...

Debates of , (day 44)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With all the resources he had, the Minister still hasn’t got the beverage recycling plant off the ground, he hasn’t brought in the Wildlife Act that’s been in the works for 10 years, and people are crying in the public media saying we want to take part in having a say about what’s going to happen to us with this development. All the Minister is doing is creating government positions in offices. Mr. Speaker, would the Minister not revisit this and see how the money could be better spent in making a difference in people’s lives? Thank you.

---Applause

Debates of , (day 44)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’m sure that all governments across the country are bigger than ourselves. But we are smaller than the rest of them, as well. We’re only 40,000 people and, Mr. Speaker, most of the positions that are being created are senior management positions. They are not going to add to the people on the ground who need to be in contact with communities to do the work. In the end, I really don’t think it’s going to make a difference in a way that people want to see it. It really, Mr. Speaker, was done to minimize the pain in reorganization and I think the Minister...

Debates of , (day 44)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, further to my statement today, I’d like to ask questions to the Minister of RWED. Mr. Speaker, we have been hearing a lot in the news and during our budget session where we have not been able to fund everything that we need to. I really do believe that for the people out there, they don’t really care if we have 28 more positions in RWED or wherever else. What makes the difference to them is what’s happening in their communities and to facilities that are breaking down. We have places with no indoor gyms, we’re closing facilities, and I just heard now that...

Debates of , (day 43)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, colleagues, for giving me the opportunity to speak. I’d like to rise and speak in favour of the motion. Mr. Speaker, I think there is a lot in this motion and it reflects the frustration on the part of the Members in terms of the government’s inability to meet the needs of housing in the North. It also speaks to the desire on the part of the Members to improve the situation as much as we can.

Mr. Speaker, I think there is a need to review the mandate and the work of the Housing Corporation in light of the fact that there are so many needs there and that we...

Debates of , (day 43)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on what basis does he suggest that there are no businesses in the Territories who could provide homes? There is no manufacturing mobile home factory, but there are lots of businesses in the North that could provide housing to the North. Is it not his responsibility to look for business opportunities and promote growth and promote opportunities? On what basis does he conclude that?