Roger Allen

Roger T. Allen was elected as the first Member of the Legislative Assembly for the electoral district for Inuvik Twin Lakes on December 6th, 1999. In January 2000, he was elected to Cabinet, and was later appointed by the Premier to serve as the Minister Responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation, Public Utilities Board and Youth. As of November 7th, 2001 he became Minister of Justice. In February 2002, the Premier appointed Roger Allen as Lead Minister to address the issue of homelessness. Mr. Allen was re-elected to the 15th Legislative Assembly on November 24, 2003.

Prior to his election to the 14th Assembly, Mr. Allen had considerable experience in municipal politics serving as the Mayor of Aklavik from 1991 to 1993 and a Councilor in 1990. He also served as a member of Inuvik's Town Council in 1988 and was the President of the Committee for Original Peoples' Entitlement.

Mr. Allen was the contract administrator and operator of the open custody group home in Inuvik prior to being elected as the MLA for Inuvik Twin Lakes.

Mr. Allen was a member of the Canadian Junior National Cross-Country Ski Team from 1968-70. He was also a member of the Canadian Senior National Cross-Country Ski Team from 1970-72.

He competed in the Junior World Nordic Championships in Bad Gosau, Austria in 1970 for Canada. He competed for Canada at the World Nordic Championships in Vysoke Tatry, Czechoslovakia in 1970.

In 1972 he was a member of the Canadian National Ski Team competing in the Winter Olympic Games in Sapporo, Japan.

After the Winter Olympics he was a member of the University of Colorado Buffalo's NCAA Ski Championship team from 1972-73.

Mr. Allen took the Legal Studies/Commercial Law course from the Athabasca University in 1996 and also attended the University of Colorado where he took the first year of the General Arts and Science program. Mr. Allen graduated from Samuel Hearne Secondary School in Inuvik in 1971. He was born in Aklavik, Northwest Territories on May 5, 1952.

Mr. Allen and his wife Vanessa have four children and one grandchild.

Roger Allen
Inuvik Twin Lakes

Statements in Debates

Question 144-15(3): Potential Impacts Of Resource Development In The Mackenzie Valley
Debates of , (day 14)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. All said and done, although one key component seems to be missing, and that is in terms of monitoring of these agreements. So will the department continue to the monitor these reports and the contents of the BHP and Diavik previous agreements? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 144-15(3): Potential Impacts Of Resource Development In The Mackenzie Valley
Debates of , (day 14)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, have my questions directed to the Minister of RWED. The contents of my Member’s statement referred that we definitely need a policy framework for negative impacts as it pertains to industry development across the Northwest Territories. So could the Minister provide this House as to what framework was used for the Snap Lake project as it was raised in the news release on the Snap Lake agreement? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 144-15(3): Potential Impacts Of Resource Development In The Mackenzie Valley
Debates of , (day 14)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Then can the Minister articulate to this House and to the people of the Northwest Territories and conclude that there will be no negative impacts or negative effects on government from these projects? Could he state that to this assembly? Thank you.

Question 144-15(3): Potential Impacts Of Resource Development In The Mackenzie Valley
Debates of , (day 14)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So would the Minister confirm then if this same process will be used for the Mackenzie Valley pipeline, and the pipeline groups? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Member's Statement On Resource Development Negotiations In The Mackenzie Delta
Debates of , (day 14)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. For the benefit of viewers in Inuvik Twin Lakes, I just want to say that I am glad to be back today after a bout of the flu for the last several days. Today, Mr. Speaker, I would like to speak about how great it is to have the Government of the Northwest Territories sign with the large corporations that are developing our diamond mine industry. Now we have negotiations with a potential oil and gas industry in the Mackenzie Valley. The agreements are often referred to as EAs. Mr. Speaker, I am not talking about IBAs, or impact benefit agreements, signed between...

Debates of , (day 12)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Rarely do I have the opportunity to recognize family members in the gallery, and today I have the pleasure of recognizing Mr. Brian Campbell, my brother-in-law; my nephew, Josh, and his companion, Rose. Welcome to the gallery.

----Applause

Question 123-15(3): Income Support Program Impacting Trappers
Debates of , (day 12)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I only have one question today. It is in regard to the return to oral question by the Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation. He stated that significant change in housing or households would now be assessed rent. Mr. Speaker, members of our Seniors' Society should be and are concerned that this Assembly has not been made aware of any such shift in policy change where seniors' households will be assessed rent. I am going to direct my question to the Minister responsible for Seniors. Is he willing to help alleviate some of the fears that seniors'...

Written Question 17-15(3): Rent Assessment For Seniors In Public Housing
Debates of , (day 12)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My written question is addressed to the Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation.

Would the Minister provide a detailed explanation specifically to the following he quoted in his Return to Oral Question 23-15(3)? “In addition, this proposal included another significant change in that senior’s households would now be assessed rent.”

Would the Minister also verify if this is a major policy shift from where seniors, who do not now pay any rents to where there is contemplation to reintroduce rents to seniors?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 124-15(3): Rent Assessment Of Seniors In Social Housing
Debates of , (day 12)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I would be glad to oblige that request. I am going to ask again to the Minister responsible for seniors if he is willing to communicate to the Seniors’ Society to try to alleviate some of the fears that the seniors’ households would be now assessed rent based on the statement in the returns to oral questions? Thank you.

Member’s Statement On Annual Muskrat Trapping Greetings
Debates of , (day 12)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It gives me great pleasure to follow up on the Member for Kam Lake’s statement because mine is similar in context. I would like to begin my Member’s statement by using a descriptive phrase we trappers grew up with. In March, as we were told by our grandparents, the weather is supposed to be roaring like a lion and go out like a lamb. I was told this morning that my constituency in Inuvik has been the reverse this year. It came in like a lamb and it is now going out like a lion. Mr. Speaker, I raise this important issue as someone who is normally on the land...