Norman Yakeleya

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A promise made, a promise kept. Mr. Speaker, promises where it's going to be he said, she said, they said. You know, it's going to get into this craziness. So I would ask the Minister if he would instruct his staff to come to Tulita, talk to the people who heard and who acknowledge that a promise was made in terms of having community freezers in Tulita. I would ask the Minister if he could do that within the next week or so. Go to Tulita and talk to the people there in terms of what type of promises were made in terms of providing them with some form of freezer....

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I've been handed a note by the president of the Renewable Resource Council in Tulita in terms of community freezers. I want to ask the honourable Brendan Bell if he has any idea as to my question here in terms of the community has been promised, similar to Paulatuk, community freezers for individuals or families that need it. So I want to ask the Minister if he's aware of such a promise, maybe by the previous government or the previous administration, in terms of community freezers for the community members in Tulita.

Mr. Chairman, could we have a recorded vote?

Thank you, Madam Chair. The issue of recommendations by the Electoral Boundaries Commission brought me back to if we had two extra seats added to the Assembly it was going to be a dominoes affect down the Mackenzie Valley. I strongly support the status quo of 19 Members. The amount of money that's going to be taken out of certain programs within this government is going to have an affect on our programs in the smaller communities. Adding more seats to the House will add more costs. It has an effect on the Cabinet and on the Assembly as a whole.

Madam Chair, the people in the Northwest...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the Minister again for supporting people in the Sahtu in terms of a short-term solution. When can I ask the Minister to make a commitment to coming to our region and talk about a leasing of a premises so that people could have an idea as to when they will see a facility in the Sahtu that would make them all smile when they go to the Aurora College classroom?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The campus that he’s referring to is very challenging. It’s like a honeybee's nest with all the flies and bumble bees flying around because it’s so active. We have an increase of activity. We have self-government negotiations. We have business in our communities that are expanding. I would like to ask, Mr. Speaker, what type of short-term options may be planned for the Aurora College facility in Norman Wells? Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, last week I attended a function with yourself and I wanted to recognize the members of the Canadian Forces in the gallery. I had a tour and I certainly appreciate the work that they do…(inaudible). As Mr. Braden said, they defend our precious freedom here and thank you very much. Thank you.

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Thank you, Madam Chair. I would like to state that we are leaders and I will not support this motion. We have 19 people. We spoke. For the people I represent, my people in the Sahtu, each time we get on the plane to fly to our small communities we put our life on the line, for our family, for our children and for our people. That's the issue here; providing services and programs for our people. So, Madam Chair, I will not support this motion. The Sahtu region does not see the need for increasing politicians in the Northwest Territories. They want to see an increase in programs and...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

How were the maximum annual fuel amounts for the various types of fuel arrived at and how do they compare to the actual amounts needed to heat homes, in particular older homes which are not as heat efficient as the newer homes?

How were the income thresholds for the subsidy arrived at, have they been updated to keep up with the cost of living, and how do they compare with the seniors’ actual incomes?

With respect to the income thresholds, what is the rationale for taking away 25 percent of this subsidy...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to hear the Minister talk about the short-term option of leasing premises or leasing some form of facility to encourage the students to continue their education. Mr. Speaker, I also hope that the Minister would give some thought in terms of a new facility that they would consider the community or the region of the Sahtu or any other region before they get their facility. Mr. Speaker, in terms of the short term and leasing of a premises, when would the people in the Sahtu know that they could possibly look at a new facility in the short...