Norman Yakeleya

I’ll look forward to the application process coming out and notifying the communities in the Sahtu that they can apply for this and where to go.

Another issue I think over time the Minister has informed me of his community of Inuvik, there’s a project – I stand to be corrected – where people work off their arrears. I’m not sure if that’s something that’s a general standard or is that something that they’ll give to the LHOs. There’s some people who have a hard time paying cash, but they can actually work off the arrears, either clean up around their yard or do something that will bring the value...

I certainly appreciate the Minister’s comments to look at the district office and to look at where the technical advisors could actually stay a little longer. They are making improvements. I made this point here because when I was in Deline, I talked to some of the people there, and basically one of the persons that I talked to actually had to tell the technical person – the techie they call him – to stay and come to my office because I need to talk to you and not to go back to Norman Wells. That’s the only way I got the attention of the techie.

We need to do something with the attitude of the...

The issue of the long-term care facility in the Sahtu has been long-standing. Like I said earlier my Member’s statement, I’m grateful for the 16th and I’d certainly appreciate the 17th Assembly and this government here to keep their eye on the ball or the prize to build a long-term care facility in the Sahtu region. This is the only region without a long-term care facility. I want to ask the Minister, since this is the first one we built and I think it’s the only one that’s going to be built in the Sahtu, what is the Minister doing to work with the people in the Sahtu to prepare for the long...

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Did they release an NWT energy report in the 16th that’s going to be looked at in the 17th?

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I have questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services. I want to know when the Sahtu long-term care facility will begin to see its construction.

Not specifically any type of project. I think I’m just looking at the overall photo of the economic model the government is working on. I know we talked about some mines here are closing down. We know their lifespan. Imperial Oil, that pipeline they say every 10 or 15 years, ever since I was young, it will be done in 20 or it should be done in 10 years. Mr. Chair, I’m over 50 years old and that pipeline is still running and we keep saying 10 years and 20 years, but nothing yet. So is there any type of… I guess what I’m looking for is some type of economic model that shows the impacts.

I’ve been a Member as long as the Minister’s been a Member and this has been a passion of mine for a long, long time. The Minister knows where I’m coming from. He would sit with us one day on this side and now he’s a Minister. He’s actually the Minister of this project here. So I’m hopeful that Minister keeps an eye on this and works with the people in Deline and myself to get and keep this issue going here.

I want to ask the Minister in regard to the energy plans in the Northwest Territories. I know the communities have been busy working on their energy plans. I think there’s some correlation...

Just closing on this Canol and this…(inaudible)…proposed territorial park, his department has been very good with me and good with the people also, in terms of moving this along. It’s just a slow, slow process and sometimes very frustrating because a lot of government hands are in it and take the assessment. Even the previous ITI Minister, I have been at him in getting this project on the go. It’s a beautiful area and I know it’s something that I’d like to see in the jurisdiction of the Northwest Territories, but you don’t want to take a beautiful park that has a lot of liabilities without...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Minister mentioned about the small hydro initiatives and I want to ask the Minister, what do the community of Deline specifically and the people from the Sahtu and the Northwest Territories look forward to in this budget to see if the Deline or Great Bear hydro project would actually see some design, some steps towards construction of a possible mini-hydro in that area. They’ve been at it for about nearly 16 or 17 years. I guess when is this talking going to start and when are we going to see some action putting that hydro in the Bear River?