Nahendeh

Statements in Debates

Debates of , 17th Assembly, 5th Session (day 41)

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I look forward to the updated strategy as the Minister had committed. As well, if he can get that to the community leadership that’s been affected as well. Thank you.

Debates of , 17th Assembly, 5th Session (day 41)

Certainly, it’s a concern for the residents. One of the unique things that a resident had brought to my attention was that he had visited his neighbours down in BC, the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations, and they have managed to curtail a lot of damages to private property by harvesting some of the bison there. Is that something that the department can consider?

Debates of , 17th Assembly, 5th Session (day 41)

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Constituents of Fort Liard, Nahanni Butte and Lindberg Landing have had a summer of discontent with the Nahanni bison herd in that area. The bison have been ruining property, digging up gardens, ruining plants and trees and being a significant hazard to the residents. In fact, one resident was literally trapped in her car as a large single male rested against her car door, damaging it and also trapping her inside. She is elderly. Her family and friends fear that she may be injured if this happens again.

The Minister of Environment and Natural Resources...

Debates of , 17th Assembly, 5th Session (day 40)

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I am pleased with the Human Resources department strategy on striving for a representative workforce and ensuring that we follow our Aboriginal… I’m sorry, my notes are a bit mixed up here, but the Affirmative Action Policy is what I wanted to address here.

Our regional education authorities have no involvement or request no training from Human Resources for their hiring committees. This is concerning because I have heard of several cases in the past few years where our Northerners and our Aboriginals who have become teachers are often overlooked for applying...

Debates of , 17th Assembly, 5th Session (day 40)

Thank you very much. Like I said, the community wants to be engaged, particularly with that site. That site has been under some discussion, but as long as they engage the community and the residents, I’m sure that a significant capital project of this kind should involve the whole community, not only the land but the type of structure that’s going to be built.

I’ve mentioned it on several occasions. I think other communities like Hay River were missing some long-term beds. It was actually picked out after the building got constructed. The same thing in Fort Providence. After the building...

Debates of , 17th Assembly, 5th Session (day 40)

Thank you very much. So I guess the main thing is to indicate to the leadership of Fort Simpson, the village, the band and the Metis Council there about their intent to engage them as they move forward with the planning study. I think that’s important. As well, I know there was some preliminary work done as well. I guess what’s important to the community is exactly where the new facility may or will be located. So a bird’s eye view, has the department had any overview of potential locations? Thanks.

Debates of , 17th Assembly, 5th Session (day 40)

Yes, okay, a further response, yes.

Debates of , 17th Assembly, 5th Session (day 40)

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. We have an ambitious plan here for delivery into our small communities, and I just wanted to commend the Minister and the staff that working with the committee and trying to find an equal balance here. The biggest thing was about addressing devolution, or decentralization, getting jobs out to the community, and I think that the plan somewhat addresses that.

I don’t have too much to say specifically on the capital, but I’m more interested, if you’ll give me the leeway there, Mr. Chair, on the release of the latest housing needs survey and when that will be done.

A...

Debates of , 17th Assembly, 5th Session (day 40)

While the policy may be there, I don’t believe that it is being followed out, because in our Health department, which is also a stand-alone department, they involved Human Resources right throughout the selection committee and to the hiring committees as well. But there’s no such thing that happens with our education authorities. Human Resources is not involved, nor are they with the selection committee and our interview committee and I think that’s an issue and that’s what I’d like to see our education authorities do. Thank you.

Debates of , 17th Assembly, 5th Session (day 40)

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Earlier I spoke about the difficulties of our Aboriginal teachers and new northern teachers in getting into our education authorities.

I’d like to ask the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment to advise me how is the current hiring process set up with our district education authorities. Thank you.