Michael Nadli

Thank you, Madam Chair. I’ve just got some comments, in terms of the department. I understand the department is the second biggest department in terms of its operational budget. I have some interest in terms of trying to at least understand – from my perspective in representing Fort Providence, Kakisa, the reserve, and Enterprise – the rates of success in terms of graduation in terms of high school, university, and whether there is more we can do in terms of encouraging kids to stay in school, and at the same time, ensure they have a value-added educational approach where we are trying to...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that this committee defer further consideration of the department summary for the Department of Health and Social Services 2013-2014 Main Estimates on page 8-7 at this time.

Perhaps this question will help in terms of bringing to light some of the positive impacts of devolution. What is the government’s target for the number of jobs transferred to the GNWT as a result of devolution? Positions that will be located outside of Yellowknife.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier today I made a statement on devolution. I wanted to ask the Premier a question in terms of the status of groups that haven’t signed on to the AIP, including the Dehcho, the Akaitcho, and also the Tlicho regions that haven’t signed on. I wanted to know what the status is of the engagement process for those regions.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The question is: What scope is there for changes to the resource revenue sharing regime now and after a final agreement is reached?

I wanted to ask the Premier what provisions is the government making to protect the interests of First Nations in the devolution process, given that most NWT First Nations do not have self-government agreements and most in the southern NWT do not have lands and resource agreements.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Both the Premier and the former federal Minister have said they expect to have a final Devolution Agreement very soon. I don’t want to rain on anyone’s parade, but First Nations in my constituency are not participating at the devolution table. The Dehcho First Nations would like to see movement in their own negotiations to finalize the land use plan for the region before devolution goes ahead. As well, they strongly believe that 25 percent of what the GNWT gets shared with all regional Aboriginal governments is not a fair allocation of resource revenues.

From the First...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Aside from evictions and looking at a repayment plan, at least there are options for clients or previous clients, what level of assurance can the Minister provide in terms of looking at some immediate options in terms of addressing people with arrears that want to get into the housing system? Mahsi.

I’d like to thank the Minister for outlining at least the process of trying to exhaust all options. The focus of my questioning is not so much the eviction practice but to try and highlight just the issue of arrears. Most of the time people are facing obstacles in small communities as it is, so it becomes an obstacle.

Will the NWT Housing Corporation remove the barriers of these obstacles standing between homeless families and empty houses in Fort Providence? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Housing continues to be a major problem in my home community of Fort Providence. There are people who are in desperate need of housing. For example, I know a few people that live at the winter crossing. I also know of a few people that live with their parents or their family.

I hope all Members will think about that, especially the Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation. It’s not acceptable to leave families out in the cold when there are alternatives and practical ways to help them. I think that last summer there were five empty houses...