David Ramsay

Mr. Speaker, the Premier talks about numbers being provided to Members of the last government. That brings me to my next question. Where is the detailed, updated cost-benefit analysis of the project, which Members have never seen? We saw one five years ago when the project was $60 million, but the government has yet to provide this House with a detailed, updated cost-benefit analysis. Where is that?

I would like to thank the Premier for that. I would like to ask the Premier about the review that he’s undertaking. Who is involved in that review? I wonder if the Audit Bureau is involved in that type of review, or is it the Premier’s Office that’s doing that review? Who are the players that are involved in trying to come up with recommendations on that process?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’m having trouble understanding what’s appropriate and what’s not appropriate and who makes the decision not to send a committee of this Legislative Assembly’s press release out on our government service. Who ultimately makes that decision? Is it the deputy minister? Who makes the decision and who is going to censor, who is there that’s going to censor our press releases? Are they being censored? Judging by yesterday’s events, there was some censorship there and I take great offence to that censorship, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I don’t believe any Minister or northern Premier can thwart the free speech and a privilege that we have here as Members of this House. I would like to ask the Premier if he could find out who made that decision and why it was made. If we are going to be censored and there is going to be a gatekeeper on press releases that committees make, we should know about that, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The last government had a history of avoidance and not including Regular Members in the decision-making process. I’d like to ask the Premier how is this government going to be different and how are they going to engage Regular Members in the decision-making process so that consensus government and the spirit and intent of consensus government is not continually eroded? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That was quite a lengthy answer for a yes or no question. Again, I’d like to ask the Premier what…Okay, first I’m going to ask him again: Is there a list of priority projects for the Building Canada Fund? Yes or no.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On this list, is there a regional balance in terms of projects that’s going to the federal government? Can the Minister comment on that? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I guess that wasn’t the answer to the question that I was looking for. Again, I’d like to ask the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs what is on the list and how did the government arrive at making those items that are on that list a priority? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I’d like to discuss an issue that I spoke of on Wednesday, November 28th, in which I was questioning the Minister of Transportation on the Building Canada Fund. During the last federal budget, an announcement was made of a $33 billion infrastructure plan known as the Building Canada Fund. The Government of the Northwest Territories will certainly be able to subscribe to this fund over the coming years and will need to start identifying projects that qualify for this federal funding.

As returning Members will know, I have stood up in this House numerous times over...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to table a document, an e-mail communication from the Department of Executive to the Legislative Assembly staff, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.