Bob Bromley

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just had a couple of questions on the plans for Stanton Territorial Hospital. This is my sixth year as MLA and we have been planning for this facility every year that I have been here. I am wondering what exactly we are proposing to plan in 2013-14, our sixth year of planning. What plans are completed? What plans are left yet to be done before we actually start to put boots on the ground to give this really keystone health facility for the NWT health system the comprehensive renovation that it so clearly and desperately needs? Thank you.

Thanks again to the Premier. An even sadder state of affairs indeed. Apparently we are expected to pass mirror legislation to adopt the federal regime as our own at the time of devolution and will be resourced just for those responsibilities, is my understanding. So here again the federal government is ransacking the environmental protection regime in anticipation of devolution without our input or approval, leaving us to try and shore up the regime later with our own resources.

Can the Premier remind me why devolution is a good deal and what resources we’re going to use to bring environmental...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Premier following up on questions that I had during the spring session and are with regard to the changes in federal laws, environmental laws in particular. I had previously asked the Premier questions on the major changes underway in that area – withdrawal of habitat protection in the Fisheries Act, collapse of our regional land and water boards into one, creation of artificial mandatory deadlines for completion of assessments, and so on. The Premier said he had belatedly written the feds inquiring about the Fisheries Act changes, but I’ve...

Communities rely upon our resident volunteers and leaders, and local businesses are the greatest contributors to charities and community initiatives. Local businesses are what take us through boom and bust. I ask you and all my colleagues to join me in doffing our hats to all of them.

I appreciate that offer. We can follow that up. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. That’s all I had.

What other energy efficiency measures are being taken with this building? I understand the structure of it; it is a nice block which is a nice sort of energy efficient start, but we know that our electricity rates are soaring, and I am just wondering if there are efficiencies being gained in that area as well as effective use of the heating that we do put into the building. Thank you.

I guess I might be interested in exploring that with a little more time, but maybe I’ll just ask, is it anticipated that it will be rolled out across the territory comprehensively all at once, sort of thing, if digitally we have that capacity and so on? Thank you.

Thanks for the Minister’s comments there. I have a couple of questions. Does the city know the timing within which they need to respond to the government for the potential to pursue things? What sort of deadline was given to them? The other two buildings are Stuart Hodgson and the Laing. Would they also be part of Yellowknife community energy system according to the folks of the city if they came back with a positive response to government questions?

Obviously, the Minister is circuitous now in his thinking. Private enterprise would be providing fuel in our communities if that was the case. The reason we are in these 16 communities is because private enterprise is not there to do that.

Can the Minister say, with a straight face, that at 40 percent savings on your fuel bill, there would not be the demand if that form of fuel was there and you had a choice between the two?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d also like to recognize Mr. Richard Edjericon, a resident of Weledeh.