Deh Cho

Statements in Debates

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 7)

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, if there were an award for bureaucratic bungling, surely it would go to the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation for their epic fail on the Hay River Reserve. It is an absolute disgrace that six homes have been sitting vacant on the reserve for well over a decade while people are in desperate need of housing. These homes were brand new when they were built in 2002, yet they remain unoccupied to this day. Meanwhile, the K'atl'odeeche First Nation estimates that more than 60 band members are living 25 kilometres away in Hay River because they have other...

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 7)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, I'd like to thank the Premier for replying to the question. It seems like we're kind of reflecting upon some historical steps that have been taken and it's encouraging to see the progress in terms of the work between the government and the First Nations group, but the fact of the matter is that in my statement I've stated, that there are some empty units that are sitting basically boarded-up and they're not accessible to constituents on the reserve, so there's a level of frustration. How can we make those houses available to constituents now, and what is the...

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 7)

I thank the Premier for responding to give me encouragement that this matter is being worked on. I understand through the Devolution Agreement, groups that have signed on have an opportunity to arrange a bilateral agreement. I'm optimistic that an agreement like that would be advanced and that a workable relationship would be worked out. My second question is: what is the nature of the arrangement between Canada and the GNWT, which gave the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation responsibility for providing housing on the reserve, for basically providing housing on non-reserve communities?

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 6)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There has been, of course, lots of discussion in terms of the root of the crime in most communities, and the conclusions of the inter-agency group that has been established to deal with the break-and-enters is that it goes back to residential schools. I am trying to understand and ask the Minister just the scope of the framework of the involvement of the RCMP in the community respecting individual rights. What are the possibilities in terms of developing more linkages, perhaps, with on-the-land programs, and considering, maybe, the move towards healing and wellness in...

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 6)

My second question is to how it is that communities can be involved. I think the Minister has generally outlined that for the community of Fort Providence, but there are other communities in the North that more likely would like to understand and undertake such an exercise. They are trying to bridge the gap between perhaps the RCMP and the community. The question is: how can communities become effectively involved in developing policing plans?

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 6)

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. [English translation not provided.] [Translation] Sometimes when you look at actions like that, like the break-ins and that, you might look at it in a good way or a bad way. Sometimes these actions seem to be minor, but a lot of people suffer the consequences. When people break into businesses or break into homes a lot of people suffer from that. The people of Fort Providence feel differently about that. When people break into homes and businesses, the community has gathered together and are working towards correcting the situation. The band office, the hamlet, they're...

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 6)

The Minister has indicated that a number of action plans, community policing action plans, were developed. I understand that, at the last count, that the NWT had about 33 communities. How many of those communities have a community policing action plans?

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 6)

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, earlier in my statement, I profiled in my language a rash of break-and-enter incidents in my community of Fort Providence and how the community is responding to it. One of the groups that has been responding to it is the inter-agency committee. At the same time, recently, there has been a group established called Citizens on Patrol, ensuring that the property and public safety was foremost in the community. My question is to the Minister of Justice. Can the Minister explain to the House what community policing plans are in place, and how are communities...

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 5)

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. The people of the Northwest Territories will always remember the forest fire season of 2014. Drought conditions and hot, windy summer days sparked forest fires that burned over three million hectares of boreal forest, melted asphalt and road signs along highways, forced people to evacuate homes, and filled communities with dense smoke. When rain fell, it was black, and many people spent hours cleaning ash off their vehicles and other property. Fortunately, no lives were lost, but the people of the Deh Cho, where there are usually the most fires, aren't taking any chances...

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 5)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that Tabled Document 1-18(2), Proposed Mandate of the Government of the Northwest Territories, 2016-2019 be amended on page 32 by inserting the following words under the quote “Increasing Transparency and Accountability in Strength in the Consensus Government” section “We will develop legislation within two years to establish an independent parliamentary office of the ombudsman.” Thank you, Mr. Chair.