David Ramsay

Mr. Speaker, I do respect the rules, but I think it is a sad day when one of our residents has to travel to Alberta to see a neurologist to get a prescription for a WalkAide, when here in the Northwest Territories it is not on the list. It adds to the quality of life for this individual. That is evident. That’s why they had to go to Alberta. They had to get a prescription from this Alberta doctor, a neurologist in Edmonton, to get a WalkAide.

Again, the Minister speaks of these other aids that are possibly available under the list. Could the Minister tell me today what those other options are...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. People pay taxes their entire life, and when they encounter a serious health issue like MS, the government should be there for them. In this case they weren’t, and that’s a shame.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Friday, October 24, 2008, I will move the following motion.

I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Monfwi, that Ms. Thérèse Boullard of Yellowknife be reappointed as director of Human Rights during good behaviour for a term of four years by the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories as recommended by the Legislative Assembly.

And further, that the Speaker be authorized to communicate the effective date of appointment to the Commissioner.

I know the Housing Corporation has helped many people in the North get into their own homes, and I appreciate the help that they have given. I think this would just augment it if they could look at something like this. It could augment a person’s or a couple’s ability to get into their own home. I think that will stimulate the economy. The more people we can have purchasing their own homes and living in their own homes, that’s always a good thing.

I’d like to ask the Minister regarding what he was speaking of earlier. Is that going to come through committee? It sounds like he’s interested in...

I thank the Premier for that. I’m glad he did get in touch with Premier Charest on the results of that meeting.

Like I said earlier, I think there is a good possibility that if the federal government starts running deficits, they’ll start choosing between deep program cuts and…. I’d hazard a guess that they would also take a look at axing programs. Possibly equalization might be included in that. Again, I want to make sure that the Premier understands the gravity of not being at this meeting.

I want to ask him again: what exactly warranted his presence in the House yesterday so that he couldn’t...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m going to speak today about the Premiers’ conference that was held recently in Montreal. There is one Premier out of the 13 provincial and territorial leaders who was absent from that meeting. That was our Premier, Mr. Roland.

The Premiers were meeting to discuss the global economic crisis and how the provinces and territories will be impacted by these volatile economic times. More important is the fact that the federal government will be a key player in fiscal issues pertaining to the provinces and territories. The backdrop to this meeting is the global financial...

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to thank the Member for Great Slave for bringing forward the motion that’s before us today. I agree with the principle of the motion. Being the chair of EDI, any proposed changes to registration from the Department of Transportation would be vetted through the committee. I think a lot of the concerns — and concerns I share with Members…. I am not going to support any increase, especially in the smaller communities, for operating a vehicle. That’s just something I wouldn’t condone.

If we do move to something like this, I could see folks who want to buy...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I thank the Premier for that response. You know, as an MLA you get questions all the time from constituents, and one of the questions that I’ve been getting numerous times lately…. I would like somebody to explain this to me. That’s why I’m going to ask the Minister today to explain this to me and explain to the residents in the Northwest Territories. How is it that every time we turn around, conservation is pushed on residents? Conservation of power, conservation of energy.

The residents in our territory are doing what they can to cut back on power. They’re...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister responsible for the Power Corporation. Obviously, the world price of oil is down — actually 40 per cent in the last six months — and the GRA that’s underway, the General Rate Application, is premised on the fact that oil prices were inflated and the cost of doing business for the Power Corporation was such that they had to go out and get some more money from the consumers. That rate increase was pegged at 19 per cent. Given the fact that oil prices have recently dropped — today they are at about $74 a barrel — what will this do to the...

Mr. Speaker, I just want, maybe, to get the Premier to state on record: what exactly is his first priority? Is it the people of the Northwest Territories and the future of the Northwest Territories, or is it his constituents back in Inuvik?