David Ramsay

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Committee has been considering Bill 4, Northwest Territories Hydro Corporation Act; Bill 5, An Act to Amend the Child and Family Services Act; and Bill 16, An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act. I would like to report progress, with one motion being adopted, that Bills 5 and 16 are ready for third reading, and that Bill 4 is ready for third reading, as amended. Mr. Speaker, I move that the report of Committee of the Whole be concurred with.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I thank Mr. Voytilla for that. If we are looking at a loan guarantee -- and that’s probably what it will end up being -- there will be a cost associated with that. I don’t know whether you want to call it a subsidy or not or whether or not we’ll get those costs back or not, I mean those are things that are going to be worked out into the future, but the federal government recently increased the NWT’s borrowing limit from $300 million to $500 million. I’m wondering if the GNWT does have to backstop and sign some loan guarantees for the Taltson expansion, what will...

Thank you. Bill 16 is now ready for third reading. Thank you, committee. At this time, I'd like to ask what is the wish of committee. Mr. Lafferty.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to welcome the Minister and his staff that are with us this afternoon to discuss Bill 4. I want to provide a few opening comments if I could.

First of all, I wanted to publicly thank those individuals in the communities we visited for coming out and providing us the input that they did on Bill 4. It was much welcomed. A couple of other things Madam Chair alluded to in committee’s remarks was an issue over compensation from the initial Taltson development still weighs heavy on the minds of many in that region. I think it’s something that needs to be taken...

Thank you. That concludes Bill 16, An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act. To the bill as a whole.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is unfortunate, I guess, in the way that it is going to fall to the next government. That is probably the fifth or sixth government now that has had to look at this issue. I am wondering how in trying to understand how it is as a government we can let an occupation happen with contravention of the Criminal Code taking place on a daily basis because we don’t legislate that profession. To me, there is something wrong with that. Why isn’t that going to the top or near the top of our agenda? It is something we should target and something we should address. Thank...

Thanks, committee. Clause by clause, Bill 16, An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act. Clause 1.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to recognize a local businessman, Jim Beckwith. With Jim are his father, John Beckwith, and Kristin Holt. Welcome to the Assembly.

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I'd also like to welcome all the children who have travelled up here and their chaperones from Hay River. Welcome to the House.

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Thank you, Mr. Braden. General comments. No more general comments. Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Pokiak. Are there any further general comments on Bill 16? Mr. Bell.