Thank you, Mr. Speaker. [Translation] About 400 years ago there was now here in the Northwest Territories our communities, we liked to name our communities using our Dene language. I feel that would strongly support the culture and also the people that have access to schools and, therefore, the history. If they have to change the names to a Dene name they would have to go through MACA.

In the past there were other communities like Tuktoyaktuk in the 1950s. When they changed their name in 1993, Fort Franklin, they reverted back to their Dene name of Deline. Tsiigehtchic also changed their name...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just have a couple of comments. The first one is on the winter crossing access road that leaves from Fort Providence. Formally it is the whole winter road section from the bridge to the peninsulas that jut out into the main river system. They are still there and there is interests by the people that reside in that area to try to upkeep and maintain that section of the road just for accessibility in terms of whether they might experience, hopefully not, an emergency situation and they have to drive into the community, either to the health centre or else perhaps dispatch...

Does the government have an official position on community name changes and does it actively support communities that want to take this step, or is the government neutral on this matter? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The language initiative across the NWT is taking on different forms. One of the initiatives that complicated this is trying to instill a level of cultural identity. Some communities have gone to advance those initiatives by changing the name of their community. But what we have is two government departments, so my question is to the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs.

Does the Minister’s department work seamlessly with the Department of Education, Culture and Employment to facilitate a community’s application for an official name change? Mahsi.

Just some other points. I think my colleague touched on the ongoing system to come up with at least a unit of some kind that could be available for people that travel on the highway. I know that this has been ongoing. I think the Department of Transportation and two other departments have been part of this exercise. They are trying to at least forge a semblance of unity in terms of trying to come up with an emergency system if it’s ever needed. I have heard the discussion in terms of the community fire departments are confined to communities, and if ever they are called upon to deal with a...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Would the Minister explain, for the sake of the community understanding this process, what would the process entail and perhaps how long might that process take? Mahsi.

Can the Minister clarify whether a simple majority on the plebiscite or option poll is enough to prove that a community wants a name change? Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. During the colonial era, explorers often gave English or French names to northern communities. Reverting to a traditional name is a way to ensure the community’s name reflects the language and culture of local people.

The Department of Education, Culture and Employment is responsible for the NWT Cultural Places Program. It is responsible for archeological sites, historic places and official place names. If a community wants an official name change, it must also go through the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs.

I’d like to provide some examples. Tuktoyaktuk...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of this motion. I’d like to thank my colleague Mr. Dolynny for the work that he’s done and the passion that he’s brought to this motion on the floor of the House today.

As my colleagues would understand, I’m the chair of the Government Operations committee and the work of the committee is to ensure that there is a level of transparency and accountability on the part of government, and in that same spirit that this motion purports, is that there has to be a system of fairness that things be done in a fair, transparent and also, at the same time, an...

The forest industry in Canada and the NWT is something that has a lot of potential based on the idea that the forest industry, if one would take the task and lead the initiative in creating a business opportunity that’s sustainable and renewable. Can the Department of ENR, Environment and Natural Resources, speak to whether other communities have expressed interest in establishing a forest management agreement? Thank you.