Deh Cho

Statements in Debates

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 1)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I recognize constituents from the Deh Cho riding and congratulate the new elected mayor of Enterprise, Craig McMaster, and also leaders that perhaps I can’t see, so I'd like to acknowledge their presence as well, and at the same time, recognize people from the New Day Program: Laura, Lisa, and William as well.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 1)

Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to be back in the House as a Member of the18th Assembly. I am looking forward to working with both my new colleagues and returning Members over the next four years. As I have done in the past, I would like to update this House about some of the noteworthy activities taking place in my beautiful Deh Cho constituency. In December, municipal elections were held across NWT. I would like to congratulate the new Mayor of Enterprise Craig McMaster and the new Mayor of Fort Providence Sam Gargan, along with their new hamlet councils. Our number one job as a government is...

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 1)

WHEREAS, Rule 89(2) requires that Members be appointed to the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, that the following Members be appointed to the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment:

Mr. Kevin O'Reilly, the Member for Frame Lake;

Mr. R.J. Simpson, the Member for Hay River North;

Mr. Kieron Testart, the Member for Kam Lake;

Mr. Herbert Nakimayak, the Member for Nunakput;

Mr. Daniel McNeely, the Member for Sahtu; and

Mr. Cory Vanthuyne, the Member for Yellowknife North;

AND...

Debates of , 17th Assembly, 5th Session (day 91)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I stand in support of the motion and I would like to thank my colleagues, Mr. Bromley and Ms. Bisaro, for putting this motion forward. A couple of years back I had the opportunity and the honour to work with some elders. The elders were talking in their language, and this must have been about 20 or so ago. They were talking about phenomena that will happen in the natural environment when the sun floods, and today the motion speaks to those natural phenomena that have impacted several of our communities. Somehow those disasters that we face, fortunately, there weren’t...

Debates of , 17th Assembly, 5th Session (day 91)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, would like to take the opportunity to thank two colleagues who are retiring. It’s been an honour to serve with Mr. Bromley and Ms. Bisaro during this term. I’ve learned a lot from them and it’s been a privilege.

In a statement to their constituencies, I know they’re not seeking re-election, but you’ve placed two very honourable people who have effectively done their work and represented their constituency to the best of their ability. They have been remarkable models, in terms of trying to model my work, and I really thank them. It’s been truly an honour to serve...

Debates of , 17th Assembly, 5th Session (day 91)

There’s money in the budget for some of them, just no bodies in the jobs. So, big savings of a very perverse sort. Big savings that cost our people and our government.

As you can see, fiscal restraint can also mean shameful neglect. Having had some of the boundaries of my comprehension stretched so far, no wonder I came to believe, thanks to my colleague from Nahendeh, that the seven deadly sins were all related to the perpetually pot-holed and pot-marked Highway No. 7, along with many other sins of deadly fiscal omission. So I thank the Member for correcting me with his e-mail the other day...

Debates of , 17th Assembly, 5th Session (day 90)

No further questions, Mr. Chair.

Debates of , 17th Assembly, 5th Session (day 90)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I, too, wanted to make some general comments in support of the initiatives and the efforts that have been made by my colleagues and the committee in leading the work with the department, as well, and all the staff that contributed to this and all the public who spoke out locally in terms of at least laying out the framework of how we deal with mental health issues across the North.

A question that I wanted to ask the Minister and, of course, being from a small community, sometimes you experience people who pose a danger to themselves or others because of their...

Debates of , 17th Assembly, 5th Session (day 90)

One of the dilemmas that we have is that when it comes to providing housing to homeless people, usually a person that’s a bachelor that doesn’t have any children is perhaps 60 years old. Another person who likely has children equally gets the priority and in some instances in communities we have people that are basically fending for themselves and couch surfing.

How can the department assist those people in finding housing or shelter, especially those who are falling between the cracks and sometimes are basically left homeless? Mahsi.

Debates of , 17th Assembly, 5th Session (day 90)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just following up on my Member’s statement on homelessness in the NWT communities, my questions are for the Minister of the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation.

Shelter is a critical need in the hierarchy of needs of people for them to lead productive lives. At the community level we are confronted with some realities. One of them, of course, is homelessness, and in some communities there are program initiatives to provide lunch and trying to help out people as best as we can.

So the question I have is: Is there any funding under the Northwest Territories Housing...