Sandy Lee

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 380-15(3): NWT Child Care Spending

Thank you, Madam Chair. I wasn’t going to comment more, but this issue that Mr. Braden has been discussing has prompted me to say something here so that it’s on record. I was going to wait until the Minister’s work is done in April or May when this initial report on this review comes hopefully to AOC to discuss it, but this is such a huge issue. I know Mr. Braden is very passionate about this issue. I’m not sure if what Mr. Braden is calling for, which I think is necessary, should be placed and that debate should take place by way of this review. I think the way we manage or not manage well...

…and fight for the children of Nahanni Butte. Mr. Speaker, we should all be ashamed…

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to join the Premier and everyone in this House in sending out my own very warm words of congratulations to the leaders and the people of Tlicho in obtaining Royal Assent to the document that would see their vision of a self-government become a reality, in short order.

Mr. Speaker, it’s hard to believe that it’s been 13 years since the Dene Métis Comprehensive Agreement was not able to be ratified. But, like most success stories, the Tlicho people were able to rise like a phoenix from the ashes and, with unrelenting efforts on the part of...

 Thank you, Mr. Speaker.  Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to waive Rule 93(4) and have Committee Report 11-15(3) moved into Committee of the Whole for Monday, February 14, 2005. Thank you.

Is there not room for a $1 million gym for one community that has no indoor facilities? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I suggest that there is a lot of gap for him to close between getting up here and making a commitment to a gym willy-nilly and to plan something like this 17 years later. I think there is a lot of room there for him to close. Mr. Speaker, I’m not talking about federal funding and all the other stuff, but doing with what you have. We are talking $1 million. The Minister of Health and Social Services is talking about healthy living, active living, kids having a place. What are they supposed to do in the wintertime? I think this is more than just the recreational…

Let me correct the hospital, to read health centre; sorry. Mr. Speaker, let me be really serious. I can see the planning process, but my understanding is that there is no gymnasium planned for Nahanni Butte until 2017. I would say, Mr. Speaker, that is taking planning a little far there. That is 12 years from now. That's not acceptable. There has to be a better way to plan this. Mr. Speaker, I remind the Minister when he was on this side of the floor, he talked non-stop about the need…

…that there is no indoor gymnasium in any community in our territory, Mr. Speaker. What is our criteria? There should be no community with no gym, and that's the case with Nahanni Butte. What are the children of Nahanni Butte supposed to do in the thick of the winter months? Mr. Speaker, apparently in the North you have to go to jail to get a good gym.

---Laughter

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as always, there is no shortage of big issues to talk about here but, this being a Friday, I would like to join in on the actions of the Member for Nahendeh…

---Applause