Calvin Pokiak

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Mr. Roland.

Thank you. I’m just getting help here. Thanks a lot for your patience. Stand down the clauses and go down to schedule 1, page 3. Mr. Braden.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Before I begin, I would like to say that after the swearing in of the 15th Assembly, I indicated to the Premier that I would show no more emotions. However, with the situation ongoing in Tuktoyaktuk, I became emotional yesterday. I would like to thank my colleagues for the moment of silent prayer. Thank you to my colleague, Mr. Dave Ramsay, for concluding my Member’s statement.

Mr. Speaker, yesterday my colleague from Nahendeh talked about the tour he conducted with the Ministers. I, too, at this time would like to thank Premier Joe Handley, Ministers Roland, Bell...

Thank you, Madam Chair. I, too, feel like it was a good sessional statement, but I’d like to keep in mind that there are a lot of hard issues being pressed here with this government. Some of the ideas that came to mind in his statement were regarding the resource revenue sharing. I think it’s very important, Madam Chair, that we continue to really get something done from the federal government in this regard. It is very important for us to continue pursuing that matter. My comments are going to be general in regard to some of the items that came out in his statement.

With regard to housing...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Fall is nearly over and the community of Tuktoyaktuk goes out on the land for the annual subsistence hunt and stocks up on fish, geese and caribou. During the business plan meetings in Yellowknife I became aware on Sunday, October 1, 2004, of four local residents who were considered overdue. These four individuals did not report or return home and after a couple of days they were considered missing. Bad weather in and around Tuktoyaktuk delayed the search and rescue efforts. When the weather subsided, an extensive search and rescue effort came into play with the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize my wonderful wife, Lucille Pokiak. She came down to support me. Thanks a lot. It is good to see David Roland. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. First of all, let me start off congratulating you on your appointment as Speaker and to the honourable David Krutko as a Member of Cabinet.

Mr. Speaker, June is the month when students are graduating. There are a number of students from my riding who will be graduating from Grade 12 this month. I would like to recognize the following students from Mangilaluk School in Tuktoyaktuk: Mr. Wayne Chicksi and Dolly Wolki with three more to be confirmed later this month after exams.

From Helen Kalvik School in Holman: Gary Okheena, Heather Okheena, Helen Ekootak, Anita...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

WHEREAS amendments to the Northwest Territories Public Service Act received assent on June 13, 2003;

AND WHEREAS section 40.2. (1) of the amended Public Service Act provides that the Commissioner, on the recommendation of the Legislative Assembly, shall appoint an Equal Pay Commissioner to exercise the powers and perform the duties set out in this act;

AND WHEREAS the Board of Management was tasked with recruiting an Equal Pay Commissioner and has recommended an individual to the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Assembly is prepared to make a recommendation;

NOW...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to congratulate constituents in my Nunakput riding. Congratulations to the athletes who attended the Super Soccer tournament here in Yellowknife, which was held from April 29th to May 4, 2004. Kim Deniger, a member of the RCMP, was the coach and took seven students with her. They are: Zane and Jonathan Kuneyuna, Anthony Alanak, Nathan Okheena, Nathan Pogotak, Logan Memogana, and Zackery Kunana.

Mr. Speaker, with this being their first time attending this tournament they did not win any of the games, but I’m proud to say they did receive an outstanding...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is the time of year when nearly everyone in the community of Tuktoyaktuk goes out on the land for their annual subsistence harvest of game, fish and geese. During my travels to Husky Lake, I became aware on Sunday, May 23, 2004, of a local resident who was considered lost. This individual did not report or return home and after he was reported missing, the family was concerned and contacted the local volunteer search and rescue team. The RCMP, the Canadian Rangers and local volunteers put their plan in place and conducted a vast search. On Monday, May 24, 2004, I...