David Ramsay

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize the president of the Royal Canadian Legion here in Yellowknife, Mr. Lloyd Lush. With Lloyd is Mr. Lorne Power, general manager of the Royal Canadian Legion. Welcome gentlemen.

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I’d also like to recognize a constituent of mine, Abel Kogiak, who has recently returned from the Voyageur Rendezvous in Rocky Mountain House. He was one of the original voyageur canoeists in 1970. Welcome, Abel.

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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.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to say that I’m going to support the motion that’s before us today. I appreciate the work that the Member for Great Slave, Mr. Braden, has put into this piece of work. It’s a huge undertaking that this motion sets in motion. I know Mr. Braden has been a Member of this Legislative Assembly for quite a bit longer than I have and he’s had an opportunity to work with injured workers more than I have; but in my year-and-a-bit that I have been a Member of the Legislative Assembly, I have dealt with a couple of constituents that were injured workers. It’s not a...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So after I think the Minister mentioned April 1st, is Sport North still going to control the lottery booths or is it going to be the new sport and recreation council? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, also the Minister responsible for lottery revenues in the territory. I know my colleague was talking about winning a billion dollars or if he had a billion dollars, but…The questions I had for the Minister I just wanted to understand a little bit about the lottery revenues here in the Northwest Territories. As I understand it, Sport North controls the lottery booths that are here in Yellowknife. I’ve heard from many people in Yellowknife that access to these lottery booths, and it’s a...

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.