Bob Bromley

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That hasn’t clarified the process here to me. Just for clarity, will the Minister be providing the public with the information necessary for them to be able to comment prior to April 1st or is our public to remain mute until April 1st and then they can look at the results and comment thereafter?

I think these elections are important parts of our democratic process. I think also that particularly in education, the area the Minister has identified, this is a way we can find passionate and truly dedicated people. The statements I’ve seen by the Minister, the outright statements and insinuations, is that we would get rid of all these democratically elected positions and move to appointments. Does the Minister not agree that this would be a loss of engagement with our public? A loss of the civil input, civil society role for meaningful input and the passion that we really want in our...

Mr. Chair, I move that we report progress.

---Carried

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also would like to recognize everybody that is attending today, particularly those constituents from the Weledeh riding, and in particular all of the young people that have shown up today and remind us exactly what our jobs are. Thank you.

---Applause

I guess I don’t have another question. I just would like to comment. I hope progress can be made on that file. If there is anything I can do as the Member for Weledeh to try and help out with that, I am perfectly willing to do that. I think my sense from constituents is the core need is definitely there for these communities. I would like to see that go forward. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am frustrated that once again we have taken a good policy opportunity with good intentions and turned it into an attack on the mood of our public whom we are meant to serve. We simply cannot continue to unleash public assaults and threats such as the current Board Reform Initiative. In fact, policy ideas such as this should first go through an internal process of maturing by being substantiated with representation from different perspectives and departments and with some cold hard facts to ponder. Only then, with a clear iterative public consultation...

Mr. Chairman, I think Housing had scheduled a number of Affordable Housing Initiative homes to be constructed there. They were delayed. Is there still an opportunity to put those in place? Are the dollars still available once this land tenure issue is resolved?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I was also in support of this motion and I’d like to back up, really, many of the comments that I’ve heard from my colleagues today. There’s little else to add but there certainly is volume. The number of contacts we’ve all received from our constituents has been huge.

On the public consultation front, let me just cite the Yellowknife Seniors’ Society who were shocked and surprised that there were no consultations with the NWT Seniors’ Society or seniors in general prior to the Cabinet making this decision in reference to the 2007 meeting. Alternatives North says...

Mr. Speaker, a democracy is about representing the people, giving them a voice and treating them with fairness and respect towards fair, responsible and responsive government. Being an MLA, a representative of the people in the Weledeh constituency, is a huge honour and a huge responsibility. But there is one thing I most fully appreciate. It is the privilege provided to me on behalf of my people to be heard and to have my opinions and perspectives justly considered by the government.

When MLAs are elected to the Executive, their responsibilities increase. These honoured and privileged people...

Mr. Speaker, I’d like to recognize Loretta and Dick Abernethy and suggest they get an award to paying the most attention to this House.

---Laughter

I’d like to recognize Blake Rasmussen, another constituent from Weledeh. As well, David Connolly, I’d like to recognize him. I believe he’s here with colleagues from Avalon Ventures. Thank you.