Debates of March 9, 2005 (day 52)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, Over the course of the last few days, we have discussed a proposal -- and I say proposal -- to build a courthouse, a brand spanking new courthouse for Yellowknife in the future. Mr. Speaker, we also spoke of other projects in the Northwest Territories to be constructed in the future.

Mr. Speaker, I am receiving feedback to the logic or the reason why we have put a brand new courthouse as a priority in our spending of public funds, especially with the type of figure of $41 million. Mr. Speaker, with $41 million, we could put some serious dollars into the Community Justice Program many times over. We could establish well-operated, well-funded, well-trained community justice legal workers, now known as community justice coordinators.

Mr. Speaker, one of the most important distinctive characteristics of our society is its laws; our laws that govern our way of behaviour and the existence of laws to live by. Mr. Speaker, Canada is a multinational, multicultural nation, therefore there are different views on the nature of the laws outside the dominant culture, especially aboriginal traditions, and that is my point, Mr. Speaker; the $41 million that we are not putting in resources into our system when we often speak of only a few cents here and there.

Mr. Speaker, this government has brought forward the request to begin the courthouse concept and has received some support. However, Mr. Speaker, with all the cuts that were tabled and the increased needs in our communities, this request does not make sense and has turned a lot of people off in our small communities to the priorities and the way this government prioritized its spending.

Mr. Speaker, in today’s age of 2005, in the small community of Colville Lake where there are about 135 people who live above the Arctic Circle, there is no running water in the public school, there is no running water in the public community office or washrooms. There are only two dentists that visit the community each year. Dentists and doctors are lucky to get into the community three or four times per year; while medical specialists, well your guess is as good as mine, whenever they can make it in. Mr. Speaker, the cost of living in Colville Lake is out of this world. That is the way we take care of the people in Colville Lake. They feel like they are out of this world, on another planet. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

The Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. You may conclude your statement, Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, colleagues. Mr. Speaker, for $41 million we can surely build a decent outhouse for Colville Lake. At least they can enjoy one function in comfort and know that in this government we care. Mahsi.

---Laughter

---Applause