Norman Yakeleya

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I understand that it is a challenge to move the Sahtu Health Authority into our region. I will ask the Minister in terms of a time frame if he can see actually the Sahtu Health Authority being settled right in the Sahtu region where we can start making our decisions for ourselves.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, industry, I understand, spends millions and millions of dollars in the Sahtu. They want to come do business in the Sahtu. They’re using the roads. I think that’s part of where our government can negotiate with industry and say that they should bring some benefits and bring in some of the safety into the Sahtu. So I guess I would ask the Minister if he would look at coming to visit the Sahtu and see the conditions of the winter roads for himself. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Minister touched on a key point of our winter roads and I hope that our goat road does become an acceptable highway system in the Northwest Territories. But the industry has used our winter roads quite a bit and, as you know, Mr. Speaker, It takes between 80 and 90 truckloads to haul a rig here and that we need to get the industry involved. I want to ask the Minister if he could please explain why the department is unable to reach an agreement with the industry, thus leaving the GNWT solely responsible for the cost of maintenance of the road even though...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My Member’s statement today has to do with the road conditions of our goat trail in the Sahtu, our winter road. Mr. Speaker, I received numerous complaints from the people in the Sahtu about our winter road conditions, the wear and tear that is on the winter road and the number of trucks that are going up through the Sahtu to haul rigs or bring supplies into our region. Also, for the people who are travelling out of the Sahtu in that short period of time who come to places like Yellowknife, Hay River and Fort Simpson to do their winter shopping and also to do their...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Has there been any thought about regionalizing the liquor board staff? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I thank the Minister. I would ask the Minister if he would look at some dates in terms of when the people in the Sahtu can foresee the opening of a seniors' facility and quit paying the $22,000 a month and put it to good use. Would the Minister commit to some time frame within the life of this government? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, surrounding that, we have…(inaudible)…in Deline. It is costing $22,000 a month, according to the Minister, for the mortgage and they are looking at it. Will the Minister tell me when the department expects to make a decision on the future use of this long-term care facility in Deline and have our people come to stay back in our region? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, would the Minister tell me what are the operating and maintenance costs associated with this facility? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, over the weekend, I had the pleasure and opportunity to meet and speak with some very special people. I visited the Aven Centre in Yellowknife, a place for elders. I would like to say hello to Art and the gang right now at the Aven Centre.

Mr. Speaker, what I witnessed at this place in Yellowknife is the elders are being looked after, programs are in place for them and the staff have the capacity to take care of the elders here in Yellowknife.

Mr. Speaker, we, in the Sahtu, have long waited to have such a home for elders in this capacity. Mr. Speaker, we...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I will cross my fingers hoping that some potential development happens in the Northwest Territories. Does the Minister foresee the possibility of regionalizing some of the staff members in terms of the increase of resource development down the Mackenzie Valley? Would he consider putting some part-time people in the regions to assist in the operations? Thank you.