David Ramsay

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am just wondering if the Minister is aware of some concern among employees at the North Slave Correctional Centre, that management does indeed have a list of targeted employees, Mr. Speaker, that they have singled out and that they are going after, Mr. Speaker. Is the Minister aware of this list being in existence? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have been getting a number of phone calls and e-mails. One e-mail was even titled "The Department of Injustice," Mr. Speaker. There is a disturbing situation that occurred recently with an employee being terminated at the North Slave Correctional Centre; an employee, Mr. Speaker, that indeed was speaking out against management practices and the hiring process at North Slave Correctional Centre. I find it to be quite a coincidence. A day after he was assaulted by an inmate, he was relieved of his duties as a correctional guard at that centre. It is a...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I know my colleague mentioned the fact that the Premier is on the verge of going to Ottawa next week, I do believe, and I’m just wondering if he can indeed bring up the issue of the trust fund again with the Prime Minister. I see the establishment of this trust fund as being beneficial to both the aboriginal leaders and governments in the Northwest Territories and our government, Mr. Speaker, because it should happen. We need to get that done. I’m just wondering if the government has any idea of what types of revenues we’re losing on a daily, monthly and...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My statement today is going to focus on an issue that I’ve raised in the House before and one that I am very interested in seeing addressed. The issue is the establishment of a permanent trust fund for the benefit of all residents of the Northwest Territories.

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Mr. Speaker, as we are all well aware, the Northwest Territories is on the verge of the development of a Mackenzie Valley pipeline. Our government is spending a tremendous amount of money, time and energy on ensuring that we are ready for this megaproject, but the fact still remains that Ottawa will...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will start of by saying that I do support the motion and I do support the work of my colleagues on this side of the House as well as the government in asking the questions and putting this issue to the forefront today. I think it is important that it gets the air time it gets. I also wanted to mention that, now more than ever, I think it’s important that as Regular Members we support the Premier and we support his government in his going to Ottawa and trying to get us a deal. I know we have been at this a long time and it’s about time that we did get a fair deal.

I...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions today are for the Premier. Back in March when I brought up the issue of a permanent trust fund being established in the Northwest Territories to benefit all northerners, the Premier stated at that time that he would have a discussion with Ottawa and with the Prime Minister in terms of the establishment of that trust fund. I’m just wondering, Mr. Speaker, if that conversation has taken place and maybe the Premier could let us know how that went. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Friday, October 22, 2004, I will move the following motion:

Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Yellowknife South, that the following persons be approved by the Legislative Assembly as sole adjudicators: Mr. Robert Clark, Mr. Robert Halifax and Mr. Dave Jones, QC. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we weren't really discussing a childcare centre, we're discussing an addictions centre. I think if the Minister adds up the cost that this government pays to send people south and the programming that they receive while they're in the South -- you know, the airfares and everything else that this government spends on addictions and sending people south -- I think they could come up with some dollar figure and try to equate that to operating this facility.

Also, Mr. Speaker, there has been some new money announced for health. Just as a final question to the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the big dollar item is already on the ground there in the Somba K'e Lodge, and it was built as a treatment centre. Maybe the Minister can tell me why or what happened along the road that today we find it empty and not being used as a treatment centre, and it wasn't that long ago, Mr. Speaker. I'm just wondering what the reasons are for it not being used for its intended purpose. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I know there’s a program and treatment centre in Hay River that deals with alcohol addiction, but my main concern is for drug addiction. It’s becoming more prevalent every day in society in the Northwest Territories, especially with our young people. As I mentioned, the economy is growing stronger and people have more money; the problem is only going to grow. I’d like to ask the Minister if he will indeed have a look at setting up a dedicated treatment centre for drug addiction in the Northwest Territories. I think it’s something that we have to pay attention to and it...