Adam Johnson
Northern News Services
Published Friday, December 7, 2007

YELLOWKNIFE - Yellowknife Centre MLA Robert Hawkins did his best to get a controversial bill back on the agenda during last week's sitting of the legislative assembly.

The Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Act (SCAN) didn't make the cut during the last government's tenure, but the second-term MLA said he didn't want it to fall off the radar.

"I think we need to start putting a safe environment first as a priority," he said.

The bill, which has been enacted in several provinces, is designed to give the courts broader powers to shut down crack houses and bootlegging operations around the territory.

It was roundly criticized for being a southern solution to a Northern problem, and the standing committee on social programs refused to endorse it. Many members, however, said they agreed with the act in spirit.

"Something that was taken from down south is not going to apply up here," said Inuvik Twin Lakes MLA Robert McLeod, during debate on the bill. "With some changes, it may work."

In response, Premier Floyd Roland said he was willing to put SCAN back on the agenda, if it had the support of the majority of members.

More money, more art

Several Yellowknife MLAs spoke out for more funding for arts initiatives in the North.

Great Slave MLA Glen Abernethy called for more support for Northern artists from both the departments of Education, Culture and Employment and Industry, Tourism and Investment.

"(Both departments) may be able to partner with these artists to promote the NWT and strengthen tourism across the Northwest Territories," he said.

Abernethy is a former president of the Folk on the Rocks Society.

Similar notes came from Weledeh MLA Bob Bromley and Yellowknife Centre MLA Robert Hawkins, who both spoke in favour of increasing core funding for the Northern Arts and Cultural Centre.

"Annual core program funding from GNWT was established 25 years ago at $30,000 and it has not changed a wit as of today," Bromley said.

He said, with increasing operational costs, and NACC programming happening around the territory, this number needed to change.

Hawkins also repeated his desire to see a territorial arts award appear in the NWT.

Demanding answers on Deh Cho Bridge

With the Deh Cho Bridge getting a green light from Transport Canada, more questions are lingering about the $150 million-plus project.

Last week, members of standing committee on economic development and infrastructure submitted a letter to Premier Floyd Roland, demanding more information on the concession agreement signed with the Deh Cho Bridge Corporation in the dying days of the 15th legislative assembly.

The committee asked for a copy of the concession agreement, a list of incomplete schedules in the agreement, a recent cost/benefit analysis on the bridge and undertakings on the premier to more clearly lay out policy on future projects.

The concession agreement was signed Sept. 28, and lays out the Deh Cho Bridge Corporation's responsibilities for the project.

It's a boy!

During his first member's statement of last week's session, Kam Lake MLA Dave Ramsay announced the birth of his son - Malachi David Ramsay.

"Mr. Speaker, on Nov. 7, at 9:58 a.m., my wife, Amanda, and I welcomed into the world a son," he said, to a round of applause.

Amanda was medevaced to Edmonton during the election campaign, where she spent nine weeks under supervised care during her pregnancy. Malachi was born five weeks premature.

Though Malachi was kept under observation for 12 days, he was back in Yellowknife, with both of his parents, as of the beginning of session.