David Ramsay

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Could the Minister commit to us today to share whatever research that his department has done in terms of looking at moving this treatment centre to Hay River? I know it hasn’t come through and it goes back to the decision-making process, but nobody has been consulted on this and nobody has seen a business plan. I’d like the Minister to commit to us today that he will share whatever information he’s got so that we can say we’re not just making a move to make the move, but we’re doing so for the benefit of the clients. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can understand that the decision is a federal appointment, but in the spirit of good faith between the federal government and our government, I would expect that they would at least have the courtesy to phone our Premier and find out what the political agenda is here and work with that. I'm wondering if the Premier can let us know how the appointment was made. Was it Minister Scott's call directly, or was the Secretary of State for Northern Development involved, and that happens to be our MP, in this decision? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It states quite clearly, “The chairperson of a board shall be appointed by the federal Minister from persons nominated by a majority of the members.” It would appear obvious that Minister Scott didn’t get a chance to read this act. Where was our Member of Parliament in all of this? Does she work for us, the constituents who elected her, or does she work for Minister Scott in DIAND? Certainly, these are questions that all northerners have, and they should ask Minister Scott and Ms. Blondin-Andrew next week when they are here. Thank you.

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Thank you, Madam Chair. I’ll keep my comments brief.

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I’m in agreement with the Member for Tu Nedhe for the first Monday in November. That’s my recommended choice. I think having a fixed election day will certainly be good not only for the Members that are here but for any potential candidates that are out there. If we have a date set, I mean, we all know, having run in campaigns before, it’s a lot of work. The more lead time you can give somebody, the better off they’ll be. So it’s good. It’s better for the process generally and I say the first Monday in November. The other reason...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Then on April 1st, 2006, who’s going to control the lottery revenue? Will it be Sport North or will it be the new sport and recreation council? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d be the first to agree that Sport North and the staff that they have do a first-rate job at running the lottery booths, especially the ones I’m known to frequent on occasion here in Yellowknife. The question I’d ask the Minister, and he doesn’t have to provide an answer today, but I’m wondering if the organization, if it’s a new council that’s going to receive the lottery revenue, if they’ll receive an increase in revenue if terminals are located in a variety of different locations or could we expect to get more revenue? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That gives us little comfort, I guess. What is done is done. I am wondering, perhaps, as a government, we could look at writing a letter and maybe the Premier’s office can put together a letter and each and every one of us Members in this 15th Legislative Assembly could sign it, outlining our concern over how this appointment was made and the fact that we had to find out on the 5:30 news last evening that the appointment was made before even the Premier knew about it. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Premier. It goes back to my Member's statement that I made earlier. I know that the Premier and his government have worked very hard on trying to establish a relationship with Ottawa in an effort to try to get a resource revenue and devolution deal, a deal that the last government and many governments before it have failed to do. I felt sorry for the Premier and his government yesterday with the action that Minister Scott took in appointing a non-northerner, non-nominee to the chair of the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board....

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to use my Member’s statement today to talk about the recent appointment of a new chairman to the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board. In January, the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board recommended three candidates for the job; all of them residents of the Northwest Territories. Territorial MLAs were not informed in advance of the appointment to the board, and many of us had even written recommendations for those who were passed over.

As Members of this Legislative Assembly, we take our jobs very seriously. This appointment was seen as being a...

Thank you, Madam Chair. I just want to state that, of course, I am in favour of a fixed election date. When it is, is debatable. I can buy the argument that Mr. Roland makes, but I also listened to my colleagues here who have concerns about it being hunting season. Personally, I could campaign in cold weather, warm weather, it doesn’t matter. At this stage of the game, Madam Chair, I would agree to an election next week, it’s been that long of a haul here. So I will vote in favour of the motion. Let’s get it done.