Daryl Dolynny

I’m encouraged that the Minister is encouraged. Elders play an integral part in teaching us many life skills, or at least they should be. These role models serve as mentors for our youth and could assist with attendance issues.

What is the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment doing to facilitate more elders in our schools?

I’m trying to get to the motion where I’m trying to summarize it here. The fact is, really, by taking this out of this room and putting it in the hands of the commission which with the motion speaks, is clearly in the best interests not only for the people in this room but for the people in the Northwest Territories. Let’s get back to business.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. To the motion. I have Minister Beaulieu.

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. To the motion. I have Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Madam Chair. The Member who brought the motion forward knows full well my thoughts on this. Unfortunately, I will have to share it here publicly.

When I looked at this coming to the table here, I had to really stop and think, what is this motion telling us, what is this motion telling the Members of this Assembly, but more importantly, what is this motion telling the public? You don’t like what we hear, we throw you out? I tell you, I’ll say this again, this is not how we should be governing ourselves. We’re better than that. I say this will all due respect. This was an independent...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Being a newly elected official here, you always come into this room under the pretense of wanting to do what’s best for the Territories. You know, clearly every intention of newly elected officials or those that return here is to do just that and you spend months, years – we’re halfway through our term – almost two years to try to work together in a consensus-style manner. We protect that of which we hold as dear and true, which is consensus, and yet today we’re acting like we’re parties, parties of one, parties of two, parties of three. Clearly, this, in my mind, goes...

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. To the motion. I have Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I appreciate the ability to speak to the 19 seat motion here with the recommendations or amendments. I would also take the opportunity to hopefully address some of the 21 issues because my math fears the fact that if I don’t at this time, I may run the risk of not having an opportunity.

Madam Chair, with the motion before us on 19, one has to take a look at this from an empirical point of view. You have to look at the pros and cons, the pluses and minuses for 19 and how strong is this motion in this House at this time.

Although we see this could be the predominant theme...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. It has been said but it is indeed worth repeating that the people of Range Lake would like to thank the honourable Justice Shannon Smallwood, Mr. Charles Furlong and Mr. Ian McCrea for their independent, holistic and thorough analysis of this commission report we have before us. It was clear that early on in this process many, including members of the public and this House, took up compelling and galvanized positions. This, I assume, would have been challenging by the commission who concluded with three unanimous recommendations.

But let me remind everyone this was an...

I’m assuming this $100,000 oops was a little misnomer that happened during the changeover. I’ll give that to the Minister.

Can the Minister reassure the Members of this House that all future significant announcements or initiatives from his department will be properly vetted with members of the Standing Committee on Social Programs for the remainder of his term? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.