David Ramsay

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, was very interested in the news report this morning that saw a former Premier question the AIP and the way forward for this government. Mr. Speaker, it came across as being negative and blatantly self-serving, if I can say so. It got me to thinking that here’s a former Premier talking about a deal like this and where does that leave the public that’s out there in the Northwest Territories? What are they to believe? So I guess the first question I have, Mr. Speaker, is I’d like to ask the Premier how he is going to take this deal out to the people of the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I’d like to recognize International Stuttering Awareness Day, which takes place tomorrow. In supporting this awareness, I’d also like to recognize a former constituent, Ms. Karen Hollett, who is with us in the gallery today, who recently published a book about a young girl who stutters. A heart-warming story, Hooray for Aiden, was written by Ms. Hollett, who knows firsthand how challenging life can be for a young person who stutters. It is an excellent book that shows how a young grade 2 student named Aiden overcomes her fear of speaking in class and about how...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’ll try to stay away from numbers, but obviously when you’re looking at transferring, say, hundreds of jobs to the Northwest Territories, you’re going to have to negotiate a number. Obviously our negotiators aren’t going to be working with the federal government on some numbers that are woefully inadequate. I’d like to ask the Premier, on the ‘A’ Base, and that’s the funding for programs, how was the proposed number substantiated in the AIP?

I support the government, I support the Premier in their efforts, in his efforts to try to get signatories to that deal, to get it done for the people of the Northwest Territories. We need jobs, we need opportunities and we need some prosperity here in our Territory and I think this is a great way to kick-start that effort.

I’d like to ask the Premier, given the fact -- and I know, Mr. Speaker, you’ve cautioned some Members today about speaking about the specifics of the AIP -- I’m wondering if I could ask the Premier if his intention is to table that document in this House so that we can have...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize all the visitors that we have in the gallery today and especially Ms. Karen Hollett, who I spoke of earlier for all the advocacy work she does on disability awareness. Thank you, Karen, and good luck with your book. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just a couple of things. I guess, first of all, I wanted to ask the Minister if he could provide an update to the House on the situation at Northland Trailer Park here in Yellowknife and whether or not there’s been any plan formulated on how to deal with the infrastructure requirements of that trailer park here in Yellowknife.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So the dates have nothing to do with or don’t coincide with when the construction of that project will finally be finished. My belief is it won’t be in November 2011, it will in fact be closer to April. That’s the point that I was trying to make there. I’d like to ask the Minister in closing, what exactly will the community be doing for this Opportunities and Involvement Fund? How are they going to be involved in this project?

Mr. Speaker, all along, this project was to be a partnership between the community and the Government of the Northwest Territories. It would seem to me, from what I have seen, the economics on this bridge aren’t good. If it is operating on a deficit basis year to year, I would suggest if the Minister is shopping for new paint, he could find some red paint to paint that bridge because it is going to be mired in red ink for the foreseeable future.

Here we are as a government negotiating a deal with a community to guarantee them $200,000 a year. How is that a fair partnership if the Government of...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m going to speak today about an agreement that’s posted on the Department of Transportation’s website. It’s entitled Community Opportunities and Involvement Agreement. It’s an agreement between the community of Fort Providence, represented by the Deh Gah Got’ie First Nation and the Fort Providence Metis Council.

Mr. Speaker, the Deh Cho Bridge Corporation was, for all intents and purposes, the best laid efforts of the community of Fort Providence to construct and manage the Deh Cho Bridge. Events of the past year have led to the dismissal of the original general...

I look forward to hearing back on how that rolls out.

Just a couple of other things. I just wanted to voice my concern over the dusty conditions in small communities. I’ve had the honour and the privilege to serve in this House for the past several years and the opportunity, as well, to travel to a number of small communities. We get in there oftentimes in the spring or summer. The thing that is always... I’m left with the impression that things are really dusty. It detracts from the quality of life in our small communities. I think the department, we can try to put it all back on the...