Brendan Bell

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Of course, we didn’t have life-guarding services last year. The contract notwithstanding, the city was unable to find people to do the life-guarding. Obviously it would be nice if there were lifeguards at all our NWT parks that are on water. I believe there are about 15 of them across the territory. I don’t believe there are any lifeguards at any others, unless there are municipalities providing that service. I can indicate to the Member that I have called the mayor’s office to discuss this matter. We have been playing phone tag. I do look forward to sitting down and...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to advise Members that the diamond capital of North America is hosting a national diamond round table this week.

As many of you know, more than 100 delegates, representing the diamond industry, government and other stakeholders, are meeting in Yellowknife for two days this week to put the final touches on reports that play an integral part in the development of a national diamond strategy.

As Members are aware, Canada's provincial and Territorial Premiers have unanimously agreed to develop a national diamond strategy to ensure that this country...

Mr. Speaker, that’s an interesting question and I would say and restate that I am certainly wiling to come to the Member’s riding and sit down and better understand the needs of the community as it relates to this piece of infrastructure. We can talk about what it actually costs to run. I would like to see it. Obviously we have concerns about the health risk. We have talked in past about liability. Internally in the department we have had discussions about that. That is becoming more and more of a concern for public governments. I know our Department of Finance risk management division have...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I recognize that it is soon getting warm. I think the community has been in discussions with our department for some time. This is not something that was sprung on the community, and I do believe that if the community made the decision to run the piece of infrastructure and operate the freezer as a stopgap measure they could do so, and we can sit down then when I go up there to discuss going forward, how we deal with it, and deal with this season as well. I would be prepared to do that when I visit the community. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Let me first preface my comments by saying that this government supports and recognizes how important the harvesting of country foods are to small communities, and we're supportive of traditional lifestyles and we recognize and acknowledge in past times it was very important to have this critical piece of community infrastructure, community freezers, in our more remote communities that weren't accessible by highway, Mr. Speaker. Times are changing. We've looked at divesting ourselves of these pieces of infrastructure, and we've done that through Public Works and...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document entitled Snap Lake Diamond Project Socioeconomic Agreement. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In many cases community freezers were not being well utilized anymore, and I know that the Member knows his riding well, and the Member’s insistence that Paulatuk residents do need this piece of infrastructure is one that I am listening to, but, Mr. Speaker, we think there are more cost effective options. We are truly concerned that because of the age of this piece of infrastructure that if it continues to operate in the manner it’s operating, there could be a situation where the power goes down, members of the community are not aware, food spoilage happens, and the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize Dennis Marchiori, who is the Human Rights Act implementation coordinator, and also I am hoping my colleagues will join me in giving a warm welcome to Therese Boullard, who is the new director of Human Rights for the Northwest Territories. They have a lot of work to do. We know that we’re opening an office very soon and we wish them all the best. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

WHEREAS the Northwest Territories Human Rights Act received assent on October 30, 2002;

AND WHEREAS section 23.(1) of the Human Rights Act provides that the Commissioner, on the recommendation of the Legislative Assembly, shall appoint a director of human rights to carry out the responsibilities set in the act;

AND WHEREAS the Board of Management was tasked with implementing the Human Rights Act and has recommended an individual to the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Assembly is prepared to make a recommendation to the Commissioner;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We will certainly provide and have provided on an aggregate basis GDP in the Northwest Territories, and we can give an estimate of the value of the economy in the Northwest Territories. What becomes very difficult is to determine the incremental loss if one contract goes south as opposed to north. It is very difficult to then make the determination about what kind of a ripple effect that has. When people leave the Northwest Territories, what is the loss of tax? All of these types of things end up being done in the hypothetical. I think we could certainly put...