Wendy Bisaro

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, am supportive of my colleague’s point of privilege and I would like to thank Mr. Dolynny for bringing it forward.

My colleagues have made some very valid points. This is the second time this has occurred. A year and a half ago we went through the same situation where we were advised after the fact, or basically through the media, that the government intended to spend money. In both instances the way that it was stated, as Mr. Dolynny put it, the government has decided. It was decided well in advance of any money coming to the Assembly floor for verification. That...

Thanks to the Minister for the commitment; however, it doesn’t really tell me much.

Is the Minister going to correct the time period for applications? Right now it’s less than three weeks. NGOs have a very difficult time putting things together. They’re not usually full-time people working with the organization, so I’m asking the Minister, in looking into it, will he commit to extend it to the three-week time period which is set in his policy? Thank you.

Thanks, Mr. Speaker. To the Minister: My question was not about during the moratorium period, but at any time.

What are the reasons that people are asking for leases for land within the moratorium area? My understanding is it is only ever for a cabin or hunting and fishing leases.

So, I’d like to ask the Minister if he could explain to me why he will not recognize, as I mentioned in my statement, that this is a significantly different request for a land lease. This is not a cabin or a hunting and fishing lease.

Why will he not help a motivated, ready-to-go-to-work organization and people get...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. This is an area where committee felt strongly that the department was falling down as well. When inmates come in, they need to be assessed. They then need the programming that will assist them in getting better, to try and solve the problem of why they’re in there in the first place. But when they are released, they need to have supports so that don’t re-offend and end up back in correctional facilities.

So, this motion tries to highlight the fact that there is very little planning for inmate release and reintegration back into their community and it is important enough to...

I’m not sure I want to thank the Minister because that was an answer that I didn’t want to hear. However, the moratorium was established for a reason. My understanding is the rationale for the moratorium was it was spurred by many new leases in the areas in the lakes around Yellowknife which have been issued by the federal government and there was an increase in squatters on the lakes. There was a large concern of the people who already had leases on these lakes that the lakes were going to be subject to overuse, and that was what prompted the current moratorium.

My question to the Minister is...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just a brief comment here. The action plan from the Department of Justice had, I think, 100-plus items in it and many of them are scheduled to be finished by November of 2015. Many of those, as well, were looking at reviewing and revision of their policies and procedures and directives.

Committee felt that basically the department, at this point, has in place standing orders, directives, policies, everything they need in order for corrections to adequately function and we felt that there needed to be a greater emphasis on doing what their standing orders or directives or...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s my pleasure to welcome a constituent from Frame Lake, Mr. Jeff Corradetti, president of the YK Motocross Association, listening intently today. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just a couple of brief comments again. There are or there have been, over the years, quite a number of agencies and boards that have not met the filing deadline for their public accounts and it has meant that the final public accounts were delayed. In this past year I think there were two who didn’t meet their deadline. Some of them asked for a deadline and I think there was only one that didn’t meet the deadline after they asked for an extension. So, committee feels very strongly that it is a requirement by law that people meet their statutory deadline for filing their...

This will be a new outdoor activity opportunity for Yellowknife residents and visitors both. It’s a potential tourism draw. The revenue from that would be a benefit to local businesses and to the Northwest Territories as a whole. The Minister can make this happen. He can allow this lease application and get the process started.

I will have questions for the Minister later, and my first one will be: Why won’t he do that? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just want to make a brief comment here. The committee has found, as we’ve reviewed public accounts over the last couple of years, that Finance has done a good job at getting the public accounts ready earlier and earlier each year, and they were able to get us the interim public accounts prior to August 31st in 2014 and we simply wanted to reiterate that this is an excellent practice and we want to make sure that Finance continues to do that in years going forward. Thank you.