Norman Yakeleya

Madam Chair, the Village of Fort Simpson has a number of $42,000. Can the Minister explain to me in terms of where this $42,000 is coming from?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister, what is he doing to ensure that there is clear legislation and responsibility for these organizations to be fully responsible for their own site cleanup that they leave behind once a project is complete in the Northwest Territories. Is there any type of legislation coming forward? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Would the Minister consider having the seniors under one ministry? Of all the programs, I know that you are working with the different departments, would the Minister consider taking that to the Premier or Cabinet to consider having one Ministry just for seniors, that cover all the programs so there is effective, efficient coordination there for our elderly people in the communities? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Minister is correct; I see in the federal government budget, there is $13 million provided to create a national seniors’ secretariat to serve as a focal point for collaborative efforts to address new challenges facing seniors. Would he consider a territorial secretariat for seniors, so that the seniors could look forward, within this government, to see a territorial secretariat set up for them in the regions in the Territories? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, over the past week, we have spoken many times of making history in the Northwest Territories in terms of devolution, revenue resource sharing and the Northern Strategy and becoming like a have province in the Northwest Territories. We often see, Mr. Speaker, that the federal government also plays the big role of big brother in many of the areas in the Northwest Territories. Mr. Speaker, in every aspect of our life, we are affected by government’s decisions. Mr. Speaker, we would like to know when the federal government will get out of the big brother’s...

Thank you. I guess just a point that Mr. Zoe makes a good point in terms of the question in our language. I believe The honourable Minister of Education, Culture and Employment made a statement earlier today in terms of the official languages of the Northwest Territories and ourselves to promote it. Somewhere it talks about the Members taking a lead here in terms of the Legislative Assembly. I just ask the office to consider more uses of translation in terms of Mr. Zoe’s point, because that’s the first language and that needs to be really honoured and respected, I guess, in the best way we can...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I want to tell the Speaker, Mr. Chairman, that the services by the Legislative Assembly have been really good for me. Just a comment to say that I appreciate the services that his department offers to me. I’m satisfied and that’s why I say I don’t see any noticeable impacts. Just a comment to give your staff a pat on the shoulder to say they are doing a good job, they are doing their best in helping us out as new MLAs and to let them know that I appreciate them. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I was going to talk about the smoking area, but since I don’t smoke it’s not an issue for me anymore.

---Applause

I don’t have my vehicle here all year, so I don’t have parking issue. So that’s not an issue with me.

---Laughter

Mr. Chairman, the comment that the Speaker made was in regard to page 2 of his presentation. The proposed reduction would have a noticeable impact on services provided to Members and the public-at-large. So I just want to know are we seeing the noticeable impacts right now. If we are, I haven’t seen any. Is it something coming down the tubes...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I have a motion. I move that this committee recommends that the Department of Education, Culture and Employment undertake a comprehensive review of the Western Arctic Leadership Program to assess the value of the program;

And further, that the results of the review be presented to the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight prior to the committee review of the 2006-2009 Business Plans. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in terms of the strategy starting with the Circle of Northern Leaders and other meetings with elders down the Mackenzie Valley, I guess I’m looking for a time frame. Could the Minister bring to this government a complete end result of the strategy to have discussion in the House in possibly looking at the involvement of elders within this government? Thank you.