Sandy Lee

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as we embark on our work as the 15th legislature in earnest today and in response to the Premier’s sessional statement, I would like to take this opportunity to express my strong and very broad desire to work very hard and to do everything I can during the life of this Assembly to improve the social conditions of the residents of the Northwest Territories.

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Mr. Speaker, just in the two months since our election in November, not a week has gone by when we haven’t heard reports in the media about an array of tragedies befalling our people. Just in...

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, Mr. Speaker. I must say, for the first day he is very good at rounding out his answers because he keeps saying that he will do what is good for the government and the workers. We know that this arbitration has to do with the grievance that the employees have against the government as an employer, and they have now a fair and just arbitration decision. So could I get the commitment from the Minister to do all he can to commit with Cabinet Ministers that we cannot afford any more pay equity disputes that cost us millions and have for years? Would he give me a commitment that he...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in keeping with the spirit of cooperation and working together, and knowing that the Cabinet Ministers are messengers for the Members to take our messages to Cabinet, could I get the commitment from Minister Roland that he would do his job to convince the FMBS or the board that he is going to be meeting with that the just thing, and the right thing is to follow these arbitrations and to pay these correctional officers the retroactive pay they have been without and the arbitrator has ruled to be in their favour? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have in the gallery, students from Kiononia Christian School in Yellowknife. The students came and visited here last year during the last assembly and we enjoyed it so much that they insisted that they come back here and they call this House "righteous house." With the indulgence of the House, if I may recognize the students one by one, if they could get up and be recognized: Lydiah Rabesca; Layah Rabesca; Nadia Wilson; Devon Allooloo; Michael Fowler; Jena Westergreen; Hannah McLeod; Nathan Rabesca; Liam Cameron; and the parents, Titus -- a former...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, since the makeup of the Cabinet has been announced, I have been getting calls from the media and the public with the concern that there are no women on this Cabinet and that’s the issue that I wish to speak about today.

Mr. Speaker, first off, I want to state categorically that I support Premier Handley and his Cabinet 100 percent. I believe this is a very good team and I know they will work very hard to advance the interest of the people we are all here to serve. I wish in particular to express my full support to Yellowknife Ministers Mr. Bell and Mr. Dent...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. Mr. Speaker, in the coming days and months, the Premier, Cabinet and this legislature will be making important choices about who will not only do the important jobs, but who will be the face of this government. I want to put them all on notice that I expect to see the face reflect equal representation of everyone in this vast land. I would insist that we see an increased number of women and aboriginal peoples in the senior management of our government and on important boards, not just as advisors to men and non-aboriginal people, but as equal...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Monday, December 15th, I will move the following motion: Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Nunakput, that the honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Jane Groenewegen, be appointed as Deputy Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time, I will be seeking unanimous consent to deal with this motion today. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’d also like to express my sincere congratulations to you, the Premier and the new Cabinet on being elected to your offices. I look forward to working with you. I would also like to congratulate all the new and returning Members.

Mr. Speaker, I’d like to use this, my very first statement of this Assembly, to also thank the constituents of Range Lake for sending me back here the second time around. I’m sure I speak for all Members, Mr. Speaker, in this House when I say what a singular honour and privilege it is to be elected by the public at large and to be...

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