Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In areas where legislated authority does not exist, it is the committee’s view that the Government of the Northwest Territories must exercise its moral authority to represent and act in the best interest of the people of the Northwest Territories, and promote sound management of our land and resources. The Government of the Northwest Territories has long experience in ensuring that residents’ voices are heard in resource development initiatives, but the time has come for it to assume responsibility for more active policy development as well.

The Calgary study tour and...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This Minister is defending his little committees to run around. We’ve studied this problem to death.

What does the Minister of Health and Social Services think that this committee is going to tell him that we don’t have binders, cases and truckloads of paper that is going to be new? So what does he think that’s going to be new delivered by this committee on the need of a treatment centre in the Northwest Territories, as I said, whether it’s in Inuvik, Yellowknife, Hay River or even Norman Wells?

When we talk about holding the budget line, that’s nothing but malarkey. Everybody in this building would support a treatment centre option submitted to the FMB.

Why isn’t the Minister of Health and Social Services demanding the Financial Management Board approve that submission to build a treatment centre in the Northwest Territories? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the opportunity to talk about addictions today and the lack of government responses. I have never seen a better defense of the status quo by finding more excuses why not to act. Government after government after government continues to find new ways to defend doing nothing. There has been nothing but a solid call from this side of the House, including the Caucus at large, when we have asked for a treatment centre here in the Northwest Territories.

The Yellowknifer wrote an editorial the other day which I completely disagree with. They were taking a shot at...

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the answer from the Premier. I thought it really spoke to, sort of, the position at large.

It is difficult to jump into something like this without having control of the lands and whatnot. If he learned a little bit about Plan Nord, what you will find is it also is complicated with tax incentives, which is a challenge for us without devolution. It is never too late to start planning for tomorrow, especially in partnership with our Aboriginal governments that we are equal partners in the future of the Northwest Territories.

Does the Premier himself see a chance for us...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Once upon a midnight dreary, whilst this Cabinet pondered weak and weary,

Over a quaint curious volume of forgotten lore, dreaming of pensions, travel… need I say more.

Whilst the Premier nodded, nearly napping, suddenly a Regular Member like myself came a rapping,

As of some, one gently rapping, upon the Cabinet door.

’Tis a Member with ideas, and community problems that needed to be solved,

Then the Premier muttered, tapping at my Cabinet door – Only this, he laughs, nothing more.

Ah, distinctly I remember it was a bleak December,

With the Members’ cap-in-hand, asking...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of Justice, and each is requesting information for the calendar years 2010, 2011 and 2012.

How many charges have been laid to individuals by the RCMP and then withdrawn or stayed?

How many charges have been laid under:

causing a disturbance;

breach of probation; and

breach of undertaking?

How many times has the Alternative Measures Program been proposed, how many times has it been accepted and how often have the program’s objectives been fully achieved?

Mr. Speaker, I certainly like what the Premier said. The only thing I would change, of course, is to define this more as a roadmap or blueprint towards the northern future that we all share an equal investment in. When I say that, I don’t mean just Members, I also mean Aboriginal governments, as well, because they are our partners into the future of the territory.

Does the Premier see in the short term a chance to bring all of these strategies together in a blueprint document? Whether it is called the Northwest Territories plan Nord or by any other name would certainly be welcome. Does the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I have questions regarding Quebec’s Plan Nord, not specifically about it but what the Premier can do in regard to a Northwest Territories plan North. Although I tried to make a little spinoff of The Raven, which is written by Edgar Allen Poe, about the plight of Members trying to get the issues and the ears of the government, Plan Nord by Quebec is built around four major objectives which ensures the well-being of northern development for Aboriginal people in communities, achieve the immense economic potential of Quebec’s north, make the North accessible and...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Premier knows better than anyone, by all means, through my experience with him, seeing him in charge of many portfolios over the years, as well as his experience in public service, he would be able to say, to some respect, that history is always curious about getting into an area without a plan, and it makes it challenging whether it’s taxation plans, whether it’s land use plans and, again, mining strategies as you add all these things up together, hydro strategy, et cetera.

Does the Premier see in the foreseeable future some type of document we can get out there to...