David Krutko

Mr. Chairman, for the sake of progress, I will agree to ask my question on the next page.

Ms. Meade.

The other area that I think we have to do more for by way of working with the aboriginal organizations that have established territorial parks and protected areas regardless if it’s the Gwich’in Territorial Park or the CANOL Trail. Again, those are areas that I think do have major economic potential and cultural potential, but more importantly, the ability to promote the regions and also the cultural and aboriginal groups that are basically represented in those parks and also build a sort of park management plan with them. I’d just like to know what we are doing to work with those aboriginal...

Agreed. Sergeant-at-Arms, escort the witnesses in.

For the record, Ms. Lee, could you introduce your witnesses?

Mr. Chairman, I would like to ask the Minister what is the plan for the Joe Greenland Centre in light of this new information to establish these long-term care facilities elsewhere in the Northwest Territories. More importantly, what is the transitional plan in place for the residents of the Joe Greenland Centre? More importantly, the status of the employers, the individuals who work there so that we can give them some comfort that there will be a transitional period that they will transition out, that basically there will be more research and development done to really look at the potential...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

CREATE POSITIVE OUTCOMES FOR CHILDREN, FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES

Positive outcomes will result from combining quality social services and interventions with activities that encourage community participation, ownership and empowerment. As an important step in developing better relations with the community, the department and its authorities must work with communities on all levels: project planning, implementation and evaluation. Empowering the communities to take responsibility for their own child protection and family services and supports would go a long way towards...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to get some assurance from the Premier that there will be ongoing discussions with these groups, because we do have influence. We do have land claim agreements. We do have things that talk about the Norman Wells Proven Area Agreement. We do talk about the royalty regime throughout the Mackenzie Valley. In our land claims agreements, because of those things not being a part of this agreement, we have to clarify who we talk to in the future if it’s not going to be part of this agreement-in-principle. I think it’s critical that we cannot leave anything not in...

I spoke to the vice-president yesterday. There was a request put in. The letter is still out there. They’re waiting for a response. If anything, there’s a phone number on the page. All you have to do is pick up the phone and make a phone call. So will you make a phone call to the Gwich’in Tribal Council vice-president or president and start the discussions on this matter, rather than simply put in the people that have made a little bit of waves, push them aside, and only deal with those people you think you can get support from?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Since someone opened the barn door and let the horses out, I might as well get involved in this debate too.

I’ve had a discussion with the president of the Gwich’in Tribal Council and the vice-president and there has been an olive branch handed out to the Premier to meet with them in Inuvik, where they just happen to be in the Premier’s riding. He has never once gone into the tribal council office to try to sit down and find a resolution to this problem. The letter that was sent to you clearly identified that they wanted to meet and discuss these issues. You have not at...

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to send my condolences to the Bruce family of Old Crow on the passing of their mother, their grandmother and, more importantly, a very important figure in the Gwich’in region.

Mr. Speaker, the Gwich’in people from across the Northwest Territories will be gathering today in Old Crow for the passing of Reverend Ellen Bruce. Ellen was the first northern aboriginal woman to be ordained in the Anglican Church and also was a member of the Order of Canada.

Mr. Speaker, Reverend Bruce is well known for her work with the church, but more importantly, working with the Gwich’in...