Michael Nadli

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Reporting is a key function of any organization, so having peer audits and, in this case, quarterly updates to the Standing Committee on Social Programs is essential in terms of monitoring the progress of how it is that the department will address a lot of the concerns that the Auditor General has articulated, including the recommendations from the Standing Committee on Government Operations. So it’s essential that we all understand that from here on we need to at least communicate and the system reporting has to work very effectively to ensure that at all levels of the...

I’d like to thank the Minister for highlighting at least one measure that the government is undertaking. It’s stabilizing the fuel prices.

What kinds of current measures are in place to help consumers meet the high price of fuel, and also, in the future, what measures would the government contemplate if indeed we have a higher than average cold winter up here and it, of course, affects the consumers and maintaining their fuel costs to heat their homes?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. It’s very clear in the Auditor General’s report, about 90 percent of the children that are involved with child and family services are First Nations children, so it is imperative on this government to at least build a working relationship with the First Nations governments. Whether it be at the local or else the tribal level or else at the territorial level, that’s something that needs to be done. This relationship is going to be critical in terms of the success of how the government responds to the Auditor General’s report, so it’s essential that the working relationship...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. The cost of fuel is hurting homeowners in small communities across the NWT. Seniors and those on a fixed income are especially vulnerable to increased fuel prices.

Since 1999, heating oil and propane prices have increased over 200 percent in many places. Last week Petro Canada rack rates in Hay River price diesel and furnace fuel oil at $1.01 per litre. Global demand and prices for fossil fuels continue to rise.

Government needs to look at ways to standardize fuel prices like other provinces have done. We could establish rates for private, commercial and industry customers...

Again, it’s really asking the department to address the very fundamental concerns raised by the Auditor General. Perhaps there are strengths that the department has, and I think it needs to build on its strengths. There are some programs and initiatives that work well and we need to build upon the positives, and perhaps this motion is in that spirit. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I look forward to the department providing a comprehensive framework and action plan, and I look forward to how this matter will be addressed. But one thing for certain that I think government needs to do is more likely an interdepartmental cooperation.

This motion seems to suggest that the family preservation workers initiative should be elevated to a territory-wide level, but at the same time, right in the communities we have home care program workers. I think we have to get beyond this idea of working in silos. There has to be some interconnections and also, at the same...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I think it’s fair to say that most of us have experienced in some way the experiences of the residential schools and the trauma in terms of separating children from parents. Again, unfortunately there are instances where that separation continues. We have examples of where grandparents want to step in to help their grandchildren, but sometimes the system is not favourable for them to step in to be there as guardians, as the caretakers of their grandchildren. Unfortunately, sometimes they say the system does not help them at all.

This motion is encouraging the department to...

Thank you. When we did have the forum, I think everybody was there, the local leadership, the youth, the agencies, and the only missing element at the time was a representative perhaps from MACA, maybe even the Minister was absent. So I’ll give him an opportunity to make up for his absence and ask him how will his department be prepared to assist the leaders and the youth of Fort Providence in trying to follow up on this meeting and identify the next steps in trying to advance the working relationship between the leadership and the youth? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I was very excited with the recent youth forum that we had in Fort Providence. It brought together the leaders and youth of Fort Providence. My question is to the Minister for the Homelessness and Youth.

Could the Minister explain the kinds of programs, funding and resources for youth that his department could deliver and that’s available for communities that may want to work with the youth.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think what the community has done is taken the initiative of trying to bring the leadership and the youth together at the local level, and there’s a need for resources and program-wise and funding and trying to work with the youth.

The last Assembly, the 16th Assembly had a Youth Forum. Would the Minister ensure that we do have a pan-territorial youth forum for the end of the 17th Assembly? Mahsi.