Statements in Debates

Debates of , 17th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 1)

Clearly, we can see how thin skinned the Minister is by turning it into an issue like that. As I said to start off, my issue, quite frankly, is the process, but if it hurts his feelings, I mean, I can rephrase my question.

I have to actually admit I liked his quote, and that will be my question, which is it’s not about the competency or the fair price, but his question was: How can we guarantee these things without going through an RFP process? Mr. Speaker, that is the question.

Debates of , 17th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 1)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just saw her a few minutes ago; I think she’s still up there. I’d like to recognize Sandra Taylor. She’s the president of the Yellowknife Seniors’ Society. I, too, at this time, would like to recognize the wise elder Jim Antoine.

Debates of , 17th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 1)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Friday, May 25, 2012, I will move the following motion: Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River South, that Tabled Document 2-17(3), Commissioner’s Opening Address: march 26Creating the Conditions for Success, be referred to Committee of the Whole for consideration. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 17th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 1)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will take that particular detail as the Minister had offered. What better learning experience could any particular company get from a potential contract by actually applying themselves in a constructive way by actually tendering documents to try to win? If we are talking about capacity building, bidding on contracts is one element of capacity building. That is the question, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 17th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 1)

I would like to do a point of order on 23(i), imputes false motive. The Minister is suggesting a nefarious conduct or suggestion by me. That is not true. I also follow that up under the same issue under 23(j) and 23(k), which falls under charging an MLA with some type of falsehood, as well as insulting and bad language that causes disorder of this Assembly. Mr. Speaker, quite frankly, nefarious is quite a strong word. Thank you.

Debates of , 17th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 1)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I said in my Member’s statement today, I was concerned about this process, about the new found love for sole sourcing, or as the sleight of hand may call it, a negotiated contract.

Mr. Speaker, my concern is strictly about the process and not about who’s getting it. Although there seems to be an undertone trying to describe it as that’s the issue, and by no means it is. Mr. Speaker, I, too, speak in favour of the virtues cited about training skilled development, local employment and Aboriginal involvement, so you won’t hear me speak against that. It’s the process. Mr...

Debates of , 17th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 1)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I want to talk about the market disruption caused by the Minister of Transportation and this McLeod government by sole sourcing the Highway No. 4 realignment, which frankly, Mr. Speaker, wouldn’t pass the smell test of ITI’s Market Disruption Policy.

As we all know, Minister Ramsay has been consistently critical of sole-sourced contracts as a Member in this Assembly, but now he’s in Cabinet, he’s reversed his position; because if you listen to the concerns in the community, you would hear people referring to him as Reverse Ramsay now, the new champion of sole...

Debates of , 17th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 9)

I’m glad the Minister referenced the report, because if he had a chance to read it – not to say he didn’t – but if he did read it, he’d also note that on page 28 of the report it talks about why RCMP like EPOs. They’re a good tool because they don’t require any investigation to issue an EPO. Forty percent of the officers suggested that. But at the same time RCMP have also noted and they feel that further information to confirm the victim’s accusation to ensure that the applicant’s legitimates are applied on good grounds. Pointing at those two variances noted in this particular report, I’d like...

Debates of , 17th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 9)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It gives me pleasure to recognize a constituent in the gallery: Lorraine Phaneuf.

I’d as well like to recognize on this occasion our very favourite table officer, albeit two, I should say, today; I should make sure that’s correct. I’d like to recognize my mentor, of course, the honourable Anthony W.J. Whitford. I’d also like to do special recognition to Mr. David Hamilton. He’s been a friend as well as a mentor of mine for so long I remember when he was taller than I was. I’ve known him that long.

Debates of , 17th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 9)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’ll be speaking in favour of this particular motion. Mr. Menicoche mentioned about the work done last term. I was on that committee as well. We heard a lot from people about the challenges before them about their languages. I believe the re-establishment of the Language Bureau is probably one of the most needed steps out there to help support these language groups.

I often believe that languages to survive need to be relevant, and to be relevant they need to be supported. Many of the challenges we heard in the communities when we travelled was medical terminology and...