Norman Yakeleya

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Frame Lake, that notwithstanding Rule 4, when this House adjourns on March 15, 2007, it shall be adjourned until Wednesday, May 9, 2007;

AND FURTHER that anytime prior to May 9, 2007, if the Speaker is satisfied, after consultation with the Executive Council and the Members of the Legislative Assembly, that the public interest requires that the House should meet at an earlier time during the adjournment, the Speaker may give notice and thereupon the House shall meet at a time stated in such notice and shall transact its...

Mr. Speaker, I would like to table this document entitled Science Meets Traditional Knowledge, Water and Climate in the Sahtu.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment.

Can the Minister outline the different GNWT programs that support traditional economies?

Can the Minister outline the shares of these programs accessed by residents and organizations of the Sahtu region?

Can the Minister provide the percentage of sales realized by trappers from the Sahtu region through the Genuine Mackenzie Valley Fur Program (total of over $800,000 for 9,000 NWT pelts sold since January)?

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Minister is certainly right that the North is a good place to do business. Can the Minister provide to me the numbers in terms of employment for people in my region, the Beaufort-Delta and the Gwich’in, the number of businesses that are used in Diavik and BHP? What are the numbers? Show me the numbers so that we can increase those numbers. We certainly want to work with these diamond companies. We certainly want it fair in terms of working with the different companies to improve our skills in terms of preparing for the pipeline. Can the Minister...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am not sure if my question is for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment or the Minister of ITI. I would like to ask the question on the Mackenzie gas pipeline. We heard in the news that 2007 is going to be a construction date. That is seven years away. Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Premier how we will get our people in business or training into the workforce. There are diamond mines down south in the region. We have seven years to get our people here and some people may just get fed up and leave the country. Some people will...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, would the two Ministers look at supporting the Aurora College in terms of promoting a position to support community-based research on social and cultural areas during the International Polar Year? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I couldn’t agree more with the Minister. It’s the same with alcohol and drugs. With alcohol and drugs, you have to negotiate. I would encourage the Minister to reconsider bringing the workers into the public service where there is some security and benefits. Pay them for what they are worth in dealing with this serious issue of alcoholism in the Northwest Territories. I would again ask the Minister to really strongly consider bringing these workers into the public service where they are honoured and respected for the work they are doing in our communities...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it’s been three years that these workers have not had any type of agreement on security. It’s been three years. So what did the government do in the three years to get the parties back on the road and not have our clients shut out and have people go down to other treatment centres? What have they done in three years and not just now when it comes down to the crunch when we are having this discussion? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to welcome also people from Nats’ejee K’eh, Dave Poitras, my sister-in-law Cecile Bonnetrouge, Phillip Fabian, Margaret Elleze and Tracy Hoff. I would also like to welcome the members from the union also for being with the membership. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Madam Chair. I move that this committee recommends that the government provide a comprehensive response to this report within 120 days. Thank you, Madam Chair.