Alfred Moses

I know he’s going to all the regional centres. What is he doing for all the small communities where you’ve heard, more and more in this House, that’s where we’re having the highest unemployment rates? They are in the small communities.

How is he getting input or engaging people in the small communities to get them on board for this program but also get them trained and educated so they can get the employment they need, support their families and also the economy? What is he doing to engage the small communities outside of these regional centres that he mentioned earlier? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize a couple people up in the gallery today: Ms. Julie Green, who is a very strong community advocate and one for the Anti-Poverty Strategy. I really appreciate what she does for the small communities and speaking up for the small communities. I’d like to recognize Mr. Grant Gowans who’s been a childhood friend of mine. He grew up in Inuvik and now resides in Yellowknife. But he’s taken on a new portfolio and I wish him luck in that portfolio.

I’d also like to recognize Mr. Andre Corriveau. He’s been a very strong mentor of mine but also a very strong...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just another comment about the feasibility of maybe looking at a deep water port for the Beaufort Sea in terms of the vessels going through the Northwest Passage on a more recurring basis and it might be an opportunity for various things in terms of getting our resources out to market and bringing supplies in for the coastal communities, those kinds of things. So I’d like to know if that’s something that the department is looking into. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m glad to hear that that’s a possibility. I want to make sure that there’s an assurance to that.

When this strategy is being developed and with the Inuvik-Tuk highway being developed, as well, can the Minister ensure residents of the Beaufort-Delta that infrastructure will be on the agenda to get the oil and gas back to the communities of Inuvik and possibly Tuktoyaktuk when we’re developing the strategy? Thank you.

In terms of just starting the process of consultation, I’d like to ask the Minister, has he had any consultation with Aurora College and learning centres? Specifically in Inuvik, they have that mobile trades unit that can go into the communities and train our individuals on these particular appropriate trades and skills for the oil and gas sector when that economy picks back up.

Has he had those consultations with Aurora College to start developing those kinds of trades programs so that we’ll have people trained and educated and ready to take the jobs when the economy picks back up?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We all know the importance of how sport can positively affect and influence a child’s life. In most cases success in sport at a young age can also lead to success in life.

About the same time last year, I stood in this House to recognize the accomplishments of a group of younger superstars, the East Three Eagles Elementary Basketball Team, claiming their first ever banner for the new school and new gymnasium in Inuvik. Today I’d like to stand in this House and once again recognize this group of young, fine gentlemen on defending their championship last weekend here in...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just a few comments. First of all I just want to make some comments on the ferry operations in Inuvik this past winter. The first year was definitely a learning experience. The way it was developed and operated this year was excellent. I know all the guys working on it and some people making comments said it was really well done this year. Moving forward, it’s going to be a very efficient practice getting that up and running.

I also want to just make a comment about the Aviation Career Development Program. I am pretty sure that scholarship is fully utilized every year and...

I appreciate the efforts that are going into this Oil and Gas Strategy and looking at trying to get our resources out to market. However, we do have two communities in the Northwest Territories that are actually surrounded by oil and gas and having issues with their gas situation, and that’s Norman Wells and Inuvik.

I wonder if, in this strategy, whether or not the Minister would look at… We’re building all this infrastructure and roads with the Canada Building Fund, once that gets approved, to get our resources out to market. I’m thinking about a different type of infrastructure in terms of...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment made a statement in the House the other day about the Oil and Gas Strategy, and in his statement he mentions that he’s got a job on the expertise and knowledge of regional territorial stakeholders, Aboriginal governments and industry to develop a strategy that truly reflects northern values and priorities.

Can I ask the Minister just to get an update on where he is with that? Has he held these regional meetings, specifically up in the Beaufort-Delta, to look at developing this strategy? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Before I begin, I’d just like to thank Mr. Dolynny and Mr. Nadli, as well as any other Members who have brought a lobbyist registry before government. I’m happy to speak on it today.

When we discussed this in committee, the first thing that came to mind was transparency and accountability on our government and our departments and how we do business throughout the Northwest Territories. The public and public offices have the right to know who is lobbying our government and who is going into contracts with our government. We need to know which groups, businesses and...