Debates of May 14, 2007 (day 6)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you to the Members for speaking to this motion and for your response to it. It’s very encouraging. I really hope that, as the Premier says, that the government will take this recommendation very seriously. Certainly there are certain segments where there are already criminal records checks being conducted when people are hired to certain positions, but there are gaps. Certainly one of the gaps is the organizations that are funded by our government and the employees of our boards and agencies. Right now I know that in Hay River, the school board is just now dealing with a policy to have this implemented for volunteers and people working in the schools. So there are gaps. The government has gone some way and I think this motion speaks to the need to do more where it is in our ability and within our scope of responsibility to do so. So I hope that the steps that will be taken as a result of this motion will be dealt with expeditiously, that we will see policies drafted and action go into place in a timely manner, and that this will become a standard protocol for people who are working for the government, who are working for agencies funded by the government, and also that the people in the Northwest Territories will hear this discussion here today and will adopt these principles, too, in the private sector and in the non-government sector. With that, Mr. Speaker, I would request a recorded vote. Thank you.

Mrs. Groenewegen, Mr. Ramsay, Mr. Pokiak, Mr. Villeneuve, Mr. Lafferty, Mr. Miltenberger, Ms. Lee, Mr. Yakeleya, Mr. Braden, Mr. Hawkins.

All those opposed, please stand. All those abstaining please stand.

Mr. Menicoche; Mr. Krutko; Mr. Roland; Mr. Handley; Mr. Dent; Mr. McLeod, Deh Cho; Mr. Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Results of the vote: in favour of the motion, 10; against, zero; abstaining, seven. The motion is carried.

---Carried

---Applause