Kevin A. Menicoche

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can just assure the Minister that this side of the House will support any initiatives the Minister puts forward with regard to small communities. Is there a special action team that the Minister has with Health and Social Services to address health concerns and policing at the same time, Mr. Speaker?

Mr. Speaker, the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight met on May 2, 2006, to review the 2004-2005 Annual Report of the Languages Commissioner. The Committee would like to thank Ms. Shannon Gullberg, the Languages Commissioner, for appearing before us.

The 2004-2005 report does not include any recommendations, however, the committee would like to take the opportunity to comment on other issues that were raised during our public meeting.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister is absolutely correct; there is a federal tour happening in Nunavut. I am just wondering if that tour is going to come to the NWT and look at our small communities and our challenges, which I am sure the Minister has been lobbying for in Ottawa. Mahsi.

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, that Committee Report 1-15(5) be received by the Assembly and moved into Committee of the Whole.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I do realize that clearly the GNWT is outside the process, but on the June 19th meeting, will the GNWT be there? For my part there, Mr. Speaker, shared ownership and jurisdiction of the entire region is still something key to our people. Is that something that our government can support when we are at this table on June 19th? Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, as a Member of the Legislative Assembly, I wholeheartedly think the communities know what is best for the communities. When it comes to recruitment and selection of staff, the same principle applies. That is why I feel small and remote communities should be able to directly participate in the recruitment and selection processes for jobs in their community.

The communities have raised these concerns because their residents are being alienated from local government jobs. They are wondering why, time and time again, local northern and aboriginal staff is being screened out and why...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to seek unanimous consent to waive Rule 93(4) and have Committee Report 4-15(5) be moved into Committee of the Whole for consideration on Friday, June 2, 2006.

I beg your pardon, Mr. Speaker. It’s the next item.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to seek unanimous consent to waive Rule 93(4) and have the Committee Report 3-15(5) moved into the Committee of the Whole for consideration on Friday, June 2, 2006.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister spoke of needing a strategy, but I am sure they are developing a strategy like the Gameti example of this spring. Are there more plans to do that in some of the other smaller communities such as Holman, Wrigley, Nahanni Butte, for example, Mr. Speaker?