David Ramsay

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Getting back to my Member’s statement, I have questions for the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, who happens to be the Minister responsible for consumer protection.

It’s come to my attention from a constituent about calling cards which are sold in the Northwest Territories that do not allow the same level of service for a similar card, an exact same card sold in southern Canada. In fact, there’s a 25 cent surcharge tacked on to the minutes for using these cards. I’d like to ask the Minister if he knows why calling cards in the Northwest Territories sold at...

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. To my right is Gay Kennedy, acting Chief Electoral Officer for the Northwest Territories; and, to my left is Mr Mark Aitken, director, legislation division, Department of Justice. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. I am pleased to be here to represent this bill. This bill proposes various amendments to the Elections and Plebiscites Act.

These amendments are the result of considerable discussion. We started with a review of the CEO’s report on the administration of the general election of 2007. That report was reviewed by the Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures. During that review, all the candidates, their official agents and the returning officers were asked for their views and concerns about changes for the next general election. In addition to their consideration...

I think if there’s one company charging a 25 cent surcharge on any call originating in the Northwest Territories, to me that’s called a monopoly. I don’t know what other word to use. Doesn’t our government have an obligation to go to bat for our residents when it comes to one company charging 25 cents a minute for people to call their loved ones overseas? I’d like to ask the Minister -- I know he said his officials are looking into this -- when might we be able to hear back from consumer protection on what the government’s next move might be? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to bring up an issue today that has been brought up to me by constituents. Yellowknife is a very culturally diverse city. Our population of Filipinos, Japanese, Somalis, Chinese and other immigrant populations continues to flourish. I like to refer to Yellowknife as a cultural mosaic when describing it to those unfamiliar with our capital city. In my travels to communities like Hay River and Inuvik, you can also see the changes in the cultural dynamics of those two towns.

When making the decision to move to Canada, families can, and do, get separated by thousands...

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya, that Bill 7, An Act to Amend the Elections and Plebiscites Act, No. 3, be read for the second time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, this bill amends the Elections and Plebiscite Act to implement recommendations of the Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures following up on its review of the report of the Chief Electoral Officer on the administration of the 2007 General Election.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’ve been here for almost seven years and I’ve never heard this Minister or a previous Minister talk about this issue publicly. I’ve never seen a Minister of Health and Social Services come before standing committee and share the concerns of the Government of the Northwest Territories. Mr. Speaker, I believe the Minister of Health and Social Services has an obligation to the people of the Northwest Territories to protect them, to make sure that they have access to the services available in Edmonton and that is at the City Centre Airport, Mr. Speaker.

I’d...

The patients will be looked after once they arrive in Edmonton, that’s not the case. The case is with the City Centre Airport closing down. The international airport, as everybody knows, is about a 40-minute ride into the city of Edmonton, and if you require STARS air escort into a major hospital in Edmonton, that’s 30 minutes and at a cost of $2,500.

The Minister didn’t answer my question. What is it going to cost the Department of Health and Social Services should the City Centre Airport close in Edmonton? I’m talking about ground ambulance and STARS service into a major hospital in Edmonton...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize, as well, Mr. Bruce McLaughlin, former Minister, former Member of the House.

As well in the gallery today is Ed SchlemKo, director of flight operations for Airco from Edmonton, Mary Anne Stanway, who is with the Kingsway Business Association in Edmonton, and Dr. Joseph Fernando, aviation medicine specialist.

I guess if the Minister is going to get that information, I’d like to know, given the fact that that’s an institution, I mean the flooring that would go into a facility like that should be of a grade and a quality that’s going to stand the test of time and not need to be replaced six or seven years out. So maybe if the Minister could find out if there is any kind of warranty or any kind of provision for whoever put it in to help in the replacement cost of it, that would be great. Thank you.