Bob Bromley

Not surprisingly, that failed to answer the question.

Does the Premier realize that the representative of the World Wildlife Fund of Canada is a 40-year resident of the Northwest Territories and that the previous representative is a long-term resident who has retired and currently lives on the land well away from any community in the Northwest Territories?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions have to do with the Premier’s statements in his recent press release on the World Wildlife Fund’s role in conservation. Does the Premier realize that the World Wildlife Fund has been a key partner, working with all of our communities — closely with all of our communities — for many years in the development and implementation of the NWT Protected Areas Strategy?

…but certainly not all. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I understand that you'll get me the information on how many units we have land secured for this year out of 174. Are things looking better for next year, and do we see an end to this issue in the near future? Or is this going to be an ongoing situation?

This is very good actually to hear the Premier actually speak to the issue, finally.

Does the Premier acknowledge that organizations that partner with our communities and work with them have something to contribute sometimes, especially when they’re supported by a regional planning process, the Arctic Council and the majority of Canadians?

It’s good to know the Premier is aware of that contribution.

Does the Premier also realize that his press release totally ignored the point that the World Wildlife Fund was raising while simply focusing on writing off the World Wildlife Fund of Canada as a southern organization?

I don’t know whether I’m his constituent or he’s mine, but I’d like to recognize Chief Stanley Sanguez.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. World Wildlife Fund of Canada, a long-term northern conservation partner, has been attacked by Inuvialuit leaders and, most disturbingly, by our own Premier. The attacks are based on false premises and completely ignore the point — a valid point, I might add. World Wildlife Fund of Canada has called for a postponement of the lease sale in the Beaufort until a comprehensive measurement plan is available for the region and the capability is in place to quickly clean up oil spills.

Mr. Speaker, planning is as yet unfinished in the conservation of the Beaufort. In fact, the...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Very briefly, I want to back up my colleague with additional remarks there.

In this government we developed a capacity, a community capacity. I think that's an agreed-on priority and way of operating in the North. But it requires consistency over time. I think that's recognized.

It would be nice to know, with these federal dollars, of course — had we been talking about them — how long they’re established for and so on, because I don’t want to see us undermining our capacity and that of the communities for a one-time federal program that might last two years and then...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. This government is supposedly about prevention. One of our goals is sustainable, vibrant and safe communities. One of our priorities is a focus on prevention by promoting healthy choices and lifestyles.

The lack of a coordinator, as was recently discussed, has not helped the situation. The communities are in a situation where they need some help. There are some obvious community capacity challenges. There is clearly an unequal distribution of income across the North, with our smaller communities especially — some of the areas where these dollars are most effectively spent...