Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to report that the Standing Committee on Governance and Economic Development has reviewed Bill 8, An Act to Amend the Revolving Funds Act, and Bill 9, Municipal Statutes Amendment Act, and wishes to report that Bill 8 and Bill 9 are ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can fully understand that. Hay River is a tax-based municipality; however, they are servicing highway infrastructure which this government knows well goes all the way to Fort Smith, the border, Fort Providence, down the corridor. Who is responsible for ensuring that we have adequate vehicles and infrastructure to serve that? That is not within the municipal boundaries. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think my questions today are directed to the Minister of Transportation and MACA. It is with regard to what I raised in my Member's statement. I would like to ask the Minister, given the traffic statistics that I know he would have access to for highways south of the lake, given the amount of tourists and traveling public who use our highway systems, given the number of accidents that have needed to be responded to lately, who is responsible for responding to motor vehicle accidents and injuries on the highway system that is served by the Hay River...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would also like to welcome Mr. Jackson Lafferty here as the Member for Monfwi. It’s wonderful to be up to full complement on this side of the House because we need all the help we can get to stay ahead of our friends on the other side of the House.

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Mr. Speaker, October 9th to 15th, 2005, is National Fire Prevention Week. I would like to take this time to acknowledge those who contribute their time and energy to help promote fire safety and fire prevention in our communities. To that end, I particularly would like to thank the courageous and...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, your committee would like to report progress. Mr. Speaker, I move that the report of Committee of the Whole be concurred with. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I would like to call Committee of the Whole to order. The only matter we have on our agenda today is Minister’s Statement 24-15(4), Sessional Statement. What is the wish of the committee? Mr. Menicoche.

For the information of Members, the languages in which there is simultaneous translation today are Inuvialuit and Cree. The Chair recognizes the honourable Member for North Slave, Mr. Zoe.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. At this time, I would like to, on behalf of the Assembly, offer our condolences to Speaker Delorey and his family. He has travelled with his wife to Nova Scotia. His wife’s sister had passed away, so they are gone to attend a funeral. I will be sitting in as the Speaker in the proceedings here until Speaker Delorey returns.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the projected cost savings of $400,000; the audit report indicated that with no persons leaving and no positions lost through attrition, that in fact the savings were only about $267,000. With the number of $267,000 in mind and given our budget planning process one year out unfortunately would mean that there would be no reinstatement of services until the following fiscal year. Would the Minister agree to an interim evaluation? If these numbers are all being tracked now, would he agree to an interim look at this in six months so that if the savings are...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With the indulgence of my colleagues here, I want to recognize at least half of the visitors in the gallery here. Mr. Delorey is going to recognize the other half. I know it is a large group, but thank you. Their parents are going to watch this tonight on APTN, so when I call your name, jump up quick so the camera can scan you because we have a lot of names to get here.

The parent volunteers who are here today with us are: Lori Lafferty, Kandace Jameson, Beth Green, Shannon Buckley, Dawna O’Brien, Dale Hoose, Brenda Hall, Max Rodway, Leslie Lobb, Gayle Croucher...