Michael Nadli

I think this government has a long history of a very good written relationship with First Nations. Recent efforts to try to move forward are really commendable in terms of some of the leaps and bounds we have made thus far. My hope is there could be greater efforts to at least bring on board the remaining outstanding regions that have unsettled land claims. That’s the Tlicho and Dehcho First Nations.

I understand the Premier has committed to meeting with the Dehcho First Nations. He stated recent offers between DFN and the GNWT have been rejected. I’m inclined to ask why those offers were...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s encouraging that the three northern regions, the NWT, Yukon and Nunavut, are working together to try to tackle and meet the needs of our Northerners in terms of trying to curb the high cost of living.

In the interim, as the three governments are trying to work together, would the Premier agree to bring back the old Food Mail Program? Mahsi.

At the territorial level, what specific actions does this government take to track, report, compare and offset the costs of basic goods in remote Northwest Territories communities? Communities such as Tuktoyaktuk, Deline. Sometimes our communities that are located off the road system have to fly their goods in.

Is this government keeping track of how goods are distributed in those communities? Mahsi.

Mr. Speaker… [Translation] Today we have a few people here. I want to say in my language, thank you for being here. We have to work with them for several years. Some of them are chiefs; some of them are still young and there are new people, young people are with them. So, I want to say thank you for being here with us. They’re here for a meeting. So, thank you for being here. [Translation ends]

…the leaders, led by Grand Chief Herb Norwegian, plus all the leaders and the elders who are here as well. My colleague, MLA for Nahendeh, is going to share the responsibility of trying to recognize all...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am proud to say I’ve been smoke-free of cigarettes since November 10, 2014. Before this time, I would wake up first thing in the morning and have a coffee and a cigarette, smoke up to about four packages of cigarettes a week, and experience exhaustion and fatigue. I could only smoke outside, and the smell of cigarettes clung to my clothes.

I thought of quitting smoking cigarettes for a long time. [English translation not provided.]

Like many of my peers, I started smoking as a teenager as it looked cool and helped me fit into the crowd. Tobacco use also extended to my...

I want to thank the Minister for his reply. One of the experiences that I have had is that you could approach your family doctor or physician in trying to assist you in terms of quitting cigarettes. They could offer a smoking cessation program. One of the examples of what kind of services that the people could find through their doctors is the patch, the Nicoderm patch, and that is what I personally use.

What is the department doing to reduce the overall impacts and costs to the health care system caused by chronic illness caused by smoking cigarettes and tobacco use? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Health and Social Services. What are the current rates of smoking in the Northwest Territories? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Part of the initiatives in trying to educate the public is prevention strategies, and the department should be commended in terms of doing the public campaign in terms of informing citizens of the facts of smoking.

What are some other healthy living initiatives that the department is undertaking to combat the overall costs of cigarettes and cancer, and so forth that affect people in the NWT? Mahsi.

What is the Department of Health and Social Services doing to help people quit smoking cigarettes? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to thank the Minister for highlighting a lot of the initiatives that the 17th Assembly has accomplished. I think we could do more and it’s good that there has been a strong working relationship, especially at the community level.

I wanted to ask, in terms of this year’s budget, the ‘15-16 budget and going forward, what are some of the prominent and significant, perhaps, commitments that the Minister’s department will be focusing on? He has mentioned biomass initiatives, he has mentioned forest management agreements that are still in the development stages...