Norman Yakeleya

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Four point seven million dollars, when you look it, it's a big, huge pot when you're looking at the projects and authorities that were discussed. I believe at that time, we, Sahtu, were probably in the authority of the Inuvik Regional Health Board and now we've got our own health board. Certainly, we look at Inuvik as a big region; lots of needs there. It's negotiated so I really hope that this funding gets into the communities that desperately need improvements. Certainly we can really improve on the inadequate flow of doctors and nurses. Let's at least get a...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Health and Social Services.

Can the Minister provide a list of numbers of 2004-2005 agency nurses in the North and what is projected for 2006-2007?

Can the Minister provide a breakdown of agency nurses in the region in the year of 2004-2005?

Can the Minister provide the average stay in the role of nurses in the regions?

Can the Minister provide an outline of reducing the role of agency nurses in the regions?

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When can the Northwest Territories, along with two powerful Premiers on this committee, Alberta and Quebec, when would this council make the national energy strategy known to the other Premiers so that they can go forward to the federal government and, like Mr. Williams said, hopefully we can have all 13 areas in Canada, or provinces in Canada, all 13 be like Alberta. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to honour one of our constituents in the Sahtu region from Tulita. Her name is Stella Bayha-Yallee. She has 25 years of service as a housing manager in Tulita. I wanted to say that to the House, that she is one of the longest-serving members of the local housing authorities in the Northwest Territories. In light of all the stress, heartaches and bellyaches, she hung in there and stayed with us. She is a valuable member to the community, but also, more importantly, a valuable member to the Housing Corporation in terms of changes that we are going...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The $4.8 million to fund emergency and other repair programs and various seniors' programs, under this concept here, is a certain amount allocated out of this solely for Senior Citizens’ Home Repair Program? I know the Minister indicated earlier that he said it is application based. It is pretty general. Everybody could fill out their application under the emergency and it would eat up on the other programs. In this funding or the different programs he has outlined, do they have a certain amount of money that is dedicated solely for that purpose? I wanted to ask...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I wanted to ask the Minister again in terms of the coordination efforts by Housing with other departments in terms of developing the lots for the communities for these units to be in the communities. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, these programs are application based, so some of these elders would need some good quality time to sit down and take the application in English and translate it into Slavey and then have it again translated back to English. I hope that these liaison people who are in the communities would have that type of support from the local district offices in the regions, and then also from headquarters, that these programs need to be filled out properly by the elders and they have to know how these programs run and that there’s only so much money allocated per...

Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you, Mr. Minister. The Minister’s question mark on the federal government’s final commitment to release some of the funding for us to continue on with the housing in the Northwest Territories. I wish you luck in terms of securing that funding from the federal Minister and have approval from the Treasury Board. That’s still up in the air. We’re going to have to wait and see on that. The deal’s not done until it’s signed off and all set to go here, like other things this government has planned for the Northwest Territories.

In saying this, Mr. Minister, in terms...

Thank you, Madam Chair. Much of the discussion at the committee level over the budget planning cycle has focused on the need for a new mandate and structure for the NWT Housing Corporation.

With the transfer of responsibility for existing social housing to the Department of Education, Culture and Employment there is an opportunity to revitalize housing programs to meet the housing needs of all northerners.

Over the next year, the committee will be working with its Cabinet colleagues to come to a consensus on how government can best address the housing shortage in the NWT.

Once roles have...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My apologies to the powerful Premier, Mr. Handley. I hope he doesn’t tell me to take a hike here. I’d like to ask Mr. Premier, in terms of the National Energy Strategy going forward to the Premiers and forwarded on to the Prime Minister, what would be in the National Energy Strategy involved this side here in terms of putting together something that would be supported by all Members within the Territories to bring this forward to a final recommendation? Thank you.