Bob McLeod

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. First of all, I’m very pleased to recognize my wife and partner of 40-plus years, Melody.

I want to recognize a number of visitors from PNWER and I’ll go through the list. Senator Cathy Giessel, State of Alaska Senate; Senator Lyman Hoffman, Alaska State Senate, and his wife, Lillian Hoffman; Mike Schaufler, president of PNWER from the Oregon Legislature; Max Black, State Legislator, State of Idaho; Mr. Jeff Morris, Washington House of Representatives; Mr. Bob Herron, Alaska State Legislature; MLA from Alberta, Ray Prins; Mr. Colin Smith representing British Columbia...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following two documents entitled Northwest Territories Energy Report, May 2011, and Growing Forward: Small Scale Foods Program, Community Garden Initiative 2010 Annual Report.

Mr. Speaker, at the beginning of the 16th Legislative Assembly this government made a $60 million commitment toward energy programs and initiatives. This commitment was in addition to existing programs and initiatives and intended to reduce the cost of living in the Northwest Territories and advance alternative energy initiatives.

Based on the priorities established by the 16th Legislative Assembly, our focus has been on reducing imported fossil fuels, mitigating the environmental impacts of our energy use, and reducing the cost of living in the Northwest Territories.

As the chair of the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m pleased to recognize two representatives from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business: Corinne Pohlmann, the vice-president of national affairs from Ottawa, and Mr. Richard Truscott, the director of provincial affairs from Edmonton. I should point out that the Canadian Federation of Independent Business is celebrating their 40th anniversary this year. Welcome to the Assembly.

I’d also like to recognize Darrell Beaulieu, the chairman of our Business Development Investment Corporation.

Like all the other Members here, I want to recognize all the Pages...

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, that Bill 11, An Act to Amend the Public Service Act, be read for the third time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Once I receive such a letter, we’ll proceed with the utmost speed.

Going back over a number of governments, there have been a number of attempts at decentralization and there have been successful initiatives to decentralize. I can think of the health care cards to Inuvik; I can think of the forestry division to Hay River, amongst others. I think that the last time a government took a serious look at decentralization it only got to a certain point, because you wind up with winners and losers. You have communities that lose jobs and other communities benefitting.

I think the best chance there is for decentralization is with devolution. We have to make sure that...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can only say that great minds think alike. At this point the goal of the Government of the Northwest Territories is to have a representative workforce, which in this case we’re talking about Affirmative Action in which Aboriginal people represent about 50 percent of the Northwest Territories population. We’re also taking the same approach for persons with disabilities.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have that information and I’ll provide it to the Members.

I just want to indicate to the Member that I like to direct corporations but the legislation prevents me from doing so, so I’m just allowed to write them letters. Thank you.