Wendy Bisaro

Thanks to the Minister. I can appreciate that the department is reviewing, but I guess I’m really disappointed that as part of review we have to go backwards in order to do a review.

In a recent letter to the NWT Seniors’ Society, the Minister stated that the department recognizes the multi-year contribution agreements provide a certain degree of funding security. If that’s the case, I’m wondering why the Minister cannot, as a matter of policy, use multi-year contracts with NGOs like the NWT Seniors’ Society. Thank you.

I hope that is July of this year. Maybe I could get that clarified.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I think my colleague should have asked the Minister if he was going to get his answer in the fullness of time, hopefully sooner than that. I do have a question with regards to recycling and the deposit that is paid on milk containers. This has been brought up before and I would like to ask again, whether or not, I guess maybe not whether or not but when the Minister will agree with a full refund of the deposit on milk containers to try and keep the price of milk as low as possible. Thank you.

Mr. Chairman, thanks to the Minister for that. It is good to hear that it is going to be considered. I hope that doesn’t fall off the table, because it is entirely possible we will discover sites long after we have signed a devolution agreement.

My last question has to do with security. We have recently amended the Commissioner’s Land Act to require security for developments. Can the Minister comment on the likelihood in the future that we will have a development without asking for that kind of security and without asking a company to put up security for cleanup costs at the end of the life of...

Mr. Chairman, if there is a development on Commissioner’s land, is the deputy minister saying that it is now a GNWT responsibility to clean it up either pre or post devolution? Thank you.

Thanks to the Minister. I guess my question then is should there be a formal request to this government for funding? Would the Minister consider it as seriously as possible within the parameters of our current fiscal situation? I guess I’m asking will there be some financial support for this project at some point in time if the City puts forward an ask? Thank you.

Thanks, Mr. Chair, and thanks to both the Minister and the DM for the information. I guess I just would like to know with this reduction in funding specific to the land use framework, does that simply mean that this department is not putting quite as much into the land use framework and the other departments are taking over, or is this going to mean... I thought I heard that we’re nearing the end of this project. So is that another reason why there is a reduction in funds? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Thursday, February 24, 2011, I will move the following motion: I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Thebacha, that, notwithstanding Rule 4, when this House adjourns on Thursday, February 24, 2011, it shall be adjourned until Monday, February 28, 2011;

And further, that any time prior to February 28, 2011, if the Speaker is satisfied, after consultation with the Executive Council and the Members of the Legislative Assembly, that the public interest requires that the House should meet at an earlier time during the adjournment, the Speaker may...

I guess the Minister and the department feel that the only way they can do a review is if they put people on a one-year leash. I’d like to know from the Minister why the department couldn’t do the review of their budget and keep multi-year agreements as NGOs like the NWT Seniors’ Society had in the last year or so. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to tell a bit of a sad story today. Once upon a time there were a group of seniors and elders who wanted to ensure that NWT residents stayed in the North as they aged. They wanted to ensure that our elders would be well looked after and to preserve an appropriate quality of life for all of us as we age. So they banded together and formed a society to work on their goals.

Seniors are a tenacious lot and this group was no exception. They petitioned the government-of-the-day for funding for their group and kept on petitioning until the government, bless them...