Wendy Bisaro

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

WHEREAS the vision of the 16th Legislative Assembly is “strong individuals, families and communities sharing the benefits and responsibilities of a unified, environmentally sustainable and prosperous Northwest Territories;”

AND WHEREAS one of the goals of the 16th Legislative assembly is “effective and efficient government” to be achieved, in part, through improved human resource management practices;

AND WHEREAS the Government of the Northwest Territories Public Service Strategic Plan titled “20/20: A Brilliant North” has a goal “to establish a public service that...

Thanks to the Minister. I appreciate the comments and I would like to say that I appreciate the work that the department has done to raise this issue and to identify the shortfall, but I have to go back to my question.

When push comes to shove, if these agreements are signed off and we know there is a shortfall, what is the effect that has and is the federal government expecting the GNWT is simply going to make up this shortfall? If that’s the case, what can we do about it? That is kind of where I was asking about whether or not there’s any solution. Do we have the right, do we have the...

I was going to ask the Minister what the findings of the review were, but if he doesn’t know what was reviewed, I guess he doesn’t know what the findings were. I’ll ask him instead: is he aware of any changes in the method by which daycares will be funded that might be coming forward shortly?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I wanted to first of all echo the comments of Mr. Bromley. I also am somewhat concerned that we haven’t seen concrete evidence of how we’re going to get the parties back to the table and where the money is going to come from. The Minister has said that he’s coming back with a supp and I guess I would like to know what the funding in this supp is going to be used for. Is it intended only for devolution, which is what I thought I heard earlier, or is some of that money intended to provide for the Aboriginal governments to get back and get involved with us in terms of...

Thank you, Mr. Guy. I guess I would like to know if there is going to be any sort of an evaluation of the pilot project prior to sort of expanding throughout the rest of the Government of the Northwest Territories systems. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have a couple of comments. I’ll start with the Minister’s statement that we’ve changed how we plan and acquire public infrastructure and made changes to the capital planning process. I think I said last year, and possibly the year before, that I’m really pleased that we’ve made these changes. I look forward to hearing from the Minister in this second year of the new capital planning process whether or not he thinks that it was a beneficial move. I know that was his opinion last year, but we had a hugely busy construction season in 2010-2011 so I’d be interested to...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Deh Cho, that, notwithstanding Rule 4, when this House adjourns on Thursday, February 24, 2011, it shall be adjourned until Monday, February 28, 2011;

AND FURTHER, that any time prior to February 28, 2011, if the Speaker is satisfied, after consultation with the Executive Council and Members of the Legislative Assembly, that the public interest requires that the House should meet at an earlier time during the adjournment, the Speaker may give notice and thereupon the House shall meet at the time stated in such notice and shall...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thanks to the Minister. I guess I’m just not quite clear. I’d like to ask again, he mentions a national initiative. Is the Minister saying that nationally across the board all provinces and territories are working on something and that we are part of that? Because there are Saskatchewan, Ontario and Quebec who currently have their own legislation.

The Minister referenced a policy within the Department of Justice. My concern, I guess, is for employees outside of the GNWT. If someone in a private firm feels they are being harassed or bullied, what recourse do they have to try and make their workplace situation more tolerable?

Mr. Chairman, you are planning for a deficit of half a million dollars, so this is actually a good thing. I guess, then, maybe we should revise the description at the top of the page. Half a million deficit isn’t breakeven to me. Thank you.