Norman Yakeleya

I was watching the Knowledge Network TV the other day and they did have a segment on the upcoming Copenhagen conference and they’re expecting delegates from around the world to be there. They’re going to showcase some of the alternative energy initiatives that Denmark is going to do there. Certainly if there’s any that may enhance the North in terms of this issue here, I’m supporting the Members to go over there and see what kind of impact they would have at the Copenhagen conference.

Mr. Chair, I’m also aware of several of the governments having various promotional events to signify the...

Mr. Speaker, certainly the Member for the Mackenzie Delta has brought some issues here. Mr. Speaker, I’ve been reviewing the access agreement between the outfitters and the respective land claim organizations and there is certainly a lot of compliance that the outfitters have not done in the Sahtu region. So that’s why I asked this question.

Mr. Speaker, I would ask the Minister again for his definition in terms of first rights of refusal, you have two constitutionally protected land claim agreements called modern treaties, they both have right of first refusal clauses. Who, I guess, within his...

Just to follow up on Mr. Menicoche’s questions, the Member for Nahendeh, in terms of projects and getting a response from the Minister. The specific area they are looking at is post-secondary institutions, so would the government be coming to the committee in terms of looking at other projects that would be beneficial in the communities in the Northwest Territories? Some communities do not have learning centres, so would this be forthcoming in a year or so?

I would like to also recognize Mr. Gordie Norberg and his family. Gordie was the goaltender for the famous Grollier Hall finalists.

I guess, then, in terms of the interpretation of these negotiations with the Government of Canada and the Government of the Northwest Territories and the interpretation of these agreements, sometimes that also needs to be discussed. Regarding this agreement that was interpreted by a definition of the government, when the Minister found out, did he inform the Sahtu leadership that we have an issue here rather than just say because the Gwich’in has a majority of the ownership, they have the first right to answer to the first right of refusal?

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted.

Mr. Speaker, I just want to get clarity on a question to the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources in regards to the process in terms of the sales of the outfitters. The Minister has indicated there are two rights of refusal. I just want to get it very clear for my people. You have two land claims that have two specific clauses for two rights of refusal. The Minister has, by definition -- I don’t know which definition -- it seems the Department of Justice has given some clear definitions that there is only one you could use. However, you have two constitutionally protected modern...

Would the Minister, then, inform the House and people of the Northwest Territories that he would seriously consider this position is not in the territorial government and is something he would seriously look at in terms of helping healing and reconciliation of residential school survivors and the parents of these children that were taken to these schools?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question today is to the Minister of Department of Executive regarding residential school survivors, more specifically to the parents who went to the school. Mr. Speaker, I have asked the Minister what type of programs this government is doing to support the residential schools survivors.

On the outfitters in terms of the ownership, can the Minister confirm if there have been no changes to the ownership of the Arctic Red Outfitters and that there’s no licence that needs to be changed in terms of this issue? Thank you.