Alfred Moses

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The other day I made a Member’s statement on our seniors and prevention and promotion. When this side of the House asks for dollars to deal with chronic management, we’re not asking for long-term facilities, we’re not asking for beds, we’re not asking for workers to fill those long-term facilities, we’re asking for prevention and promotion program. Programs that are going to keep our elders living an independent lifestyle, promote our language, our culture, and keep those…(inaudible)…alive.

The other day we had the Minister of Human Resources mention that he moved some...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just a heads-up, this possibly could be the best Member’s statement that I’ve given to date.

---Laughter

Now that I’ve got your attention on this day of love, I had the great opportunity of getting such great news today on the birth of Ms. Kali Ann Martha Wood, the healthy daughter of Bryan Wood and my beloved little sister, Heather Moses.

---Applause

Kali Ann Martha Wood was born at 11:00 p.m. last night with a healthy weight of 8 pounds 22 ounces. I want to wish both Bryan and Heather all the best in their journey together, and their journey and responsibility to be great...

Thank you, Madam Chair. I guess the big focus for me, as most Members will probably know, is the situation we’re going through in Inuvik in the energy initiatives with finding a gas solution. Earlier today I had questions for the Minister of ENR here, talking about the $100,000 that he mentioned in his budget address to advance the LNG solution. Currently with our gas shortage, our community relying on synthetic gas, the synthetic gas storage in the community, which only lasts five days, and all the other concerns such as transportation on the highway. At times when the highway does shut down...

Thank you. We’re talking about this advancement in the LNG possible solution. Last year the Minister and the department had allocated another $100,000 to other energy initiatives such as biomass, pellet stoves, wood stoves. Can the Minister confirm whether that dollar figure is still available for the community residents of Inuvik so that they can find another way to heat their homes and not rely on fuel? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Later on today we’re going to be meeting with Environment and Natural Resources. I have some questions in the budget address with the $100,000 that he mentioned that’s an LNG, liquid natural gas, solution for Inuvik. I’ve been getting a lot of e-mails and questions in regard to what this money is going to be allocated towards and how it’s going to affect our gas situation in Inuvik. If the Minister can take a moment, would he be able to elaborate on what this money is for, how it’s going to be spent and how it’s going to be used for what he mentioned in the budget...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Coming from a region with a high cost of living and some of our higher fuel costs in the diesel communities, this was brought forth to committee and we had a good discussion on it. It’s all about investment, high cost of living and the costs to this government on what we are paying in this area. With the short-term gain of the dollars that we’re saying, those dollars could be reinvested into another program where, if we come up with a five- or 10-year strategy in the short term, that will start lowering the cost of living for some of the communities that are bearing the...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. My questions are going to continue on with the Inuvik gas situation and $100,000 that will be provided to finding an advancement of this liquid natural gas, LNG. I just want to ask the Minister if he feels that the $100,000 that has been allocated to advancing it, if it will be sufficient enough to have an impact on the gas costs and the advance of the residential business and government side of demand on the fuel source.

Thank you. I appreciate the work that we’re doing for all residents and businesses that are on the natural gas situation. But the ones that are on diesel or on fuel, are there any initiatives in the plan going forward that would reduce the costs for those people on diesel fuel, as well, so that their cost of living goes down when other businesses on natural gas go down, as well, so that we’re targeting the whole community? Thank you.

Thank you. I’m glad to hear that the Minister is working on this. In terms of his mention of synthetic gas, it is an issue because the way we ship it up in Inuvik is from Dawson, and as we all know, the Dempster Highway does close down sometimes. Our storage for the synthetic gas is only a five-day storage and we don’t want to get into a situation during these cold winter months where we’ll find ourselves in dire straits here.

He did mention about four weeks to come back with the report and the study. Can he give me an exact timeline, whether it be after we finish this House sitting, so I can...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to follow up on my colleague’s comments, Mr. Yakeleya. Last night I had the opportunity and the pleasure of attending the NWT Rec and Park Association awards for our elders in the Northwest Territories, the active ones. At this time I’d really like to take the opportunity to recognize two elders who won the awards: Ms. Violet Beaulieu from Fort Resolution and Mr. Gabriel Kochon.

Violet is 80 years old and Gabriel is 84. Last night, when I got to meet them, they were full of energy and in great health.

The NWT Rec and Parks Association takes a different approach...