Bob Bromley

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Premier today as the head of our energy issues. The recent comment in the House about renewable energy was that from an economic or commercial objective, you would be lucky to recover your capital costs within 15 to 20 years and by then you are almost at the point of replacement, so the vicious cycle repeats itself. Such uninformed and misleading statements undermine the very opportunity that citizens have to help themselves to cut energy costs and they derail effective government action yielding the unaffordable energy costs of today.

That didn...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d also like to join my colleagues today in recognizing and welcoming Dr. David Suzuki. I think there’s no question that he’s a great leader and visionary in Canada for the environment and for people’s health. I know he’s on the Blue Dot Tour, pursuing some changes to the Canadian Constitution that actually recognizes the value and the right to clean water, clean air and a healthy environment. So I really appreciate a life of dedication and I’d like to recognize that.

I’d also like to recognize Miles Richardson from Haida Gwaii. He actually was chairing one of the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Our second Energy Charrette in as many years begins today. Will we finally get it right? We’ve made no net gains in the intervening time. Another $58 million in diesel subsidies and millions in failed subsidies in connecting power grids, some clearly a waste because results were so predictable. Hardly progress. We must get real.

The Premier, ENR and NTPC may finally be starting to think in terms of keeping the lights on and begin to address energy costs in ways that also gain environmental social benefits, all part of the affordability equation.

Current diesel power...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just want to register my concern about this bill. I think, given our fiscal status, we are going out on a limb here. There is no need to advance $40 million on the Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk Highway Project in particular, given that there is no record of performance on that project on which to base such a decision and there is ample time to do that during the winter session, which starts a couple of months from now. I just want to make sure that was clear that we are making this decision to advance a considerable amount of money, given our fiscal status and all the unexpected...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you, colleagues, on both sides of the House here for their comments and I appreciate the Member bringing this forward for discussion and debate. I think there have been good points made on both sides and, ultimately, it really does depend on performance of the Minister and the department with respect to how well the intent, as the summary states, to fill vacant positions is actually accomplished. I think there have been some arguments made for having flexibility. I think really what we’re dealing with here is a matter of trust and the lack of trust, especially when...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, thank you for that response. I am getting some clarity on it here.

I guess, are there any corralling sidebars with respect to this potential to double fill? To ensure that the example that was used, somebody is about to retire, that would be acceptable, but somebody that was not about to retire and was being forced out without due process, that would be something, I suspect, committee would not appreciate or support. So are there any controls at all on the double filling potential? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I’m just going to attempt once more at my question. I apologize; I do not have a legal background. I’m trying to determine, with reference to the initial phrase under Section 4(3), “Notwithstanding any other provision of this act...” I’m just wondering, going back to the Public Service Act as it now stands before amendment, whether it enables the Minister to appoint a person into a position that is already filled, thereby displacing that person. Can the Minister do that already today without reference to what’s happening in this amendment?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I actually do have a question just to provide some context for discussion in the clause-by-clause. I appreciate all the perspectives I’ve heard so far and the Minister’s comments.

My question is: Does the Public Service Act, as it currently is, provide for the Minister to be able to directly appoint an employee into a position that is already filled, thereby displacing the incumbent? Is that ability provided for in the current act? Just to be sure, I’m asking, does the current version of the Public Service Act, which we’re proposing to amend here, currently provide the...

Because this is so important, I am going to repeat. I think the Premier was busy when I made this question. What I’m saying is these are very serious complaints out there right now. Unsupervised three and four-year-olds. Very serious to communities, very serious to parents and so on.

Will the Premier ensure that there is a process in place to deal with those complaints effectively? Also, will he deal with them and get back to this House by next Thursday on what’s being done about this situation? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask a question following up on the Premier’s statement on Junior Kindergarten made yesterday in the House.

Yesterday the Premier committed to “reach out to all other education authorities, Aboriginal Head Start, licenced daycare and home operators” in their consultation regarding Junior Kindergarten.

I am sure the department of ECE would say they have already done this, but what will be different this time around? Will the Aboriginal Head Start and the other leading, successful phase four program operators be taking a lead role in the communities where...