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Roles

In the Legislative Assembly

Elsewhere

Crucial Fact

  • His favourite word was work.
Historical Information David Ramsay is no longer a member of the Legislative Assembly.

Last in the Legislative Assembly November 2015, as MLA for Kam Lake

Lost his last election, in 2019, with 49% of the vote.

Statements in the House

Fiscal Realities Facing The Government Of The Northwest Territories March 16th, 2004

Oh, sorry, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to conclude my Member's statement.

Fiscal Realities Facing The Government Of The Northwest Territories March 16th, 2004

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'm going to utilize my Member's statement today to comment on the financial reality that the Government of the Northwest Territories finds itself in. Mr. Speaker, let's go back five short years ago to a time when the NWT included the territory of Nunavut. The territorial budget at that time was approximately $1 billion. April 1st, 1999, brought us the creation of the territory of Nunavut. The NWT budget, five short years later for 2004-2005, is just shy of $1 billion. To me, this sets off many alarm bells, Mr. Speaker. Five years later and the budget is exactly the same as where it was when we had to administer and govern Nunavut in some of the most far-reaching places in this country; a scary story, Mr. Speaker.

The previous government was allowed to spend money at a sickening rate. Any windfalls were quickly spent with political promises and pet projects. They continued to allow the proliferation of boards and agencies throughout the territory. Some might even add that they're now seen as economic development in the regions. There are a number of professional board-sitters out there, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, we must grab the reigns of our spending immediately. The Regular Members, because of the timing of the election, have not had the benefit of going through a complete budget cycle. We went straight into the review of the draft main estimates and, as a new Member, I must say that the process in and of itself was a real eye opener. I did know coming in that our financial situation was bleak, but I was shocked to learn really how poor it is. It certainly is a very scary reality if we continue to spend ourselves silly, in two years our accumulated debt will be a staggering $500 million. Yes, that's half-a-billion dollars. Running a government with an operating deficit is something that we must remedy, and remedy soon. It's just not right and should not be allowed to happen.

Mr. Speaker, this government spends approximately 35 percent of its total budget on some administrative overhead, a very scary number, as well. In the next four years, it is my goal to see that number reduced...

Question 2-15(3): Trades And Apprenticeship Challenges March 15th, 2004

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wasn't going to ask this one additional question, but I'll rise and ask one more question. How many apprenticeship officers does this government have to service the residents of the Northwest Territories? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 2-15(3): Trades And Apprenticeship Challenges March 15th, 2004

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I guess the final supplementary that I have is can I get a commitment from the Minister that he will look at putting trades on par with other post-secondary pursuits of individuals in the Northwest Territories so that everybody is on an equal footing in terms of access to financial resources? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 2-15(3): Trades And Apprenticeship Challenges March 15th, 2004

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thanks to the Minister for the response. The first thing I'd like to say is that folks who are in the trades program have to leave the North and go to school. Maybe sometimes it's Fort Smith and other times it's Edmonton or Calgary. When they leave the North, they're on their own for the two months while they're away. They don't get paid for the two months while they're away.

Mr. Speaker, I'm wondering why the trades are different. Why can't apprentices in the Northwest Territories access our student financial assistance program to make sure that they have the resources and the financial wherewithal to see the trades through to completion? We're losing a great number of individuals who can't afford it. During the first two or three years of an apprenticeship program, the average apprentice is making $12 to $15 an hour. It's not a great deal of money, and if you have responsibilities at home, a family and what not, it's a tremendous burden.

I'm wondering, Mr. Speaker, will there be a resource available to those in the first years of the trades program to help them financially to get them through this. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 2-15(3): Trades And Apprenticeship Challenges March 15th, 2004

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to today ask the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment some questions around a comment that he made in an article that appeared in the Yellowknifer on Wednesday, February 4, 2004. The Minister comments on how the opportunity for all people in the North is at an unprecedented high rate with the demands for qualified, skilled trades people increasing here and throughout

Canada. During that first week of February, Mr. Speaker, I had the honour of attending the Apprenticeship and Certification Week Awards ceremony here in the Great Hall of the Legislative Assembly, where the Minister once again spoke of these opportunities. I am wondering today, Mr. Speaker, if I can get a commitment from the Minister that he will address the dire financial reality that the average person has in getting into and staying with the trades program. It's a question that I have for the Minister, and I have some supplementary questions, as well. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Recognition Of The Importance Of Sport March 15th, 2004

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to use my Member's statement today to acknowledge all the hard work of everyone involved in sending Team NWT to the Arctic Winter Games which were held recently in Fort McMurray. The athletes are to be commended for their outstanding sportsmanship, athleticism and dedication to their chosen sports. We can all be very proud of the way our athletes carried themselves. I had the opportunity to attend the games and was overwhelmed by how they were accepted and hosted by the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo. I wanted to thank the organizing committee from Wood Buffalo for doing such a terrific job, especially the mayor of the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, Mr. Doug Faulkner, and Guy Boutilier, the MLA for Fort McMurray.

Sport recreation plays a vital role in the physical, emotional and mental well-being of our people, especially our children. Today I wanted to acknowledge this fact and recognize how important it is to life in the Northwest Territories. In closing I would also like to recognize the hard work put in by our staff, Mr. Ian Legaree, director of sport and recreation with MACA; the Minister, Henry Zoe; and, Mr. Gary Schauerte, the manager of sport and recreation, for all of their hard work in putting this together. I also wanted to thank Sport North, Mr. Bill Othmer, and all of the mission staff for doing a wonderful job in putting all of the pieces together to make the 2004 Arctic Winter Games a successful one for Team NWT.

The NWT will host the 2008 Arctic Winter Games and we should all be very excited at bringing the games back home to the Northwest Territories and showcasing our territory to our friends from around the world. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Written Question 1-15(2): Human Resource Issues At North Slave Correctional Facility January 20th, 2004

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my written questions today are for the Minister of Justice who has left us, but I will put them on record anyway.

1. Have exit interviews been granted for employees leaving the Yellowknife Correctional Centre over the past 17 months? If so, what percentage does this represent?

2. How do the instances of extended leaves of absences at the Yellowknife Correctional Centre compare with other sections of the Department of Justice?

3. Can the Minister provide the raw data on extended leave for the Department of Justice? How does this compare to other government departments?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 11-15(2): Staff Morale At North Slave Correctional Facility January 20th, 2004

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thanks for that, Mr. Minister. I'm wondering if the Department of Justice recognizes this as an area of great concern and perhaps the Minister can address that question. I know it's an area of concern. I've heard from a number of constituents and a number of individuals that it is a concern, and I'd like to hear from the Minister that it's a concern of this government: the instances of extended periods of leave at YCC in particular. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 11-15(2): Staff Morale At North Slave Correctional Facility January 20th, 2004

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A supplementary question to the Minister of Justice, and I can understand where the government is coming from with this, but I find it hard to believe that the raw data can't be provided. If it can't be provided for YCC, perhaps raw data from department to department. I find in today's day and age of PeopleSoft that the Minister and the government can't come up with some raw figures at the very least, and I question the Minister again whether or not I could get access to raw data, figures of extended periods of leave for the Department of Justice as compared to the other departments of this government. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.