Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to deal with the motion I gave notice of earlier today.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. Mr. Speaker, the Housing Corporation’s sponsorship of the housing program has resulted in allowing DJSS to diversify its trades program. If it were not for their assistance, the school would not be able to offer the housing program, the welding program, or the welder mechanics program.

I would just like to propose that there is more work to be done. Our high school is 30 years old and has not been updated to reflect the needs of the growing NWT economy. With the growing needs for skilled trades persons and the implementation of the career...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just in closing, I have a few comments on this motion. I want to thank my colleagues for their comments and support on this motion. Mr. Speaker, I sense a strong willingness on the part of industry to take part in this process of dealing with the business incentive policy.

Mr. Speaker it’s not a secret that a lot of businesses look to government for a portion of their business and a lot of businesses have built some capacity to supply a niche in the market that is created by government and to meet the requirements that government needs. For those businesses who have...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

WHEREAS the intent of the business incentive policy, as stated by the Premier in a return to written question on March 25, 2004, is to support the development and growth of NWT businesses;

AND WHEREAS northern businesses support the NWT economy by purchasing local goods and services, providing jobs and training, and reinvesting their earnings;

AND WHEREAS, due to the higher costs of operating a business and developing new products in the NWT, northern businesses may need preference adjustments to compete successfully with southern firms for government contracts and tenders...

Thank you, Madam Chair. Maybe I should just say I hate taxes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, what action is the government willing to take or the Minister willing to take to ensure that the residents of Hay River have an opportunity to be heard by this review board? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I stated in my Member’s statement, there are some concerns from my area with the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board and the round of consultations that they’re doing. I would like to ask the Minister of RWED if he is aware of the concerns that Hay River has with that board not coming to Hay River to do some reviews. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to draw attention to an issue which is both important to myself and the community which I represent and one that speaks to the ambivalence of public government to listen to the people of the North.

Mr. Speaker, this government has repeatedly stated that its actions will be governed by the will of the people. To this end, it has repeatedly shown an effort to meet with the people by means of a public consultation process. I believe that public consultation should be at the forefront of all of our actions.

Mr. Speaker, I get concerned when...

I do hate taxes, but it has been mentioned a couple of times, some Members have mentioned coming together in this government and what we’ve adopted from the last government. It always amazes me when I think back to when we came together as a 14th Legislative Assembly if we look back at the recordings, I think we were talking about exactly the same things. About when we were going to hit the debt wall in four or five years and where we were going and how we were going to find the solutions to our problems. I guess we did get lucky in the last government with some major windfalls and it was all...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m glad to hear that the Minister has confidence that the concerns will be addressed in phase two. But, Mr. Speaker, in the work plan for the environmental assessment of the Mackenzie Valley gas project it states very clearly that phase one of the review board will hold a series of public hearings in the Mackenzie Valley to gather evidence of any public concerns and determine which issues will be examined in detail during phase two. So if communities haven’t got a chance to voice their concerns during phase one, how are they going to get in on phase two when it’s...