Norman Yakeleya

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, trapping is a strong life, it’s a good life. It’s a life that people certainly enjoy. I would ask if the Minister would work with his Cabinet colleagues to see how we can look at trapping in terms of how to get food into our communities and our local stores and start opening a discussion on how to support trappers in a lifelong passion to practice their way of life.

Minister McLeod alluded to the Youth Trapping Program. I wanted to ask the Minister in terms of strengthening the Youth Trapping Program, is that part of the educational curriculum for young trappers in the Northwest Territories? Speaking to young trappers in Colville Lake, Mr. Samuel Oudzi, who was the youth trapper in that community in the Sahtu region, would he be able to continue to have that type of opportunity to put trapping as part of his educational curriculum?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will continue to press the Premier and his Cabinet colleagues to make this a top priority, as I think they are well aware of, in terms of the construction of the Mackenzie Valley Highway and how many people down the Mackenzie Valley will be very appreciative of this support here. Can the Premier tell me, if we build a Mackenzie Valley Highway, what would the revenue be to be paid to open up the Mackenzie Valley for resource development exploration and extraction?

Can the Premier tell me in terms of how this proposal was discussed amongst his colleagues in terms of this proposal that’s continually worthwhile or another avenue that we could look at?

Mr. Speaker, that is, in theory, 14 kilometres of road that we have up there. I would encourage the Minister to take a trip up there and look at the conditions of this 14 kilometres of road to see where our priorities are in terms of fixing up our road. I know the Yukon has put thousands of dollars in the Yukon, so that would encourage visitors and encourage some mine companies to come into the Northwest Territories. I would ask the Minister, are there any plans of grading these 14 kilometres of road?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. What if you went to a grocery store on your way home today to buy a few basic things like four litres of milk and some dish soap, and it costs you $25? Some people might think it was a mistake, but not if you live in Fort Good Hope. It’s normal.

Mr. Speaker, the cost of living in the Sahtu is amongst the highest in the Northwest Territories. We’re paying through our teeth. At $2.42 per kilowatt for electricity, Colville Lake pays the highest power rate of all Northwest Territories communities. Let’s start by having some real discussions on a review of the electrical...

Mr. Speaker, that’s why I asked the Minister earlier is he prepared to work in partnership with the Sahtu in terms of monitoring the access of this road and the airport. There’s going to be lots of development. Is the Minister again willing to come to the Sahtu, sit down with the Sahtu leaders in terms of how do we limit some restrictions of vehicle usage in that area to protect our land?

To access the Mactung Mine on the Yukon side, they have to drive from the Yukon into the Northwest Territories to get to the Mactung Mine. I wanted to ask the Minister in terms of the time frame in terms of transferring this piece of jurisdiction over to the territorial government for the Sahtu and the people of the Northwest Territories to have this park. I’m asking the Minister in terms of the time frame, because the notices have gone out to open up the Mactung Mine here. Can the Minister outline a time frame as to when this transfer will happen to see the new establishment of this park here...

Mr. Speaker, would the Minister consider having a working partnership with the Sahtu people so that if these land rovers ever do decide to come back to the Northwest Territories, they would be stopped there and not to go any further on this CANOL Heritage Trail?

Mr. Speaker, the issue of the land rovers coming in from B.C., these six land rovers that came very close to some very sensitive areas in the Sahtu along the Heritage Trail. These vehicles tear up the muskeg road. I want to ask the Minister in terms of him working with the Minister of Transportation in terms of some restrictions on this piece of road here. As you know, Mactung Mine, close to the border, has filed for some application to start up their project here. It will become very busy. The Yukon government has put thousands of dollars into upgrading the North CANOL Road. I want to ask the...