David Krutko

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Can the Minister tell me exactly how soon these doctors’ positions can be filled in the Inuvik region so that the residents of the Beaufort-Delta Region will have some comfort, knowing that those positions will be filled?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The whole health care system is dependent on four doctors to provide services to eight communities in the Beaufort-Delta Region. It’s not realistic to ask these doctors to provide that service and also ensure that we will have a stable health care system.

Also, the Minister stated that nurses….

As a government we’re still doing work in regard to the devolution process — the Northern Accord, as it was better known in the past.

I’d like to ask the Premier: under the land-claim agreements it’s clear, I stated, that the government shall involve these aboriginal groups in those processes. I’d like to ask the Premier exactly how you are going to include those groups who have land-claim obligations for this government to involve them through the process of consulting or devolution.

Mr. Speaker, the reason I was asked to raise this question is because there are things happening within this government by way of policy changes and program changes. But they are not going to the First Nations organizations who have land claims, who have specific rights with regard to modern-day treaties. The right to consult is also spelled out in a lot of court cases.

Mr. Speaker, there have been changes by way of policy changes, such as contracts in regard to time limits, which have basically been shortened. Again, that change, under the land-claim agreement — an obligation to consult is...

Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to recognize my Constituency Assistant, Liz Wright, who is here in the gallery today. Liz is in town this week, working out of my office here in Yellowknife. Welcome to the gallery.

Today I rise on an issue we’ve heard a lot about over the last couple of weeks: the area of consultation.

It’s a fundamental right. It’s also right to have come by the way of land claim agreements and court cases and court challenges. Mr. Speaker, I think it’s important to realize that we do have an obligation to consult, regardless of whether it’s through a legal case in the Supreme Court of Canada or a land claim agreement.

Mr. Speaker, I’ll read the definition that it’s the Gwich’in Land Claim Agreement, which says:

“‘Consultation’ means (a) the provision, to the party to be consulted, of...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister give me a month, date, year by which she’s going to fill these positions?

Mr. Speaker:

WHEREAS electric power is an essential service;

AND WHEREAS power rates across the Northwest Territories are presently established on a community-by-community basis in accordance with Public Utilities Board direction set in the mid-1990s;

AND WHEREAS the current structure results in small communities that depend on diesel-generated power paying exorbitant and unstable rates;

AND WHEREAS power rates are one of the main drivers for the high cost of living in small communities, and discourage local economic development;

AND WHEREAS residents of these communities are doubly burdened...

Mr. Speaker, the department has had the full support of myself as the MLA, has full support from the hamlet of Aklavik and the people of Aklavik to get on with this. We’ve continued to support this project on the understanding of where this project is at, but if there is going to be any delay, or basically any innuendoes of cancelling this project or redoing the whole project, we’re not in support of that.

I’d like to, again, ask the Minister that every effort be made to fast-track this project, get that water treatment in place. The community needs this piece of infrastructure. We’ve been...

Mr. Speaker, can the Minister give me a breakdown on exactly what were the costs for this government and the Workers’ Compensation Board to advertise for those positions, and also the time it took in regard to staff time in regard to the applications that were filed and in reading and accepting those applications? What was the cost?