David Krutko

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...

Again, in closing, this is more than just a dust problem; it’s a quality of life issue for our communities. I think that the communities that have had an opportunity to see the chipseal laid in our communities have seen the improvement in the quality of life in those communities. It also deals with the area of cleanliness and the ability for people to walk up and down the streets without having to worry about mud, dust, and being covered in those types of materials due to road traffic. I’d just like to ask the Minister that we don’t go back to the drawing board.

Like I said earlier, there was a...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. My question to the Minister is in the area of a study that was done a number of years ago by the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs with regard to dust control alternatives. A cost-benefit analysis was done in 2005 by the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs. Back then, during the 14th Assembly, one of the big issues for the small communities was dealing with the area of dust control. Today we still have that same problem in our communities, especially when we talk about the health of our communities and the well-being of people in those communities.

I...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Hopefully within the remaining year left in this government, we are really able to make a difference in our communities. More importantly, we have to use the tools we have at hand. We have policies in place. We have negotiated contracting guidelines. We have initiatives to stimulate our communities. I believe we have to formulate these partnerships, because the communities are trying to do their part, whether it is the band councils, the hamlet councils, the local government authorities, because they realize the importance of jobs in our communities. Can we get some...

Mr. Speaker, I think one of the biggest factors in the Northwest Territories is we haven’t really made the decision to deregulate government and put government positions in the communities and keep them there and fill those positions. Mr. Speaker, there are some 5,000 positions in the Government of the Northwest Territories which could be put to communities regardless of expanding our programs and services officer positions, wildlife officers, departments such as forestry or looking at areas in regard to the economic development positions in our regions, housing positions at regional centres...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I had an opportunity to take part in the power rate conference here in Yellowknife a couple of weeks ago. It was a real eye opener in regards to the number of people in the Northwest Territories that are living in poverty, regardless if it is economic, social or simply reacting to the cost of living.

Surprisingly, Mr. Speaker, almost 45 percent in my communities of Aklavik and Fort McPherson live with an income of under $30,000 a year. That is the majority. Forty-five percent of households in my riding have to maintain themselves with $30,000 or less. But yet, Mr...

Mr. Chairman, the last issue I would like to talk about is community policing -- my favourite subject -- for Tsiigehtchic. I know this issue has been bounced around this House for a number of years. I would just like to get the Minister to give me an update on what is the status of community policing for Tsiigehtchic. There was an issue around housing in Fort McPherson getting an extra member. I would like to know. Can you give me an update on what is the status of that? When can we see police services in Tsiigehtchic by way of the Fort McPherson detachment?

Mr. Chairman, again, the communities want to be involved in the justice system. They want to do their part in regards to finding ways to bring down crime rates in our communities and also trying to deal with the biggest affects on incarceration in the Northwest Territories. It is basically alcohol and substance abuse. Most of our communities have taken it on themselves. Two communities I represent, Aklavik went for a plebiscite last year but didn’t quite make it. Again, our communities are trying to do their part by bringing forward plebiscites by saying we don’t want alcohol in our...

My final question is: How many fire departments do we have certified at this time? That are certified, that are trained and do have the certification required to actually be certified firefighters in our communities.