Tom Beaulieu

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Standing Committee on Social Programs held a public hearing on August 15, 2011, to review Bill 20, Vital Statistics Act.

This is an important new act to replace one that was seriously out of date, and sets out the process of registering the most important events in people’s lives: births, deaths, marriages, adoptions and name changes. It is modern legislation that takes into account recent court rulings respecting same sex partners and other matters. There are provisions for electronic records and more efficient administration.

Following the clause-by-clause review...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to report to the Assembly that the Standing Committee on Social Programs has reviewed Bill 20, Vital Statistics Act, and Bill 20 is ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Standing Committee on Social Programs held a public hearing on August 15, 2011, to review Bill 21, An Act to Amend the Employment Standards Act. The purpose of this bill is to create a new type of leave from work called reservists leave. It enables civilian members of the Canadian Military Reserves to take unpaid time off to serve without fear of repercussion at their regular workplaces.

The bill would prohibit employers from terminating a reservist or changing his or her conditions of employment due to military service.

Witnesses appearing before the committee...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the Member for Frame Lake, that Bill 20, Vital Statistics Act, and Bill 21, An Act to Amend the Employment Standards Act, will be moved into Committee of the Whole for consideration today.

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. [English translation not provided]

Mr. Speaker, today I would like to pay tribute to an elder, Gene Norn of Fort Resolution. Gene Norn passed away on August 8, 2011. The community in Fort Resolution lost a wonderful, kind man in elder Gene Norn. Gene Norn was born on February 13, 1933, and passed away at the age of 78.

Mr. Speaker, Gene was a man that knew his history, and was always happy to share his wisdom and his knowledge in the stories that he told. I went to visit Gene Norn several times over the last four years that I have served as MLA for Tu Nedhe. It was good...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Pine Point used to be, at one time, a great trapping area for many trappers of Fort Resolution. The site has to be remediated. It’s been left, like I said, 25 years. I want to know if this government can do anything now with the discussions on devolution. Can this government do anything at all to clean Pine Point up? Thank you.

Thank you. Pine Point is clearly within the Northwest Territories. I’d like to know why that is the case. Why is the federal government responsible for cleaning up Pine Point?

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Today I will be making a Member’s statement in my Aboriginal language to advise the elders of what I will be doing between now and August.

[English translation not provided.]

Thank you. My understanding from the people in Fort Resolution is that the reason that Pine Point is not cleaned up is because Cominco continues to hold a lease in Pine Point. However, that mine has been shut down for 25 years. It only ran for 25 years. So my question is: what role does the territorial government have? The territorial government must have some role, regardless of devolution. Thank you.

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Today I have questions for the Minister of Environment on Pine Point and the clean-up of that site. I’d like to ask the Minister who is responsible for the clean-up of Pine Point Mines. Thank you.