Jane Groenewegen

As I said in my Member’s statement, the threat to the Hay River Harbour is really undermining the spirit and soul of our community and it is posing a serious threat to our residents as well. We cannot afford just to bury our heads in the sand and hope for the best. The Canadian Coast Guard, which amalgamated a few years back with the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans, has a tremendous amount of infrastructure, vessels, buildings and employees in Hay River. I’d like to ask the Premier if we could broach the federal government with the idea to perhaps, if they can’t set up another...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s my pleasure today to recognize a constituent of Hay River South very active with the Seniors’ Society in Hay River, constituent Marion Smith. I’d also like to recognize two of my former colleagues in the House today, Mr. Jim Antoine and Mr. Tony Whitford. Thank you.

Is committee agreed?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will also be supporting the motion. At the beginning of the 17th Assembly I did pose a question to the Minister of MACA and I asked if we could begin, as a government, to track the cost of fuel at the pumps and at the home heating delivery trucks compared to the price of crude or what other benchmarks are out there, and I believe that this was undertaken by MACA and I do appreciate that. But we are at the mercy of the folks that set these prices. It does seem curious that when the prices go up at the pump it’s an immediate reaction, and when the prices go down nothing...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s my pleasure today to recognize in the gallery my sister, Janet. We both lead extremely busy lives. We seldom get to visit each other but she’s up in the North for a whole week and she’s going to join me in Hay River this weekend for the Kamba Carnival and then back up here to fly out of Yellowknife next Wednesday. A whole week with my sister. I’d like to welcome her.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also would like to use my Member’s statement today to talk about bullying. First of all let me say how happy I am that this much attention is being drawn to this very important topic. It occurs, as Ms. Bisaro said, in many forms and in many places. We most often think of it in the context of children, though, because hopefully, you know, we think that when people grow up they might stop acting out in a way that’s inappropriate. But on that matter, we, as legislators, have to do our part to put in place policies and regulations and legislation to back up the anti...

I call Committee of the Whole to order. What is the wish of the committee? Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m sorry that I didn’t get a chance to really conclude my Member’s statement today on the theme that I was going on and I really didn’t think it was fair to leave everybody hanging overnight. Also, as I mentioned earlier, tomorrow is Anti-Bullying Day, so I thought I’d better get my comments in today.

We’re coming up soon to the midway point for the 17th Legislative Assembly. We’re just a little past the midway point of this particular session. This is where everybody is tested during the budget session, where Ministers are put to the test as they appear with their...

I think that it’s safe to say that agriculture is catching on across the Northwest Territories. We’ve always had the greenhouse in Inuvik. We hear wonderful stories coming out of Norman Wells. I think the real impetus and the real push for agriculture in the Northwest Territories, I have to give credit to the folks from Hay River who have kept this little struggling organization of the TFA alive, and have actually put their actions where their words are and have started market gardens and all kinds of different endeavours in that area.

I’d like to ask the Minister, does he not think that it...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment. We have an amazing group of people in Hay River who are highly interested in agriculture. I know the Minister has received a briefing from a very enthusiastic young lady, who has a market garden in Hay River, by the name of Jackie Milne who is now the president of the NWT Farmers Association. Ms. Milne has come up with an outline for training so that she can share her knowledge with others and encourage more interest in the idea of growing our own food, which we know is very, very possible here...