Norman Yakeleya

I’ll just close off with a question here. A comment and a question, I guess. When we first started out with this type of discussion around the Deh Cho Bridge, we always want to look at two things: the best scenario and the worst scenario. I think today we are dealing with the worst scenario. That’s reality. That also takes a lot of courage and leadership and foresight to deal with this type of issue. But we are dealing with the worst scenario today. It’s right before us.

I want to ask the Ministers about dealing with the worse scenario and this bridge being completed, what if some poor guy...

That’s good to know. We’re going to certainly go through a process. Should the Ministers receive support from the Members on the appropriation bill, is there a mechanism to ensure this House and Members regarding regular reporting to us and through the process in terms of the questions we are raising tonight to ensure the time frame is on target, the quality of the work is being done and some questions that would help us? Sort of like checkpoints through the project, so there is some accountability and some transparency in terms of going forward on the Deh Cho Bridge. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, my last question in this round here would be the issue of project management and quality assurance in terms of going forward. I reviewed what the Ministers have put before us and it seems like we really have taken the bull by the horn on this project here with the GNWT in terms of how you set up the org chart and you told us how certain qualified people are going to manage this program, get the bridge built, in terms of that quality management project team initiative.

The one thing I wanted to look at, besides that, is how the community of Fort Providence is...

The other question I have is in regard to the issue around Minister Flaherty and the Minister of Finance in terms of a working relation arrangement. I think what I heard from the Premier, Mr. Chair, in terms of that coming close to some satisfaction, in terms of yes, this will not hinder us in terms of our fiscal forecast, forecasting projects that we have in the future, and that I’m leaning towards the Premier’s voice in terms of the evidence that the Minister is going to do something, the federal Minister. He said something like that. I just need to know if the Premier would, even if it’s...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I was thinking about this last night and I was thinking about whoever thought that a bridge connecting the southern part of the Northwest Territories would be such a troublesome headache and heartache for some people, and for other people, what were they thinking, you know? Those types of thoughts ran through my mind.

Mr. Chair, when the bridge was considered in 1958 it was targeted at $6.2 million, as commissioned by the federal government consultant to do and at that time it was too expensive, unheard of, can’t do it. So they waited until a little later, until 1975, and...

Does the Minister anticipate the ruling of the court will have an impact on future discussions involving aboriginal groups and treaty rights?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the Minister of Justice. I want to ask the Minister of Justice who Cabinet consulted with on the decision to refer the question of the Government of the Northwest Territories’ legal right to impose a ban on aboriginal people from hunting to the Supreme Court of the Northwest Territories.

That’s what I was alluding to regarding the communication on this project. There are certain things you want to communicate to the public, certain things you want to communicate to specific organizations out there. There is also the communication process for Regular Members that members of the public aren’t privy to. You know, some of the briefings that we had are very helpful in terms of going forward with this project.

I’m happy to hear the Minister is going to put together a communication plan of various levels. It’s a very important asset that the GNWT will own and have on the books here...

That’s what I was looking for, was to see if there was more creativity possible. They have a bunch of learning centres in the Sahtu communities that could be available. It takes one or two people from the mines. I’m not sure how it works. They can certainly work with the communities in the smaller centres outside of Yellowknife. I know the funds are limited. It’s funny how working with the diamond mines there’s lots of dollars in diamonds. If this government can get that, they can work with the learning centres to bring the NWT mining society into the regions and I think you’ll generate...

Mr. Speaker, I was listening, with some interest, to Mr. Ramsay’s question. I want to ask the Minister of ITI, I have been privileged to attend two briefings with the mining sectors here in the Northwest Territories and I want to ask the Minister about the training for people in the Northwest Territories, specifically P1 candidates in my region and outside of the affected areas around Yellowknife. What is the government doing with the NWT mining society in terms of encouraging the mining society to go into the regions such as the Sahtu, Beaufort-Delta and Mackenzie Delta to entice new workers...