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

Debates of , (day 4)

Thank you, Madam Chair. I would strongly suggest that we conclude or continue to review the Department of Finance, and if we conclude in time, that we move on to the report on the Financial Management Board Secretariat. With that, Madam Chair, that is what I would suggest. Thank you.

Member’s Statement On Poem Of Politics In The Northwest Territories
Debates of , (day 4)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Since this is a Friday session, I want to put a little poetry into my Member’s statement today, a poem written about my wife and I as we travelled into rural Canada to promote and educate people about the Northwest Territories. A local poet by the name of Ken Blacklock wrote this poem on March 7, 2004. I haven’t gotten up to recite a poem since my university days at the University of Colorado in 1972 or 1973, so I ask you to indulge me as I may sound awfully rusty. Here goes my concerted effort, Mr. Speaker.

“Though politicians ain’t always my friends,

Today I will...

Debates of , (day 4)

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to ask a question to the Minister and his officials. Would someone who has self-generation be eligible for a subsidy out of this power subsidy program? That will be my final question to the Minister. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Debates of , (day 4)

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. My comments are specifically related to the $1.127 million increase to the power subsidy program. It concerns me greatly, Mr. Chairman, that the territorial power support program has a significant increase on an annual basis. It comes back to the very point I want to make, and unfortunately there's nowhere in the budget process that we can address this to the NWT Power Corporation. I think it requires us to revisit some of the many contributing factors as this power subsidy program increases at an alarming rate. One of the issues that was raised to me in the last...

Question 38-15(3): Fuel Assistance For Visitors To The North
Debates of , (day 4)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question this morning is to the Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, and it's in context of my many travels into rural parts of Western Canada and speaking with many of the individuals who would like to come north of 60 to visit our beautiful country. One suggestion they asked me to convey to this Assembly is if the department would consider introducing some form of a gas coupon that they can have once they cross the port of entry at the 60th parallel to see if it would help reduce the cost of their visit to the Territories. I would like to...

Question 34-15(3): Supporting Resource Development In Small Communities
Debates of , (day 3)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I hope I find a Minister that doesn’t take my question as notice. I certainly want to raise that point with the Speaker. Today, Mr. Speaker, in the context of my Member’s statement and also the replies to the opening address, I want to ask the Minister of RWED if he’s willing to work with his department to change the philosophy from one of enforcement to one that supports resource development in the smaller communities across the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Motion To Move Committee Report 1-15(3) To Committee Of The Whole, Carried
Debates of , (day 3)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to waive Rule 93(4) and have Committee Report 1-15(3) moved into Committee of the Whole for today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Committee Report 1-15(3): Standing Committee On Accountability And Oversight Report On The Review Of The Draft 2004-2005 Main Estimates
Debates of , (day 3)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight report on the review of the draft mains, 2005-2005.

The standing committees of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories met from February 16 to February 28, 2004, to review the 2004-2005 draft main estimates for each of the departments of the Government of the Northwest Territories.

The mandate of the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight includes the overview of the government-wide budget and fiscal framework, as well as the budgets of the Executive offices, Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs...

Debates of , (day 3)

Thank you, Madam Chair. Briefly, yes. The committee met with the Finance Minister on February 18, 2004, to review the draft 2004-05 main estimates for the Department of Finance.

The department is proposing a $3.167 million decrease in operations expenses from the 2003-04 main estimates. This is primarily due to savings realized from its new self-insurance program and an anticipated reduction in interest expenses for short-term borrowing.

4. Regulating the insurance industry and liquor sales, distribution and consumption to contribute to the well-being of communities and residents.

Members...

Motion 1-15(3): Appointment Of Deputy Chairpersons Of Committee Of The Whole, Carried
Debates of , (day 3)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

WHEREAS there is requirement for the naming of two Members to hold the positions of deputy chairpersons of Committee of the Whole;

AND WHEREAS it is desirable to appoint two Members;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Frame Lake, the honourable Member for Nunakput, Mr. Calvin Pokiak, and the honourable Member for Kam Lake, Mr. David Ramsay, be appointed as deputy chairpersons of the Committee of the Whole.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.