Norman Yakeleya

Sahtu

Statements in Debates

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 4th Session (day 31)

Thank you. Just on the environmental management, they had a close call during spring breakup in terms of the petroleum products fuel lines. Has that been rectified and are there other issues like that, that when the ice breaks up, the fuel lines are being monitored and there are safety mechanisms in place that we don’t have a fuel spill into the Mackenzie River?

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 4th Session (day 31)

There is a misunderstanding later, because they do not fully understand what they’re signing for. We need to make sure that the NWT Housing Corporation receives proper orientation to understanding their clientele.

In closing, the issue of bringing up the treaty will continue until it is clear what was meant when the government asked for our ‘X’. We were promised, as the saying goes, as long as the sun shines, the grass grows, and the river flows. This is a good treaty.

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 4th Session (day 31)

Yes, last comment, just on the technical support for Safe Drinking Water Initiative. Can the Minister just allude to the standards that we want to bring up in terms of the water for the Safe Drinking Water Initiative, the support for the municipalities that desperately do need the valuable support to make sure that our water is always at a standard, that we can assure our people that this is an issue that is being monitored throughout the year?

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 4th Session (day 31)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I represent the community that has the second highest percentage of households in core need. I often talk about health and transportation needs in my region. Today I will continue with housing needs in my region; housing and treaty rights, to be exact, through our ancestors.

People are looking to the intent and spirit of the treaty rights; treaty rights related to housing as explained by our elders whose parents and grandparents were encouraged to leave the land, move into town and live in homes that were built for them by government.

I heard from many of my constituents...

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 4th Session (day 31)

Thank you. I look forward to the report there. I also want to say that I’m not too sure if the Minister did... I think they had some technology that they’re using around the communities in terms of radar in terms of energy reports or assessment. I’m not too sure if they use that in the Sahtu on some of the buildings that possibly could use some attention in terms of energy efficiency in the facilities that we use.

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 4th Session (day 31)

I just wanted to be clear. I’m talking about DPW facility garage. I know you’re talking about the tank farm there. I just wanted to ask the Minister for clarification. I guess I’m talking about the DPW garage that’s there. There also is an old building that they’re using right now for storage in the tank farm right now. I know the Minister has written some correspondence and I appreciate it being put on the books for some work there.

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 4th Session (day 30)

Mr. Chairman, it has been a while since I heard everything in sync over here. I have a couple of questions for the Minister. First one is the P3 project policy. I understand that within the Cabinet, probably discussed it that something that we would see in terms of bridges or infrastructure in regards to transportation in terms of we have a look at the P3 policy in terms of going forward.

There are some discussions by my members in the Sahtu to talk about whether the government is interested in a P3 project. They make reference to the Deh Cho Bridge and that project and if there’s something we...

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 4th Session (day 30)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Also, Mr. Speaker, the Minister did say that, when he heard the arguments of the high rental costs for the people who are in these public housing units, he doesn’t want to hear them anymore. Would the Minister then commit as part of the review to go into the communities to hear this issue here and have a big part of the consultation process, when he is putting together his team and people to come into the communities that want to know about how this government is going, to look at this issue in terms of going forward to reduce the cost of living for people in our...

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 4th Session (day 30)

I certainly look forward to the start of the potential sites that can produce hydro for the benefit of the people in the North here. The Minister has listed off some sites that I know very well, so it’s good to know that the Minister is up to speed in my region. I look forward to the results of the Sahtu hydro symposium. I mean, not only for our region but also for the Northwest Territories. I hope that we can move, once we have a clear plan and understanding as to what areas of the hydro that we wanted to look into and not be boggled down with various viewpoints as to which hydro or which...

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 4th Session (day 30)

Mr. Chair, I want to talk to the Minister about an issue here in regard to roads and the gravel access concept here. It’s been quite a good discussion amongst the Members here. I know that this is not the mandate of this department here. It’s really a MACA department mandate; however, Transportation has somewhat been involved in it due to the complexity of the Mackenzie Valley Highway road. It makes sense. Now you open the doors to this issue here. Would the Minister possibly consider with his Cabinet in terms of saying that we could look at a mandate for this department? That probably opens...