Michael Nadli

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I speak and will be voting in favour of the motion simply because, as MLAs, we are the front and centre of dealing with our constituents’ concerns and also, at the same time, concerns that sometimes we don’t clearly have a recourse in trying to help people at least have their validation of concerns acknowledged.

It’s part of the due process. In some respects, this government is a new government. It is an evolved government. One principle that we uphold very clearly is the principle of consensus that we are inclusive in the decision-making process. We try to involve...

I’d like to thank the Minister for his response. It seems the government is encouraging people to undertake those initiatives and it does have existing programs, which is good.

My question to the Minister once again is: Has there been an agricultural assessment or study to indicate whether there’s potential for communities such as Fort Providence to look at some long-term investment planning to undertake community gardens and initiatives so that people can be able and communities can be able to grow their own food? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There have been a few raspberries for Ministers in recent days, but today we’re talking about strawberries. Later this summer I may be able to give a few to the Ministers to put on their ice cream.

I’m happy to say that my community is on its way to becoming the strawberry capital of the Northwest Territories, as reported in the Deh Cho Drum yesterday.

Once again our young people are showing us the way. It was the Grade 7 class of Deh Gah School that decided to grow a crop of strawberries and show that it can be done. I find this is a very cool project because it builds...

I’d like to thank the Minister. For this fall, just recently there were some realities that came out in terms of facts because attendance was cited as a concern. What plans does the department have to address those concerns on attendance rates for this fall? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. At this point in time in the North, we make it very clear to encourage our youth to go on to post-secondary education. My question is to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Our Student Financial Assistance Program is a very good one here in the Northwest Territories. I wanted to ask, the subsidy that the government provides to students has not increased for some years. I know this has been under review since the 16th Assembly. I would ask the Minister what is SFA likely increasing by. How much? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just wanted to make the point that I think, as we move with the negotiations of the devolution AIP, I know in the end I think the goal is to make sure that the government has an inclusive process, so that there is at least a successful understanding in terms of how things are going to work. My interest is to ensure that, as the former NDP leader said, we don’t leave anybody behind. For those purposes, my intention is to ensure that this leadership at least gives it a good try to address some of the fundamental differences and the challenges. If we are very skillful...

Thank you. I want to ask the department again in terms of trying to encourage our students to go on to college and university. What is the department doing to encourage more students to take on a challenge? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In all our communities we’re seeing the happy faces of high school graduates. Across the territory there will be about 400 grads. I’m especially proud of the graduates in Deh Cho communities.

Graduation rates are increasing but we still lag behind the rest of Canada, especially in our small communities. Even so, there are more opportunities than ever as technology and communications have improved so much in remote communities.

It is a big step in our lives to go to college or university. Many students may feel that it’s too expensive, but it is an investment that pays...

Mr. Chair, I would like an update. I understand that we have an aging health centre in Fort Providence. I just wanted to see where it is at in terms of… I know there have been discussions in terms of a site and identification. I would like to get an update.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I think, generally speaking, my concerns are more weighted on health issues. For the most part I can recall very distinctly that we made it very clear in terms of trying to promote through the Department of Health and Social Services, a very strong emphasis on preventative steps so that we promote the idea to the public that we need to try and encourage our people to live healthy and wellness lifestyles so that at least down the road we don’t have to bear the consequences of some things that we have undertaken as habits. I think the general understanding was that yes...