Bob Bromley

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to present a petition dealing with the matter of midwifery care. The petition contains 27 signatures of Yellowknife residents.

The petitioners request that the Government of the Northwest Territories commit to expanding the Midwifery Program to other communities in the NWT beyond Fort Smith for fiscal year 2013-14, by identifying the selected communities and committing to the continuity of this expansion with annual core funding. Further, that the Government of the Northwest Territories ensure that women feel confident and secure to stay in their communities...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Gobbledy-gook. Why can the Minister not work management authorities now and get a resident quota in place for this season? Record numbers of caribou, unlimited Aboriginal harvest, how about 10 tags for resident hunters?

The Minister refuses to answer. I will answer for you. Never. Resident hunters are never allowed unlimited harvest on barren land caribou. I’m not saying that’s good or bad, it’s simply the way it is. The season has been closed – that is zero harvest for resident hunters – for years now for all barren land caribou for resident hunters, except possibly the Porcupine. What has been the Aboriginal quota on the Bluenose-East caribou this year?

Mr. Speaker, thanks again to the Minister for that response. My understanding is that the client service officers put in the order for the cheque and then the financial people issue the cheque. That is what I was referring to. I assume that the Minister has that well in hand and will ensure both steps are taken in a timely fashion.

When these payments are late they cause ripple effects. People incur late fees for things such as phone and electricity. These are people for whom a five or 10 dollar additional charge is equivalent to a day’s groceries for a family. Unfortunately, current income...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to follow up on my colleague Ms. Bisaro’s questions to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment the other day regarding late payment of income support.

I’ll start by noting that I raised this issue with the Minister in 2010 and was told at the time that the problem was due to staff changes. This time it’s attributed to the possibility of holidays or staff vacancies. Obviously, these predictable and regular occurrences should never deprive people, destitute people of their only way to pay rent, buy food and clothe their families.

Can the Minister assure...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Later today I will be tabling a written petition of 27 signatures, calling for the early introduction of midwifery services throughout our communities.

This paper petition is in addition to the e-petition that will remain open for signatures until January on the Legislative Assembly website. My colleagues for Hay River North and Frame Lake have spoken this session on the need for early introduction of midwifery services throughout our community. I will add my voice to theirs.

The Minister of Health has heard the sound arguments: improved social functioning, enhanced...

I move that this committee recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories include in its policy on hydraulic fracturing the implementation of environmental monitoring and area management plans. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. WHEREAS the Government of Canada has enacted major revisions to a number of environmental protection laws, including the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, the Fisheries Act, the Navigable Waters Act and the Species at Risk Act, through its first omnibus budget implementation bill, Bill C-38, and is proposing further revisions under Bill C-45, which is currently before Parliament.

AND WHEREAS a vigorous environmental management regime is essential for the protection of our vulnerable northern ecosystems, for citizens’ participation in the management of our natural...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures would like to present a Report on the Use of Tablet Computers in Formal Session of the Legislative Assembly.

In its February 8, 2012, Report on the Use of Tablet Computers in the Legislative Assembly, the Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures recommended that:

Tablet computers such as iPads be considered as a type of laptop computer/hand-held device, subject to the existing conventions in the House regarding electronic communications devices.

This recommendation was adopted by a motion of the Committee of the Whole. As a...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister responsible for the Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission (WSCC). Please provide:

information on the cost of legal advice incurred by the WSCC in the past four fiscal years;

information on the costs incurred by the WSCC for legal advice on individual case files in the past four fiscal years; and

information on the cost incurred by WSCC in support of its presentations before appeals tribunals in the past four fiscal years.

Mahsi.