Bob Bromley

There is still no real plan in place and what have we got to show for the work that’s been done so far? The Hydro Corporation has promised feasibility, analysis and design for a potential electrical grid. Where is that? What is the status of its development? Why is this majority shareholder permitting its corporation to concoct multimillion dollar schemes without a business plan for the development of our electrical system?

So, Mr. Speaker, we’ve talked about hydro strategies and so on, but we have never seen any work come forward. When we have asked questions, it’s been written off out of hand...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we do not need another Deh Cho Bridge financial boondoggle, yet we have already sunk more than $13 million in public money into the Taltson Hydro Project. I want to know how the public interest is being represented in the controversial and ephemeral proposed routing of the Taltson hydro transmission line to serve a single customer goal: the diamond mines. Where is the strategic thinking?

Restricting a transmission line to the east side of the lake may serve our project partners in their search for returns, but I don’t see a serious consideration of public...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to return to item 5 on the Order Paper.

---Unanimous consent granted.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to start by recognizing the commitment made by the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, which I very much appreciated and encouraged me to get this motion going with the good support of my colleague Mr. Yakeleya.

In summary, this motion is all about controlling the high cost of living. It’s about building strong minds and bodies. All of this while being environmentally responsible. What it takes is a small, low-cost investment for returns on all these fronts: social, economical, and environmental.

So I want to thank everybody for their support and...

WHEREAS the Government of the Northwest Territories has recently expanded the NWT Beverage Container Program to now include milk and milk substitutes and liquid milk and milk substitutes product containers;

AND WHEREAS Members of the 16th Legislative Assembly have identified a vision and goals for the Northwest Territories that references healthy, educated people with a focus on prevention by promoting healthy choices and lifestyles;

AND WHEREAS the NWT Food Guide clearly identifies the need for children and adolescents to consume up to four servings of milk or milk substitutes each day to aid...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Thursday, March 4, 2010, I will move the following motion: now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, that Tabled Document 4-16(5), Foundation for a Sustainable Northern Future, Report of the Joint Review Panel for the Mackenzie Gas Project, Executive Summary, December 2009, be referred to Committee of the Whole for consideration. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, what a scathing comment to our public that is. If there is one possible kernel I could pick out of that it is that the Minister has finally produced initial baseline research that can get intelligent discussion in the public, but it’s initial.

Finally, Mr. Speaker, will the Minister recognize the need, duty and opportunity for meaningful public engagement in the Supplementary Health Benefits Program by extending consultation through the fall with an implementation target in 2011? Mahsi.

I assume the results of that will be brought forward in a timely fashion to the House or at least to Members.

On the question of affordability, I don’t see any analysis of the impact of different means thresholds or consideration of how our high cost of living, which is crucial for the great majority of low-income people who use these benefits, as being considered. Will the Minister commit to doing these detailed analyses and bring them forward as part of our consultation? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Since we are recognizing ghostly visitors today, I’d like to recognize Amanda Peterson, a constituent of Weledeh and her mother Margaret Peterson, well-known and respected North Slave outfitters. In particular, I would like to recognize Kaitlyn Menard and Emily Smith, a couple of Pages, for their long service in the House. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to speak plainly and seek a straightforward conversation about the Minister of Health’s program to develop a new Supplementary Health Benefits Program.

We left this issue over 12 months ago, because basic research had not been done to provide a basis for the government’s decision and approach. MLAs and the public asked that initial research be done and then a meaningful consultation be started. We naively anticipated that research would take a few months, information would come out, and then MLAs and the public could have a back-and-forth interaction with the...