Norman Yakeleya

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I appreciate the Minister’s commitment to get the recycling program done over time in all the communities. Would the Minister look at having this program be supported by the smaller communities where they can be part of the program even though they may not have a recycling program in the communities or have the machinery to support this? Is there anything they can do in terms of getting the program off the ground and start making communities aware of the situation and have a clean environment for all people?

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, at this time of the year, many colleges, universities and other post-secondary institutions and high school academic years are coming to an end. For most students, their semester is already over and this is the time for celebration. I’m sure many students are happy that their final exams are over and that summer has arrived. But more importantly, this is a season in which graduation is celebrated and it is in recognition of a student's successes, success for all the students in the Northwest Territories.

Madam Speaker, I’m proud to recognize the...

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Would the Minister also look at this in terms of working with the other departments in supporting this initiative, especially the school children? Would the Minister commit to a time frame where we could expect some good news from this initiative? Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, with the EDAP program the Minister has said there is, and I have noticed, some special consideration for the small communities versus the larger centres. Now in these small communities, can the Minister advise or inform this House in terms of the large amounts that are given to the individuals in the smaller communities in terms of this program here? Why are such large amounts given to our smaller communities than our larger centres under this program here? Thank you.

Thank you. Madam Speaker, the EDAP program seems to be getting a good response from the smaller communities. In terms of the home ownership programs, can the Minister inform this House if someone is rejected for whatever circumstances of their application if there is a process for the people to reapply? Is there an independent board that they can go to, or do they apply through the office of the Housing Corporation to seek another approval of the application? Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, the chipsealing program would make a real difference in the small communities that don’t have a chipsealing program. The larger centres have paved roads; they don’t have to deal with the dust. In the smaller communities, the old people have to live day in and day out in houses where dust is a very big issue. It’s a crying shame that this government who wants to make a difference in the Northwest Territories, and we’ve got $40 million sitting by Cabinet. So would the Minister again look at the chipsealing programs in the communities and see if he...

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Thanks to the Minister for the update. In Fort Good Hope and the other communities of Deline and Colville Lake, a lot of people live along the main street and there are more vehicles than ever using the roads in the small communities. The chipsealing program is for the main street only, and that’s where my bone of contention is in terms of having this program in the small communities. The dust control suppression money doesn’t last very long because it deteriorates after several rainy days and it goes away and the dust comes back because the formula does not hold...

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, a lot of our students in the small communities have a talent for hands-on programs and the shop program is one of them that could be a success in the small communities. Would the Minister consider other facilities that may be used in the communities to enhance the shop programs for our schools? MACA, DPW and other organizations sometimes have shops available for students. Would he consider that in the time frame before launching into a different program that would see these types of shops in schools permanently? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Just a quick one, Mr. Chairman. This goes back to the issues that Mr. Handley has been talking about in the Northwest Territories. Is there somewhere in the plans with all these different negotiating tables happening and all the things that are coming to the fore, is there a point in this government that we will get together with the Circle of Northern Leaders and just have one topic on the go ahead of the pipeline, other issues? There are so many different facets to this proposal that just reading News/North that Deh Cho settles a suit, which was in today’s news. The Deh Cho is allowing...

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I am very glad to hear the Minister mention the mentorship of the teachers. We have a number of local assistants, as I referred to, in the teachers’ program. What specific types of programs are there? Can the Minister advise this House of promotions that would help these assistants get into a job that would be permanent in the smaller communities because of the hiring of northern teachers? We want to keep our teachers employed in the Sahtu region. Thank you.