David Krutko

Mr. Speaker, I would like to present a petition dealing with the matter of a long-term care facility for Fort McPherson. Mr. Speaker, the petition contains 114 signatures of Fort McPherson residents. Mr Speaker, the petition is to request the establishment of a permanent long-term care facility for the hamlet of Fort McPherson.

I request the Premier to do an audit on the Inuvik health board dealing with the community of Tsiigehtchic from the information that was provided by the Minister in which in one year they made 20 visits and they were there for 120 hours. For me, that’s unacceptable. I’d like to know from the Premier if he can tell me exactly how many dollars are being expended on the health operations in the community of Tsiigehtchic out of that $300 million that we’ve spent on behalf of this government, how much is really being spent in communities and not operating a health board, which goes in a deficit...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is being directed to the Premier because I think we’re going to have to have a political decision or political involvement especially from the Executive Council to resolve the outstanding issue in Tsiigehtchic of not having a health provider. I think we’re going on seven years now, yet this has been raised by previous Ministers, it’s been raised by Gwich’in assemblies, it’s been raised at the Beaufort Leaders’ Meeting, motions have been passed. I think, Mr. Speaker, there is a time and place to end the discussion and find a solution to the problem.

Mr...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A nation is measured by how well it takes care of its most vulnerable in their society with regard to the elderly, the sick, the disabled, the homeless and, more importantly, the people that are striving to make a living, regardless of creed, ethnicity and, more importantly, where you live.

The reason I’d like to bring this up today in light of the budget address is that as a Territory we have a vibrant society of some 30 communities. Everyone is unique in a way that they carry themselves, but more important are fundamental programs and services that this government is...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are directed to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. The Gwich’in Assembly passed a motion last year directing the Gwich’in Tribal Council to make an elders payout for elders over the age of 70 and then also they made a second payment to elders 60 and over to age 69. Mr. Speaker, under the Gwich’in Land Claim Agreement it is pretty clear in regards to these payments not being clawed back by governments, regardless if it is the federal government or the Government of the Northwest Territories. But it is pretty apparent, Mr. Speaker, that those...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to start off this session with a good news story. Mr. Speaker, this year the hamlet of Aklavik is celebrating its 100th anniversary.

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Mr. Speaker, this is a great accomplishment, considering 100 years ago the Hudson Bay Company made a decision to establish a trading post in a location where Aklavik is today, which was built by the late Alexander Stewart.

Mr. Speaker, Aklavik has a great history. Becoming a trading post, a commerce for people in regards to the fur trade back in the early 1900s and then working its way to becoming a major regional...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Hopefully we are able to compensate those individuals who were basically affected by this by way of not allowing them. So I’d just like to ask the Minister if he could somehow work with the Gwich’in Tribal Council and those elders that are affected by the clawback and see if we can work with them to notify them that there is a possibility of being reimbursed for those loses by way of the clawback. Thank you.

Under the Gwich’in Land Claim Agreement under Chapter 11, which is the taxation chapter, it clearly states that the Gwich’in Settlement Corporation is exempt from any federal, territorial or local government taxes and similar charges are exempt from the settlement corporation and such. Any capital distribution to elders over the age of 60 years are, therefore, exempt from taxes and other charges, including clawbacks of their income support. So I’d just like to ask the Minister, knowing that that provision falls under the land claim agreement under section 11, which legislation is the...

Mr. Speaker, I would like to send an invitation to all the residents of the Northwest Territories to mark on their calendar that they will make an attempt to visit the community of Aklavik and celebrate with them on their 100th anniversary; more importantly, to take the time to realize a part of the Northwest Territories which most people have never been to or have never had the opportunity. Mr. Speaker, the opportunity is now. Celebrate the 100th anniversary with the people of Aklavik. Mahsi cho.

Thank you. I hope that the department and the Minister’s department can try to bring a quick resolution to this, because the seniors, the reason that they did this is because we are losing a lot of seniors and we’re hoping that we can get this money into their hands so that they can at least have an opportunity to spend it and use it to their expense and not have it clawed back. So I’d like to ask the Minister if he can give me some assurance that they will try to remedy this situation as soon as possible. Thank you.