Tom Beaulieu

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

Mr. Speaker, as a government we need to do something now to address this urgent situation. The outlook is not good, yet the government plans various taxes to erode the disposable income of a working person. The high cost of living and the current system of taxes do not support the working class in a smaller community. As a matter of fact, it makes it easier for one to make the choice of unemployment, to receive government assistance to provide for their family’s needs. In effect, Mr. Speaker, government policy will play a role in...

Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister if Cabinet examined the negative impact on the cost of living and employment of our citizens as far as looking at other jurisdictions to determine whether additional taxing is the way to go.

I move we report progress.

Motion carried.

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to deal with the motion I gave notice of earlier today.

Unanimous consent granted.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I’d like to address the elders in my aboriginal language. [English translation not provided.]

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

WHEREAS section 40.2. (1) of the Public Service Act provides that the Commissioner, on the recommendation of the Legislative Assembly, shall appoint an Equal Pay Commissioner to exercise the powers and perform the duties set out in this Act;

AND WHEREAS the appointment of the current Equal Pay Commissioner, Ms. Nitya Iyer, expires on June 30, 2008;

AND WHEREAS Ms. Iyer has expressed an interest in reappointment for a second term as Equal Pay Commissioner;

AND WHEREAS the Board of Management has considered Ms. Iyer’s expression of interest and is prepared to recommend her...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Monday, June 23, 2008, I will move the following motion:

Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Kam Lake, that Ms. Nitya Iyer be appointed as Equal Pay Commissioner in accordance with the Public Service Act by the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories as recommended by the Legislative Assembly; and further, that the Speaker be authorized to communicate the effective date of the appointment to the Commissioner.

Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time I will be seeking unanimous consent to deal with this motion today.

I’m talking about the government themselves hiring youth staff — people who can deal with youth concerns and do youth surveys. My question is: could the Minister talk to his Cabinet colleagues about putting a budget together sometime in the next business planning process to look at this important issue?

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Today I talked about the need for this government to assist smaller communities so that they’re able to hire qualified sports, recreation and youth staff. My question is for the Minister of MACA. Will the Minister commit to looking at this issue and to developing a plan to assist communities so they can have adequate resources to hire qualified youth staff?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m talking about the actual thought of a whole bunch of individuals working in this area in the communities, working for the department. I don’t think that has been contemplated, so I would like to ask the Minister if he’s committed to working with a committee of MLAs or some of the communities to develop a long-term solution to seriously look at the issue of actually having youth staff working for the department at the community level. Of course, that would be during the next business process.