David Krutko

General comments? Do we agree we move to detail?

Mr. Speaker, I think that whether tinkering with it or making major changes, we have to know what our footing is when making these changes. If there are some legal implications by making these minor changes, is that going to be perceived as an overhaul of an existing preferential policy that’s in place in the NWT? So again, have you got a legal opinion from Justice in regard to these changes, and is there a possibility we may be watering down our rights that we have by way of preferential treatment under NAFTA?

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Welcome, witnesses. General comments. Mr. Hawkins.

I’d like to recognize a former resident of the Northwest Territories, Denise Lockett, who is here in the gallery with a bright orange jacket up there. You can’t miss her. Welcome, Denise.

I’d like to call the committee back to order.

Does committee agree?

On another issue, as I mentioned in my opening comments in regard to this department, we have to find a solution to the apprehension of children and find a way so we don’t have 620 kids in care. We have to find a way to work with the families, work with the communities and work with the children to find workable solutions in our communities. I think it’s important to realize that apprehending children is not the way to find solutions to these problems. We can blame the parent; we can blame the community; we can blame society in general. But at the bottom of it all, a lot of it has to do.... We...

Does committee agree?

Mr. Cummings.

I’d like to ask the Premier: are we looking at also promoting other aspects of this government to get capital invested in the North from the federal government, more than the devolution?