Norman Yakeleya

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question today is for the Minister of ITI. I want to ask the Minister of ITI, has his department been investigating or looking at a concept where international beading or design-making or makers come together in the North to share their experience with other designers around the world?

Mr. Chairman, I too am happy to see that the first bundle is making its way through the process here. I want to ask the Minister if there’s going to be a second bundle coming through. Because what I’ve seen in the existing highways, and rightly so, they deserve the work that’s being asked by the Members here for their highways. I’m still waiting for a highway. I’d like to be part of the group here, I mean, because I know in April we’re going to melt away, because our roads are not going to be staying too long.

I just wanted to say that the government is doing some good work to move some of...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This week in the Assembly I will focus on economic and sustainable development in the Sahtu. In the North in all our regions we are rich with renewable resources, also with non-renewable resources and with our people, our own people. We will continue to recognize our people with their awesome creativity.

If you ask for a comprehensive assessment of all the data on the potential of the great wealth with our renewable resources, it will be incredible. As an example, look at our good trappers and all the well-sought-after Mackenzie Valley furs, or the ever-empowering Great...

So it’s a common practice that industry contributes also to our highway maintenance and enhancement of winter roads when they come up into the area to do work. Otherwise, the Department of Transportation would not see this type and amount of money going into winter roads. Is that correct?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I appreciate that from industry. I want to ask about the enhancement of the program. Is it entire sections of the Mackenzie Valley winter road that they’re putting the money into this area here?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I certainly agree with the Minister that some of the specialized care needs to be in the South because we don’t have it in the Northwest Territories. Is there a critical mass in the North that could give warrant to discussion in this Assembly, saying maybe it’s time to consider? At this point right now, is it economic to continue to send our people down south for care?

I know there’s some discussion in the newspaper as to when residents in the North can maybe be seen as… Do we have the proper resources and facilities here in the North? I’m looking at one at the Stanton...

I certainly have to clear it with the Minister that we want to use the biomass, and I just want to make a point that some things in life are unpredictable. Biomass, certainly now, if you look at it, if the Minister is to do an analysis, it is costing us a little more than the fuel right now, I believe, and it’s a different form of energy use in our small communities. I just wanted to raise that point there that hopefully one day we don’t have to go outside the Northwest Territories to use fuel. Right now we’re getting this from Edmonton.

On my last point, I want to raise the point that I...

I understand, also, there are different times of the year that you purchase the petroleum products. Specifically, about the diesel and gas and mostly looking at the smaller communities, so all our fuel for the smaller communities – and I’m just going to stay with my region – comes from the Edmonton refinery? Is that where we’re getting our products coming from now?

Thank you. I look forward to that, Mr. Speaker. Also, sewing, beading and making jackets has a lot of power. Has the Minister ever engaged in this type of work with his department in conjunction with the Health department, asking the meaning behind the beadwork or putting together a moosehide jacket or traditional wear such as yours, Mr. Speaker, in regards to helping our people with issues in their life?

People in the North are the best source as bead makers and Members around the Assembly here certainly demonstrate the fine work that our people have done in the Northwest Territories.

I would like to ask the Minister if he would maybe instruct his staff to look in the North and see if we could somehow formulate a discussion around having an international forum on beading and making vests or making jackets, right across. It would bring our people together with other international groups so that we could demonstrate our high quality of professionals.