Frame Lake

Statements in Debates

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 14)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just a quick question. I’d like to know whether or not this motion is going to inhibit the use of laptops by committee staff since we’ve taken out that second paragraph.

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 14)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I, as a Member of the Rules committee, have debated this motion and the consideration of what motion to bring forward within the committee. I do support the motion. I have some reservations. I am willing to go forward with this at the moment especially because it is a trial and it’s going to be a trial period. I think we need to see whether or not it’s going to work.

I have my reservations because I am concerned that it will be a distraction for some Members to work on the computer instead of paying attention to the work before the Committee of the Whole, whatever that...

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 14)

It is good to hear that. The Minister is probably aware, as are hopefully Members in here that I have an area in my riding that is under almost a state of emergency in terms of replacing their water and sewer infrastructure. I would like to ask the Minister whether or not he would be willing to look to the federal government for some of the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund dollars to have them flow through from GNWT to the City of Yellowknife to assist the Northlands Condo to replace their water and sewer infrastructure. Thank you.

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 13)

Thank you. Sorry for being so slow. I did want to just ask a question and I apologize if it was covered somewhere and I missed it, but there has been concern on the part of Members and I think local housing organizations, as well, about the number of clients that are in arrears. In some discussions we’ve had with Housing Corp, we’ve talked about a target of a 90 percent collection rate I think on mortgages, but I’m not sure. We also talked at one point, as a result of the Auditor General report, about how the corporation is monitoring these arrears and these collections of arrears in rent...

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 13)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you for the answer, I think. I guess I really don’t understand why a decision was made to go with one model when there are opinions being sought from Regular Members, from members of the public, from board members, et cetera. I guess to ask the Minister again, what rationale did you use to determine that it was up to either Cabinet or the Refocusing Government committee to pick this one particular model and not allow other options out there for the public to comment on? Thank you.

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 13)

I thank the Minister for the answer, but I am afraid I would have to agree to disagree with him, unfortunately, again. It seems to me that there was no analysis or research. The Tlicho Services Board model was looked at. It was determined that it was the best one. There was no other option presented for Regular Members and for the public to look at. So again I want to ask the Minister, other than looking at ideas which were presented perhaps by other members on the Refocusing Government committee and the Tlicho Services model, what research was done to determine that this model should be the...

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 13)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I risk leaving somebody out because I certainly can’t see the people who are assembled up behind me, but there are some constituents I would like to recognize: Mr. Duff Spence, who is a constituent and also the chairperson of Yellowknife Education District No. 1; Gladys and Albert Eggenberger, who are constituents of Frame Lake and long-time residents of Yellowknife. Welcome to the House. I’d like to mention, as well, Mary Vane, who is the chair of Yellowknife Catholic Schools, who is here; Mel Pardy, the assistant superintendent of Yellowknife Education District No. 1...

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 13)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In October of 2008, my Member’s statement said that I believe that some consolidation of some NWT boards is necessary and I still believe that. Mr. Speaker, I also said that the Tlicho Services Board model is not the best option for board reform in the NWT and I encouraged the government to consider other options. I quote from the Hansard record of October 9, 2008, when I said, “There are many other combinations and hybrids of our current system open to us if we get creative. No option should be dismissed outright.”

I also said that the consolidation of boards in...

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 13)

I think that is it. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 13)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will be supporting this motion as well. In regard to addressing the motion, it is very difficult to know where to start. Like the supplementary health benefits proposal, this particular board reform proposal is wrong in so many places that I really don’t know where I should start to speak against it, so I will just start and carry on.

I have said before, and I think I said earlier today, that some board reform is necessary. I believe that we have too many boards and that there ought to be some consolidation of boards and we ought to try and find some efficiencies...