Michael Nadli

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The renewal of the Wildlife Act is a high priority for this government. Updates to existing legislation are long overdue and additional provisions to modernize the act are equally needed. The renewal of the Wildlife Act has been a long journey, a trail that hasn’t ended yet.

First Nations governments have lingering concerns about how this legislation, when passed, will affect their traditional lands and how they will be able to manage the resources that have sustained their lives for centuries. In spite of assurances that the rights guaranteed to the Aboriginal people in...

I’d like to thank the Minister for that. There are two major initiatives happening right now. One of them is devolution, of course, and the other one is the proposed changes to the Wildlife Act. They touch on the very core of fundamental treaty rights and Aboriginal title, so I wanted to ask the Minister how will the devolution negotiations affect the proposed Wildlife Act.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier this morning I gave an overview in terms of just the initiative on the proposed Wildlife Act changes. My question for follow up is for the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources.

Can the Minister comment in terms of the update of the progress of the proposed changes to the Wildlife Act?

It is reassuring that the department is exploring some options in terms of trying to remedy the situation. It can be very bleak in terms of looking forward to this time of the year, especially for elders as they prepare for the winter. What is the current budget for the seniors fuel subsidy at this time? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Further to my Member’s statement on the seniors fuel subsidy, I wanted to ask the question to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. At this point in the Northwest Territories we have a very large population of aging senior citizens and elders, as we call them, and of course, we hold them in high regard. We respect them and we try to do our part in serving their needs and looking after them as our parents and sometimes as our grandparents.

With that, with winter coming on, it is concerning that some elders are being told that they are ineligible for this...

Mr. Speaker, this is kind of a long-term dilemma that traces this government, because we have an aging seniors population plus, at the same time, rising costs for fuel. Is there a long-term strategy that this government and especially this department is examining? Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, as I pointed out, it is customary to try to be inclusive in terms of our communities. One practice is ensuring that we uphold the whole principle of extended families. In some cases we have children and grandchildren living with their grandparents. We try to maintain that practice. What solutions has the department considered to accommodate elders who have extended families living with them? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Northwest Territories has established a way to help elders with home heating costs over the fall and winter months. Eligible residents 60 years of age and older can benefit from the seniors home heating subsidy. This program has been in place for a long time now.

Last year 448 households applied for a subsidy that provides assistance for the cost of heating fuel, cut wood, pellets and electricity. This is a good program. I can see that a lot of thought has gone into updating it to reflect the cost of living in the North and to refine it to make it fair to residents...

Thank you, Madam Chair. I would like to thank the Minister and the staff for being here in terms of giving us some overview of what the plans are for 2013-14.

I am somewhat optimistic and looking forward to the health centre that will be constructed in Fort Providence. As it may be known, the health centre that is presently there is common to those communities in the North. It is an aging infrastructure that perhaps is beyond its years. The community is looking forward to the construction stage of the health centre. Also, at the same time, I think there is a degree of anticipation in terms of...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. One of the support mechanisms that we have in place for people that are unemployed is income support. I want to ask the Minister if he could provide, to this House, reassurances to the people that rely on income support, that the government will remain committed and steadfast to ensure that those services remain as is and that they will be available for people that are, unfortunately, unemployed and looking for opportunities.