Michael Nadli

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, earlier this week the Department of Municipal and Community Services recognized exceptional NWT firefighters through the annual Fire Service Merit Awards.

Collectively, the Fort Providence Fire Department received a merit award in recognition of the advancements they've made in achieving organizational excellence and safety compliance. I'd like to extend a congratulations to them.

Mr. Speaker, this is no small thing. I'm very proud of what the Fort Providence Fire Department has accomplished, especially after a recent reorganization. As with many local services...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this motion. I will keep my statement very brief. The Health and Social Services Department, Child and Family Services, was audited in 2014 by the Auditor General of Canada and then again this month in 2018.

Mr. Speaker, what the 2018 Report on Child and Family Services stated is very clear. Changes or improvements were not made in the protection and care of children since the last report. The Minister of Health and Social Services and his department failed to address the fundamental issues of addressing the need for changes.

Mr. Speaker...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I, too, would like to recognize Gladys Norwegian, the Grand Chief of the Dehcho First Nations. I understand Gladys is from Tthets'ek'ehdeli or Jean Marie River. I would like to welcome her to the House today. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Committee did not receive a great deal of substantive input on this aspect of the Bill. In Committee's discussion with representatives from the Town of Inuvik, Mayor McDonald noted that it is a good idea in principle but, again, more of a Yellowknife issue given that smaller municipalities are less likely to have the resources to allow them to finance private improvements.

In her letter to the committee, Fort Smith Mayor Ms. Lynn Napier-Buckley said that the "proposed change allowing the local improvement mechanism to be used for energy efficiency upgrades is…unnecessary...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

In order to carry out such powers free from political influence, it is important that the Office of the Ombud be independent from the executive branch of government.

The NWT Seniors' Society noted that, "the Act supports a term of five years for the Ombudsperson that exceeds the mandate of any Legislative Assembly. This helps to ensure the work of the Office is not unduly influenced by the Legislative Assembly once appointed." They further stressed that the provisions relating to suspension or removal of the Ombud should show that a substantive majority was in favour and not...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I, too, would like to express my thoughts on this proposed amendment.

It is very interesting where we find ourselves at currently and what caused the movement to bring us inevitable point. My understanding is that there is frustration in terms of accountability and transparency. How do you make Cabinet, how do you make Ministers more accountable? That is the frustration. The consensus government does not foster a very transparent and accountable process. Some people believe that, and for those reasons today, an amendment has been proposed that, if you file your...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. [Translation] Mr. Speaker, today I would like to talk about our traditional fall hunt in Kakisa. Every year, around mid-September, the community of Kakisa organizes a fall moose hunt. This is a traditional activity that brings together the entire community, from elders to youth, and every member has the opportunity to take part in different aspects of the hunt.

Mr. Speaker, this year, the community travelled to a remote part of the K'aagee Tu First Nation traditional territory by float plane, an area around Tathlina Lake. Youth participated in the hunt and learned a great...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yesterday, I was reminded of a circumstance of a person that you might find yourself in, and that's facing a crisis. I was reminded that yesterday in terms of the discussion on child and family services. You face a crisis. Say, like you're in this boat that's sinking, and the captain tells you, well, stay calm and relax. Despite not having a life jacket, you are going to be okay. Yesterday, that's what I was told. Unfortunately, that is the reality and challenges that we are faced with.

My question is to the Minister of Health and Social Services. The...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, family violence commonly happens in a family situation, where there is a relationship between two people. What needs to be understood is the personal wellness of individuals caught up in the cycle of violence. Often alcohol is a major contributor to the incidence of violence and the debilitating legacy of intergenerational trauma because of residential schools.

Mr. Speaker, family violence rates in the Northwest Territories are appalling and at crisis levels. Therefore we made it a part of the mandate of the 18th Assembly.

In 2013, the Northwest Territories'...

Masi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my final question is more likely to be two questions. The first question would be: does the Minister feel we have done all we can to address our priority in the 18th Assembly by addressing family violence? Or does he also feel that this whole challenge would probably flow into the 19th Assembly? Masi.