David Ramsay

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I listened quite intently to the sessional statement the Premier gave a couple of days ago. There was something that wasn’t in that. I just wanted to question the Premier today about a glaring omission from that sessional statement, and that was the fact that it didn’t mention tourism.

My question isn’t related to the sessional statement itself, but I have a question for the Premier. I believe that is an affront to the tourism industry in the Northwest Territories. For a government that purports to support tourism, leaving that out was definitely a...

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is a five-year lease, but it amounts to a 15-year lease, Mr. Speaker, because they have a five-year lease and two options for five additional years each, for a total of 15 years in a retail setting. I’m just wondering, Mr. Speaker, what the premium is that this government is going to pay. I know dollars are at a premium. What is that premium that we’re going to pay to put an office in a retail mall? There has to be a premium that we’re paying. It’s top dollar, it’s prime retail space, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to know what that is and is that going to cut into the...

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Mr. Yakeleya.

That order of business would be Bill 9, Write-off of Assets and Debts Act, 2004-2005. We are going to start with the Minister responsible, Mr. Roland.

Thank you. Thank you, Minister Roland and Mr. Voytilla. There is a motion on the floor to rise and report progress and it’s not debatable. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

I will rise and report progress.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I have a few questions for the Minister of Justice, Mr. Charles Dent. I would just like to know how it is the new family Legal Aid office ended up leasing space in what amounts to a retail mall in Yellowknife. Perhaps between him and Minister Floyd Roland, Minister of Public Works, they could explain how that transaction transpired. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Mr. Yakeleya.

Maybe we will take a short, 15-minute break and come back at 12:00. Thank you.

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