Michael Nadli

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...

Thank you, Madam Chair. Just some comments that I kind of find myself reiterating, but it’s part of the process. I just wanted to speak in general terms on some of the aspirations of the communities that I represent; namely, the reserve, Kakisa and Fort Providence and, of course, Enterprise.

I think the communities there are very interested in trying to be more independent and trying to ensure that they provide the services to their residents that make their homes in those communities and they want to raise their children as well. So they aspire to trying to provide the services that other...

I’d like to thank the Premier for his update. My question is, in the fall we had a very goodwill attitude, good spirited discussion with the Aboriginal groups in Detah. I wanted to know if the Minister would build upon that positive relationship and perhaps consider a follow-up forum to ensure that we are fully engaged with all Aboriginal groups in the Northwest Territories. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. Summer assemblies have been an important part of Aboriginal cultures for generations. They come from the time when our people lived off the land, following the resources they needed to sustain their families. They travelled seasonally and lived in small family-based communities. Major regional decisions were made at large gatherings that happened at least once a year and most often in the summer.

This tradition continues today in all our regions. As we look forward to the summer, we look forward to the summer assemblies. They involve First Nation members of all ages and...

Thank you, Madam Chair. The comments are something that I’ve reiterated before and I think it’s worth just noting at this point. I don’t really have any other concerns but this point that I wanted to make. Of course, it’s regarding the pending legislation on what’s coming down from the federal government and its implication in terms of our capacity to house people that are incarcerated, and whether that’s going to put a constraint on our resources as it is. Are there going to be efforts, maybe down the road, to look at a joint initiative with the federal government, in terms of trying to...

Would the Minister tell this House whether there is, perhaps, an effort to try to consider all options as we move towards a final agreement-in-principle? That the Minister would consider trying to exhaust all options, other than the discussions that are currently being undertaken to ensure that everyone is on side before this and the agreement-in-principle are concluded on devolution. Mahsi.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My questions today are to the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, in terms of the…(inaudible)…towards a Devolution Final Agreement-in-Principle. My question is to the Minister. Can he provide us an update in terms of the progress of trying to bring other Aboriginal groups on stream? I know there have been efforts to try and engage with discussions with groups. Can he provide us an update? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I think the exercise on this budget is, the intention in the end of this process is to create a very conducive climate to ensure that we have a very invigorating economy, so that we create opportunities for that, at the pan-territorial level, at the same time right down to the community level. We’re trying to create a very good climate so economic development and investment could happen and so people at the local level have opportunities and take advantage of them.

One of the things that I’ve always emphasized is that in order for us to reach that point, this government...

Madam Speaker, is there a position at the GNWT in terms of ensuring that there is a balance between conservation and also economic initiatives? Does the GNWT have a policy on that? Mahsi.