Bob Bromley

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I realize the Member is on the Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures and was present during the rather extensive discussion we had on this, which we’re hearing again today. The CEO assured committee members that every community does have an accredited financial institution that would qualify. This includes co-operatives and Northern Stores. It’s recognized that not every transaction will be on the record of a financial institution. I suspect that’s true for all of us here today, but every receipt of dollars and every expenditure must certainly be accounted for and...

With this activity and fresh greens on the table, I’m really getting in the mood for summer, and I bet you are too. I’d like to wish you, my colleagues and staff and all of your families the very best for a safe, fun and restorative summer. I’d like to say that for all the people of the Northwest Territories as well.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that the definition of elections advertising in Section 237 of the Elections and Plebiscites Act be clarified as proposed by the Chief Electoral Officer on page 13 of his auxiliary report. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move that Sections 104 and 299 of the Elections and Plebiscites Act be amended to prohibit election advertising on polling day and the day prior.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that the Elections and Plebiscites Act be amended to prohibit candidates from vouching for another elector.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures has presented its Report on the Review of the Auxiliary Report of the Chief Electoral Officer on Issues Arising from the 2011 General Election.

The report contains 13 recommendations which, taken together, will help clarify, modernize and strengthen the NWT’s electoral system. These are important incremental changes to ensure the continued integrity and fairness of our elections.

The committee advises that these changes should be made in advance of the next election.

The committee thanks the Chief Electoral Officer for his...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to table a letter from the Yellowknives Dene First Nation, the City of Yellowknife and Alternatives North addressed to the Honourable Michael Miltenberger, Honourable Bernard Valcourt, Honourable Gail Shea and Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, entitled “Responsible Ministers Decision on the Report of Environmental Assessment of Giant Mine Remediation Project, EA0809-001.” Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have a budget session in a few months’ time, so there is plenty of opportunity for this Minister. Clearly, there are serious communication issues with the Department of Education, Culture and Employment. We haven’t seen even an evaluation of the pilot project in Fort Providence and what the impacts of that were on the students, on the families, on the Aboriginal Head Start program. Basic stuff, and everything that comes out of the department communication is confusing and lacking in facts, just like the Minister’s responses.

What will the Minister do to not only...

I have before me a finance sheet of agreed upon figures of the Yellowknife Catholic School Board signed off by the Minister’s finance director and the senior finance officer for YCS – and that will be tabled later today – that clearly shows the ECE/YCS agreed upon numbers for board funding projections. There are undeniable deficits that for conservative enrolment predictions accumulate to $1.67 million by year four all in. The impacts of this fall on the backs of our students, and this is true for many school boards.

Why is the Minister not owning up to these budget reductions so we have can a...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would also like to recognize all the students in the House today. It adds a certain energy to the room. I would also like to recognize that there are undoubtedly students from Weledeh, that’s the Old Town and Niven Lake and Ndilo and Detah. I certainly recognize Rae Panayi, a neighbour from down there in Peace River Flats. Welcome to the House. Mahsi.