Debates of October 26, 2006 (day 16)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there’s a TV program that’s called Extreme Makeover that’s about fixing homes requiring major renovations for families in need. The show sends the members of the household on a vacation while their homes are being fixed. Well, Mr. Speaker, I think this House can use a northern version of Extreme Makeover, Mr. Speaker. The makeover crew will be the Regular MLAs. We’ll find the money and we’ll send Cabinet on a little vacation, maybe to Disneyland or to Bern Brown’s Fishing Lodge in Colville Lake, just like they do to the residents of the house on the Extreme Makeover show, Mr. Speaker. We’ll start with one room of this House. Let me think. Hmmm. We’ll start with the Sahtu room.

---Laughter

Then we’ll keep working on all the regional rooms until we’re done. However, time will just allow the Sahtu region, for this episode anyway, Mr. Speaker.

We could get into the attitude of getting the job done right. We can, we would consult with the people, get their ideas of what needs to get done, we would shop efficiently on a united budget organizing with the airlines and other transportation carriers to get the best price for our dollars. We will set out solid design plans and consider the client’s needs first, Mr. Speaker. We will rearrange the authorities and decision-making powers to bring them within arm's reach of the residents. They will become useful to the homeowners because they are not so far away.

Mr. Speaker, we will also throw those noisy diesel-powered generators out and install heat-efficient wood stoves or even wood pellet stoves. These would be more affordable for our homeowners to operator, Mr. Speaker. We will consult with the experts, like the local heavy equipment companies and the land owners, for the best approach to secure land and save millions of dollars to get the gravel for housing pads and not have to barge gravel from one community to the next.

Mr. Speaker, the Sahtu room of this house would make a lot of room for nurses and doctors so they could stay with comfort in our communities. Mr. Speaker, we’ll use the room to help rebuild the Sahtu or listen to the input and learn the given trade. Mr. Speaker, as part of this makeover, a room would be used for day care centres that is easier for young mothers and fathers to make a contribution to the household, knowing their children will be playing happy and have a safe home.

Mr. Speaker, finally with the renovations complete we’ll bring Cabinet Ministers back to port from their retreat, show them what we have done. Hopefully the Sahtu renovation will inspire other makeovers…