Kevin A. Menicoche

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Earlier today in my Member’s statement, I was speaking about the Department of Health and Social Services pretty much stripping community authority over the Deh Cho Health and Social Services in my region. I’d like to ask the Minister of Health and Social Services what is going on here and what is the plan for the community. Originally when the board was not reappointed, the intent there was to reassess and evaluate and improve programs and services, but now we’re going to lose governing power over our board. I don’t think that was the intent and it’s not the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I was very pleased to hear the Minister of Transportation’s statement on Corridors for Canada III, a document for building prosperity. While I cannot share any details before it is tabled later today, I can say that potential investment in Highway No. 7 brings a tear to my eye. An improved transportation network is a foundation required to support economic development and the future prosperity in the NWT. Improvements to transportation also benefit our communities and people, by improving their level of service like more chipseal and by making our highways safer...

Mr. Speaker, I am thankful for the Minister’s commitment. If he can also work with the Department of Transportation, because there is road access issues and, as well, it will probably be the same type of gravel that they need for the community, as well, if he can do that. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. During my Member’s statement I raised many of the issues in Nahanni Butte that haven’t been completely restored or repaired in the community of Nahanni Butte as a result of the flood. I know that through MACA they have established a flood committee to address their concerns, but I would like to ask the Minister today what committee or process is in place to continue the community restoration one year after the flood.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Given the importance of the day here today, I still wish to fight on behalf of my communities and constituents.

I will be doing a statement on Nahanni Butte. It has been one year since the flood in Nahanni Butte but many services have not been restored, such as the store, public radio or the community dump. The main access road that was flooded last year, reconstructed this January, is no longer passable. Sides of the road are collapsing, and the sand fill that was used to repair the road is getting people’s vehicles stuck.

You may recall last October, when...

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. As my colleagues in this Assembly know, the job of an MLA is not an easy one. Our job is to represent the interests of our constituents and to build consensus, especially when you come from a constituency that is split on a matter of great importance such as this.

I just wanted to go over a few things as well. Devolution is about self-determination and self-government. I know that Members have said that devolution has been on the books for 20-some-odd years, but just a little bit of history. Since the NWT joined Confederation in 1870, I think that first meeting...

I was very happy to be in Nahanni Butte for my spring visit there, and the community has advised me that the damages are still there. There is some work that hasn’t been done. The dump road. They’re going to have to look at increasing dust control and the cost for trying to get the radio station up and running. Those are the issues.

I’d like to ask the MACA Minister if he or his officials can meet with the community, because they’re looking at their own resources to repair these when, in fact, it should be under the purview of MACA and the Disaster Fund.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. In speaking with Mr. Dolynny this morning and yesterday, he did show me documentation that actually was a response to his request, in fact asking him for money to get that information that we as MLAs are privileged to get. I don’t know what’s going on with our Legislature, but we should not be paying to get information from the Cabinet side. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Minister is right; people are really frustrated about their chance of trying to get employment. As I detailed, a lot of them get screened out and don’t know why.

Can the Minister undertake a process to review the human resource hiring process to ensure Aboriginal candidates are continually engaged and involved and encouraged if they are not the successful candidate? Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. The Government of the Northwest Territories has had an Affirmative Action Policy since 1989. The goal of the policy is that public service is representative of the people it serves. The population of the Northwest Territories is 51 percent Aboriginal and 39 percent of the workforce is Aboriginal. In 2011, the latest year available, indigenous Aboriginal employees made up only 32 percent of the public service. That is the same figure as the year before and pretty close to where it has been for the last 10 years.

The policy is not working, Mr. Speaker. Meanwhile...