Pointing to an alleged drug-related knife-point hostage taking in Teetł’it Zheh (Fort McPherson), Mackenzie Delta MLA George Nerysoo continued his plea from last week for help from the territorial government to fight what he called a crisis situation in communities in his riding.
“During the past week in my community of Tetł’it Zheh, there was a serious crime committed by two local male persons,” he said.
“The two individuals forced themselves into a public housing unit and held the two adults hostage at knifepoint. The unit is occupied by two adults and their children. The crime in question is considered very serious in nature and is related to the drug trade.”
Nerysoo noted the RCMP has done its part by identifying suspects and laying a host of serious charges against two suspects, with one being arrested and now on bail. The second person remains at large.
Justice Minister RJ Simpson said while he sets priorities for the NWT RCMP, it is ultimately up to the federal government to make changes to the Criminal Code. He has been pushing to make it harder to get bail for serious crimes.
It is also key for members of the community to be willing to testify against any accused drug traffickers, which he acknowledged can be difficult in a small community, but is key to disrupting the illicit trade.
Mackenzie Delta MLA George Nerysoo in Assembly today. (Image courtesy of Assembly livestream)
“If there are people who are negatively impacting community, if there are drug dealers that are, you know, actively working to get people addicted, are kidnapping people, torturing people, getting into human trafficking, that we are sentencing them appropriately, starting right when the application for bail is made.”
Inuvik Boot Lake MLA Denny Rogers said the conditions for motorists on the Dempster Highway and Inuvik-Tuk Highway have “experience one of the worst summers and the worst falls in recent years.”
The rough roads have force delays in trucking, spoiled perishables, and damaged goods. It is also affecting opportunities for leisure drivers to leave their communities and for visitors to safely arrive.
Infrastructure Minister Caroline Wawzonek confirmed there were some delays getting the roads in shape after unusually high snowfall in the northern regions. There were also some delays as contracts needed to be tendered.
When Wawzonek subsequently donned her Finance Minister cap, she did not appreciate Yellowknife Centre MLA Robert Hawkins’ suggestion that a cabinet shuffle might be needed after a forecasted record budget surplus earlier this year devolved into a pending plea to the feds to raise the borrowing limit without consulting Regular MLAs.
Yellowknife Centre MLA Robert Hawkins in Assembly on Monday. (Image courtesy of Assembly livestream)
Wawzonek replied that the need to put Ottawa on notice of a pending written request to raise the debt limit is triggered by the legislation itself.
“Our offices here in the Department of Finance and fiscal policy are looking at what kinds of options (and) what kinds of needs we might have. What is on the capital plan for the next several years? What is in the operational plan for the next several years?
“Mr. Speaker, if the member doesn’t believe me when I answered that the second time and doesn’t believe me when I’m answering it now, I’m happy to share the letter with them.”
A chorus of boos and hoots for Wawzonek, who is also the Deputy Premier, was tamped down by Speaker Shane Thompson.
Towards the end of the day, reports indicate MLAs did side with the NWT Legislative Assembly’s Integrity Commissioner, and fined Tu Nedhé-Wiilideh MLA Richard Edjericon $2,500 for breaching a provision of the Code of Conduct.
Edjericon was also reprimanded for a “continuous campaign harassing” the nursing staff at the health centre in Fort Resolution, resulting in a 30-year veteran nurse being temporarily terminated from her job.
The session continues tomorrow at 1:30 p.m. Each evening during session, CKLB replays the session starting at 7 p.m.
