Michael Nadli

I think it’s quite clear that we do have a very serious matter in terms of diabetes affecting mostly Aboriginal communities and people. So would the Health Minister arrange for diabetes patients in Fort Providence to have a choice of receiving care either in Hay River or Yellowknife? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. November is Diabetes Month, but every month is Diabetes Month for 2,000 or 3,000 of our residents. Most of us, maybe all of us, know someone who struggles to manage their diabetes. People with this disease do not properly absorb sugars and starches from their blood. They typically suffer from severe thirst and produce a lot of urine. It is really important to detect diabetes early on because it is much easier to manage with exercise and a healthy diet. If diabetes is not managed, blindness and even death can result.

Diabetes is a relatively new disease among Aboriginal...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier today I spoke about the value of income assistance programs in the Northwest Territories. My question is to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

In terms of where people are at in terms of trying to get the income assistance, asking for help is a big decision for people to make and whatever people might have is to try and maintain their pride. My question is: How does the department ensure that its employees treat income assistance clients with respect and consideration?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s good to know that our government has income assistance programs to help low-income residents. The employment rate for Yellowknife is around 80 percent, while in smaller communities it averages about 60 percent. Many people in my riding hunt, trap or produce crafts to help put food on their table, but some families don’t have enough money to take part in traditional activities, or even to cover their basic needs.

Income assistance provides money to meet people’s needs for food, shelter and utilities. The program can also pay for clothing and furniture, disability...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, support this motion. The air industry in the Northwest Territories is fairly well established and they have the capacity, therefore, I feel very confident that they could provide a very key and critical service that is very clearly evident and needed here in the Northwest Territories.

The public safety, of course, is the highest principle in ensuring that we’re all safe and that we’re confident that if something does happen, there are people out there that will be quite capable and ready to provide a service that is sometimes based on time. Having a search and...

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the Minister for giving me reassurance that people will be respected and dealt with at least in a respectful manner. Not every community has large industrial-type resource development projects. How does the department ensure the local economy and culture are taken into account in the delivery of income assistance? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize two legislative Pages that have been here for about a week from my riding. From K'atlodeeche Chief Sunrise School, Talia Martel, who is 12 years old and in Grade 8. Her favourite school subjects are English, math and science. Her hobbies are reading, listening to music, and visiting with family and friends. Talia’s education goals are to graduate and go to university and get her Bachelor of Science, get into a medical field and become a doctor.

Brooklyn Cayen is 13 years old, in Grade 8, and was born and raised on the Hay River Reserve. She loves...

It’s encouraging to see that the department is very responsive in terms of meeting the needs of people. This is my last question. It’s just a difference between wage economy and also traditional economies of communities and trying to distinguish the difference between the circumstances of communities.

Do productive choices have to involve training for the wage economy or can the program support people’s choices to hunt and trap? Mahsi.

Thank you. What is MACA doing to ensure all recreation leaders and youth centres in the North have information about the Northern Youth Abroad Program? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier today I talked about the wonderful achievements of the Northern Youth Abroad Program. In some respects it provides an eye-opening experience for the youth of the Northwest Territories.

My question is for the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. How has MACA supported the Northern Youth Abroad Program over the past 15 years?