Roles

In the Legislative Assembly

Elsewhere

Historical Information Brian Lewis is no longer a member of the Legislative Assembly.

Last in the Legislative Assembly September 1995, as MLA for Yellowknife Centre

Won his last election, in 1991, with 32% of the vote.

Statements in the House

Question 354-12(7): NWT Residents' State Of Health Versus Other Jurisdictions March 28th, 1995

Thank you. We spend a lot of money, Mr. Speaker, on different programs. I know the Education Minister gets asked all the time how we're doing, how we compare and so on. I would like to ask the Minister of Health, since we, on a regular basis do get information on sicknesses that keep on recurring -- chlamydia, hepatitis, gonorrhoea, for example; we have a long list that we get from the Department of Health on incidences of these things in our communities -- what use is made of this kind of information because while I look at this, many of these things seem to be concentrated in particular communities throughout the territories. Is there any particular use made of these statistics in the work of the Department of Health?

Question 354-12(7): NWT Residents' State Of Health Versus Other Jurisdictions March 28th, 1995

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Health. We have a Health department because the focus is on the health of our people. We don't call it the "Department of Sickness." So I would like to ask the Minister whether we know how healthy our population is compared to people who live in other parts of Canada. Do we have that kind of information?

Bill 31: Recall Act March 27th, 1995

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Thursday, March 30, 1995, I shall move that Bill 31, Recall Act, be read for the first time.

Motion 16-12(7): Setting Of Sitting Hours By Speaker March 27th, 1995

Thank you. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Thursday, March 30th, I will move the following motion.

I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River, that the Speaker be authorized to set such sitting hours as the Speaker, after consultation, deems fit to assist with the business before the House.

Item 13: Tabling Of Documents March 27th, 1995

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to table Tabled Document 68-12(7), a letter from the Arctic Institute of North America in Calgary, dated March 26th, signed by Ross Goodwin, the manager of the arts and science technology information system. His final sentence is "I hope you are successful in convincing the majority of MLAs to preserve the library possession of the northern heritage centre library."

The second document, Mr. Speaker, if I may, Tabled Document 69-12(7), is from the Canadian Circumpolar Library at the University of Alberta. It is dated March 22nd, and it is signed by Linda Seale, who is a librarian at that institution, urging us to understand the impact of not having a librarian to look after a world-class library.

If I may, Mr. Speaker, Tabled Document 70-12(7) is a letter from the University of Alberta, dated March 22nd, signed by Robin Minion from the Canadian Circumpolar Library, asking us to examine the library and estimate the impact of not having a librarian at that institution.

And, finally, Mr. Speaker, Tabled Document 71-12(7) is a letter from Susan Baer, president of the NWT Library Association. It is a copy of a letter sent to Mr. Nerysoo, which urges him -- there are lots of other letters that he has received also, Mr. Speaker -- about the importance of this library, not only to the territories but also to Canada and to the international community. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Problem Solving Without Violence March 27th, 1995

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is late in the life of this Assembly to begin grappling with the problem of violence and finding some proposal to change people's behaviours. After racking up thousands and thousands of words about what is right, what we should do and so on, it is good to see people suddenly taking an interest in accountability, trying to do something to solve the problem.

I would like to point out that one of the graces of an Assembly like this -- and they exist throughout the world -- is that we try to resolve our problems through reason, argument, and persuasion and so on, but we don't put fists and boots to people if they don't agree with us. So, if we are going to suddenly confine our activities to doing something about what we call family violence, how do you define it? How far are you going to go? As far as I am concerned, if you decide to solve your problems with your boots or your fists, whether it is in a bar, on the streets or in the house, that is not the way to solve problems. I learned that when I was a very young man, especially when you get beaten once or twice.

I would say that the civilized way in which we do business, if we are going to really seriously look at this and really look at the issue of violence, we have to look in totality at the way we solve our problems and not just simply limit it to what may or may not happen inside the walls of somebody's house. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Item 13: Tabling Of Documents March 26th, 1995

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to table Tabled Document 62-12(7), a letter dated March 15, 1995 from the Scott Polar Research Institute at the University of Cambridge signed by Mr. Mills who is the head librarian.

The purpose of the letter is to indicate that we do have a world-class library in Yellowknife which is visited by people from all over the world and it is very important. I would like to table that letter, Mr. Speaker.

I have another letter, Mr. Speaker, if I could. The second letter, Tabled Document 63-12(7), Mr. Speaker, is from the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C. It is addressed to me, dated March 24th, signed by Dr. Margaret Dittemore, who is the head librarian. Again, it indicates that this is a fine-grain collection of library materials and they are used by the institute to keep up its own acquisitions so that it can be guided by the way it develops its own library in Washington, D.C. I expect more letters over the next few days. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 323-12(7): Transfer Of Sir John Franklin And Akaitcho Hall March 26th, 1995

Thank you. In light of the Minister's response to potential use of Akaitcho Hall and the fact that the school board, District No. 1, may want to look at space for child care, lunch rooms or other programs under that jurisdiction, is it still possible, then, that that building could be turned over to Yellowknife School District No. 1? That's my question.

Question 323-12(7): Transfer Of Sir John Franklin And Akaitcho Hall March 26th, 1995

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister, because the new school year rushes on to us fairly quickly, whether he expects to have the positions on the future authority to these buildings resolved before the new school year begins?

Question 323-12(7): Transfer Of Sir John Franklin And Akaitcho Hall March 26th, 1995

I would like to thank the Minister for the answer, but I would like to find out whether, in fact, there has been any consultant company engaged to examine the Akaitcho Hall residence, which could slow down the process, unless it's going to be completed by a certain date.