Bill Braden

Mr. Speaker, from a consumer's point of view, a pretty critical part of this program, given that I think most northerners want to participate in something that’s going to help the environment, is that if there’s going to be a collection that’s going to start on November 1st, it’s going to take at least 15 cents extra for each container. There should be some way that they know they can turn that in and recover at least part of that fee. My question, Mr. Speaker, is what are the government’s plans for those communities that will not have a depot on November 1st? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to acknowledge the work of the RCMP in Project Gunship, a major sweep in the city of Yellowknife and Edmonton yesterday, Mr. Speaker. It was quite by coincidence that while we were having a discussion in the House yesterday afternoon about community policing, this major exercise, which I understand involves some 50 officers, was unfolding. The information that has been made public so far is that we have seen 29 arrests here in Yellowknife and two in Edmonton. Substantial quantities of cash, drugs and handguns have been seized.

Mr. Speaker, we are constantly...

Alright, I'm not at all well versed in this kind of administration. As a taxpayer, I would like a chance to resolve a dispute over a water bill, library fine or a parking ticket in some kind of process before it would go to that higher level or that second tier, being my tax status. Would setting that kind of thing up or requiring it be a responsibility of the territorial government to ensure it's there, or is that something that each municipality has the jurisdiction to decide on? Is there any kind of clarity there? Whose job is it to make sure I have a reasonable chance to argue my case...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I don't have any further questions.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I want to speak in favour of this amendment. I think the proposal to adjust the fund is prudent business management on the part of the FMBS. From the information provided, I think the new ceiling or floor of $1 million, given the scale and the size of accounts in the number of communities we serve, is a good piece of work. I am happy to see this and I will be voting for it.

In the midst of such a volatile petroleum pricing environment as we have right now, I would want to ask the Minister or his officials if there is any extra concern. There are some forecasts...

As an aside to it, I am not particularly attached to the amendment before us, Mr. Chairman, but does the board’s authority here -- and this seems quite appropriate, by the way -- require or demand any kind of community consultation when it goes about prescribing days and hours? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Clause 7 talks about an amendment to the Liquor Act. The essential intent of this is basically a clarification, as I understand it, to amend the act and clarify the board’s authority to make regulations respecting the days and hours of operation of a licensed establishment. I wonder if the Minister could give us a bit of background why this clarification was required, and what issue or kind of concern may have come forward that caused this. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, one of the welcome pieces of information that we got when we visited the RCMP detachment a few weeks ago was that there is going to be much more involvement of the Victims Services Program in the whole policing regime. Are we able to handle, through this Victims Services Program, our current workload, and what’s our capacity to handle what is likely to be an increased workload for the Victims Services Program? Thank you.

Merci beaucoup, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions this afternoon are for the Minister of Justice, and they are in relation to community policing in Yellowknife. Mr. Speaker, the GNWT has a responsibility for contracting with the RCMP to deliver policing services across the Northwest Territories. The Yellowknife detachment has, for years, been recognized as chronically understaffed. The city has grown considerably and the complexity of crime and policing has also grown. I would like to ask the Minister, from his point of view, what progress has been made or what steps are underway right...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Problems of drugs, crime and violence are a concern to residents across this country. Residents of the NWT, sadly, are not immune to these problems. Earlier this summer I heard from a number of constituents in a neighbourhood about increasing drug dealing and problems related to this activity, particularly crack and cocaine in Yellowknife. We know that these reports extend also from our streets, our neighbourhoods and even, most disturbingly, Mr. Speaker, from our schools. More and more citizens though are saying that they will not put up with drugs on our streets and...