Norman Yakeleya

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We in the Sahtu want to live up to our fullest potential. It’s in our nature. We are hard workers and we believe in our families and we support each other. We love the land and we respect it. We live by Yamoria’s laws and traditions that our elders have taught us. This does not mean that we do not want to change. Our elders tell us that we must adapt to changes if we are to survive as a nation of people. They say that we will be strong if we work together.

Our goals in the Sahtu are the same goals set out in the 17th Assembly. In the Sahtu our goals are in our hearts and...

Like I said, I certainly send my prayers to the people who have to deal with this issue. So far the Minister said there are two individuals. That’s half a million dollars for each individual to seek this type of specialized treatment. Certainly, no individual in the Northwest Territories can cover the cost for this type of treatment program. Certainly, we do the best we can in light of the other pressing issues that we have in the North in regard to how we prioritize our costs with treatment and medical needed by people in our communities or in the North. I just want to make note of that.

It’s...

Mr. Chair, anybody that needs medical attention or services, certainly my prayers go out to them. I just want to look at the numbers here. Is this not recoverable to any type of federal government program? This is our cost to our own for having the best health care services in Canada?

On page 7 it says to provide funding to reflect the impact of projected shortfall for costs of blood and plasma protein products. Do you know how many people in that that reflects on the cost here?

I would again ask if the whole town of Norman Wells, through this contribution to the Housing Corporation, will see all the units in the town of Norman Wells receive this type of support as we’re giving to Inuvik because of the conversion of natural gas to synthetic natural gas.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just a quick question on the contribution to the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation. Is that a similar type of support they are also receiving in Norman Wells because of the conversion of the natural gas, and what things they have to do to prepare for the conversion to other sources of energy?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We can use the scenario that the Northwest Territories is the birthplace of ice hockey in Canada. We’ve given birth to other provinces in the Northwest Territories. We have to remember that the Northwest Territories could become the next economic boom in Canada with the Norman Wells, and the road to Tuk and the mining. It could be a possibility that the people in Canada can say, yes. We’ve got our work cut out for us, but I think that’s something that we need to give to our people in the North. Devolution, fine. We’ll do the work, but we need to take the next step and...

That’s all fine. That’s what we do here through our budgets and that. I’m asking about the leader here, looking forward to the Northwest Territories. I think as leaders around here, we are to inspire people to look at what’s ahead. I have a son who is 11 years old and it’s something he would look forward to and look at. Is that something they can look at and say, yes, one day, in five or 10 years? Is that something that the Northwest Territories can look at to be part of the Confederation of Canada through the means of constitution?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On March 5, 2013, Sister Celeste of Tulita was honoured with the 2013 Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal. She is truly an inspirational woman whose impact on families in the community of Tulita cannot be understated. She established the Fort Norman Child Development Centre in 1981 and in the 31 years since it has been open, she has given several generations of Dene and Metis community members a head start towards successful personal and working lives. A growing number of her former students are finishing up their high school and pursuing further education, and showing...

Has it been projected by the Department of Health and Social Services? Is this a cost that we will incur every year in our budget? Hopefully these people can get well. That’s the ultimate goal here and something that is not a fault of anybody. Is it something that we project to see other people in the Northwest Territories that will have this type of disease and we need to take care of them?