Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Mr. Speaker, I have spoken to the issue of caribou and the conservation and this issue we have before us with our fellow elected leaders here. I have spoken to it numerous times through question period and through Members’ statements in this House, so I’m not going to add to the length of this debate of this motion today.

I will be supporting the motion and I also don’t want to get into great detail about how this consultation will roll out or pre-empt what the outcome of it may be, just that all parties should enter with an open mind and hopefully resolution will be...

Mr. Speaker, so it sounds like some people managed to be referred and receive that support from the Northwest Territories, but now this error, I suppose, in policy has been caught. I am going to ask the Minister if it is possible that, since it would be difficult for these constituents, then, to carry on and complete the service that they were receiving through this Edmonton facility and I have to assume from what the Minister is saying that this may be a private clinic at the Royal Alexandra Hospital and not a hospital itself, is there a way that these few cases could be grandfathered and...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In Edmonton at the Royal Alexandra Hospital, there is a weight loss clinic. From time to time medical professionals have referred Northerners to those services at that clinic. There is a very accurate unit, I believe. It is for people who have weight issues that affect their health and their well-being. Mr. Speaker, I have heard from two constituents and also had spoken to Mr. Hawkins, I believe, who has heard from a couple of constituents as well, that the GNWT Department of Health and Social Services is no longer funding the provision of services to these constituents...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I did support the motion to report so that I could support my colleague Mr. Krutko from the Mackenzie Delta. Mr. Speaker, emotions were obviously running very high in this House today on the issue that was at hand. I heard Mr. Krutko speak with a great deal of emotion. Mr. Yakeleya speaks with a great deal of emotion. It is the nature of the work that we do that sometimes. That is the kind of impassioned debate and dialogue that takes place in this House.

Mr. Speaker, I supported Mr. Krutko to have the opportunity to raise this point of privilege at the earliest...

Mr. Speaker, just to be absolutely clear so that everyone understands then, the Minister, as our point person, as our leader on this file, is telling us here today in the House and to the public that there are things that could be done to accommodate the rights of people to harvest while at the same time protecting this resource. There is flexibility in terms of our government’s mandate and ability to set rules, that there is flexibility through these negotiations and consultations. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, a few days ago I asked several questions to the Minister on this same topic. I would like the Minister if he could, from his perception, characterize the degree of progress that we have made in dialoguing with our partners on this subject. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s my pleasure today to thank and recognize two Pages from Hay River South, grade 8 students from Ecole Boreale School, Ms. Jill Belanger and Julia Gyapay.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The committee would like to continue with the Department of Health and Social Services in Committee of the Whole and then move on to conclude Education today. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, what the Minister has outlined does seem like a fairly substantial body of work that is being undertaken. Does the Minister, from that consultation, have any options or next steps, ideas going forward and even as an interim measure that could alleviate the concerns about the treaty rights for harvesting the caribou? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources. It is on the issue of the caribou. Mr. Speaker, this issue of conservation and use of the caribou as a resource in our Territory is a very complex issue. Mr. Speaker, we heard complaints about the consultation that took place between our government as a public government and the leaders of the aboriginal governments and the people who are affected by the harvest of this resource.

Mr. Speaker, consultation speaks to me about an exchange of ideas, information. It speaks to me of a dialogue, not a...