Norman Yakeleya

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, in my statement, I quoted John Diefenbaker’s vision to the northern frontier, building roads. In John Diefenbaker’s roads in the past 30 years of that vision being voiced in Ottawa, I would like to ask the Minister of Transportation if he could outline a brief strategy of his department’s intentions to move on building an all-weather road in the Sahtu region. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Thank you, Premier. I think it is really openness of the evolution of the Northwest Territories, in terms of expanding it to the different forums that we have been involved in so far. Having the suggestion as the northern governments or the aboriginal governments, is there any appetite, I guess, for having these aboriginal governments meet with Cabinet on some of the important issues that we have been talking about for the last three or four days, on the issues in our communities for the aboriginal governments? Can we be part of the Cabinet's decision? Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Can the Minister inform the people in the Sahtu about the other communities? Some teachers are having a hard time getting into units. Maybe other organizations in the Sahtu as well could enter into some sort of discussion or have a meeting with the Housing Corporation to look at providing some affordable units within the Sahtu.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Regarding the market housing initiative, several complaints came from the teachers about the high cost of renting these market housing units and the other expenses to operate these units. Is there any movement on behalf of the department to revisit the rents they have on these units in the region? Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, the point I would like to ask questions on is to the input from the regional organizations, more importantly the regional governments in the Sahtu, or the aboriginal governments that have a high stake in seeing tourism flow into our region. What can the Minister commit to in the next couple of months in terms of ensuring that the aboriginal governments will be part of this model that could used in the Northwest Territories? Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The Minister has answered the question partially. I will follow up later on with that question privately. The question I guess I want to ask the Minister also, in terms of the creation of the new Department of ITI, and giving industry a new profile within this government and within the industry of tourism, what is the government committing to do to work with the aboriginal governments in terms of giving the profile of industry in the Northwest Territories? What type of commitment has he given the aboriginal governments in the regions to heighten the new profile...

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I give notice that on Thursday, June 2, 2005, I will move the following motion: I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Frame Lake, that notwithstanding Rule 4, that when this House adjourns on Thursday, June 2, 2005, it shall be adjourned until Wednesday, October 12, 2005; and further, that any time prior to October 12, 2005, if the Speaker is satisfied, after consultation with the Executive Council and Members of the Legislative Assembly, that the public interest requires that the House should meet at an earlier time during the adjournment...

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I believe that the preservation of language is a critical issue for aboriginals of the Northwest Territories. A sustainable territory requires the sustainability of the land, the languages and the cultures of the aboriginal peoples of the Northwest Territories. There are aboriginal groups across North America, including Canada, producing aboriginal language developmental toys that reflect their unique language and culture as part of their language preservation and revitalization programs. One can’t overemphasize the importance of having our own...

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, not understanding the process fully, Madam Speaker, the people in my region I represent say the money we had made from liquor stores, off-sales and the bars is a huge amount of money. Yet when we go into the communities and ask for treatment programs or programs that would help people such as for FAS or behavioural issues we were just talking about, why is it that we cannot put more money into programs because of damages that the alcohol is doing to our communities and our regions? Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, my question is to the Minister of Finance and FMBS, the Honourable Floyd Roland. Madam Speaker, I understand from newspaper reports that liquor revenue that came out of the Northwest Territories last year was $36 million and I wanted to ask the Minister if there was any plans within the government to see how this money could be put back into the regions that desperately need programs such as the TTC and alcohol and drug programs. Could some of this money from the liquor revenue fund go back into the regions that need the help? Thank you.