Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a concern from the community of Aklavik. Harvesters in the community would like to see an increase to the prime fur bonus for beaver, mink and also fox. I brought this issue up a couple of weeks back. You know, the populations are increasing on beavers and foxes, and also mink and otters, as well, but the advance that’s given for these animals is very low; $25 for a minimum payment under the Fur Pricing Program, which will be taken on by ENR on April 1st.

The amount of work that goes into working of the animals such as a beaver, the time you spend going out...

Thank you, Madam Chair. Just a few comments. I’m honoured to be a part of this process. The community has worked very hard over the years. I would like to congratulate the community, the negotiators and leadership as you have negotiated from a common goal and as you begin down a new path of self-sufficiency.

Many times over the years I’ve been to a number of meetings and that’s what our people want is to be self-sufficient, and today you begin down that path. Also, taking over the programs in your community and making changes where you see fit. Many times our programs are not structured around...

Thank you. Was that a yes that he’ll increase it to $45 or $50? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just in follow-up from my Member’s statement, I have a few questions for the honourable Premier. I’d like to ask the Premier, as stated with this latest injunction that effectively has put on hold the superboards, can the Premier confirm that the Gwich’in Land and Water Board will be maintained like the Wek’eezhii Board until the related court cases are decided?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I have a number of comments here. It’s not all negative. I know there are a lot of challenges in the department. I would just like to start out by saying, under the Aboriginal languages, I think our teachers are doing a very good job in the communities, in the riding I represent anyway. I can’t speak for any others, but it’s really encouraging to see young children, five or six years old, singing away in their traditional languages. I know the Gwich’in and Inuvialuit languages are at risk, but it’s really promising to see this take place in our communities. I would just...

As I mentioned, the regional boards, including the Gwich’in Land and Water Board, were scheduled for elimination as of April 1st.

I’d like to ask the Premier, how will the board’s effective operations be maintained and supported while the court case is being decided?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We know that the Northwest Territories three regional land and water boards as well as the Mackenzie Valley superboard have been prominent in the news these past three days.

Just this past Friday, on February 27th, the NWT Supreme Court granted an injunction requested by the Tlicho Government. This injunction effectively stops, for now, the elimination of the Wek’eezhii Land and Water Board and the launch of the new superboard, which is supposed to take place effective April 1st.

What catches my attention is that the court’s decision doesn’t only affect the Wek’eezhii...

Can the Premier confirm which board members will be able to continue their work and how will any empty spots be addressed to ensure smooth operations? For example, with the Gwich’in, we don’t have a chair at the moment, so how will that position be filled?

With the process, it needs to be known that if it’s the wish of the community, they can make adjustments to the capital budget in that process.

Once the new arena is developed, will the Minister ensure that the next step of construction is underway?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The former mayor and council in Fort McPherson were in the process of planning for a new arena for the community. Since then, a public administrator has been put in place to administer the services for the next three years. I am concerned that this major piece of infrastructure will be put on hold during this time.

A new arena is much needed in Fort McPherson, and I would like to propose that the public administrator begin consultation with the community to design a new arena for Fort McPherson.

I will have questions for the Minister later today.