Norman Yakeleya

Mr. Speaker, money comes and money goes. Look at the relationship at a moral cost to us on a government-to-government relationship. Are we willing to pay that cost for some short-term gains for long-term damages?

It’s a heavy cost to this government here. We could use the money, but how bad are we willing to not mend some broken hearts between us and the Gwich’in Tribal Council? That cost is more important to me, so that’s what I want to ask the Premier: What will he do, what can this government do? When it comes to a final agreement, do people in the Northwest Territories have a say in saying...

I actually have a copy right here, and the Premier was right on the priorities. We also have a goal for a strong and independent North built on partnership, and if we don’t have those types of partnerships, how can we build a strong and independent North? We only have a few of the partners on board.

I want to ask the Premier, when they’re looking at the Devolution Agreement, is the Premier and this government going to look at a referendum where people will have a chance to say this is a good deal or not a deal we should be signing?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to talk about the issue of devolution and the importance of this issue here in the Northwest Territories. In our communities we are not hearing enough on it. For example, once devolution, whenever it gets completed to a final deal, will it be a vote throughout the Northwest Territories to say yes, people in the North want this deal to go through, or will it be like in the last government where seven Cabinet Ministers said this is what we’re going to do, we’re going to sign it with the majority of the Aboriginal governments not participating or wanting our...

A number of my community constituents talked to me while I was in Fort Good Hope. They said when they go to the health centre and they complain about a sore back or sore stomach, the nurse usually refers them to Tylenol, Extra Strength Tylenol. She says, here, take this and come back. Usually when they come back, it’s serious. It’s sore and she again gives them Tylenol. I want to ask the Minister if this method can be stopped and the Minister can ask the health centres if they ask for testing, because we don’t have doctors all the time in the health centres, that they could go for further...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to ask the Minister of Health and Social Services about the health care assessment that could be done in the Sahtu communities, specifically in Fort Good Hope where an increase of cancers are being diagnosed by the physicians either in Yellowknife or Edmonton or even in the Inuvik area. Can the Minister let the people know in Good Hope that there will be proper testing of the people who are afraid that they may be getting sick or they may have some other illness that they should be aware of and getting it treated right away?

I want to share with the Minister my written questions here. So that was leading up to my second question. Can the Minister tell me when can the Sahtu see such a program like a dental therapist coming into our communities that can do prevention? Otherwise, we’re going to have this come up in the House again in February. So when can the Minister advise me and the people in the Sahtu that there is going to be some plans in place to look at dental therapists in our communities, in our schools? Then I can say, “Good government.”

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is directed to the Minister of Health and Social Services on the dental services in the Sahtu region. Last month the dentist was in Tulita. They were booked from morning to nighttime and one person wanted to see the dentist, but because it was so booked they put the person on the cancellation list, and the cancellation list was so long that this person had to wait until 19 people had cancelled their appointment before she could get in and see the dentist. I want to ask the Minister what type of plans does his department have to see if they can have a full...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m going to do my best with a verse here that we worked out this morning.

Twas the night before Christmas, and all through this House

Not a Member was stirring, not even a mouse.

The coffers were built in warehouses with care,

In hopes the Finance Minister soon would be there.

The Members were comfy, all snug in their chairs,

While visions of schoolhouses danced in their heads.

And I in my moose hide, and Jane in her wrap,

Had just steadied our brains, for a whole new load…

Oh, and just a moment, Mr. Speaker. That’s a whole new load of promises, Mr. Speaker.

---Laughter...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I certainly applaud the Minister’s messages to the health centres. Too often people in my communities go to the health centre, they’re given some mediation and then they’re sent home. I’d ask again if the Minister would let the health centres know that when people come in and they are requesting some further testing, that that can be done as soon as possible so that the people then can know that they can catch the disease or whatever they have earlier so it can be treated.

Right now in Good Hope there’s a cancer scare and that’s not good for people. I ask the Minister if...

Exactly what the Minister has indicated is what the people in Fort Good Hope want. They want to know if there’s some sort of proper testing that can be set up in the community because of the increase of cancer recently by the health care on our residents. It was done in Aklavik several years ago. Certainly it can be done now in Fort Good Hope. So I would ask the Minister if he would begin working with our health board and the staff, to start implementing some guidelines to the health centre so people then can be assured when they go to the health centre, if they request a test that this test...