Kevin A. Menicoche

[English translation not provided.]

Mr. Speaker, keeping what we have is sometimes the most strategic thing we can do. In my riding I have two important highways, Highway No. 1 and Highway No. 7, that have deteriorated significantly this spring. We have had emergency situations. At the Fort Simpson section, Highway No. 5, they have a sinkhole, and on Highway No. 7, the Liard highway, we are just plain sinking.

There are two large sections of that highway that have just turned into mud. It is very impassable to the travelling public, and lots of people were impeded during the long weekend. In...

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize the two pages from Fort Simpson who worked diligently and hard this week: Ms. Natalie Villeneuve and Ms. Marisa Isaiah. Thank you very much.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

Indeed, for me, it is a great honour for this House to direct our interest in telling Canada that yes, we as the political body of the Northwest Territories are representing the majority of the population of aboriginals and the majority of the population that suffered in the residential school system that indeed a public apology accompanying that should be on the forefront of the national agenda. I know that federally they are waiting for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to finish their report, but some time it’s coming. I believe this apology can start...

Mahsi cho colleagues. Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker.

WHEREAS generations of aboriginal children suffered physical and emotional abuse, leading to a loss of language, culture and parenting skills, while attending federally funded residential schools;

AND WHEREAS the impact of this abuse will continue to have an ill effect on the health and wellbeing of aboriginal people for generations to come;

AND WHEREAS while paying compensation to aboriginal people who attended residential school is appropriate, it does not address reconciliation;

AND WHEREAS a public apology by the Government of Canada would go a...

Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Thursday, May 22, 2008, I will move the following motion: Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, that this Assembly urge the Prime Minister of Canada to make a public apology to the many aboriginal people who suffered abuse while attending federally funded residential schools, and further, that this Assembly strongly recommends the Premier of the Northwest Territories communicate this desire to the Prime Minister at the next opportunity.

Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time, I will be seeking unanimous consent to deal with...

Mr. Speaker, of course exciting news with this announcement. Just in terms of the general public, when can we see some impacts, whether it’s municipal or transportation projects being delivered, as a result of this announcement and expenditure? Mahsi.

Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister of Transportation.

I don’t know how it’s going to relate, but it was certainly good news to finally sign off on the Building Canada Fund this afternoon. Some of my questions, of course, like with many of my colleagues, are on exactly how it’s going to roll out and how it’s going to play out. More specifically, say there is a project like chip sealing the remainder of Highway No. 1 and Highway No. 7. How would that fit in the scheduling and planning of allocating those funds?

Mr. Speaker, mahsi. [English translation not provided.]

Mr. Speaker, this winter in my region there were many, many deaths of my people. We lost fathers and mothers, aunts, uncles, sisters, brothers, and it caused a great deal of pain and upset in many, many families, which affected our whole community and the region as a whole, because we’re all inter-related.

We do not always know the ways of the Heavenly Father and do not always understand why we lose loved ones, Mr. Speaker. What I would like to do today is to wish for all precious healing time and reflections upon the lives of the people...

I would like to thank all of the honourable colleagues and all here today for allowing me to put this motion forward through unanimous consent.

It is something that is affecting almost all of the people of the Northwest Territories, because I believe that over half of our population has been affected by the residential school system. It was something that was imposed upon our aboriginal people — and not only aboriginal people, Mr. Speaker, it was anybody that lived in the North through the laws of the eras of the ’40s, ’50s, ’60s. It was actually mandated law that children must be in school...

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to deal with the motion I gave notice of earlier today. Mahsi.

Unanimous consent granted.