Michael Nadli

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s not very often I rise and recognize individuals from my constituency, but I’d like to recognize a friend, hockey player, husband, and leader Chief Lloyd Chicot of Kakisa, who has been a long-serving leader for the Dehcho First Nation.

Mr. Speaker, what is the status of the ground ambulance and highway rescue services funding review? This has been going on for some time there. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I promise to keep it short.

My question today is to the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. Right now at the local level we have a lot of volunteers that participate quite graciously in the fire department. I just wanted to ask the Minister, can he comment further on the assessment of community fire services. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mahsi. There were 124 vehicle collisions on Northwest Territories highways in 2011. There was close to a 10 percent increase over the number of collisions from 2010. In spite of prevention efforts, driving conditions on our highway system can be challenging due to many factors beyond our control. Low visibility at certain times of the year, severe weather conditions, wildlife, rough road surfaces and long stretches of highway between communities with limited telecommunication services are just some of the things we contend with.

The Department of Municipal and Community...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My final question is we carry the principle of consensus highly, and that’s what makes this government very unique. So as we advance toward a final resolution of the Devolution Agreement, will this government and this Cabinet ensure that the principle of consensus guide the finalization of the Devolution Agreement? Mahsi.

I am glad the Minister highly puts significance on maintaining a workable relationship with First Nations that have unsettled areas, that haven’t settled their land claims yet. Recently the Premier and Cabinet have openly stated that they are very close to finalizing a Devolution Agreement-in-Principle. What is this government doing to prepare communities for devolution? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good afternoon. I would like to take this opportunity to welcome my colleagues back to the House, and extend my best wishes for 2013 to the people of the Deh Cho and the Northwest Territories.

My focus today is getting back to the basics of governance. Government is working, on many fronts, to provide programs and services that contribute to the quality of life of all Northerners. There is much work that needs to be done to ensure that we use our resources efficiently and effectively.

Consensus government will be put to the test, especially in the 17th Assembly. Major...

Mahsi. I think what I’m seeing at this point with the recent return trip from Ottawa, I think the North has reached a point where we’re looking at the NWT as an iconic north star. It’s a beacon of hope and potential, especially with the GNWT working with First Nations alongside the First Nations and non-Aboriginal peoples.

I understand that the previous Assembly undertook a vision and exercise toward a common vision for the NWT. It’s about basically building upon the political future of the NWT. What elements of this work have been carried forward into the current initiatives that we’re seeing...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier I talked about just getting back to the basics of governance here in the Northwest Territories. My question is to the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Intergovernmental Relations.

Here in the North, the NWT, or Denendeh, there are about 43,000 people that make this their home. We have the circumstance of where we have settled areas and unsettled regions. In negotiations there is a perception of the NWT that the NWT is almost a colonial arm or extension of the federal government.

What is the Government of the Northwest Territories doing to promote the resolution...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, rise on this occasion to support the motion. I think we all can safely say that we have brothers and sisters that are going through some problems and, of course, in our communities we likely see it every day. It’s an affliction and that is something that gravely affects our society in this day and age, especially as we’re going towards the future as we take on challenges and also, at the same time trying to work with each other, it becomes a very big issue.

Although, perhaps in some instances alcohol and drug addiction is an individual decision that a person has...