Wendy Bisaro

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Later today I will table a draft act to establish an office of the ombudsman. You and all Members will know that I have been pursuing the issue since I was first elected eight years ago. It’s not a new issue by any means. MLAs have been talking about establishing an ombudsman office since 1992, five Assemblies ago. The general public has been looking for such an office long before that.

There have been numerous motions passed in this House recommending the establishment of an ombudsman office. The Standing Committee on Government Operations was mandated by the House to...

Thanks, Mr. Chair, and thanks to the Minister and Mr. Anderson for the explanation. This identifies it as one unit. Generally, when I see one unit referenced in the Housing Corporation information I think of like a two-bedroom apartment or a house or something. In this building, which is this non-residential building, is it the whole building that’s being upgraded and what’s the size of the building?

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I wanted to ask a question about the sheriff’s vehicle. What kind of a vehicle is it that is required? This says a suburban or similar full-size to transport court party. I guess, how big is the court party? How big does this vehicle need to be? Are we looking at a fairly expensive vehicle or is it, you know, similar price to something you or I would buy off the lot that isn’t going to break the bank? Thank you.

To the Minister: I can appreciate that we’re in a tight fiscal situation; however, $28 million in a 1.6 or 1.7 billion dollar budget is a very small percentage. I know communities are not going to get a doubling of the infrastructure dollars that are shown in this budget, but I think our communities, if we expect them to continue and if we expect our residents to continue getting the municipal services that they need – dogs, ditches and dumps, as they say – if that’s going to continue, we’re going to have to give them bigger infrastructure dollars. So, I strongly encourage the 18th Assembly to...

So, to relate it to something I understand within Prelude Lake Park, it would be the same sort of a road as from the highway to get to Prelude Lake itself. Would that be a good comparison? Thank you.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. Are we including page 50 as well?

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I have a question here with regard to the type of lab equipment. I seem to recall that we spent some money on the Taiga Lab last year. Because of devolution, we took over the lab, took over the federal responsibility.

Could I get an explanation, if my recollection is correct? If it is, what equipment are we upgrading and replacing when we spent money just last year on the lab? Thank you.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I guess I could have held this question, but if the review has been completed, I have to then ask, when are we going to see an increase in this funding? There’s no projection that I’m aware of to increase infrastructure funding anytime soon.

To the Minister: How long are communities going to have to wait before they get some more capital dollars for their infrastructure? Thank you.

Thank you Madam Chair. Madam Chair, we wish to continue with Tabled Document 281-17(5), NWT Capital Estimates for 2016-2017, starting with continuation of the Department of Education, Culture and Employment and, time permitting, Environment and Natural Resources; Industry, Tourism and Investment; Justice; Lands; Municipal and Community Affairs; and NWT Housing Corporation. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I don’t need any more information. By the time I get the information, we’ll be done with the budget. That’s all I have, Mr. Chair. Thanks.