Sandy Lee

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, with your indulgence I would like to recognize in the gallery students from Central Arctic Baptist Academy, all from Yellowknife. Mr. Speaker, we have up there Pastor Frank Siemens, the principal; his wife, Mrs. Jessie Siemens; Melinda Myers, supervisor; Alicia Adair, Grade 7 student; James Adair, Grade 9 student; Alexandra Budgell, Grade 11 student; Albert Castro, Grade 6; Melissa Castro, Grade 7; Kristin Hansen, Grade 11, I believe the daughter of our Commissioner; Felicia Skiffington, Grade 10; and, Justin Skiffington, Grade 9. Thank you, Mr. Speaker...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I do not believe that the Minister needs to bring this to committee for discussion. I do believe that the Minister is already aware that the previous Minister has been reviewing this policy for at least three years, at least three summers. The Minister already knows all of the issues pertaining to that policy. What I’m looking for from the Minister is, will he consider a tier system, a category system where priority is given to the visitors, but wherever there are vacancies the local people can take them and not have to drive by and look at empty spaces...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’d like to address my question to the Minister of RWED, further to my Member’s statement earlier today. Mr. Speaker, may I ask the Minister whether or not he has had a chance to review this department’s policy or directive to the contractor and whether or not he has considered changing this policy? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’m aware that I cannot speak for the committee and I understand that our committee Members would like to see changes to regulations brought to them first. What I’m saying is that my experience has been that when a Minister says he wants to consult and review, that is just an excuse for inaction.

I’m telling you that allowing for more than two weeks’ stay in shoulder seasons, between May and June when there is still snow on the ground or in August to September when all the kids are back in school, is no good to us. What I’m interested in knowing is what is...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the Minister’s answer. At the same time, I do believe this is a first test for the Minister. Often we have Members who cross the floor. They’re very well aware of the issues that we bring up and I know that the Minister is very well aware of this issue. So far, he’s answered in length without making any commitment at all.

---Laughter

I believe, Mr. Speaker, there is plenty of room for action that he could take immediately. I know he understands the need for extra space; this is not an unusual thing. But for right now, this summer, for many of our...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’d like to take this opportunity to raise an issue that my constituent has asked me to bring to the attention of the Minister of RWED. This is a recurring issue that I have raised with the previous Minister of RWED and something that the current Minister of RWED -- who is also an MLA for Yellowknife -- is very familiar with. It has to do with the department’s policy or directive that the department has with the contractor that manages the territorial parks around the city which limits the time of overnight stays for any given family to a maximum of two...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in keeping with the spirit of cooperation and working together, and knowing that the Cabinet Ministers are messengers for the Members to take our messages to Cabinet, could I get the commitment from Minister Roland that he would do his job to convince the FMBS or the board that he is going to be meeting with that the just thing, and the right thing is to follow these arbitrations and to pay these correctional officers the retroactive pay they have been without and the arbitrator has ruled to be in their favour? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have in the gallery, students from Kiononia Christian School in Yellowknife. The students came and visited here last year during the last assembly and we enjoyed it so much that they insisted that they come back here and they call this House "righteous house." With the indulgence of the House, if I may recognize the students one by one, if they could get up and be recognized: Lydiah Rabesca; Layah Rabesca; Nadia Wilson; Devon Allooloo; Michael Fowler; Jena Westergreen; Hannah McLeod; Nathan Rabesca; Liam Cameron; and the parents, Titus -- a former...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

WHEREAS Rule 85 requires that Members be appointed to the Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Nunakput, that the following Members be appointed to the Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures: The Honourable Mr. Bell, Member for Yellowknife South; Mr. Braden, Member for Great Slave; Mr. Delorey, Member for Hay River North; Mr. Hawkins, Member for Yellowknife Centre; Mr. Villeneuve, Member for Tu Nedhe.

AND FURTHER that the following Members be named alternates to the Standing Committee on Rules and...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Thursday, January 22, 2004, I will move the following motion: NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Nunakput, that the following Members be appointed to the Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures: The Honourable Mr. Bell, Member for Yellowknife South; Mr. Braden, Member for Great Slave; Mr. Delorey, Member for Hay River North; Mr. Hawkins, Member for Yellowknife Centre; Mr. Villeneuve, Member for Tu Nedhe.

AND FURTHER that the following Members be named alternates to the Standing Committee on Rules and...