Wendy Bisaro

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are addressed to the Minister of Lands. As I indicated in my statement, I’d like to follow up on a number of things. But firstly, as I mentioned in my statement, the first question I have for the Minister is, and just a reminder, the YK Motocross Association has had a lease application denied.

I would like to the ask the Minister, why won’t he allow the YK Motocross Association their lease application? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that this committee recommends that the Department of Justice adjust the action plan to focus on procedural changes that will enable more effective implementation of existing directives, standing orders and policies rather than the review and revision of these rules, which may take place over the longer term. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Mr. Moses.

The standing committee is very concerned about the impacts that inmate mental health problems pose with respect to the safety and well-being of both staff and inmates in correctional facilities. If inmates are not adequately assessed in a timely manner by qualified staff, they may be at risk to harm themselves and others. Mental health problems, left untreated, may also negatively impact an inmate’s chances for successful rehabilitation.

The standing committee questioned the deputy minister about the challenges posed by dealing with inmates’ mental...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that this committee again recommends that the Department of Finance continue to work with the Auditor General of Canada and GNWT departments, boards and agencies to complete the interim and final public accounts at the earliest possible date each year and in time for their respective statutory reporting deadlines.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I’d like to talk about a land situation. We all have people in our communities who want the best for the community and its residents and they work very hard to improve where they live. The benefits of their efforts accrue not only to them but to the community as a whole.

Yellowknife is fortunate to have a group of dedicated, enthusiastic motocross riders. They enjoy their sport and they want others to as well. They want to dedicate a space to practice and teach their hobby.

The Yellowknife Motocross Association has been working for several years to revive the now...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I have a couple of motions. I move that this committee again recommends that the Minister of Finance provide the committee with the interim public accounts by August 31st of each year in time for committee review of the government’s business plans.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just want to make a few brief remarks about this motion and I’m extremely pleased to see we’ve reached this point. The idea was presented to me by a constituent several years ago and I felt it was an idea worth pursuing and so I did pursue it, pushed it as much as I could at Caucus and I’m very pleased that Caucus did agree that an NWT Honours Award was something worth pursuing. I am very glad we got to this point and that it has come to fruition. So I need to give credit to that constituent, and his name is Jeff Corradetti. I want to thank Jeff for pushing me and I...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am in support of this motion. I’ve spoken for probably a year now about the need for us to have a conversation on fracking, a public conversation on fracking, and to engage our residents, to help them learn more, to help them ask the questions that they want asked so they can get the information that they are seeking. I spoke last week in my statement and said that we need to have a conversation on fracking. It has yet to happen, and the answers from the Minister to my questions indicates that this government is not prepared to stop looking at regulations and have the...

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...