Statements in Debates

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 4th Session (day 11)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, I would like to speak to a concern that several Members have raised quite well here in the House and it’s the concern for the lack of support for the Canada 55-plus Games that will be held next year in Brockville, Ontario, in 2010.

Mr. Speaker, the issue is this: our government has had a history of supporting this program in the past for $50,000 each and every second year. Mr. Speaker, the issue here is this year the government, out of the blue, has decided not to support this program. Mr. Speaker, it seems to be a bit of a shame when we have a $1.3 billion budget and...

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 4th Session (day 10)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. You don’t get to hear this often as a Yellowknife MLA. Would the Minister of Public Works be willing to meet with me and some constituents who want this issue to be seriously considered by the Department of Public Works, because there are a lot more than five construction businesses that actually use this and certainly there are businesses in Fort Smith, Norman Wells, I believe Inuvik, as well as Yellowknife that use this? So it’s a territorial program I’d see in the long-term, but the question really is, Mr. Speaker, is the Minister willing to entertain a meeting with...

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 4th Session (day 10)

As I mentioned, the Yukon Territory is able to use this standard called COR throughout their Territory as well as their small communities quite extensively. Mr. Speaker, has the Minister had any engagement with the Yukon Territory to see if it is possible to use some of their phase-in model that they used over there where they had only significantly high contracts the first year and then they kept lowering them down until we could expand the program throughout the system in a fair and reasonable way, recognizing that they’re small contractors, small service providers, as well as large ones...

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 4th Session (day 10)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to speak about a program called Certificate of Recognition, also known as COR. As some of you may know, COR is a health and safety certificate program for the construction industry in Canada. In the Northwest Territories, this program is delivered by the Northern Construction Safety Association in partnership with the Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission. The COR program is designed to equip participants with the resources and skills to develop and maintain accredited in-house safety management systems unique to their workplace. To be certified...

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 4th Session (day 10)

Could this be described as an initiative that the Department of Public Works does support and do they see it as something they’ll be implementing in a timely way and what would that mean? Thank you.

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 4th Session (day 10)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my Member’s statement today I talked about a program put on by the Northern Construction Association. It’s called Certificate of Recognition, also known as COR. Mr. Speaker, it’s a very successful program across Canada and it’s about safety management. It’s also implemented by all if not most provinces, which also includes the Yukon Territory, where they work on this accreditation on public service and construction projects. Mr. Speaker, I’d like to ask the Minister of Public Works and Government Services, is his department today looking into this accreditation...

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 4th Session (day 8)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, first off, would like to thank the Member for Mackenzie Delta recognizing my two constituents. His father, Mike Krutko, a very well-known Northerner, and certainly Mr. Ed Jeske is a very well-known hockey supporter in this community. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 4th Session (day 8)

Further to my statement, Mr. Speaker, I highlighted the issue of the appeal mechanisms only come into force as of April 1st this year, and I’m just wondering what highlights the Minister can provide us to find out if it is working or if it isn’t working. Thank you.

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 4th Session (day 8)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my Member’s statement today I raised the issue of the NWT Housing Corp and the response to the Auditor General’s report, and certainly the follow-up report by the Standing Committee on Government Operations. Mr. Speaker, my first question would be focussed, obviously, to the Minister, which is: in the report it clearly says there will be a revised statement to be released in early 2009 on how to address many of the symptoms and issues raised in the committee’s response and certainly highlighted by the Auditor General. When can we expect that response to this House...

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 4th Session (day 8)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In February 2008 the Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation tabled the Auditor General’s Report on the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation’s Public Housing and Homeownership Programs. This report shed light on many shortcomings in the Public Housing Program and made 11 recommendations addressing three major areas of concern: the management of public housing, the management of the Homeownership Program, and the planning and reporting conducted by the NWT Housing Corporation.

Mr. Speaker, my concern today is that these recommendations have not been...