Norman Yakeleya

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation. Mr. Speaker, recently the Minister and I went to the Sahtu to talk about some of the housing issues in the Sahtu. I want to ask if the Minister could give me an update on the terms of the one seniors' facility in Deline that the people in the Sahtu would like to see open. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this afternoon, I also made a decision along with the honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche, to do the right thing not only for ourselves; we made this commitment for our people in our regions. I made the choice to stop continuous smoking. I have taken the Minister of Health and Social Services’ challenge to be smoke-free. That is almost one year ago he gave me that challenge. It has taken me a long time to come to that challenge. The decision to look at my life and the impact of cigarettes on the younger people greatly disturbed me, Mr...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the reason why I say this is that the federal government sometimes puts the squeeze on the communities, you know. There’s a time frame to do some really decent work in terms of the Protected Areas Strategy. So I’m asking the Minister if he could ensure that the Protected Areas Strategy deserves the quality and the work that it presents itself to the communities. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, what strategy is our government going to use to ensure that the federal government does come to the plate to get the ball rolling in terms of protecting our areas in the Northwest Territories? I’m asking the Minister what type of strategy we have. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I look forward to that assessment report from the Minister. Also, would the Minister provide this House with a timetable that he is going to work with the Minister of Health and Social Services in terms of seeing what type of occupancy that the people in Deline can look forward to in terms of occupying that seniors facility and that they can at least have some decisions as to where to go next with that facility? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, would the Minister inform the House here as to some sort of a time frame that they would make a decision on it with the community of Deline, in terms of the uses of that facility? Thank you.

Thank you, Members. Mr. Speaker, I was driving back from Peace River the other day. I have a two-and-a-half-year-old boy. He was colouring Spiderman in the truck. He had the crayon in has hand, Mr. Speaker, and he looked at the crayon and said, I want to smoke, I want to smoke. That really hit. That was really sore. Mr. Menicoche is so right. As leaders, we are role models. There are a huge number of smokers in the small communities. In that sense, Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the Minister for supporting me. I want to thank Mr. Menicoche for taking this challenge with me. Mahsi.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Education in his Minister’s statement…I applaud him and the Minister of MACA for putting the initiative out there in the communities to help our youth. At the same time, Mr. Speaker, youth are killing themselves in the small communities. The honourable Members Mrs. Groenewegen and Mr. Dent were talking about that earlier and I’m asking the Minister what can we do to set some strong policies? I appreciate the Minister revisiting the portfolio and seeing what can we do for youth in the communities that sets some strong guidelines...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in my statement today I talked about supporting the youth. My question will be directed to the Minister of MACA with regard to supporting our youth in the Northwest Territories. I ask the Minister of MACA what initiatives we can see in the Northwest Territories that would continue supporting our youth in terms of ability to make great contributions to our people in the communities in the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to speak about our future. Mr. Speaker, the elders have always told us and spoke very passionately about our future, and they continue to speak even more so in light of the changes of our lifestyles and our communities.

Mr. Speaker, we have heard, witnessed and supported our youth in many areas that contribute to the strengthening of our families, our communities and, more importantly, strengthening the youth spirit. Mr. Speaker, I want to acknowledge several youth in communities in the North; specifically, a young lady in Fort...