Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to return to the issue I raised yesterday, which is the Betty House, and I want to again state to this House that the Betty House is a very important project in the Northwest Territories. It’s very exciting what it will do, and the fact is it will provide so much support for women here trying to get on their feet. Whether they’re by themselves or with their children, sometimes they just need that extra lending hand of support. I certainly support the objectives of this particular project.
Since yesterday’s statement and certain questions in the House, I’ve gotten a lot of feedback regarding the Premier’s responses to me and it’s interesting how certain reasons why people start calling or e-mailing and letting you know that they’re concerned. Many people were not happy and they were wondering if we hurt the feelings of the government. The thing is the government did seem defensive on those particular answers. If they have to take shots at me while I do my job asking where the consultation is, so be it. That’s the only way that they need to do this.
The issue is simply this: It’s not about the support of the project, it’s about the process of the particular issue. I won’t read into the record yet again the Premier’s insult to me, which I perceived and many others did. The fact is this is an important issue. He highlighted in 2010 there was committee consultation, but interestingly enough research and ourselves cannot find any of this particular stuff. He highlighted 2011 that committees were updated, but one word or a one-liner does not constitute consultation, in my view, suggesting that we’re still working out some of the details.
May I remind the House, and certainly not at length, we had some really good quotes from the Minister responsible for homelessness back in May 2011. When I asked him questions about supporting the house, it was interesting how he talked about not having money, not jumping the queue, a worthy project but the community can’t get ahead of itself, no O and M money. It goes on and on about how yes, it’s an important project, but the fact is there’s no money and it needs capital review and, oh my goodness, we shouldn’t get ahead of other types of reviews because if we jumped ahead of them we’d probably offend many people in this Assembly.
The only issue here is process and our Members kept informed. I would say the record stands very clear today that Members were not kept informed. I will continue on this particular project during question period.
Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Beaulieu.
