David Krutko

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe this is such a significant shift in government institutional change that it will have a major effect on the Government of the Northwest Territories’ ability to deliver programs and services, but more importantly to integrate those services into seven boards.

As I stated earlier, we have some 33 communities in the Northwest Territories. We have different institutions by way of housing authorities and DEAs. We also have regional bodies by way of divisional boards and regional health boards. I think as a government we realize that everyone has a significant role...

Mr. Speaker, the elders that are having problems with this issue are the elders that built the North. They were the trailblazers. They developed our communities. They developed our roads. They taught us as children and also they took care of the sick and weak in communities by our health care system. These people have made the North their homes. Mr. Speaker, they paid for what we have today. They developed the North; the trailblazers. Yet, Mr. Speaker, what do we do? We impose hardship on them at a time when they are struggling to maintain a life and enjoyment of the days they have to come.

Mr...

Mr. Speaker, as the seconder of this motion, I have been here for some 14 years, four terms, and I’ve seen several incidents where the executive branch of this government has totally ignored and disrespected Members on this side of the House. In regard to the issues at hand, in regard to supplementary health benefits, income support, support reform, motions that were passed unanimously in this House by Members on this side of the House which directed the government to seriously deal with these fundamental issues that were affecting residents of the Northwest Territories and totally ignoring...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A society is measured by the way it treats its most vulnerable in its society from the elderly, the disabled, the homeless, the widows and the people who are living in poverty in our small communities. Mr. Speaker, a lot of programs and services totally undermine the fundamental basics of society that really cares. Mr. Speaker, without communities, policing, nursing, the fundamental services of mental health workers, alcohol and drug workers, income support systems that totally exclude people from the fundamental basis of having someone live with you, elders who are...

Mr. Speaker, I, too, would like to raise the issue in regard to the government loan to Discovery Air. I’d like to ask the Minister of Finance if he was aware or did he receive any information that the Gwich’in Development Corporation was one of the businesses that loaned Discovery Air the amount of $10 million in regard to share equity in Discovery Air? Also, was the Minister aware that the Gwich’in Development Corporation offered an extension of the loan to Discovery Air based on the terms of the Gwich’in Development Corporation was prepared to accept? Also, was the Minister aware that the...

I will rise and report progress. Again, just for the record, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you. I think the Minister was misled or something as the Gwich’in had already loaned Discovery Air $10 million at 9.25 percent. They were willing to lend them more to get an increased share in regard to that company. I’d like to ask the Minister again, is this government going to follow some rules and procedures that are in place for other loans where you have to go to other lending agencies, get a letter basically showing that you were not able to get a loan from a bank or another institution before you come to the Government of the Northwest Territories so that rules and procedures can...

Mr. Speaker, it’s pretty obvious if he didn’t do a market disruption analysis of this loan, I guess you wouldn’t have got that information. But don’t you think by due diligence that that should have been done and why was it not done?

I’d just like to recognize my dad, he just walked out the door, I believe.

---Laughter

He couldn’t wait any longer. Also, I’d like to recognize Mr. Leon Lafferty, a former Member of the House, and also Chief Charlie Nitsiza . Welcome to the House.

Mr. Speaker, your committee would like to report progress. Mr. Speaker, I move that the report of Committee of the Whole be concurred with.