Herbert Nakimayak

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wanted to recognize Mr. Ernest Pokiak, who is one of my constituents and also a member of the Stanton Elders’ Council. Also my high school buddy, Mr. Dolphus Nitsiza. Welcome.

I thank the Minister for the response to that question. Mr. Speaker, as indicated earlier, there is a growing need for an elders' home in Ulukhaktok. Does the Department of Health and Social Services plan to build another facility for elders?

My final question is: what is the GNWT doing to ensure that the interests of its northern Aboriginal residents are being represented as the federal government moves to adopt and implement the UN declaration?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I spoke earlier on the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and my questions are for the honourable Premier McLeod. My question is: has the GNWT here received any formal correspondence from the federal government respecting its announcement to the UN declaration? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Premier answered part of my second question. Does the GNWT have a formal position on the UN declaration or does it plan to develop one?

Quyanainni, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I'm going to talk about the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Mr. Speaker, on May 10th, just three short weeks ago, the Government of Canada announced that it would be removing its objections to the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, a decision applauded by Aboriginal leaders across Canada. The declaration was first adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2007, recognizing the basic human rights of Indigenous peoples around the world, as well as rights to language, land, equality, and self-determination...

In my Member's statement today I also spoke of the high cost of fuel to heat our homes and to pursue traditional on-the-land activities like hunting and fishing, activities which can help residents lower the cost of living and eat healthy. Can the Minister tell us what the government is doing to lower the cost of fuel in our communities that are represented?

Quyanainni, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to welcome my new constituency assistant Ora Williamson-Mercredi. Welcome to the gallery. Also, Mr. Denny Rodgers who works for the Inuvialuit Development Corporation in Inuvik. I don't see him but I sense he's back there.

---Laughter

And also to everyone in the gallery, welcome. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Can the Minister of Finance outline what other plans this government has to lower the costs of living for residents of the Northwest Territories, especially residents of Nunakput who face the highest costs?

Quyanainni, Mr. Speaker. In my Member's statement today I spoke to the fact that the communities in Nunakput, especially those with only barge and airline services, face the highest cost of living in the NWT. There are federal programs like Nutrition North that are supposed to help, but the program is flawed and it is hard to see the benefits to Nunakput residents. Can the Minister of Finance tell the Assembly what this government is doing to engage with the federal government on changes to programs like Nutrition North that will benefit my constituents? Quyanainni, Mr. Speaker.